Traditional Irish B/C Box Bass and Chord Tune Transcriptionsmichaeleskin.com/transcriptions/michael_eskin_bc_box...bass and chord indications for players learning to play the bass

Traditional Irish B/C Box

Bass and Chord Tune Transcriptions

Michael Eskin

[email protected]

6 June 2021

mailto:[email protected]

Introduction

One of my recent projects has been writing up tune transcriptions for B/C box complete with

bass and chord indications for players learning to play the bass side.

When I started learning to play the basses, I found it hard to find such information anywhere, so

I hope these transcriptions will be useful to other B/C players who are taking on the challenge of

learning the basses.

In these transcriptions, I am not attempting to teach how to backup traditional Irish music. That

is an entirely different skill than the physical challenge of dealing with the basses themselves.

My assumption is that you already are playing the tune melodies on the treble side of your

instrument and are looking to learn to include the bass and chord buttons in your playing. I also

assume that to extend these skills to other tunes not in this collection, you either already know

how to determine the appropriate backup chords from the melody or are willing to learn

bass/chord arrangements by rote as a starting point.

My particular chord selections may be a reasonable starting point for learning the skill of

backing Irish traditional music, but that is not the primary goal of these transcriptions. To learn

how to backup tunes, I suggest checking out Dr. Chris Smith's fantastic book "Celtic Backup for All Instrumentalists", available on Amazon from Mel Bay.

While there are multiple possible approaches to playing the bass and chords, my preferred

pattern for reels, hornpipes, and barndances is to play the bass buttons only on a chord change,

and the chord buttons only on the offbeats.

For jigs, I play the bass buttons only on a chord change, and the chord buttons on the 3 and 6

(assuming counting jigs with 6 beats per measure).

For slides, I play the bass buttons only on a chord change, and the chord buttons on the 3, 6, 9,

and 12 (assuming counting slides with 12 beats per measure).

Some players, such as John Whelan, I believe influenced by older style players they learned from

originally, also play the bass buttons on the every downbeat as well, not just on chord changes as

in my preferred patterns. Having the flexibility and skill to vary your bass and chord patterns is

a useful skill to practice, nothing is set in stone, so play around with all the possibilities!

For waltzes, I'm using a conventional bass-chord-chord pattern.

1

https://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Back-Up-Instrumentalists-Chris-Smith/dp/0786640650https://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Back-Up-Instrumentalists-Chris-Smith/dp/0786640650

In these transcriptions, I indicate pressing the bass button with an uppercase letter above the

staff and the chord button with a lowercase letter above the staff.

To help you get started, I've also color-coded the bellows direction for a couple of the tunes:

In the first measure of this example, the first G bass and G chord on would be played on the

push along with the push G on the treble side. The second G chord played would be on the draw

G chord button along with the draw B on the C row of the treble side. On many instruments,

those two G chords would be played on different buttons on the bass side.

2

Here's another color-coded example, the O'Carolan waltz "Fanny Power":

The bellows direction color coding is not present in the transcriptions below, only the bass or

chord button name is shown above the notes. You will need to determine the bellows direction

on your own when going through the tune transcriptions below based on the melody note

bellows direction.

3

Going through these transcriptions will provide a good starting point exercise for finding the

combination of treble button and bass or chord button for either the push or draw. In particular

they should be helpful in those cases where there may be some ambiguity because of the "magic"

notes such as B and E as well as the G and D bass/chords that are available in both directions on

the most common 8-button bass layouts.

In general, the arrangements should work on most common 8-button B/C bass layouts which

include both push and draw G and D, only push C and E, and only draw A bass and chords, but

some are arranged for extended 12-bass button layouts that include a draw E and push B.

If you find these transcriptions useful, please consider tossing a few bucks into one of my virtual

tip jars:

https://paypal.me/MichaelEskin

Venmo: @MichaelEskin

Zelle: 6193681854

If you have any questions about these transcriptions, please feel free to contact me at:

[email protected]

