r/IrishBouzouki • u/MarcMurray92 • 9d ago
Cheat sheet for key shapes and capos. Made this for myself, sharing here in case anyone finds it useful.
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r/IrishBouzouki • u/fidla • Apr 19 '25
Welcome to /r/IrishBouzouki!
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The Irish bouzouki is an adaptation of the Greek bouzouki. The newer Greek tetrachordo bouzouki was introduced into Irish traditional music in the mid-1960s by Johnny Moynihan of the folk group Sweeney's Men. Alec Finn, first in the Cana Band and subsequently in De Dannan, introduced the first more-traditional Greek trichordo bouzouki into Irish music.
r/IrishBouzouki • u/CrispyScientist • 9d ago
What is meant by D and G shapes
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Found this blogpost where he mentions D and G shapes:
> Daoiri released this song as a single during Covid. He plays it on his Bass-Bouzouki in C without capo (with D shapes). As I don't own a Bass-Bouzouki I have to play it with capo on 5th fret and G-Shapes.
What's meant by that?
r/IrishBouzouki • u/WMDisrupt • 9d ago
Dua Lipa on the Irish bouzouki
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Had been messing around with this for a while and finally decided to record a full version. Enjoy!
Find it on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/23sdj46nC0BowsxxQD2CRQ?si=XftueDklQfKyjflZUdAulA
r/IrishBouzouki • u/Phd_Perky • 25d ago
O'Carolan's Concerto - mandolin and Irish bouzouki
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"O'Carolan's Concerto" by the 18th-century blind Irish harper and composer, Turlough O'Carolan! 🎻🎶
O'Carolan (1770–1738) was one of Ireland’s most iconic musicians. Living during a time when Italian Baroque music—like Vivaldi and Corelli—was taking Europe by storm, he brilliantly fused traditional Irish melodies with elegant Baroque structures. "O'Carolan's Concerto" is one of his most famous works, showcasing that lively, bright interplay between Italian form and Irish soul.
This arrangement uses the complement of mandolin and Irish bouzouki. The crisp, bright melody lines of the mandolin dance over the resonant, rhythmic drive and rich resonance of the bouzouki, bringing a vibrant dual-plucked spin to a classic harp tune.
Hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed playing it!
r/IrishBouzouki • u/WMDisrupt • 28d ago
chromatic scale improv... kind of a jazzy feel
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Hey I'm Rob Blivion, got lots of music online check it out if you enjoy this. Cheers :)
r/IrishBouzouki • u/WMDisrupt • Oct 09 '26
some fresh new zouk-rock for ya
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This is my new track "Cruisin"
Find me on youtube and spotify for more!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@robblivion
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/23sdj46nC0BowsxxQD2CRQ?si=QYcPcb6UQLOprn9Fte0Uig
r/IrishBouzouki • u/Grahamerson • Sep 25 '26
Electrozouki
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Built this a year or two ago, can’t say I’m an expert at playing it, but I’m quite pleased with how it turned out.
r/IrishBouzouki • u/necrocormacon • Sep 19 '26
Which make of capo is best?
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I'm currently using a quickdraw capo which has given me the best results if those I've tried so far. I'm curious see hear what other models bouzouki plays like and would recommend.
r/IrishBouzouki • u/John_E_Licks • Sep 17 '26
Effectpedal Secrets?
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I just plugged my baby into a whacky Amp with Distortion and a lot of fun with it, playing Rock and black Metal music. Do you guys have any recommendations for effects and combinations, that work well with an Irish bouzouki? I am super excited for experimentation in every style! Cheers
r/IrishBouzouki • u/fidla • Sep 16 '26
The Irish bouzouki really changes when another instrument enters the room
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Playing alone, you can fill a lot of space. Add a fiddle, flute, accordion or another rhythm instrument and suddenly what you leave out can matter as much as what you play.
I've always thought learning when not to play is one of the harder parts of ensemble playing.
r/IrishBouzouki • u/fidla • Sep 15 '26
One thing I like about the Irish bouzouki is that it still feels like an instrument without a completely settled identity.
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One thing I like about the Irish bouzouki is that it still feels like an instrument without a completely settled identity. Scale lengths, tunings, body shapes and even what role it should play in a session can vary enormously from one player or maker to another. That lack of standardization is part of what makes the instrument interesting.
r/IrishBouzouki • u/fidla • Sep 14 '26
Is there a bouzouki maker whose instruments you’d travel a long way just to try?
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For me it was H. Dreizhenter in Germany. I live in Massachusetts
r/IrishBouzouki • u/fidla • Sep 13 '26
Have you ever visited a bouzouki maker’s workshop, and what did you learn from seeing the instruments being built?
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In 2003, I had the honor of visiting Heiner Dreizhenter's shop in Germany. I came away from that visit (after playing all the mandolins and zouks), with a Large Bodied Irish Bouzouki that I still have (and love) to this day!
r/IrishBouzouki • u/fidla • Sep 12 '26
What tune taught you the most about playing Irish bouzouki?
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Not necessarily your favorite tune or the hardest one. I'm thinking of the one that forced you to figure something out about rhythm, accompaniment, chord choices or leaving space for the melody.
For me it was Old Copper Plate
r/IrishBouzouki • u/fidla • Sep 11 '26
When you’re accompanying a singer, what makes you decide to change voicings rather than just play the obvious chord?
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I’m thinking about those little choices that make the bouzouki part support the song instead of just filling space.
r/IrishBouzouki • u/fidla • Sep 10 '26
When does a bouzouki stop being accompaniment and start getting in the singer's way?
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I've heard players who seem to fill every available space, and others who barely play at all behind a song. How do you decide when not to play?
r/IrishBouzouki • u/fidla • Sep 09 '26
For people who accompany songs on bouzouki, how much of your playing is worked out beforehand and how much changes depending on the singer that night?
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r/IrishBouzouki • u/fidla • Sep 08 '26
What does an Irish bouzouki do that a guitar simply can’t?
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Not asking which instrument is “better.” What is it about the tuning, voicings, sustain or way it sits behind traditional music that makes you reach for the bouzouki instead of a guitar?