Traditional Irish Guitar Beginner 1

Course Overview

What does this course tell?
(Please note that the following overview content is from the original platform)
This free online Irish guitar course has been created to help the beginner develop the skills needed to play one of the staple instruments of many folk traditions. In Irish music, the guitar may take a back seat to other instruments, but it adds depth and rhythm to any tune. In this course, highly regarded musician Michael McCague covers the basics that any beginner guitar player needs to know. These lessons will also appeal to anyone interested in learning how to play using Drop D tuning, which is popular in both Irish and rock music for the rich sound it provides. Through a series of interactive videos, with accompanying notes, Michael will introduce you to the basic techniques needed to play the most commonly used chords, along with some tunes.
The course begins with the basics of identifying and tuning the strings, holding the plectrum and strumming the guitar correctly, before Michael begins teaching you the chords, beginning with D major. He devotes separate lessons to teaching you G major, a number of A chords and B minor, all elements of the key of D. Michael encourages learners to practise moving between chords to build up their technique and speed. There are useful notes provided in a downloadable PDF from the resource section of the course. Once you are comfortable playing those fundamental chords, it’s time to master your first tune and the guitar lessons proceed to a reel, ‘The Maid Behind The Bar’. Fiddle player and TG4 presenter Doireann Ní Ghlacáin plays the tune with Michael teaching the accompaniment over the course of two lessons. The final tune you will learn in this beginners’ course is the hornpipe 'Kitty’s Wedding' and again, Doireann plays the melody for you to accompany.
If you want to be able to play one of music’s most accessible and enjoyable instruments, you are learning from one of the best in this free online guitar guide. Michael McCague is a gifted songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from County Monaghan, in the rural heart of Ireland. From a musically gifted family, Michael played the tin whistle and fiddle before taking up the bouzouki and then guitar. Apart from being a member of bands like At The Racket and Téada, Michael has accompanied legendary flute player Matt Molloy live. He has featured on a number of recordings and his self-penned debut album, 'The Waylaid Man', was well-reviewed and featured performances by top musicians including John McSherry and Nollaig Casey. He often performs with his brothers, Donal, Sean and Connor, with fiddle player Donal being a former Young Irish Musician of the Year. Michael now lives in Galway, on the west coast of the country, the home of traditional Irish culture. By completing this course, you can learn the skills you need to develop as a guitar player. You can also gain certification by passing the end-of-course assessment. You may wish to progress to the next course in this series, Traditional Irish Guitar, Beginner 2, where you will learn new chords and tunes. The series concludes with Traditional Irish Guitar, Intermediate, for those who have mastered the basics. If you would like to be able to play along to songs from any genre or are keen to explore Drop D tuning, this course provides the perfect starting point. All that’s required is an acoustic guitar, a willingness to practise and you’re ready to begin!


We considered the value of this course from many aspects, and finally summarized it for you from two aspects: skills and knowledge, and the people who benefit from it:
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What skills and knowledge will you acquire during this course?
During this course, the learner will acquire the following skills and knowledge:
1. Basic techniques: The learner will be introduced to the basic techniques needed to play the guitar, including identifying and tuning the strings, holding the plectrum, and strumming the guitar correctly.
2. Chord playing: The learner will be taught the most commonly used chords, starting with D major and progressing to G major, A chords, and B minor. They will also learn how to move between chords to build up their technique and speed.
3. Drop D tuning: The learner will have the opportunity to learn how to play using Drop D tuning, which is popular in both Irish and rock music for its rich sound.
4. Playing tunes: The learner will have the chance to learn and play two traditional Irish tunes, "The Maid Behind The Bar" and "Kitty's Wedding," with accompanying notes and videos.
5. Accompaniment skills: The learner will develop their skills in accompanying other musicians, as they will be taught how to play the guitar accompaniment for the tunes taught in the course.
6. Musicality and rhythm: Through playing traditional Irish tunes, the learner will develop their sense of musicality and rhythm, which are essential skills in playing Irish music.
7. Certification: By passing the end-of-course assessment, the learner can gain certification for completing the course.
8. Progression: The learner can choose to progress to the next courses in the series, Traditional Irish Guitar, Beginner 2, and Traditional Irish Guitar, Intermediate, to further develop their skills and knowledge.
Who will benefit from this course?
This course will benefit beginners who are interested in learning how to play traditional Irish guitar. It is also suitable for individuals who want to learn how to play using Drop D tuning, which is popular in both Irish and rock music. The course is designed to teach the basic techniques needed to play commonly used chords and tunes. It is suitable for individuals who want to learn how to identify and tune the strings, hold the plectrum, and strum the guitar correctly. The course is taught by highly regarded musician Michael McCague, who has extensive experience in traditional Irish music.