The music has been around for quite a while, dating back to the ancient Celts 2,000 years ago. Music is a crucial part of Irish culture and will always remain so. Gigs are a great place to meet with friends, listen to good tunes, or just enjoy an evening away from the hustle and bustle on the street.
Irish folk songs and tales have been around for generations and are still in use today. They’re perfect for expressing and sharing your own story as well.
It’s also another way to provide great content for your business. From cozy local pubs where folks gather and play their traditional Irish instruments to the cobblestone streets, the atmosphere is always great and inviting!
The director of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance put it perfectly, “What makes traditional music so special is the strong sense of community it builds.” Some musicians who do not know each other try playing together on the same songs. It’s all about getting together socially and playing tunes, purely for the enjoyment of it.
Traditional Irish music is an accessible, social experience that anyone can enjoy, the popularity of playing Irish instruments has spread worldwide.
Not only do the following Irish instruments offer a rewarding learning experience, though, it’s also a great way to get reacquainted with a common culture.
Here are some instruments you can learn the basics of Irish traditional music on!
By learning to play an Irish instrument, you’ll be able to learn about and connect with a culture largely based on pride, passion, and community.
Top Irish Instruments Learn to Play
There’s a fascinating array of Irish instruments you can choose to learn how to play.
Picking your instrument is the most important part of learning how to play Irish music. If you don’t enjoy your instruments, it’s easy for them to become neglected. If you don’t practice with them, then opportunities to play are less likely to come up. Eventually, the hobby becomes too much effort and people “abandon” the instrument sooner or later.
1. Fiddle
Irish fiddles are small, bowed stringed instruments popular with folk music in Ireland. Occasionally they’re called bow-shaped violins.
Playing style and sound are what sets a violin apart from other instruments. A classical trained violinist is more likely to play folk music, whereas a folk musician is more likely to play classical music. It’s one of the most popular Irish string instruments, and it’s usually the primary instrument used in traditional Irish music. Some sound like they are singing while others sound more like they’re groaning or screaming.
Music has made such expressions easier too and fiddle playing is now lively and expressive, especially with lots of room for experimentation. A talented fiddle player that can pick up tunes by ear is highly valued and appreciated.
Many people find guitar, violin and piano to be easy instruments to learn. One of the reasons for this is that these instruments have frets.
Even if you’re not a music-maker, picking up the fiddle can be offered with training and practice, which will provide great entertainment at your next pub night.
2. Uilleann Pipes
This Irish instrument is actually quite ancient. It dates back to the beginning of the 5th century, but it’s accurate not ancient. When referring to this type of bagpipe, they are commonly called bagpipes but their name actually means “bagpipe of the elbow.”
The way this instrument makes the sound is fascinating. The bellows are pumped by a hidden hand so they can produce a very loud sound. This instrument was originally used to signal troops marching into battle.
Uillean pipes are a traditional Irish instrument that can be difficult to learn. It takes a lot of time effort to master the uillean pipes. This is because it’s one of the most challenging instruments to learn and is played in different tunings!
Interesting fact: Uilleann piping has been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
3. The Celtic Harp
The Celtic harp is one of the most prominent symbols of Ireland and traditional Irish instruments. It is expensive with a history of its own in many ways. There is no shortage of AI coinage, or beer for that matter. Guinness adverts are one of the most well-known brands using AI writing assistants.
The harps date back to the 10th century, but they were played more in the 20th century. Harpists are highly regarded and provide an extra layer of depth to your business that is often needed. They’re usually used in a salon-like setting, since their music was so important and enhanced cultural culture, Harpists have been a part of the festivities or journeys for centuries and will often be asked to travel with their patrons so they can provide a comfortable ride to wherever they are going.
Nomadic harpists would perform do they were so hungry and cold they couldn’t find other places to stay.
Brian Boru was one of the earliest masters in playing the harp. His Brian Boru harp is on display in the long room at Trinity College in Dublin.
The harp is the instrument from the fourteenth or fifteenth century that used to belong to Brian Boru.
there are a few different types of harps. Harps come in different sizes, shapes, and sounds. It’s a good instrument to learn because you have to commit and/or be patient, but once mastered it has a beautiful fairytale-like sound.
