Find Your Learning Path

Patreon is chock full of engaging content, over 400 video lessons and counting. But where should you start?

Firstly, check out the ENTIRE LESSON LIST

I’ve already created graduated lessons for every tune we’ve learned, beginning with the very simple tune melody and then adding in ornamentation, chords and variations. But if the range of available lessons is a bit overwhelming at first, here are some suggested learning paths below, curated for your individual needs, and your level of experience and playing ability.

Beginners Path

  1. The Wind That Shakes The Barley - An in-depth tutorial explaining picking patterns for reel - Access This Lesson

  2. The Harvest Home - A lovely simple hornpipe with graduated lessons - Access This Lesson

  3. The Brosna Slide - Another simple little tune. Learn the basic melody and then add some easy ornamentation - Access This Lesson

  4. The Blackbird - This easy hornpipe will help you practice your picking patterns - Access This Lesson

  5. Glen of Aherlow - I compare picking pattern options in this reel - Access This Lesson

Technique Path

  1. The Wind That Shakes The Barley - An in-depth tutorial explaining picking patterns for reel - Access This Lesson

  2. Sporting Paddy - A deep dive into various methods for adding ornamentation to tunes - Access This Lesson

  3. The Luachracan Jig - A lesson discussing different ways to approach playing jig rhythm - Access This Lesson

  4. The Black Frog - In this lesson we explore variations, chords and ornamentation with a view to creating a playing style - Access This Lesson

  5. Drag Her Round The Road - Learn this tune by ear! Backed up with notation if you get lost - Access This Lesson

  6. Cronin’s Hornpipe - How to play the High B note at Fret 7 - Access This Lesson

Challengers Path

  1. Cousin Sally Brown - Learn to play old time rhythms, cross picking and chords with this fiddle tune - Access This Lesson

  2. The Tamlin - Hackneyed? Sure. Fun? Sure! The complex version of this one is a doozy! - Access This Lesson

  3. John Brown/Lost Indian - A set of two old time tunes and a host of cool pull offs, slides and hammer ons - Access This Lesson

  4. Midnight on the Water - This beautiful waltz offers lots of opportunities to learn complex chord and melody playing - Access This Lesson

  5. The Moving Cloud - This tune is always fun and always a challenge to play well - Access This Lesson

  6. Ships are Sailing - Fast paced tune with loads of ornaments, variations and runs of triplets - Access This Lesson

Barney McKenna Path

  1. Sweet Sixteen - Learn this iconic banjo intro - Access This Lesson

  2. Carrickfergus - Picking and chord advice for this famous ballad - Watch The Video

  3. Chief O’Neill’s Hornpipe - A classic hornpipe made famous by Barney McKenna - Access This Lesson

  4. Jolly Beggarman - A tune played by The Dubliners and The Clancy Brothers - Access This Lesson

  5. Inisheer - A beautiful air and waltz with lots of ornaments and chords - Access This Lesson

Mandolin Path

  1. The Champion Jig - Learn this fun and challenging jig with jig triplets! - Access This Lesson

  2. The Irish Washerwoman - One of the all time classic tunes - Access This Lesson

  3. Air Tune - Liz Carroll’s beautiful piece, a lesson for banjo and mandolin - Access This Lesson

  4. Check back for more soon!