SimplyMandolin

tabs & music for the mandolin player

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The Bay of Fundy

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Image showing boats on the sea floor at low tide in bay of fundy.
Boats stranded on the ocean floor.

The Bay of Fundy is located on the east coast of Canada. Bordered by the two provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, the bay’s tides are almost 4 times higher than those on the west coast. In fact, The Bay of Fundy is recognized for having the highest tides in the world.

A Natural Wonder – Bay of Fundy

Burntcoat Head, Nova Scotia has a tidal range of 56 feet. That is about the height of a 5-story building. There are 2 high tides and 2 low tides each day. In many areas, low tide can leave fishing boats stranded on the ocean floor. They float again when the tides change.

There are hiking trails that are only available during low tide. You’re literally walking on the bottom of the ocean. There are locations where you can walk and explore for miles on the sea floor. However, you might want to keep an eye on the tides…

Google ‘bay of fundy images‘ and see some spectacular pics.

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The Tune

“The Bay of Fundy” is a reel written by Canadian fiddler and composer Bill Guest.

Bill was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He’s a multi-instrumentalist, known mostly for his piano and fiddle playing. Mr. Guest has composed over three hundred fiddle tunes and country songs. He’s played his way across Canada and the U.S.A. with various bands, working with some of the best.

As an author, Bill has published several instructional fiddle guides and fiddle tune compilations. His books are available on Amazon.

Bill Guest was inducted into the Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame in 2018.

I learned this tune from one of Bill’s recordings.

The arrangement below is in the Key of D Major. Each part is usually played through twice ( A-A-B-B).

Listen to “The Bay of Fundy” for mandolin:

Bay of Fundy
Mandolin tab for the Canadian fiddle tune “Bay of Fundy”.

Downloads:

Tab & Music
Just the Tab
Just the Music
Make a donation to SimplyMandolin at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6T4RDDANKE8PN

If you feel you can help support this site with the donation of a dollar or two, It would be very much appreciated…

If you don’t wish to donate at this time, I totally understand – Enjoy!

Try it in G…

I”ve also heard “The Bay of Fundy” played in the Key of G. To play it in “G”, just move everything over 1 course of strings. Use the exact same fingering, but start on the A-string instead of the E-string. You can use the open E-string for the high note instead of the pinky at the 7th fret.

I hope you enjoy “The Bay of Fundy” reel. Please feel free to leave comments below.

Cy…

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Miss Mcleod’s Reel

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Loch Shiel, Scotland.

South from Isle of Skye

Miss Mcleod‘s comes to us from the Isles of Skye and Raasay in Northern Scotland. It was apparently written for a young lady named Miss MacLeod, from Raasay. Therefore, you might be wondering how it got from ‘Mac’ to ‘Mc’. Well, I haven’t a clue. I’ve seen it spelled both ways. As a result, I’ll spell it both ways throughout this page, (just for search purposes).

Another famous MacLeod from Raasay is Calum MacLeod. He spent many years of his life building a road (by hand) on the Isle of Raasay. His endeavors were inspiration for the strathspey by Capercaillie, called Calum’s Road.

The image you see above is from the top of a hill in Glenfinnan, Scotland, overlooking Loch Shiel. After spending some time on the Isle of Skye, we were headed for Oban (going to visit the whiskey distillery). I wanted to watch the Jacobite Express (steam engine) as it crossed the Glenfinnan Viaduct. While it was a little out of our way, we still decided to take it in. And I’m glad we did. Another beautiful drive, and some great photo opportunities.

However, we missed the train by about 10  minutes!

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The Tune

Originally from Scotland, the tune seems to have gained huge popularity in Ireland and North America. Therefore, many different versions, in several different keys can be found throughout the folk music scene.

In addition, it goes by many different names. Often called “MacLeod’s Reel” or “MacLeod of Raasay“, in Scotland. Elsewhere, it’s usually referred to as “Miss Mcleod“, or “Miss Mcleod’s Reel”. Many North American fiddlers may know it as “Hop High Ladies” or “Did You Ever Meet the Devil, Uncle Joe”.

Probably the most common key for this tune in North America is the Key of G major.

Listen to “Miss Macleod” for mandolin:

Miss Mcleod’s Reel

Image of mandolin tab for the Celtic tune "Miss Mcleod".
Mandolin Tab for the Celtic tune “Miss Mcleod”.

