Hi Everyone :) Thanks for all the comments and likes - Please feel free to ask any questions about this bouzouki lesson or about Irish music in general and we'll get back to you straight away. Remember to subscribe to our channel and click the bell to get notified of our new video releases.
It isn't the instrument that is difficult or easy, it is the music that is played on it. The easier it is to make the notes, the more is expected. A piano is easy to make notes, but you have to play up to ten of them at a time. An oboe is really difficult, but it does only plays one note as a time. You can play a guitar and a bouzouki in many different ways, some are difficult and some are easy.
This is a great chanel and I enjoyed listening to you teach. You have encouraged me to learn Bouzouki.many thanks Billy I like your simple style of teaching and will follow your videos.
I've just recently bought an Ozark bouzouki, decided to switch over from tenor banjo Great instrument an love the sound! Been taking these lessons as 2 weeks! Theres alot to take in an understand but its all very well explained! I tend to write things down as I go.lol there well worth the money!!🎶🎶
Yeah it's great cause you can learn from your own home!! An for the likes of people who can't travel to get lessons!!👌if you mean as in location? I'm from county derry/Ireland. ☺
I have been shopping around for an entry level instrument that doesn't sound tinny. When I find one, I'll sign up for the course. Your instrument has lovely rich tones. Can you recommend a worthy instrument that is not for professionals?
Hi Amanda, I'd look for something factory made with a truss rod on Thomand. Let me know if you find an instrument there. If you wish to buy a handmade instrument I have a few contacts so let me know. Billy's bouzouki is made by renowned Irish luthier Joe Foley.
Amanda Dowd I have a Gold Tone BZ-500 that I am very happy with. Great tone and playability. Current price for a new one is a reasonable US $650. Includes a very nice hard shell case.
As a mandolin/fidddle player..i tuned to gdae just so i could transfer what i know..including chords. I havent yet seen the value of the second d except as confusion..
@billymagfhloinn Ah, thanks. Got it. Love the jig and slip jig rhythm. What a great sound on bouzouki. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, we have a music gathering called "Zoukfest," with classes, jamming and traditional Celtic and folk music. Haven't made it to one yet, but hope to one of these years.
On the bouzouki, which is Greek, the bottom two pairs are in octave. The Irish bouzouki is in truth a modified octave mandolin, with the lower pairs tuned in octave and a longer scale. The Octave mandolin was in existence long before a couple of Irish musicians "discovered" the bouzouki in Greece, brought it back home and made their modifications. Many octave mandolins, all pairs tuned in unison, are mistakenly called Irish bouzoukis.
i play two and i have to say, guitar seems harder to me ;) i mean, the guitar tuning is just... harder to play on ;p you can also try regular mandolin but sometimes they are even more expensive than the octave ones (bouzukis)
Henry- My Octave is GDAE, my bouzouki is GDAD and mando is obviously GDAE.... love both tunings, but on the longer scale Bouzouki, some of those chords are a big stretch... (I'm looking at you F !! )
Hi Maxime, Yes, start at the start so you get the correct technique. With you guitar experience you will fly through the beginner lessons - www.oaim.ie/bouzouki/bouzouki-basics/
Great lesson, well done. Unfortunately the standard for naming strings on stringed instruments is starting with "1" for the highest sounding string, and proceeding down from there. It goes by pitch, not gravity.
Hi Wolfgang, Interesting question. Unless you have a 12 string, you would have to double up the strings. Which means taking out the nut and cutting space for the new strings to sit in. Then you would have to set the instrument up again. Unless you're a trained luthier or have a very cheap guitar I wouldn't attempt this. Is there a luthier close to your home? Where do you live?
Hi. I'm almost 15 and I can play the acoustic guitar exceptionally well and I was thinking of getting a Bouzouki but I need to know if its as easy as the guitar or harder (possibly easier). If you can give me some clarification that would be brilliant. Thanks.
Im interested in learning the instrument, do you know where I can purchase one where I can try it out? I dont want to drop a huge amount of cash only to find I dont enjoy it, but i also dont a crappy instrument. Thanks!