4

https://paypal.me/MichaelEskin

Alexander's (hornpipe) 7

The Banshee (reel) 8

The Boys of Bluehill (hornpipe) 9

The Cameronian (reel) 10

The Cat Rambles to the Child's Saucepan (slide) 11

The Chaffpool Post (barndance) 12

Cock 'O the North (slide) 13

Cooley's (reel) 14

Cronin's (reel) 15

Donnybrook Fair (jig) 16

Dunphy's (hornpipe) 17

The Factory Smoke (hornpipe) 18

Fanny Power (waltz) 19

The Flowers of Spring (jig) 20

Forde's (polka) 21

Going to the Well for Water (slide) 22

The Green Fields of Rossbeigh (reel) 23

Horse Keane's (hornpipe) 24

The Humours of Castlecomer (jig) 25

If I Had a Wife (slide) 26

Jerry's Beaver Hat (jig) 27

John Kelly's Concertina (reel) 28

John Ryan's (polka) 29

The Kesh (jig) 30

The Lark in the Morning (jig) 31

Lucy Farr's (barndance) 32

5

The Maid Behind the Bar (reel) 33

The Maid of Mt. Kisco (reel) 34

The Mason's Apron (reel) 35

Mayor Harrison's Fedora (reel) 36

Memories of Ballymote (polka) 37

Merrily Kissed the Quaker's Wife (slide) 38

The Merry Blacksmith (reel) 39

Music in the Glen (reel) 40

One Seventy Four (O'Carolan) (jig) 41

Out on the Ocean (jig) 42

Paddy Cronin's (slide) 43

The Pleasures of Home (hornpipe) 44

Rakish Paddy (reel) 45

The Rambling Pitchfork (jig) 46

The Scholar (reel) 47

Sherlock's (hornpipe) 48

Sí Beag Sí Mór (waltz) 49

The Silver Spear (reel) 50

The Smell of the Bog (hornpipe) 51

Sonny Brogan's (mazurka) 52

Speed the Plough (Tom Billy's) (reel) 53

Spellan the Fiddler (hornpipe) 54

The Tailor's Twist (hornpipe) 55

The Thames (hornpipe) 56

The Wicklow (hornpipe) 57

6

Alexander’s

Bass and Chords for B/C Box

Upper case = Bass button / Lower case = Chord button

3 33

3

D d d d d G g D d A a

44

3

D d d d d G g D d A a D

3

3D d d G g g A a a D d A

3

D d d G g g A a a a D

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7

The Banshee


Thirds out of chords


G g g g g C c c D d d

44

G g g g g C c c D d d

A a G g g E e e e e

A a G g g C c c D d d


8

The Boys Of Bluehill



3

D d d G g A a D d A D d A a

44

3

D d d G g A a D d A D d

D d d G g A a D d A D d A a

3

D d d G g A a D d A D d


9

The Cameronian



D d d G g A D d d G a D a

44

D d d G g A D d d G a D d

3 3 3

D d d G g g A a a a a

D a a D d d G g A a D d


10

The Cat Rambles To The Child’s Saucepan

Bass and Chords For B/C Box


D d d d G g g g A a a

812

D d d d G g g A a D d d

D d d d d A a a a a

D d d d d A a a D d d


11

The Chaffpool Post


Thirds removed from chords


G g g A C c D d d G g D d

44

G g g A C c D d d G g g G g g1 2

C c c G g g D d d G g g

C c c G g g D d d G g g G g g1 2


12

Cock O’ The North



D d d d d d d A a a

812

D d d d d G g A a D d d G g A a D d d1 2

D d d d d d d A a a

D d d d d G g A a D d d G g A a D d d1 2


13

Cooley’s

Bass and Chords for B/C Box - Thirds removed from chords


Arranged for 12-bass instrument with push B and both push/pull E

8-bass instruments can substitute D for B, delay or drop pull E

E e e e e D d d d B

44

E e e e e D d d B E e B E e1 2

E e e e e D d d d B

E e e e e D d d B E e B E e1 2


14

Cronin’s

Arranged for B/C Box with only Push C and Pull F basses

Upper Case = Bass button / Lower Case = Chord button

3C c c c F f C c G g

44

3C c c c F f G g C c

3

C c c c F f C c G g

3

C c c c F f G g C c


15

Donnybrook Fair



Upper case = Bass button | Lower case = Chord button