Downloads:

Tab & MusicDownload
Just the TabDownload
Just the MusicDownload
Make a donation to SimplyMandolin at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6T4RDDANKE8PN

If you feel you can help support this site with the donation of a dollar or two, It would be very much appreciated…

If you don’t wish to donate at this time, I totally understand – Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy this version of Miss Mcleod’s Reel.
Please feel free to leave comments below.

Cy…

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Maid in the Meadow

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Picture of a young maid in the meadow.
Young girl in a meadow.

Session Jig

“Maid in the Meadow” is an Irish double jig in 6/8 time.

There is also a reel by the same name. It doesn’t seem to be anywhere near as popular as the jig, but you can find the odd version on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, etc.

The jig, however, is quite popular. It is not hard to find examples for this melody. But, as is common with a lot of Irish tunes, I couldn’t find much info on the origin. If you can help out, feel free to do so.

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The Tune

“Maid in the Meadow” does not appear in the Fiddler’s Fake Book. Of course, I did find “The Maid Behind the Bar”, and “The Maid on the Green” – not the same thing.

Most recordings for this jig remain close to the traditional, with only minor variations. I learned the tune from the album – “Le Ceoltóiri Cultúrlainne – Foinn Seisiún 2”. The following tab is pretty much a straight transcription from that album.

“Maid in the Meadow” is a double jig in the key of G, and is played A-A-B-B.

Listen to “Maid in the Meadow” for mandolin:

Maid in the Meadow

The Maid in the Meadow

image of music and tab for "the maid in the meadow".
Mandolin tab for the Irish jig “The Maid in the Meadow”.

Downloads:

Tab & MusicDownload
Just the TabDownload
Just the MusicDownload
Make a donation to SimplyMandolin at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6T4RDDANKE8PN

If you feel you can help support this site with the donation of a dollar or two, It would be very much appreciated…

If you don’t wish to donate at this time, I totally understand – Enjoy!

Oops!

Ok, so last Saturday I published a bluegrass tune to the website called “Grey Eagle“. The problem is, last Saturday was March 17th (Lá Fheile Pádraig).

How could I put up a bluegrass tune on St. Patty’s day?!! I do apologize to my Irish brothers and sisters.

Thanks for taking a look at “Maid in the Meadow“. I hope you enjoy the tune. Please feel free to leave comments below.

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The Kesh Jig

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Image of Irish countryside - the kesh jig

The Kesh Jig is a traditional tune that comes to us out of Ireland.

Years ago, “The Kesh” became very popular. It was often included in many sets, and heard at just about every session or festival for a good number of years.

It’s popularity was often attributed to The Bothy Band and their success. The Kesh was on their first album, released in 1975. According to Wikipedia, The Bothy Band “had quickly gained a reputation as one of the most influential bands playing Irish traditional music“.

That’s where I first learned the tune, just like many other people.

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The Tune

It was one of the first Celtic melodies I learned on the banjo (along with ‘the Irish Washerwoman’). The arrangement below is probably pretty close to what you’d hear from the Uilleann pipes, or the fiddle on an early Bothy Band recording.

The following version of The Kesh Jig is in the Key of G. It’s often played very fast. However, the audio file below is at a fairly slow tempo so once you’ve got it down, try to play along.

Listen to ‘The Kesh‘ for mandolin:

The Kesh Jig

The Kesh Jig

image of Music and Tab for the Traditional Irish tune "The Kesh Jig"
Music and Tab for the Traditional Irish tune “The Kesh Jig”

Downloads:

Tab & MusicDownload
Just the TabDownload
Just the MusicDownload
Make a donation to SimplyMandolin at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6T4RDDANKE8PN

If you feel you can help support this site with the donation of a dollar or two, It would be very much appreciated…

If you don’t wish to donate at this time, I totally understand – Enjoy!

Too Much if a Good Thing

Often, when a song becomes very popular, its played a lot. Maybe too much in some cases. But, they’re good tunes, with plenty of musical appeal, so we want to hear them over and over again.

And we do, so much that we tire of them. Then, the tune may go through a lull – a period where you don’t hear it as often. But, the good ones have staying power, and they’ll be back!

As a result, The Kesh, along with tunes like Morrison’s Jig and The Irish Washerwoman, have become very recognizable, even by those unfamiliar with traditional Irish music.

Ask anyone to hum an Irish jig, and you’ll probably get a version of one of those tunes. Although, its also possible that you may get the melody from a Lucky Charms commercial.