I just visited ebay.com and found a lot of "Irish bouzouki" - ranging in price from 200 - 1800. Check that out. Let me know what you are thinking before you buy.
Hi Rene, it's from Joe Foley, one of the top luthiers in Ireland. I found these details online, so I've no idea if they're current or not - Joe Foley, 4 Braemor Road, Churchtown, Dublin 14, Ireland Telephone : (+353/0)1 298 2537
Is Irish bouzouki a matter of changing the tuning of a bouzouki to G-D-A-D or do you actually need to have a bouzouki that is specifically made for Irish bouzouki? (I've only known about this instrument for about ten minutes so I am about as new as you can get with this)
Also the Irish bouzouki body is a little bigger than the Greek one, to compensate for the loss of the round belly part. The fingerboard is exactly the same.
im playing an octave strung zouk and find when I play up the neck on different chord shapes, it goes totally out of tune. any ideas on why that happens??
Hi, Playing octave pairs is always a balancing act. It sounds great in first position chord shapes, but the higher up the neck you go, the more it will go out of tune. This is a constant with all octave pairs, and cannot be changed. The tension on the pair is different because of their varied guages, and the more you shorten the string, the greater the differential between the two. Therefore, playing up the neck will always sound out of tune. This is the very reason why most Irish bouzouki players play with twins rather than octave pairs. Unfortunately, it's a tradeoff between a more interesting sound and a more restricted chord palette. Billy
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Hi Everyone :) Thanks for all the comments and likes - Please feel free to ask any questions about this bouzouki lesson or about Irish music in general and we'll get back to you straight away. Remember to subscribe to our channel and click the bell to get notified of our new video releases.
It isn't the instrument that is difficult or easy, it is the music that is played on it. The easier it is to make the notes, the more is expected. A piano is easy to make notes, but you have to play up to ten of them at a time. An oboe is really difficult, but it does only plays one note as a time. You can play a guitar and a bouzouki in many different ways, some are difficult and some are easy.
This is a great chanel and I enjoyed listening to you teach. You have encouraged me to learn Bouzouki.many thanks Billy I like your simple style of teaching and will follow your videos.
I've just recently bought an Ozark bouzouki, decided to switch over from tenor banjo Great instrument an love the sound! Been taking these lessons as 2 weeks! Theres alot to take in an understand but its all very well explained! I tend to write things down as I go.lol there well worth the money!!🎶🎶
WOW! Delighted you are getting a lot out the course Connla :) Thanks for letting us know !! Where are you learning from?
Yeah it's great cause you can learn from your own home!! An for the likes of people who can't travel to get lessons!!👌if you mean as in location? I'm from county derry/Ireland. ☺
Thanks for letting us know !! Really appreciated. Hope to see you in a session sometime soon !!
@MrProgrock Thanks for the kind words. The intro is called 'The Ashplant' and is played by our very own Whistle tutor, Thomas Johnston.
Why not join OAIM and take the full course online? It's a great way to learn, and works out a lot cheaper than live lessons.
Cool thanks.
If you can find the time it takes, and are not discouraged easily, then you're not too old!
Ohhh very nice Video! It helped me alot! I startet to play Irish bouzouki at the same time of the Upload of this vid! I had good Luck! :D
Hi, Billy is probably using a different tuning to the way your bouzouki is tuned. He uses GDAD - try it then.
Cool lesson, when he plays the chords he's so concentrated that he stares into the camera. Funny!
Great intro lesson! Could you tell me what gauge strings you are using and the type of pick?
@ClanChattan14 The way that Billy teaches how to play the instrument, would make it easier than learning how to play the guitar.
I really like this channel, it's really helpful and well structured.
I have to ask, what is that lovely tune playing in the intro? :)
I have been shopping around for an entry level instrument that doesn't sound tinny. When I find one, I'll sign up for the course. Your instrument has lovely rich tones. Can you recommend a worthy instrument that is not for professionals?
Hi Amanda, I'd look for something factory made with a truss rod on Thomand. Let me know if you find an instrument there. If you wish to buy a handmade instrument I have a few contacts so let me know. Billy's bouzouki is made by renowned Irish luthier Joe Foley.
