Complete Course : 30 Lessons

  • 1

    1. Introduction

  • 2

    2. Getting started

    • 1. Introduction to Tunings

    • 2. Introduction to Tune Types

    • 3.Introduction to reading chord charts and chord windows

    • 4. Introduction to Right Hand Styles
  • 3

    3. Tunes accompanied in standard tuning (EADGBE)

    • Brady's:Jigs in Bm & A:Level 2

    • Pigeon:Reels in Em & G:Level 2

    • PrettyPeg:Scotch reels in D & A: Level 1

    • Flogging:Reels in G & A: Level 3
  • 4

    4. Tunes accompanied in Dropped D (DADGBE)

    • Freds:Reels in D & G:Level 3

    • Julia:Slow reel and reel in Dm & D:Level 2

    • Cooley’s:Hornpipes in G & D:Level 1

    • Policeman:Reels in Bm, D & D: Level 2

    • Geoghan's:Reels in G,Em & D:Level 3

    • Gorman's:Reels in D & G:Level 1

    • Chimney:Hornpipes in D & D:Level 2

    • Tinker:Reels in Am & Em: Level 3
  • 5

    5. Tunes accompanied in Double Dropped D (DADGBD)

    • Eddies:Jigs in Em & D:Level 2

    • Pigtown:Reels in G & D:Level 1

    • Rambler:Jigs in Am,D & G:Level 3

    • Birmingham:Reels in G & Em: Level 2

    • Liverpool:Hornpipes in D & D:Level 1

    • Fig:slip-jigs in D & Em:Level 2

    • Bucks:Reels in D & D:Level 2

    • Frieze:Jigs in D & D:Level 2

    • Mill's:Reels in G & G:Level 1

    • Jenny's:Reels in Em & Em:Level 3

    • Canavan's:Slip-jig/jig in G & G:Level 2

    • Garry:Reel in D:Level 1

    • Devines:Jigs in G & G:Level 1
  • 6

    6. Tunes accompanied in DADGAD

    • Mist:Jigs in Am & G:Level 1

    • O’Neill:Jigs in D & Am:Level 2

    • Trip:Jigs in D & E:Level 1

    • Darling:Jigs in D & G:Level 2

    • Shoemaker:Reels in G & A:Level 1
  • 7

    7.Steady strum (right hand style)

    • Brady's:Jigs in Bm & A:Level 2

    • Eddies:Jigs in Em & D:Level 2

    • Darling:Jigs in D & G:Level 2

    • Rambler:Jigs in Am,D & G:Level 3

    • Birmingham:Reels in G & Em: Level 2

    • Geoghan's:Reels in G,Em & D:Level 3

    • Fig:slip-jigs in D & Em:Level 2

    • Frieze:Jigs in D & D:Level 2

    • Mill's:Reels in G & G:Level 1

    • Canavan's:Slip-jig/jig in G & G:Level 2

    • Garry:Reel in D:Level 1

    • Devines:Jigs in G & G:Level 1
  • 8

    8.Syncopated Strum (right hand style)

    • Freds:Reels in D & G:Level 3

    • Policeman:Reels in Bm, D & D: Level 2

    • Jenny's:Reels in Em & Em:Level 3

    • Tinker:Reels in Am & Em: Level 3
  • 9

    9.Shetland Swing (right hand style)

    • Flogging:Reels in G & A: Level 3
  • 10

    10.Bass strum (right hand style)

    • Pigeon:Reels in Em & G:Level 2
  • 11

    11. Plectrum-picked chords into steady strum (right hand style)

    • Julia:Slow reel and reel in Dm & D:Level 2

    • Pigtown:Reels in G & D:Level 1

    • Mist:Jigs in Am & G:Level 1

    • Trip:Jigs in D & E:Level 1

    • Shoemaker:Reels in G & A:Level 1

    • O’Neill:Jigs in D & Am:Level 2
  • 12

    12.Finger-picked chords(right hand style)

    • PrettyPeg:Scotch reels in D & A: Level 1

    • Cooley’s:Hornpipes in G & D:Level 1

    • Liverpool:Hornpipes in D & D:Level 1

    • Gorman's:Reels in D & G:Level 1

    • Chimney:Hornpipes in D & D:Level 2

    • Bucks:Reels in D & D:Level 2
  • 13

    Supplementary Information

    • List of musicians on the videos

    • Accompanying Tunes effectively.

Why a Video course?

Video lessons are the best way to show how it's done.

  • With the subtleties of rhythm guitar, seeing what’s going on in real time can convey the information better than any other medium.

  • split screen videos - close-up on each hand

  • Slow down feature - examine each hand movement

  • Each video lesson is supplemented by chord charts and chord windows, and an mp3 of the melody played solo for you to play along with when you're ready.

