Irish Fiddle - An Introduction
Step into the living heart of Irish traditional music, with a rich selection of classic Irish tunes — reels, jigs, hornpipes, and more — taught phrase by phrase
Start playingLesson - The Showman's Fancypreview
About this course
Step into the living heart of Irish traditional music with Fergal Scahill — one of Ireland’s most dynamic and expressive fiddlers. In this course, Fergal brings over twenty years of experience a...read more
Step into the living heart of Irish traditional music with Fergal Scahill — one of Ireland’s most dynamic and expressive fiddlers. In this course, Fergal brings over twenty years of experience as a touring musician, composer, and teacher to guide you through the sound, feel, and spirit of Irish fiddle playing.
For Fergal, Irish music is the music of the people — born in kitchens, crossroads, and gatherings, carried through centuries of resilience, and shared today in sessions around the world. His teaching reflects that same sense of connection, joy, and storytelling. Each lesson goes beyond notes and technique to explore how to feel the music — how to make the fiddle sing, cry, laugh, and dance.
You’ll learn a rich selection of classic Irish tunes — reels, jigs, hornpipes, and more — taught phrase by phrase with a focus on:
- Ornamentation and bowing patterns unique to the Irish tradition
- Variations, rolls, cuts, and triplets
- Building rhythm, groove, and lift
- Developing your own voice on the instrument
Fergal’s philosophy is simple: find the sound you love to make. Every player has a voice, and this course helps you discover yours — whether you’re a beginner looking for your first taste of Irish fiddle, or an experienced musician ready to dive deeper into nuance and style.
Step into the living heart of Irish traditional music with Fergal Scahill — one of Ireland’s most dynamic and expressive fiddlers. In this course, Fergal brings over twenty years of experience as a touring musician, composer, and teacher to guide you through the sound, feel, and spirit of Irish fiddle playing.
For Fergal, Irish music is the music of the people — born in kitchens, crossroads, and gatherings, carried through centuries of resilience, and shared today in sessions around the world. His teaching reflects that same sense of connection, joy, and storytelling. Each lesson goes beyond notes and technique to explore how to feel the music — how to make the fiddle sing, cry, laugh, and dance.
You’ll learn a rich selection of classic Irish tunes — reels, jigs, hornpipes, and more — taught phrase by phrase with a focus on:
- Ornamentation and bowing patterns unique to the Irish tradition
- Variations, rolls, cuts, and triplets
- Building rhythm, groove, and lift
- Developing your own voice on the instrument
Fergal’s philosophy is simple: find the sound you love to make. Every player has a voice, and this course helps you discover yours — whether you’re a beginner looking for your first taste of Irish fiddle, or an experienced musician ready to dive deeper into nuance and style.
Teacher: Fergal Scahill
Instrument: Fiddle
Countries: Ireland
Browse the 16 lessons
- Course Introduction
- Performance
- Sounding Irishy
- Technique - The Cut
- Technique - Rolls
- Technique - Open String Roll
- Technique - Bowed Triplet
- Technique - Advanced Ornaments
- Rose in the Heather
- Smile from Sheila
- Sandymount Reel
- Last Night's Funpreview
- The Showman's Fancypreview
- Johnny O'Leary's Jigpreview
- Anach Cuainpreview
- Music in the Glenpreview
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About Fergal Scahill
Fergal Scahill is one of Ireland’s leading fiddlers and a celebrated multi-instrumentalist. Best known from the award-winning band We Banjo 3, he has performed across more than 30 countries and is admired for his energetic style, creativity, and deep connection to the Irish tradition.
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About the Fiddle
The fiddle, also known as the violin, has a long and rich history that can be traced back to the 16th century in Italy. The instrument was originally designed to be played in orchestras and other classical music settings. However, it soon became popular in folk music traditions around the world, including in regions such as Ireland, Scotland, the Nordic countries, and the Appalachian Mountains in the United States. The fiddle's popularity in these traditions can be attributed to its versatility and ability to convey emotion and tell stories through music. Today, the fiddle remains a beloved instrument in many genres of music, including folk, country, and bluegrass, and is appreciated for its beautiful sound and ability to evoke strong emotions in listeners.
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