Amanda Dowd I have a Gold Tone BZ-500 that I am very happy with. Great tone and playability. Current price for a new one is a reasonable US $650. Includes a very nice hard shell case.
Great channel, I'm looking to learn the bouzouki and this will be a good start. Do you know of anyone who gives lessons in Cork?
I've just got a Bouzouki, and I really think that it's easier!!!!!
@irishmusicacademy I just might! As soon as I can find myself a good bouzouki!
Also curious about that jig rhythm strumming. For 6/8, are you doing:
down, down, down/up, down, down/up, down, down/up, down?
As a mandolin/fidddle player..i tuned to gdae just so i could transfer what i know..including chords. I havent yet seen the value of the second d except as confusion..
@billymagfhloinn Ah, thanks. Got it. Love the jig and slip jig rhythm. What a great sound on bouzouki. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, we have a music gathering called "Zoukfest," with classes, jamming and traditional Celtic and folk music. Haven't made it to one yet, but hope to one of these years.
What a beautiful sounding instrument; makes me want to play Irish music just to have an excuse to get one. :)
Un sonido precioso...
me alegra que te guste - ¿dónde estás mirando desde?
I am in Madrid, Spain.
I Really enjoyed it, Thank's a lot.
Oh the luck of the Irish :D
On the bouzouki, which is Greek, the bottom two pairs are in octave. The Irish bouzouki is in truth a modified octave mandolin, with the lower pairs tuned in octave and a longer scale. The Octave mandolin was in existence long before a couple of Irish musicians "discovered" the bouzouki in Greece, brought it back home and made their modifications. Many octave mandolins, all pairs tuned in unison, are mistakenly called Irish bouzoukis.
P.S. I come from violin/viola playing and tune my bouzouki GDAE just like a fiddle, so for me it is the easier instrument.
What pick number do you use?
Where's the lesson link? I'd like to take courses.
Glad you liked it - here's the link - oaim.ie/course/32/bouzouki_basics
@kholmes39 I vary from down, down, down/up, down,
to down, up, down, up down up,
and any variation in between!
What is the scale length of this bouzouki? Great lesson btw!
Thanks!! Glad you liked it. Nut to bridge 68cm, 24 frets..
i play two and i have to say, guitar seems harder to me ;) i mean, the guitar tuning is just... harder to play on ;p you can also try regular mandolin but sometimes they are even more expensive than the octave ones (bouzukis)
So... the pair is two strings tuned to the exact same note?
Gongasoso Sure, the two strings are the same note. The bouzouki here is tuned to GDAD.
+irishmusicacademy I've heard of bouzoukis tuned to GDAE. Is that also acceptable? I play mandolin, and that tuning would be easier for me.
Henry Anderson Yes, GDAE is better for playing tunes, where the GDAD is better for backing tunes.
Henry- My Octave is GDAE, my bouzouki is GDAD and mando is obviously GDAE.... love both tunings, but on the longer scale Bouzouki, some of those chords are a big stretch... (I'm looking at you F !! )
Are these strings tuned in GDAD as paired strings or with an octave on the G & D?
Silly question but what is (if there is any) difference between a Mandocello and an Irish Bouzouki?
Can you tell me the chords in the major, minor key ,,section" in the video?
Hi. What Tuner are you using. I have Guitar tuner and atuner for my fiddle..will they do the trick? Cheers!
Hi Colin, Yes any tuner will work, just tune the strings GDAE. Let me know how you get along with that :)
ill stick with first position so billy thanks, would your classes still work for me?
do you have a cord diagram sheets
@jessiebodman Never too old to learn!
Is there an equivalent to bluegrass flatpicking in trad music on the bouzouki? And is it covered in the courses?
Hi, This course is for backing tunes and does not include flatpicking instruction.
@@onlineacademyofirishmusic Thank you for the info.
What type of pick do you use in this video?
Hi, I'm a intermediate guitar player and I bought a bouzouki, must I learn the beginner lessons or not? I know it's perhaps a stupid question 😅
Hi Maxime, Yes, start at the start so you get the correct technique. With you guitar experience you will fly through the beginner lessons - www.oaim.ie/bouzouki/bouzouki-basics/
How much larger is the Bouzouki than the guitar, and which is easier to play?
