Michael Alan Wood

Known as the last of the Irish Bards, Turlough O'Carolan (1670 - 1738) was a blind Irish harp player who made his living rambling across 17th century Ireland writing and performing songs to honor and memorialize his patrons. His music remains today a staple of traditional Irish and Celtic music. With his beautiful and often haunting melodies, these tunes will bring you back 300 years, conjuring pastoral images of rural Ireland, with its rolling hills and lush green meadows. So come along as we ramble through life with a bit more of O'Carolan's music to make the journey all the more enjoyable. All tunes in this book are in standard tuning (EADGBE) or in drop D (DADGBE) with the low E string tuned down one whole step to a D. Similar to my Gigging Guitarist collections, I use as many open and ringing strings to simulate the melodic nature of the harp. Tunes include: Blind Mary, Bridget Cruise - 3rd Air, Captain O'Kane, Carolan's Cup, Carolan's Draught, Carolan's Ramble to Cashel, Carolan's Receipt (Dr. John Stafford), Carolan's Welcome (Carolan's Air), Eleanor Plunkett, Fanny Poer, John O'Connor, Lady St. John, Morgan Magan, Planxty George Brabazon - 2nd Air, Planxty Hewlett, Planxty Irwin (Colonel John Irwin), Princess Royal (Miss MacDermott), Si Bheag, Si Mhor, The Clergy's Lamentation

A Dulcimer for Christmas is a great way to share the joy of the Christmas season on your mountain dulcimer Great care was taken to ensure that the selections in this book sound great and are easy to play. Chords are also provided for each tune and tuning with diagrams to help you jam along with friends. All tunes are written in standard music notation and dulcimer tablature. All major tunes in this book are in D-A-A tuning. Minor tunes are provided in two versions, in D-A-G and D-A-C tunings. Be sure to check out the D-A-D version of this book as well for those who prefer that tuning. Tunes include: Angels from the Realms of Glory, Angels We Have Heard on High, Away in a Manger, Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella, Deck the Halls, God Rest Ye Merry, Good Christian Men, Rejoice, Good King Wenceslas, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Jingle Bells, Joy to the World, O Come, All Ye Faithful, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Once in Royal David's City, Patapan, Silent Night, The First No l, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Wexford Carol, What Child Is This

Advanced Beginner to Intermediate Playing Level - Intended for gigging musicians, the tunes in this book were arranged with a number of special considerations in mind. First and foremost, these tunes were arranged to be played easily. They are not necessarily easy as far as difficulty goes, but these arrangements use voice leadings and motions that reduce awkward hand positions and stretches that could cause hand fatigue or hand issues down the line. All arrangements are in standard tuning (E A D G B E). These arrangements were deliberately kept to a maximum of two pages to eliminate pages turns while performing. All tunes can be repeated, at the player's discretion, any number of times. Introductions and endings are noted sparsely to both save space and allow the performer to add his or her own introductions and endings. One thing you will also notice is that there are no full barre chords in this book, as barre chords place a lot of stress on a player's hands. There are a few instances of half barre chords (top three strings only), but even these are used sparingly. These arrangements utilize drones when appropriate, and bass notes are frequently offset from strong beats (e.g. bass notes landing on the and of the beat rather than on the beat). Although this style differs from many other guitar arrangements, this method of playing emphasizes the melody and allows the long, held bass notes (often open strings when possible) to fill out the soundscape. You'll find that rhythm is utilized to create a wonderfully full texture, rather than stacked notes as found in other guitar arrangements. This again is for the ease of reading and playability for the performer. As you become more comfortable with these arrangements, you will find areas where you could easily thicken the texture with some additional notes as you see fit. This book serves as a basic guide with endless possible embellishments and additions available to the performer. There are 19 tunes in the book, including: John Brown's March, The South Wind, Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine, Down by the Sally Gardens, Cold Frosty Morning, Oh Shenandoah, Jock o' Hazeldean, Spotted Pony, St. Anne's Reel, Princess Royal, Bury Me Beneath the Willow, Childgrove, Red Is the Rose, Cripple Creek, Bill Sullivan's Polka, Danny Boy, Over the Waterfall, The Parting Glass, Eliza Tries Again