  • guitar and melody panned left and right - hear either instrument clearly

Frank Kilkelly

Frank Kilkelly has been playing Irish guitar accompaniment professionally for over 30 years. He has played, toured and recorded with many of traditional Irish music's leading musicians including Sharon Shannon, De Danann, Alan Kelly, Randal Bays, Mairtin O’Connor, Cathal Hayden, Dermot Byrne, and many more. The lessons here are based exactly on his two acclaimed books. They cover a range of tune types, tunings, and right hand styles on steel and nylon strung guitars.

Extra stuff...

  • Book Coupon

    You may like to have a real book on front of you when you're learning, or if you're travelling: Avail of a book and CD for the vastly discounted price of €10 each when you enrol on any course.

  • Discussion Pages

    Each lesson has a discussion page, where students can ask questions, make comments, give feedback, etc. Other students can respond, and I am on hand for any queries.

Book reviews

"Very complete"

"In three months, I've made a lot of progress. (I play guitar but I'm used to blues/rock and pop songs.) Unlike others, this production is very complete, full of good advice and very very understandable tips. The CD is well recorded, you hear exactly what he plays and the notation is 99% suited to the CD, which is rarely the case with other methods. I am a teacher in science and mathematics, very demanding about clearness and with this book I found exactly what I was looking for." Gervais Pradervand, Switzerland    

"a great teaching style"

"There are a few instructional series out on the market now but yours is truly the best I have come across. You have a great teaching style, something that is lacking in other books" Lin Shields Swicker, USA

"a great experience for me"

“It is a real challenge for me to meet Irish Music with modern guitar comping. Dealing with your books I found a very fast approach to the stuff, especially the changing to DADGAD was a great experience for me and extremely helpful. I like the structure of your books handling examples in each tuning and the different examples of playing styles are great. Also the representative collection of different kind of tunes. And I think it is enjoyable reading, too.” Dr.Stefan Weigelt, Germany.

"musically impeccable”

“Outstanding book. I buy and use many, and yours is exceptional--well-organized, really far- and wide-ranging, beautifully laid-out, clear for the learner, and musically impeccable.” Chris Allan, Seattle.

"pleased with the musicality"

"Just a note to say thanks for getting my copy of your book to me so quickly. Really enjoying it. I'm particularly pleased with the musicality of the recordings." Dan Leighton, UK

"Frank is entirely practical in his advice"

Irish Music Magazine (Book one)

For such a slim volume Frank’s book packs in an enormous amount.  There is no need to look any further for history, background development or technical detail on guitar playing in Irish music.  I suppose the real delight in this book is how easy it is to access and follow information and instruction at whatever level you enter the guitar arena….Frank is entirely practical in his advice….

"pragmatically innovative and sufficiently detailed"

The Journal of Music In Ireland (Book One)

There are several facets of Kilkelly’s tutoring method that are both pragmatically innovative and sufficiently detailed to keep even the dedicated scholar busy for some considerable time…..from the very beginning the scholar has an opportunity to approach accompaniment in tuning of their choice while gaining and understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of the other tunings available…..I like Frank Kilkelly’s book

"explains how to accompany tunes effectively"

Acoustic Guitar Magazine (Book One)

Written from a professional accompanist’s point of view…… explains how to accompany tunes effectively and provides tips on choosing the right equipment….Guitarists will also benefit from this book’s section on music theory

"an invaluable asset"

Magpie Magazine (Book One)

Nothing is assumed in Frank Kilkelly’s new book…..the reader is eager to seriously learn something of the accompaniment of Irish traditional music on guitar…..an invaluable asset to guitar players be they from a traditional background or not.

FAQ

  • It says there are 69 lessons, but it also says there are 30. Which is it?

    There are 30 unique video lessons, but they are listed by tuning, and again by right hand style. There are also detailed lessons on tunings, right-hand styles, etc, making a total of 69!

  • Which course is best for me?

    Course One has a lot of more basic approaches, and uses a wider variety of tunings and right hand styles, some of which you may be familiar with. Course Two focuses on Dropped D and Double dropped D tunings, has more contemporary upbeat right hand styles. Complete Course has both smaller courses combined.

  • Which tuning should I use?

    If you haven't experimented with alternative tunings, Course One will introduce you to four different tunings, EADGBE, DADGBE, DADGBD and DADGAD. So I would start there, and cultivate your taste in how they sound. Course Two focuses on DADGBE and DADGBD.

  • What are the payment options?

    A one-off payment is the only option, in return for lifetime access. Enrolment also entitles you to a copy of my books/CDs for a fraction of the regular price, with a coupon for my website.