Good luck! Hope you enjoy.

Cy…

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The Banshee

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Image of a banshee by a castle.

Could this be a lost soul?

Lost Soul

The banshee is a well known entity in Irish folklore. The legends and myths tell of a screaming young female spectre with auburn hair and blood-red eyes.

If you should see the creature, or hear her shrill screams, it means that someone in your family, or household, is going to die. The banshee doesn’t cause death, or take a life. She screams, or wails for those that are about to die.

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Sightings

In Ireland, stories and sightings go back as far as the early 800’s. Also known as “Bean Sidhe”, the banshee has often been depicted as a beautiful young female apparition with scary, witch-like facial features. There have been many sightings throughout history, with the spectre disappearing in a cloud of mist once she’s seen. Of course as a result, a family member dies.

Shape Shifter

Scotland is also home to the shrieking creature . It appears as an ugly, gnarled, old woman or hag with broken teeth, instead of a beautiful young female. The Scots sometimes refer to the apparition as “Ban Sithe”. Yet, the stories are the same – she wails for the souls that are about to be lost.

The Tune

The ghostly creature is the inspiration, or subject, of more than one Irish melody. This week’s tune is simply titled “The Banshee”,  and it’s in the key of G.

Typical A-A B-B format.

Listen to “The Banshee” for mandolin:

The Banshee


Here it is again, at 100bpm:

Slower
Mandolin tab for the tune “The Banshee”.

Downloads:

Tab & MusicDownload
Just the TabDownload
Just the MusicDownload
Make a donation to SimplyMandolin at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6T4RDDANKE8PN

If you feel you can help support this site with the donation of a dollar or two, It would be very much appreciated…

If you don’t wish to donate at this time, I totally understand – Enjoy!

They’re Everywhere!

Although most commonly associated with Irish folklore, there are myths and stories of the same type of creature from  many different countries. The screaming spectre appears in the myths and legends of a number of different cultures throughout the world.

Always an omen of impending doom, she can appear in various forms and goes by many different names.

Spooky, huh? Hope you enjoy the tune.

Cy…

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Whiskey Before Breakfast

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Image of a glass of whiskey before breakfast

Whiskey Before Breakfast is a great old fiddle tune. Years ago it seemed like everybody was recording it. I remember having albums by different artists with various arrangements of the tune. It has certainly become an acoustic standard.

I remember trying to learn it on the guitar, off a Norman Blake album. I had been visiting my sisters in Boulder, Colorado and purchased the album in a little record store downtown, along with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “Will the Circle be Unbroken”. At the time, both those records were impossible to find back home.

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The album title was “Whiskey Before Breakfast”, but it didn’t really seem like the featured song on the record. It was actually the second tune in a two-tune set. In the end, I gave up on it. I was more a finger-picker than a flatpicker. I did come away with something, but it didn’t sound anything like Blake’s arrangement!

Later on, I did figure out a respectable version on banjo, and more recently adapted it to mandolin.

The Tune

I always thought “Whiskey Before Breakfast” was a traditional Irish tune. It would seem that may not be the case. In fact, the tune has been attributed it to the late, great Canadian Metis fiddler Andy DeJarlis. I do know that he recorded the tune on more than one album, and I understand he originally recorded it under a different name (Ok, I read that part on the internet).

However, DeJarlis wrote a lot of other great fiddle tunes as well, like “The Buckskin Reel“, “Sitting Bull”, “Caribou Reel“, “Louis Riel”… and a good number of waltzes and jigs. 

Anyway, have a listen to “Whiskey Before Breakfast” on the mandolin at 150 bpm.

Here is a slower version:

Whiskey Before Breakfast

Image of music and tab for "whiskey before breakfast".
Mandolin Tab for the Bluegrass tune “Whiskey Before Breakfast”.

Downloads:

Tab & MusicDownload
Tab & MusicDownload
Just the MusicDownload
Make a donation to SimplyMandolin at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6T4RDDANKE8PN

If you feel you can help support this site with the donation of a dollar or two, It would be very much appreciated…

If you don’t wish to donate at this time, I totally understand – Enjoy!

If any downloads or images are missing please let me know. I’ll get on it as soon as I can.

FYI

“Whiskey Before Breakfast” can also be found in the Fiddler’s Fake Book. It’s on page 290 of my copy.

Hope you enjoy the arrangement. Please feel free to comment.

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