Kesh Jig – Variation

Irish Jig in G major

Irish Fiddle Variation

Here’s a lesson on how to add variation to Kesh Jig.
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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-A3-1–D3

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-A3-1–3

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

This lesson is part of the Irish fiddle variation course. Sign up for an Ultimate or Irish Fiddle subscription to view full play-along tracks, tabs and sheet music. Thanks for your support.