Dulcimer on the Backroads is a great way to share the joy of the old time and Celtic fiddle tunes and ballads that you love on your mountain dulcimer Great care was taken to ensure that the selections in this book sound great and are easy to play. Chords are also provided for each tune and tuning with diagrams to help you jam along with friends. All tunes are written in standard music notation and dulcimer tablature. All major tunes in this book are in D-A-D tuning. Minor tunes are in D-A-C tuning. Be sure to check out the D-A-A version of this book as well for those who prefer that tuning. Tunes in this book were written for a Beginning to Intermediate playing level but folks of all abilities can find something in here to enjoy Tunes include: Angeline the Baker; Arkansas Traveler; Be Thou My Vision; Black Mountain Rag; Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine; Breaking Up Christmas; Bury Me Beneath the Willow; Carolan's Welcome; Charleston Girls; Cindy; Cold Frosty Morning; Coleman's March; Cornbread and Butterbeans; Cripple Creek; Danny Boy; Fanny Po'er; Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss; Hangman's Reel; Hard Times Come Again No More; How Many Biscuits Can You Eat?; John Brown's Dream; Kesh Jig; Liberty; Liza Jane; Lost Indian (Cherokee Shuffle); Mississippi Sawyer; Old Joe Clark; Over the Waterfall; Pretty Saro; Ragtime Annie; Red Wing; Road to Lisdoonvarna; Sally Ann; Sally in the garden; Sandy River Belle; Shady Grove; Shenandoah; Si Beag Si Mhor; Simple Gifts; Soldier's Joy; South Wind; Spotted Pony; St. Anne's Reel; Star of County Down; Tar Road to Sligo; The Ash Grove; The Blackest Crow; Turkey in the Straw; Wayfaring Stranger; Whiskey Before Breakfast

Dulcimer on the Backroads is a great way to share the joy of the old time and Celtic fiddle tunes and ballads that you love on your mountain dulcimer Great care was taken to ensure that the selections in this book sound great and are easy to play. Chords are also provided for each tune and tuning with diagrams to help you jam along with friends. All tunes are written in standard music notation and dulcimer tablature. All major tunes in this book are in D-A-A tuning. Minor tunes are in D-A-G tuning. Be sure to check out the D-A-D version of this book as well for those who prefer that tuning. Tunes in this book were written for a Beginning to Intermediate playing level but folks of all abilities can find something in here to enjoy Tunes include: Angeline the Baker; Arkansas Traveler; Be Thou My Vision; Black Mountain Rag; Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine; Breaking Up Christmas; Bury Me Beneath the Willow; Carolan's Welcome; Charleston Girls; Cindy; Cold Frosty Morning; Coleman's March; Cornbread and Butterbeans; Cripple Creek; Danny Boy; Fanny Po'er; Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss; Hangman's Reel; Hard Times Come Again No More; How Many Biscuits Can You Eat?; John Brown's Dream; Kesh Jig; Liberty; Liza Jane; Lost Indian (Cherokee Shuffle); Mississippi Sawyer; Old Joe Clark; Over the Waterfall; Pretty Saro; Ragtime Annie; Red Wing; Road to Lisdoonvarna; Sally Ann; Sally in the garden; Sandy River Belle; Shady Grove; Shenandoah; Si Beag Si Mhor; Simple Gifts; Soldier's Joy; South Wind; Spotted Pony; St. Anne's Reel; Star of County Down; Tar Road to Sligo; The Ash Grove; The Blackest Crow; Turkey in the Straw; Wayfaring Stranger; Whiskey Before Breakfast