G g D d G g g g g D d d

86

G g D d G g g g C c D d G d D d G1 2

E e D d C c D d E e D d E e e

E e D d C c D d G g C c D d G g1

E e D d C c D d G g C c D d G2


16

Dunphy’s



3G g g C c D d d d d

44

3G g g C c D d d d G

3 3

G g g g g g g C D d

3

3 3G g g C D d G g C c D d G


17

The Factory Smoke




33

E e e e e G g g D d d

44

E e e e e C a D d E e E e1 2

E e e e e D d d d d

E e e e e C a D d E e E e1 2


18

Fanny Power



G g g G g g C c c D d d

43

D d d D d d D d d D d d

G g g G g g C c D d d

D d d D d d G g g G g

G g g G g g G g g G g g

C c c C c c D d d D d d

G g g C c c D d d D d d

G g g D d d G g g G g


19

The Flowers Of Spring




A a a a G g g g g E e

86

A a a a G g g g A a a A a a1 2

A a a a a G g g g E

A a a a a G g g A a a


20

Forde’s



D d d d d C c c c c

42

D d d d d C c c A a D A a D1 2

D d d A a a D d d G g A a

D d d A a a a a D d d D d1 2


21

Going to the Well for Water



Key of C:C c c c c F f f f f

812

G g g g g F f G g C c F F f G g C c G1 2

C c c G g g C c F G g g

F f f C c c G g g g C G G g g g C F1 2

Key of D:D d d d d G g g g g

A a a a a G g A a D d G G g A a D d A1 2

D d d A a a D d G A a a

G g g D d d A a a a D A A a a a D G1 2


22

The Green Fields Of Rossbeigh

Bass and Chords for B/C Box - Thirds removed from chords


E e e D d d E e e D d E e

44



G g g D d d D d d d E e


23

Horse Keane’sJimmy Keane



3 3

G g g C c c G g g D d d

44

3

G g g C c c G g D d G g g G g g1 2

3

3C c c G g g C c G g D d d

3 3

G g g C c c G g D d G g g G g G1 2


Posted with permission from Jimmy Keane (Cappal Beag Music BMI)

24

The Humours Of Castlecomer




E e e a a D d d d d

86

E e e a a D d d E e e

E e e e e D d d d d

E e e e e D d d E e e


25

If I Had A Wife

For B/C Box with only push C bass and chord buttons


G g g g g g g C D d

812

G g g g g D d d G g D D d d G g1 2

G g g g g C D d

G g g g g C c D d G g C D d G g1 2


26

Jerry’s Beaver Hat



D d d d d G g g A a a

86

D d d d d G g A D d D d

D d d G g D d d d A a a

D d d G g D d G g A a D d D d


27

John Kelly’s Concertina

Arranged for B/C Box with only Push C


G g g g g g g c D d

44

3 3G g g g g g g D d G g D d G g1 2

C c c G g g C c G g D d d

3 3G g g g g g g D d G g D d G g1 2


28

John Ryan’s



D d d d d d d G g A a

42

D d d d d G g A a D d d D d1 2

D d d G g A a D d d d A a

D d d G g A a D d A a D d D d d1 2


29

The Kesh



G g g D d d G g g C c D d

86

G g g D d d G g g D d G

G g g C c D d G g g D d d

G g g C c G g C c D d G g G


30

The Lark In The Morning

For B/C Box


D d d G g A a D d d G g A a

86

D d d G g g D d d G g A a


D d d d d G g D d A a a

D d d d d D d d G g A a


D d d G g A D d d G g A



31

Lucy Farr’s



G g g g g g g C D d

44

G g g g g g C D d G g

G g g g g g g C D d

G g g g g g C D d G g


32

The Maid Behind The Bar



D d d d d G g g g A a

44

D d d d d G g g A a D d A a D d1 2

D d d d d G g g g A

D d d d A a G g g A a D d


33

The Maid Of Mount Kisco




A a a a a G g g g E e

44

A a a a a G g g E A a E A1 2

D d d G g g D d d G g g G g g1 2

A a a G g g A a a G g E e

A a G g g g A a G g E A a E A a1 2


34

The Mason’s Apron



A a a a a D d d d E

44

A a a a a D d d E A

A a a a a D d d d d

A a a a a D d d E A


35

Mayor Harrison’s Fedora

Arranged for B/C Box with 12 bass including both Push and Pull E, Push B, thirds out of all chords


