Workshops & Masterclasses for traditional Irish guitar
Guitar Workshops in West Cork
We offer you a full day of learning how to accompany Irish music with the guitar in our relaxed and inspiring location in Ardfield, West Cork.
Learn How To Accompany Irish Music With The Guitar
Saturday 18 January 2025
Time: 10am to 4pm
Where: Clonakilty, West Cork
Cost : €150
includes refreshment and lunch.
Level:
This workshop is for students 18+ and playing at an intermediate level on the guitar.
One day guitar workshop for players looking to improve their skills. Participants should be familiar with guitar tablature and basic guitar forms. We will look at rhythms, chord shapes, exploration of open tuning and much more.
About the workshop
- Are you an accomplished guitar player but have never played traditional Irish music?
- Are you starting out with Irish trad and would love to improve your skills?
- Would you like to join in a traditional Irish music session?
- Or would you simply like to be able to accompany friends or family playing Irish music?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, this is the workshop for you!
We will look at rhythms, chord shapes, an exploration of double drop D tuning, developing fingerstyle techniques, harnessing the power of altered tuning, arranging well known tunes/songs and more. There will also be a guest musician to play melody!
This is a full day of learning from 10am until 4pm with a mid-morning break and lunch from 1pm – 2pm. All refreshments and lunch are included. The venue is in the beautiful village of Ardfield, approximately 10 mins from Clonakilty in West Cork. A maximum of eight spaces are available to ensure best teaching practice.
This workshop is for students 18+ and playing at an intermediate level on the guitar. That said, if you consider yourself more of a beginner, but you’re up for the challenge, you will of course be fully included.
Limited accommodation options are available in our air b & b and non-playing partners are welcome.
What people are saying about Jim's masterclasses
"I recently attended Jim Murray's guitar workshop on traditional music, and it was a fantastic experience! Jim’s structured approach made learning seamless as he broke down each tune into bite-sized sections. We focused on rhythm for contrasting dance tunes, which really enhanced my understanding of each tune type. His explanations were clear and insightful, and he took the time to discuss why he selected specific chords for each tune, deepening our appreciation for the music.
Jim is a fantastic teacher who creates a fun and engaging atmosphere. He welcomed all questions, big or small, ensuring that everyone felt comfortable and included. By the end of the day, I walked away with hours of material and techniques to practice, feeling truly inspired. I can’t wait for the next workshop! If you're looking to enhance your skills in traditional music, I highly recommend joining one of Jim's classes. Thank you, Jim, for such a wonderful experience."
"I joined Jim's masterclass and walked away with new approaches to back melodies. Jim broke down his way of thinking step by step. I applied Jim's teaching to backing tunes right over the coming days with great success. Jims teaches a holistic method to accompaniment in traditional Irish music which helped me as a banjo player as well"
"Thanks Jim for that great day of introducing us to the double drop D style of guitar playing. The course you set up was very well structured for getting students of all levels involved, helping them understand chord selection, but most importantly for me, it was great to get direction from you on the various versions of the chord shapes that you use."
"I had a wonderful time at Jim's one day workshop in Irish trad guitar accompaniment. As a player experienced in other genres the course description was exactly what I was looking for. Jim's expertise and teaching style were of great benefit to me and I would highly recommend attendance."
Our Accommodation
West Cork Escape, Ardfield, Clonakilty
Fabulous accommodation is located in Ardfield village on the Wild Atlantic Way in the heart of West Cork. We are located 7km from the award winning and vibrant town of Clonakilty, 9km from the picturesque town of Rosscarbery and 2km from our nearest beach, Red Strand.
Clonakilty is home to a rich food and music culture and boasts a great lineup of festivals throughout the year. Rock, pop, traditional sessions in local pubs, Irish and international acts and gigs at the world famous DeBarras Folk Club.
The accommodation is a 50 minute drive from Cork City and Cork Airport and is ideal for exploring the beautiful counties of Cork and Kerry. Contact us to book direct.