Hi everyone. I am a musician (err... I can play guitar, somewhat, if that counts) and I was interested in finding sheet music (or tablature) for some of the songs on this site. I've looked around the internet, and I've mostly found jigs and reels, and very few songs with lyrics.

Is anyone else here interested in something like this? Say, a forum only for this sort of thing, where people can discuss variations and exchange chords and melodies, and so on?

I, personally, am pretty useless with the ol' ear. So working out songs is a pretty excruciating practice. But given the actual music I can play and sing it I was hoping that perhaps someone is a little less musically challenged and could help.

Cheers.

maybe this thread can help you:

http://www.celtic-lyrics.com/forum/http://www.celtic-lyrics.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=242

The site you pointed out seems great but I used google to search through it and I can't find any of the songs I'm looking for

Still, thanks for pointing out a great research for future ransacking

BTW, songs I'm looking for are: Nancy's Whiskey, Martinmas Time, Plains of Kildare (or Skewball, I think it's the same song), Prince Among Men, and a Scottish song: Farewell to Whiskey.

This is just an example of my ignorance I've actually worked out a two of these (the second and last song) but I'm fairly certain they're wrong. Therefore, my original point -- of getting together to share chords and melodies -- stands, I think.

Sounds like we have many musicians on the forum.
If anyone's looking for a singer... I have no experience as a professional, but I spent many nights singing in the pub.


PS : I sing with a French accent, but hey just can't help

I'm singing in pubs, too
but it's so awful that nobody likes it
but that's uninteresting if you're drunk

I do the singing for friends. I usually avoid the Irish numbers (no one knows them, and they've got to many lyrics) -- but occasionally I can pass by them a Finnegan's Wake or some Pogues number My usual repertoire consists of folsky renditions of punk/gothic/indie rock (plus my battered, inebriated voice.)

Yeah I'm in a kinda punk/alt-rock band myself. So why the interest in Irish ballads and the like?!

Anyway, what kind of stuff are you looking for? Are you just looking for the simple chords for the songs? Or are you looking for proper fingerpicking accompaniment stuff, with actual tab? Or can you read music?

I have one or two books that have traditional Irish pieces transcribed for guitar. Some are in normal notation, others are in tab. The annoying thing I find is that most are in open string tunings, like open G "DGDGBD", or open D "DADF#AD". I've only got one guitar so I can't keep tuning back and forth! But I've rarely come across tabbed Irish songs on the internet. I think the best you'll get on the internet is simple chords.

Khm,... Sorry, but I could not ever understand the musicians who are surchin' for tubs... Get a tape of a song, then take your musical instrument and get the tune yourself... If you are musician it won't take a long time.

Heh. I can play guitar, and accompany it by voice, but that's about the limit of musical talent I have a really terrible ear for picking out melodies. I can do it, if I really know the song very well, but it takes me _ages_ and I usually don't get it quite right. For example, I figured out the basic melody of "Oro se do bheatha 'bhaile" in about two minutes, but that's a rare case of divine inspiration. It took me two hours to figure out the chords on "Martinmas Time" and I'm still fairly sure I have it wrong One would think I should give up the damned instrument, but I still like to play and sing.

So, I was looking for anything, really. And I can read music.

dabugas: Keep practising, a chara.

Dabagus, Do you know how many musicians cant read a lick of notes? Like Sean said, keep practicsing. Just close your eyes and become the music that is inside you. It will happen a chara. btw, nice avatar (looks like someone from south park)

Music is the source of life...

my favourite Scots Gaelic proverb is:

Thig cr�och air an t-saoghal,
Is thig cr�och air daoine.
Ach mairidh ceol is mairidh gaol gu brath!

There will be an end to this world,
and there will be an end to mankind.
But music and love will live on eternally!

Go n-�ir� an cheol libh, a chairde!

..and keep playing and practising. As long as you have fun, everything is alright.
It does not depend on how good you are, but on how much fun you have...