E e e e e D d d d d

44

E e e e e D d d B b E e B b E e1 2

E e e e e G g g D d B b

E e e e e D d d B b E e B b E e1 2

G g g D d d E e e e e

D d d E e e D d d B b E e


36

Memories Of Ballymote



G g g C c g C c c D d d

42

G g g C c g C g D d G g g G g g1 2

G g g C c g C c g G g g

G g g D d d G g g g g G g D d G g1 2


37

Merrily Kissed the Quaker’s Wife



G g g C D d G g g D d d

812

G g g C D d G g D d G g

G g D d G g D d G g g D d d

G g D d G g D d G g D d G g

G g D d G g g g g D d d

G g D d C c D d G g D d G g


38

The Merry Blacksmith



D d d d d d d G g A

44

D d d d d d G g A a D A a D1 2

D d d d d d d G g A

D d d d d d G g A a D A a D1 2


39

Music In The Glen



G g g g g C c G g C c D d

44

G g g g g C c c D d G g

G g g g D d G g g g D d

G g g g D d G g g C c D d


40

One Seventy FourO’Carolan



D d d D d d G g g D d d D d d D d d G g g A a a

86

D d d G g g D d d G g g D d d A a a D d d D

D d d D d d G g g D d d A a a A a a D d d A a a

D d d D d d D d d D d d G g g A a a D d d G g g D d d A a a D d d D


41

Out On The Ocean




G chord substituting for C chord when not possible

G g g g g g g C c D d

86

G g g g g C g g D d G g D d G g1 2

E e e e e D d d d d

G g g g g C g g D d G g

E e e e e D d d d d

G g g g g C g g D d G g


42

Paddy Cronin’s Slide



Upper case = Bass button | Lower case = Chord button

Version for extended bass instruments with Push and Draw E, Push B

E e e e e e e e e

812

D d d E e e e e B b D

D d d d d E e e e e

D d d d d E e e B b D

Version for standard bass instruments with only Push E

Draw D and A chord substituting for E chord in first part

E e d e a e e e e

D d d E e a e e D d d

D d d d d E e e e e

D d d d d E e e D d d


43

The Pleasures Of Hope



3

3

3

D d G g D d d G g g A a

44

3 3

D d d G g A D d A a D d

33

3

D d A a D d A D d d G g A a

3 3

D d d G g A D d A a D d


44

Rakish Paddy



G chords substitute for C chords in the A part when not possible

C c g g c D d d d A

44

C c g g c D d d d A d d1 2

C c c c A a a a a

C c c D d d d d d d d A1 2


45

The Rambling Pitchfork



D d d d d G g g A a

86

D d d d d G g g A a D d A a D d1 2

D d d A a a D d d A a a

D d d A a G g g A a D d A a D d1 2


46

The Scholar



D d G g D d d G g g D G A a

44

D d G g D d d G g g D A D d D A D d1 2

D d d d d C c c c c

D d d d d G g g D A D d D A D d1 2


47

Sherlock’s



3 33

3G g g g g C c c D d d

44

33G g g g g C c D d G g

33

3g G g g g g C c G g C c D d

33G g g g g C c D d G g


48

SS �� S ��



D d d D d d G g A D d d

43

G g g A a a D d A D d d

G g A D d d D d A D d d

G g g A a a D d A D d d

D d d D d d G g A D d d

A a a D d d G g g G g A

D d A D d d G g A D d d

G g g A a a D d A D d d D d d1 2


49

The Silver Spear




44

D d d d d G g D d G g A a G g A a1 2


D d d G g g G g D d G g A a G g A a1 2


50

The Smell of the Bog



3 3

33

3

G g C c G g g C G g D d d

44

3 3 3

G g C c G g g C c D d G g g G g g1 2

3 3

G g g g g C c C c D d

3 3

G g g g g C c D d G g g G g g1 2


51

Sonny Brogan’s



D d d D d d G g g a D

43

D d d D d d G g D d

D d d A a D d d A a a

D d d A a D d A D d


52

Speed The Plough



D d d d d d G g A a a

44

D d d d d d G g A a a A a a1 2

D d d G g A a D d d G g A D d d

G g A a D d G g A a a D d G g A a a1 2


53

Spellan The Fiddler



3

3 3 3

G g g g g D d d d d

44

3

3 3 33 3

G g g g g C c G g D d G D d G1 2

3G g g D d d d d d d

3

3 3 3 3 3

G g g g g C c G g D d G D d G1 2


54

The Tailor’s Twist



3 3

D d d G g A a D d G g A a

44

D d d G g A a D d G g A a D

3 3

D d d G g A a G g g g A

D d d G g A a D d G g A a D


55

The Thames



3

3

3


44

3 3

3

G g D d G g D d G g g D d G

3 3

3


3 3G g D d G g D d G g g D d G

3 3 3 3

3D d d G g g g g A a

3 3 3 3 3

D d d G g g g A a D d

3 3 3 3 3 3

D d d G g g g g A a

3 3 3 3 3 3

D d d G g g g A a D d

Melody transcribed by Michael Eskin from the playing of John Whelan on 27 Jan 2021


56

The Wicklow



3

D d d d C D d d G g g

44

3

D d d d C D d A D d

d D d d G g g D d d d C c

3

D d d d C D d A D d


57

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Traditional Irish B/C Box Bass and Chord Tune Transcriptionsmichaeleskin.com/transcriptions/michael_eskin_bc_box...bass and chord indications for players learning to play the bass