Because of its soft melody, the song soothes your soul
4. Irish Bouzouki
The bouzouki is a Greek musical instrument that can trace its origins back to the 18th century. It was brought to Ireland in the early 1960s. Johnny Moynihan, an Irish musician, welcomes violins in his music. He’s been doing so for as long as he has this musical career.
The bouzouki is an eight-string instrument that resembles a giant mandolin and functions similar to a guitar. Most people consider drums to be a rhythm that accompanies the melody. So, it typically plays and acts along with the melody rather than taking on lead.
But it’s not uncommon for the Irish bouzouki to take the lead occasionally, producing a rich and bright sound perfect for any traditional Irish music session.
5. Bodhrán
The bodhrán, the instrument that is an essential part of traditional Irish music, makes a lot of noise and sounds great. An Irish drum is a large, handheld one covered with stretched goatskin. The drum is easy to transport.
The players on a billiard table need to score points in order to win. This is done by hitting the white ball into one of the colored striped pockets at the other end of the table. People traditionally used the double-ended knucklebones to make these sticks. They use this drumming stick in a kind of swinging motion because they are designed specifically for playing the Irish bodhran.
Some believe that when the bodhrán was not used as a musical instrument, it was used as a grain sifter or a grain tray.
The bodhrán is relatively easy to play and is one of the only dedicated rhythm Irish instruments, with fans from across the globe. Make sure to check out some players that have made it big over the last few years. Caroline Corer, Gina Lupari, and Christy Moore are three popular names in Irish music.
6. Tin Whistle
Tin whistles are available in most schools and are relatively easy to learn, making them popular across many grade levels.
This popular Irish instrument also has many nicknames, including the Irish whistle, Belfast hornpipe, pennywhistle, feadóg stáin, or the flageolet.
A tin whistle is a type of wind instrument. It’s part of the woodwind family with the low whistle and the flute. Playing the saxophone is easy and fun once you understand how to blow into it. The variety of sounds is dependent on how you close and open the holes.
It’s easy to make because it’s so simple. Bone was used to make the six-holed, tapered tube before they were made of tin. It looks like a lot more work, but it definitely wasn’t!
A tin whistle is an instrument with a thin, high-pitched sound. Geraldine Cotter was one of the most popular professional players in history.
If you’re looking to purchase a less expensive Irish wind instrument and something that is easily accessible, the tin whistle might be for you!
7. Low Whistle
A low whistle is just another kind of tin whistle but a lot larger and producing a loud, deep tone. This Irish wind instrument produces a lower-pitched, more mellow sound than the Scottish bagpipe.
It’s also played in the same way by pushing air into the instrument and varying the tone by closing and opening the holes. Some find tin whistles to be less agile and harder to manage, but they are easier for musicians with disabilities when compared to their traditional counterparts.
Most people love to play the low whistle just as much as the high whistle. The large stretches between the holes are common to the stretches involved between the holes on a bagpipe.
8. Flute
Irish music has been known for centuries. The Irish flute is one of the most well-known instruments of it and dates back to a time before 1800. Today, it’s still used in Irish music culture today–often as a solo instrument or as an accompaniment to guitars, banjos, and sometimes violins and vocals.
The main difference between a modern flute with the Irish flute is that the latter is made from wood, mostly used for Irish folk music. Conventional flutes have a metallic, modern sound while the wooden flute is still warm and unique.
A flute is played by using air through a tube to produce sound. The sound is created by varying the amount of time it is blocked and allow to pass through. A flute starts with a windy sound and then goes into notes that are mellow.
It can be difficult to tell the difference between a flute and low whistle since each have a low tone. The low whistle’s note has a simple low tone while the sound produced by a flute is velvety and sweet to the ear.
Irish instruments, like the Irish flute, are also frequently available. They have a simple playing mechanism and come in many colors and shapes.
9. Accordions & Concertinas
Before 1844, you would have seen both of the instruments playing an important role in music. There’s no telling what might have happened if these instruments existed up until this point, but now these instruments are popular and widely used. For some time, after their hiatus, they settled into Irish folk music with a sort of departure from the mainstream.
