Attending a Celtic Music Jam

On the second and last Sundays of the month, there is an Irish Music Session in Birmingham, Alabama that takes place in two different locations.  It’s a great way to expose yourself free of charge to popular Irish tunes played on flute, penny whistle, and fiddle, accompanied by instruments like guitar, a Celtic drum called a bodhran, a Celtic mandolin, or even a bouzouki.  Keep in mind that there is room to be more than a mere spectator.  If you have played Irish music on one of the listed instruments or want to learn and are fairly proficient at your instrument, you can join the circle and experience the jam firsthand.

How Does a Celtic Music Jam Differ From a Bluegrass Jam?

There is a distinct difference between a bluegrass or Old Time music jam and a Celtic music jam.  In a typical bluegrass jam, a certain song is chosen, for example, Cluck Old Hen.  Typically, a mandolin, guitar, or banjo player will lead off the tune while other instruments strum, vamp chords, or harmonize with background riffs.  There may be a singer that sings the words if the song has lyrics.  Then musicians in the circle take turns putting their own spin on the melody or performing a solo variation of the main theme.  

In a Celtic music jam, however, a set of fiddle tunes is chosen (known by most or all of the musicians), and all instruments play the melody in unison. The exceptions are the bodhran which keeps a complex but defining beat, and the guitar or another instrument that strums backup chords.  Two or more tunes are strung together, linked by multiple repetitions.  After the first tune, with all its breaks, has been played through, a certain player who is confident in leading then breaks off into the next chosen melody, followed in suit by the others. This goes on till the set of tunes is finished.  

When choosing melodies, certain types fit well for any given set.  In Irish music, there are varied types of melodies:  reels (4/4), hornpipes (4/4 with swung 8th notes), waltzes (3/4), polkas, jigs (6/8), slip jigs (9/8), or strathspeys (barn dance tunes).  The group may choose several hornpipes, a couple of jigs and a slip jig, or a set of reels.  That way the tunes match as far as timing goes and are easily slipped into and out of during the set.

Preparing for a Celtic Music Jam

If you’re desiring to take part in a Celtic music jam, it is not a challenge for the faint-hearted. Given that most of the musicians play tunes in unison by memory (some with a little help from self-compiled notebooks of numerous popular Irish fiddle tunes), you’d either need to have some already under your belt or opt to play harmony. If you have your eye on a particular jam, it would be worth your while to reach out to the organizer to request a list of tunes they most often play. With songs in hand, your homework will be trying to memorize or be able to sightread as many of these tunes as you can. Oh, and on top of that, be able to play them fast! Otherwise, you will likely be left in the dust, as seasoned Celtic musicians will typically set a fast pace. Unless you can find a special session that purposefully keeps the pace slower for novices, you’ll need to jump in at the established tempo and play like your life depends on it.

Be encouraged, though. If you just love the idea of getting your feet wet, then bring your guitar and strum chords. Often, more seasoned guitarists will use alternate tunings like DADGAD or DGDGBD, which would make it challenging for you to watch their lefthand fingers for the chord changes. One thing you should know is that Irish tunes don’t follow the typical I-IV-V chord progression that bluegrass and old time tunes do.  The tunes are modal. You may start in the key of D, but within that song you may play a D chord, G, C, Bm, or Em chord. There is no strong I-V cadence (a D-A).  It is challenging to know what to play if you don’t have a strong ear or experience with Celtic music.  Some study on Celtic harmony would do you good if you have a goal to sit in on a session as a rhythm player.  

The Birmingham Irish Music Session

In past visits to the Birmingham Irish Music Session, I’ve chatted with a few of the regulars, curious as to whether or not they had been raised on Celtic music or discovered it later in life.  Jil Chambless of Henri’s Notions (lead singer and flutist), Vulcan Eejits!, and the Vogt Family Contraband told me that Celtic tunes were not passed down to her as part of her heritage.  She had a desire to learn that style of music on her flute as an adult and became part of the band Henri’s Notions, a Celtic band that has played in many venues and Celtic festivals across the South and East Coast.  She has built up a repertoire over many years now, and her flute is a beautiful complement to the fiddles echoing the melody, or sometimes slipping into a harmony part.   

One of the fiddlers and an original member of the jam is Kevin Nicholson who, like Jil Chambless, is involved in more than one band including Delicate Cutters, Jasper Coal, and Vulcan Eejits!.  His father was a banjo player, but as a child of six Kevin was exposed to Celtic music around the time that he started learning the fiddle. He fell in love with Irish fiddle tunes and so has had a lifetime of learning.

Another founding member of the group who is also a current organizer is Mickey Hicks, who picked up the bodhran as an adult.  He had done a lot of research about various types and had run across Seamus O’Kane, a leading bodhran maker who resides in Ireland.  His son Dairmaid O’Kane had started making bodhrans and Mickey was fortunate to obtain one of his creations online and then studied the drumming style.  A good free instructional site he recommends is http://bodhranexpert.com for those interested in learning it. 

Conclusion

If you have no greater desire than to spend an afternoon or evening listening to some fine Irish music, or if you would like to play, Celtic music jams can be found in most larger cities across the US through an internet search.  If you are in the Birmingham, Alabama area, you are cordially invited to attend the Birmingham Celtic Music Session. The jam takes place the second Sunday of every month from 5-8 pm at the Casual Pint in Hoover, Alabama, and the fourth Sunday 5-8 pm at the Oh Sherri Pub in Moody, Alabama.