Surviving your first Irish Session

Irish sessions are delicate and good craic elusive. There is a quiet etiquette that is understood by experienced players and utterly confusing to new players. The big problem is that Irish music is actually a virtuoso music pretending to be folk. Here are a few tips for surviving your first Irish session without upsetting the regulars. This is a list from thesession.org that reflects my experiences pretty well.

1. LISTEN (includes making sure your instrument is in tune)
2. Ask before attempting to record the session
3. Only one accompaniment instrument of a particular type (bodhrán, guitar, etc) at a time
4. Don’t “put down” tunes (eg the Kesh Jig or Drowsie Maggie, etc syndrome)
5. Don’t hi jack someone else’s set (also includes interference with tempo)
6. Be open and friendly
7. Don’t attempt to play tunes you don’t know
8. Don’t play too many tunes others don’t know
9. Always switch mobile phones to "silent" mode
10. Don’t Noodle
11. Remember only one bodhrán player at a time

Things to be aware of if you show up with a whistle, bodhrán, or guitar.

On bodhrán: People come up with the completely incorrect idea that by playing the bodhrán, they can avoid the intracacies of playing melody and the challenge of learning tunes. Because of this, every Irish session musician has been the unfortunate victim of a would-be bodhrán player flailing away loudly and off-time in his ear. Don't be that bodhrán player.

On whistle: Another incorrect idea is that $10 instrument is a great way to avoid the expense and difficulty of a fiddle, pipes, or flute. Just remember that chances are the flute players, the pipers, and possibly some of the fiddlers can play whistle better than most people who show up at a session with one. If you have a passion for whistle and can play like Mary Bergin, fine.

On guitar: Irish backup is not something peopole figure out on the fly, no matter how good they are on guitar. Inappropriate backup is devastating and a bad guitarist can singlehandedly ruin everyone else's evening. If you don't some idea of how to play Irish backup before you arrive at the pub, best to leave the instrument in the case.