***** Thank you so much; I might Buy a Bouzouki just to have one ya' know.
I am here in the US, I will need a catalog of Bouzoukis to choose from.
That philistinism hurt a little.
reverb.com is your friend, i would know, i'm in the market for one myself
The first string is always the one nearest the floor.
Great lesson, well done. Unfortunately the standard for naming strings on stringed instruments is starting with "1" for the highest sounding string, and proceeding down from there. It goes by pitch, not gravity.
how do i make a normal guitar sound like a bouzouki?
must i take two strings out and make it GDAD?
Hi Wolfgang, Interesting question. Unless you have a 12 string, you would have to double up the strings. Which means taking out the nut and cutting space for the new strings to sit in. Then you would have to set the instrument up again. Unless you're a trained luthier or have a very cheap guitar I wouldn't attempt this. Is there a luthier close to your home? Where do you live?
Hi. I'm almost 15 and I can play the acoustic guitar exceptionally well and I was thinking of getting a Bouzouki but I need to know if its as easy as the guitar or harder (possibly easier).
If you can give me some clarification that would be brilliant. Thanks.
Hi, bought one. But did sombody know how low the Action between the String at 12 fret and the Fretboard must be? Mine is about 5mm. Seems to high...
Take it to your nearest luthier for a good set up.
Size and tuning. The strings are tuned CC GG dd aa and the sound is not so bring than the one from the mandolin, or the bouzouki.
@TheTtstricker
The 123, 223 is just the rhythm, it's not the strings.
Im interested in learning the instrument, do you know where I can purchase one where I can try it out? I dont want to drop a huge amount of cash only to find I dont enjoy it, but i also dont a crappy instrument. Thanks!
If you can afford a good 2nd hand one it will not lose value and you can view it as an investment.. Where do you live?
I live in the United States
I just visited ebay.com and found a lot of "Irish bouzouki" - ranging in price from 200 - 1800. Check that out. Let me know what you are thinking before you buy.
Maybe try to find a Greek one and change the tuning, I suppose there are many Greek stores in USA.
What make is this bouzouki and any recommendations on where to buy it?
Hi Rene, it's from Joe Foley, one of the top luthiers in Ireland. I found these details online, so I've no idea if they're current or not -
Joe Foley,
4 Braemor Road,
Churchtown,
Dublin 14, Ireland
Telephone : (+353/0)1 298 2537
@swine102 It's a Joe Foley. Sláinte.
Is Irish bouzouki a matter of changing the tuning of a bouzouki to G-D-A-D or do you actually need to have a bouzouki that is specifically made for Irish bouzouki? (I've only known about this instrument for about ten minutes so I am about as new as you can get with this)
Any bouzouki will do it :)
the difference between an irish and a greek bouzouki is, the irish has a flat back, the back of the greek bouzouki is round
Also the Irish bouzouki body is a little bigger than the Greek one, to compensate for the loss of the round belly part. The fingerboard is exactly the same.
I can see all the wee leprechauns dancing round a stone circle to these tunes
im playing an octave strung zouk and find when I play up the neck on different chord shapes, it goes totally out of tune. any ideas on why that happens??
Hi,
Playing octave pairs is always a balancing act. It sounds great in first position chord shapes, but the higher up the neck you go, the more it will go out of tune. This is a constant with all octave pairs, and cannot be changed. The tension on the pair is different because of their varied guages, and the more you shorten the string, the greater the differential between the two. Therefore, playing up the neck will always sound out of tune. This is the very reason why most Irish bouzouki players play with twins rather than octave pairs. Unfortunately, it's a tradeoff between a more interesting sound and a more restricted chord palette.
Billy
@kholmes39 I'll ask Billy and get back to you guy's.
Seems to me it's paired strings. Also, I never heard/saw anyone having the two strings of a pair an octave apart on a buzuki.
@irishmusicacademy Thanks.
I prefrd Horse outzide
It looks like it might be a Joe Foley he's playing
Spot on Dan !
Great lesson! But I still think you're an Irish Mr.Bean!