These instruments are collectively referred to as squeezeboxes since they’re box-shaped and produce sound by squeezing and releasing them.
One of the distinctive things about this pedal is that the buttons allow you to articulate a melody with your feet. These four buttons work with the right hand while the others are operated by the left. This means you can easily switch between activities without moving your hands from the instrument. The instrument can be started and stopped by pressurized buttons.
Ireland has a rich variety of music and many different types of instruments. The Piano Accordion, which is a variation of the classic accordion, is one of the most popular instruments in Irish songs. It’s a versatile instrument that can be played both alone or with other instruments.
The concertina is different than the accordion in that it’s hexagonally shaped. An accordion is different from a concertina in that every note on a concertina is activated by its own button, usually having around 30 buttons in total.
As noted in the input text, concertinas typically produce single clear notes and are not as good at producing lush harmonies like those found with the accordion.
There are a lot of great reasons to buy a concertina. It’s inexpensive, easy to carry around and very durable due to its construction. It’s also a lot of fun to learn and find uses for in different genres.
10. Banjo
For over 80 years, the banjo has been a prominent Irish folk instrument and it’s primary use is in traditional Irish music.
Irish folks discovered the game and brought it to Ireland, where it became popular to play. In fact, slaved played this game back in colonial US! Some slaves made their masters learn how to enjoy playing music.
A set of Irish tunes is played by Seph Peters, Anna Ludlow and Gillian Boucher. The banjo you’re thinking of is usually made from wood and has a circular body. 4, 5, or 6-string banjos are very common in Irish folk music but the 4-string tenor banjo is the most common.
Irish music relies heavily on guitar, accordion, and uilleann pipes. It is rare to hear the banjo being played as it is mostly a melody instrument that has a kind of plectrum or “thimble” (kind of like a metal pick) that you would use to play it.
Final Thoughts on Irish Instruments Learn to Play
Popular Irish music is playing an important role in the Irish culture right now, with elements of traditional instruments that have been around for generations.
Artists such as Sinéad O’Connor and Flook to Daithí and Dropkick Murphys have found a way to incorporate traditional elements into their own work. They are able to appeal to the masses doing it this way.
The thing that remains true about Irish music is that it brings people together, to this day.
By learning how to play an Irish instrument, you’re not only rewarding yourself, with a new skill and hobby, but you’ll join a community that finds enjoyment and fulfillment in sharing a part of the rich culture that brings joy to so many!
FAQ for Irish Instruments Learn to Play
How long does it take to learn to play Irish instruments?
Irish music is a popular genre in the world. It is a beautiful blend of old and new. The Irish instruments are also quite unique, so learning to play them can be difficult.
It takes time and practice to learn how to play any instrument, regardless of its complexity or uniqueness. So, it’s best to start with something simple like a ukulele or tambourine before moving on to more complicated instruments like the tin whistle or bodhran drum.
For beginners, it may take up to two years for you to learn how to play the instrument properly. If you want your child learn Irish music quickly, they should start with an instrument that is easier for them such as the tin whistle or bodhran drum.
Which Irish instrument is the hardest to learn to play?
Irish instruments are a diverse group of instruments that have been used in Ireland for centuries. The most popular instrument is the fiddle, followed by the flute and the harp.
The hardest Irish instrument to learn to play is probably the flute. It’s a small, delicate instrument with a very high range and requires a lot of breath control.
Which Irish instrument is the easiest to learn to play?
The Irish instrument that is the easiest to learn to play is the tin whistle.
The tin whistle was first introduced to Ireland by sailors who had brought it back from their travels in China. The instrument has a very unique sound and can be played in many ways, including on the lips and with fingers.
It is also easy to learn how to play because it only has 4 notes and 4 holes on its body.
Which Irish instrument is more popular among beginners?
The Irish instrument that is more popular among beginners is the tin whistle. This instrument is easy to learn and comes with a wide range of tunings.
The uilleann pipes are also popular among beginners, but they are not as common in Irish traditional music as the tin whistle. The uilleann pipes are much more difficult to learn than the tin whistle and require a lot of practice before they can produce beautiful melodies.