The Tunes That Start Every Session
Essential Irish Music Books for Trad Month at Musicmaker
If you’ve ever wandered into a proper Irish trad session, you’ll know the feeling.
A tune starts somewhere in the corner of the room — maybe a fiddle quietly launching into a reel — and within seconds the whole table joins in. Whistles pick up the melody, guitars fall into rhythm, the bodhrán finds the pulse, and suddenly the room is alive.
But behind almost every great trad player lies something surprisingly humble:
Trad music is passed down by ear, yes — but for generations of musicians, session tune books have been the gateway into the tradition, helping players learn melodies, understand structures, and build the repertoire needed to join the circle.
With Trad Month and St Patrick’s Day on the horizon, Musicmaker has just received a fantastic shipment of Irish music books that are perfect for players looking to expand their session repertoire.
Whether you’re a guitarist, whistle player, fiddler or ukulele enthusiast, these books are full of tunes waiting to be played.
Let’s dive in.
The Session Bible
Irish Session Tunes – The Blue Book
For many musicians, the Irish Session Tunes Blue Book is the first real step into the world of trad sessions.
Packed with dozens of classic Irish reels, jigs, hornpipes and polkas, it has become something of a rite of passage for players learning traditional music. The tunes inside appear again and again in sessions across Ireland and beyond, making it an invaluable reference for anyone hoping to join the circle
What makes the Blue Book so useful is its focus on core session repertoire. These are the tunes that musicians tend to know, the melodies that appear in pub sessions from Cork to Donegal.
For beginners it provides a clear path into the tradition. For experienced players it’s a brilliant refresher and a handy reminder of those tunes that always seem to pop up unexpectedly during a lively session.
If you’re serious about learning Irish traditional music, the Blue Book is a must-have.
The Next Step Into the Session
Irish Session Tunes – The Orange Book
Once you’ve worked your way through the Blue Book, the Irish Session Tunes Orange Book is the natural next stop.
This companion volume expands the repertoire further, introducing another collection of beloved session tunes that appear frequently in trad circles. Think of it as the second chapter in the great session tune library.
Together, the Blue and Orange books form an incredibly powerful toolkit for musicians building their trad repertoire. Between them they cover a huge range of tunes commonly played in Irish sessions, giving players the confidence to join in wherever the music takes them.
And once you start learning these tunes, something magical happens: you begin to recognise them everywhere.
Sessions suddenly become familiar territory.
Guitarists, This One’s for You
The Irish DADGAD Guitar Book
In Irish traditional music, the guitar plays a special role.
Rather than leading the melody, it provides the harmonic foundation and rhythmic drive that supports the tune. And one of the most beloved tunings for trad guitar is DADGAD.
The Irish DADGAD Guitar Book explores this distinctive tuning in depth, helping guitarists unlock its beautiful, open resonance. DADGAD creates rich suspended chords and modal textures that fit perfectly with the character of Irish traditional melodies.
For players who want to accompany reels, jigs and airs in a more authentic way, learning DADGAD can be a revelation. The tuning allows guitarists to create lush, flowing accompaniment patterns that blend seamlessly with fiddles, whistles and pipes.
It’s an inspiring book for guitarists who want to move beyond standard tuning and step deeper into the world of trad.
The Songs Everyone Knows
The Words of 100 Irish Songs and Ballads
Not every trad gathering is about instrumental tunes.
Sometimes the music slows down, the room gets quieter, and someone begins to sing.
Irish ballads have a powerful storytelling tradition, and The Words of 100 Irish Songs and Ballads gathers together many of the songs that generations of singers have shared in pubs, homes and concert halls.
From heartfelt laments to rousing rebel songs, these lyrics capture the spirit of Irish folk music. They’re perfect for singers, session musicians, or anyone who loves the rich storytelling tradition that runs through Irish music.
Because sometimes the best instrument in the room is simply a voice and a great song.
A Trad Twist for Ukulele Players
Irish Songs for Ukulele
The ukulele might not be the first instrument that comes to mind when you think of Irish trad — but it’s becoming increasingly popular among folk musicians.
Compact, cheerful and wonderfully versatile, the uke is perfect for strumming along with ballads and folk songs.
Irish Songs for Ukulele brings a collection of classic Irish melodies and songs to the instrument, making it easy for uke players to join the fun. With accessible arrangements and familiar tunes, it’s a brilliant way for players to bring a little Irish flavour into their repertoire.
And once you start strumming these songs, you’ll quickly realise how naturally the ukulele fits into a lively folk session.
FAQ
What books are best for learning Irish trad tunes?
The Irish Session Tunes Blue Book and Orange Book are widely considered essential resources for learning traditional Irish session repertoire.
What is the Irish Session Tunes Blue Book?
The Blue Book is a collection of commonly played Irish traditional tunes including reels, jigs and hornpipes that appear regularly in trad sessions.
What is DADGAD tuning used for?
DADGAD tuning is popular in Irish traditional guitar playing because it produces rich, open chord voicings that work beautifully with traditional melodies.
Are there Irish music books for ukulele?
Yes. Books like Irish Songs for Ukulele allow players to learn traditional songs and folk tunes arranged specifically for the ukulele.
Can beginners learn Irish trad music from books?
Yes. Tune books provide an excellent starting point for beginners, helping them learn melodies and build a repertoire before joining trad sessions.
Trad Month at Musicmaker
March is when Irish traditional music truly comes alive.
Sessions multiply. Musicians gather. Instruments come out of cases that haven’t been opened since last summer. And tunes travel around the room faster than anyone can write them down.
At Musicmaker, we’re celebrating Trad Month with a great range of Irish tune books, instruments and session essentials, helping players of all levels dive into the tradition.
Because the truth is simple:
Trad music survives when people play it.
So grab a whistle. Pick up a fiddle. Tune the guitar. Learn a tune or two.
And when the next session starts, you’ll be ready.
Check out all our current Irish Music Books HERE.