1
John Ryan's
Two short parts and a tune nearly everyone knows. Often the first tune taught.
Most often followed by Denis Murphy's (41 members play them as a set)
20 tunes to learn for your first Irish session
Every session has its own tunes, but some turn up almost everywhere. These 20 are the ones players recommend most to someone heading to their first session, grouped in the order most teachers suggest learning them.
Learn them in the pairs they’re played in. When someone starts The Kesh, you’ll know Morrison’s is probably coming next.
Open all 20 as a tunebookUpdated
Polkas
Short, bouncy and forgiving at any speed. Most teachers start here.
2
The Britches Full Of Stitches
Learn it in A first: it skips the awkward high D, then move it to D.
Most often followed by John Ryan's (75 members play them as a set)
3
Denis Murphy's
Usually played just before John Ryan's, often with The Forty-Two Pound Cheque between them.
Most often followed by John Ryan's (96 members play them as a set)
Jigs
Three quavers to the beat. These six come up at almost every session.
4
The Kesh
The most recommended first tune on The Session's forum, by a long way.
Most often followed by Morrison's (233 members play them as a set)
5
Morrison's
Usually played straight after The Kesh. Learn the pair.
Most often followed by The Kesh (154 members play them as a set)
6
Out On The Ocean
A G major jig with a lift, and The Kesh's other favourite partner.
Most often followed by The Kesh (88 members play them as a set)
7
The Connaughtman's Rambles
Bright and in D; a good test of keeping the rhythm steady.
Most often followed by Out On The Ocean (72 members play them as a set)
8
Tripping Up The Stairs
Simple runs that sit well under the fingers on whistle and fiddle.
Most often followed by My Darling Asleep (30 members play them as a set)
9
The Blarney Pilgrim
Played everywhere, often after Banish Misfortune.
Most often followed by The Kesh (86 members play them as a set)
Slip jigs
Nine beats to the bar. Fewer of them get played, so two cover most sessions.
10
The Butterfly
The slip jig. If a session plays one, it's this.
Most often followed by The Kid On The Mountain (141 members play them as a set)
11
The Kid On The Mountain
The usual partner for The Butterfly.
Most often followed by An Phis Fhliuch (52 members play them as a set)
Hornpipes
Slower and dotted. A good place to work on swing.
12
The Boys Of Bluehill
The friendliest hornpipe, and it leads into The Harvest Home.
Most often followed by The Harvest Home (184 members play them as a set)
13
The Harvest Home
Played after The Boys of Bluehill by more members than any other hornpipe pair.
Most often followed by The Boys Of Bluehill (120 members play them as a set)
Reels
The bulk of any session, and the fastest. Learn them slowly and they'll come up to speed.
14
Drowsy Maggie
The most-saved tune on The Session. It almost plays itself.
Most often followed by Cooley's (201 members play them as a set)
15
Cooley's
The reel everyone knows. It leads into Drowsy Maggie, The Wise Maid or The Maid Behind the Bar.
Most often followed by The Wise Maid (249 members play them as a set)
16
The Wise Maid
The usual follower for Cooley's.
Most often followed by Cooley's (77 members play them as a set)
17
The Silver Spear
A D major reel with an easy shape. A favourite first reel.
Most often followed by The Earl's Chair (92 members play them as a set)
18
The Maid Behind The Bar
You'll hear it at virtually every session.
Most often followed by Cooley's (90 members play them as a set)
19
The Banshee
Sits in G and pairs with The Sailor's Bonnet.
Most often followed by The Sailor's Bonnet (138 members play them as a set)
20
The Sally Gardens
A gentle G major reel; a good one to bring up to speed.
Most often followed by The Silver Spear (81 members play them as a set)
How this list was made
Three signals, then judgement. We read 37 beginner and first-session threads on The Session’s forum (1,221 posts) and counted how many different people named each tune. We checked those against published beginner lists, and against how many of The Session’s members keep each tune in their tunebook. The Kesh came top of the forum count, named by 30 different people.
From the tunes that scored well, we kept the ones that are easy to get under the fingers and that turn up in common sets, with a few of each type, so you can join in whatever comes next. The “followed by” counts come from the 131,562 sets saved by 11,646 members of The Session.
- Siamsa: Best beginner tunes in Irish traditional music
- McNeela Music: The best beginner tunes for all traditional Irish instruments
- Chiff & Fipple: Best session tunes for beginners to learn
Know which tunes go together next: the most popular session sets.