Irish Jig in G major
Irish Fiddle Variation

Here’s a lesson on how to add variation to Kesh Jig.

If you haven’t already learned the basic version, I recommend taking that lesson first: Kesh Jig – basic

This lesson is free for free for one week. After that, it’s only available to members of the Ultimate or Irish Fiddle subscriptions. Thanks for fiddling with me.

This tune is in the key of G so we can practice it with a G drone. Start by playing the G major and pentatonic scales with some fun variations.

G drone

A PART:

First quarter: D3-0-1-3-A0-1  0-1-0-0-1-3


Second quarter: E0-A3-3-3-EL2-A3-3-3  E0-A3-1-3-[1-3-1]-0


Third quarter: D3-0-1-3-A0-1  0-1-0-0-1-3


Fourth quarter: E0-A3-3-EL2-A3-1  0-D3-2-3


B PART

First quarter: [roll A1-L2-1-0]-1-3-1-3  E0-L2-0-A3-1D3


Second quarter: [rollA1-L2-1-0]-1-3-1-D3  A0-1-0-0-D3-A0


Third quarter: [roll A1-L2-1-0]-1-3-1-3  E0-L2-0-A3-13


Fourth quarter: [roll EL2-3-L2-1]-L2-3-L2-3 4-L2-1-L2


Notes:

In the first and third quarters I add melodic variation to the basic melody. I also add the “jig swing” feel on A0-1-0

In the second quarter I add sixteenth note duplets: E0-A3-3-3. At the end of the second quarter I add a sixteenth note triplet [A1-3-1]. If you play his faster it sounds like a mordent or a cut.

In the first, second and third quarters of the B part I start with a roll around A1. I also used the “jig swing pattern a few times in the B part (bars 9, 12, 13). The fourth quarter begins with a roll on EL2


Alternate variations

A part first quarter

G0D3-G0D3-G0D3-G0D3-G0D3-A0-1  D0A0-D0A0-D0A0-D0A0-D0A0-D0A0-D0A1-D0A3


A part bar 1

[roll D3-4-3-2]-3-3-A0-1


A part bar 2

A0-[cut 1]-0-0-D3-A0


B part bar 1

AL1-1-3-3-1-3


B part second quarter

A1-1-1-1-3-1-D3  A0-0-0-0-0-D3-A0


B part fourth quarter

EL2-L2-L2-L2-L2-3-3-3-3-3  4-L2-1-L2


Full play-along track

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More warmups

G major scale


Full Tabs

A PART:

First quarter: D3-0-1-3-A0-1  0-1-0-0-1-3

Second quarter: E0-A3-3-3-EL2-A3-3-3  E0-A3-1-3-[1-3-1]-0

Third quarter: D3-0-1-3-A0-1  0-1-0-0-1-3

Fourth quarter: E0-A3-3-EL2-A3-1  0-D3-2-3

B PART

First quarter: [roll A1-L2-1-0]-1-3-1-3  E0-L2-0-A3-1D3

Second quarter: [rollA1-L2-1-0]-1-3-1-D3  A0-1-0-0-D3-A0

Third quarter: [roll A1-L2-1-0]-1-3-1-3  E0-L2-0-A3-13

Fourth quarter: [roll EL2-3-L2-1]-L2-3-L2-3 4-L2-1-L2


Sheet music


Connections

Learn and practice some things I mentioned in this lesson:

Triplet variation (Irish fiddle variation course)

Melodic variation (art of fiddling)

Rolls

Sixteenth note duplets


Supplemental lesson

Talk about alternate variations, practice


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