Using a Capo, Part 2: Capo 5

from: Irish Backup Guitar with Flynn Cohen

This lesson is part of the course Irish Backup Guitar with Flynn Cohen.

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Learn to accompany jigs and reels and other traditional Irish dance tunes in the style pioneered by Irish guitar greats Paul Brady, Mícheál Ó Dhomhnaill, and Dáithí Sproule and used at Irish seisiúns. With chord voicings, rhythm patterns, and practice tracks.

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THE JIG RHYTHM

Jigs are the other most commonly played dance form in Irish traditional music. The 6/8 jig rhythm is unique and has a specific strumming pattern and a particular feel. Beginning jig players often use an alternating picking pattern, but to get the right feel, it’s usually better to use a down-up-down, down-up-down pattern. Flynn demonstrates the pattern and gives you a couple of exercises to help you get used to the pattern.

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The Irish Backup Guitar Subscription Includes:

A step-by-step approach to mastering Irish backup guitar technique
36 extensive video lessons using dropped-D tuning and DADGAD
Lessons on accompanying 29 traditional Irish tunes, including reels, jigs, hornpipes, O'Carolan tunes, and more
Tab/notation and/or chord charts for all lessons
High-quality video with multiple camera angles so you can see closeups of both hands in action
Play-Along Tracks so you can practice what you’ve learned

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USING A CAPO

Using a Capo, Part 1: Capo 2

Using a Capo, Part 2: Capo 5

Using a Capo, Part 3: Capo 7

Using a Capo, Part 2: Capo 5

Putting the capo on the fifth fret in DADGAD is great for playing tunes in G. In this position D shapes sound as G, G shapes sound as C, A shapes sound as D, and C shapes sound as F. This makes it a great way to get DADGAD walking-bass sounds in the key of G, giving your G tunes a more open sound, and it’s a great place to play tunes in G modal. You can use the practice tracks for “Out on the Ocean” and “The Red-Haired Lass” to practice playing in G with the capo at the fifth fret.

Previous Lesson

← Using a Capo, Part 1: Capo 2

Next Lesson

Using a Capo, Part 3: Capo 7 →

Previous Lesson

← Using a Capo, Part 1: Capo 2

Next Lesson

Using a Capo, Part 3: Capo 7 →

Previous Lesson

← Using a Capo, Part 1: Capo 2

Next Lesson

Using a Capo, Part 3: Capo 7 →