Over 50 hymns included, all with lyrics and dulcimer chord symbols A Dulcimer Hymn Collection is a great way to share the joy of the old hymns and spirituals that you love on your mountain dulcimer Great care was taken to ensure that the selections in this book sound great and are easy to play. Chords are also provided for each tune and tuning with diagrams to help you jam along with friends. All tunes are written in standard music notation and dulcimer tablature. All major tunes in this book are in D-A-A tuning and are playable on the melody string. All are suitable for noter/drone playing styles. Minor tunes are in D-A-G tuning or using a capo on the first fret in D-A-A tuning. Be sure to check out the D-A-D version of this book as well for those who prefer that tuning. Tunes in this book were written for a Beginning to Intermediate playing level but folks of all abilities can find something in here to enjoy Tunes include: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God; Abide with Me; All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name; Amazing Grace; Battle Hymn of the Republic; Be Thou My Vision; Blessed Assurance; Blest Be the Tie That Binds; Christ the Lord Has Risen Today; Come Thou Almighty King; Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing; Come Thou Long Expected Jesus; Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy; Crown Him With Many Crowns; Do Lord, Remember Me; Down to the River to Pray; Faith of Our Fathers; Go, Tell It on the Mountain; Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah; He Leadeth Me; Holy, Holy, Holy; How Firm a Foundation; I Love Thy Kingdom Lord; In the Garden; It Is Well With My Soul; Jesus Loves Me; Jesus Shall Reign Wheree'er the Sun; Jesus the Very Thought of Thee; Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee; Just as I Am, Without One Plea; My Faith Looks Up to Thee; Nearer My God to Thee; O For a Thousand Tongues To Sing; Old Hundredth; Onward Christian Soldiers; Rock of Ages; Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us; Simple Gifts; Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus; Sweet Hour of Prayer; Swing Low, Sweet Chariot; There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood; This Is My Father's World; To God Be the Glory; Wayfaring Stranger; We Gather Together; What a Friend We Have in Jesus; What Wondrous Love Is This; When I Survey the Wondrous Cross; Will the Circle Be Unbroken? And Bonus tunes: Hosanna, Blessed Is He that Comes; Sing Hallelujah, Praise the Lord

Over 50 hymns included, all with lyrics and dulcimer chord symbols A Dulcimer Hymn Collection is a great way to share the joy of the old hymns and spirituals that you love on your mountain dulcimer Great care was taken to ensure that the selections in this book sound great and are easy to play. Chords are also provided for each tune and tuning with diagrams to help you jam along with friends. All tunes are written in standard music notation and dulcimer tablature. All major tunes in this book are in D-A-D tuning. Minor tunes are in D-A-C tuning or using a capo on the first fret in D-A-D tuning. Be sure to check out the D-A-A version of this book as well for those who prefer that tuning. Tunes in this book were written for a Beginning to Intermediate playing level but folks of all abilities can find something in here to enjoy Tunes include: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God; Abide with Me; All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name; Amazing Grace; Battle Hymn of the Republic; Be Thou My Vision; Blessed Assurance; Blest Be the Tie That Binds; Christ the Lord Has Risen Today; Come Thou Almighty King; Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing; Come Thou Long Expected Jesus; Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy; Crown Him With Many Crowns; Do Lord, Remember Me; Down to the River to Pray; Faith of Our Fathers; Go, Tell It on the Mountain; Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah; He Leadeth Me; Holy, Holy, Holy; How Firm a Foundation; I Love Thy Kingdom Lord; In the Garden; It Is Well With My Soul; Jesus Loves Me; Jesus Shall Reign Wheree'er the Sun; Jesus the Very Thought of Thee; Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee; Just as I Am, Without One Plea; My Faith Looks Up to Thee; Nearer My God to Thee; O For a Thousand Tongues To Sing; Old Hundredth; Onward Christian Soldiers; Rock of Ages; Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us; Simple Gifts; Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus; Sweet Hour of Prayer; Swing Low, Sweet Chariot; There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood; This Is My Father's World; To God Be the Glory; Wayfaring Stranger; We Gather Together; What a Friend We Have in Jesus; What Wondrous Love Is This; When I Survey the Wondrous Cross; Will the Circle Be Unbroken? And Bonus tunes: Hosanna, Blessed Is He that Comes; Sing Hallelujah, Praise the Lord

A Dulcimer for Christmas is a great way to share the joy of the Christmas season on your mountain dulcimer Great care was taken to ensure that the selections in this book sound great and are easy to play. Chords are also provided for each tune and tuning with diagrams to help you jam along with friends. All tunes are written in standard music notation and dulcimer tablature. All major tunes in this book are in D-A-D tuning. Minor tunes are provided in two versions, in D-A-C and A-A-D tunings. Be sure to check out the D-A-A version of this book as well for those who prefer that tuning. Tunes include: Angels from the Realms of Glory, Angels We Have Heard on High, Away in a Manger, Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella, Deck the Halls, God Rest Ye Merry, Good Christian Men, Rejoice, Good King Wenceslas, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Jingle Bells, Joy to the World, O Come, All Ye Faithful, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Once in Royal David's City, Patapan, Silent Night, The First No l, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Wexford Carol, What Child Is This