In discussions and chats, lessons and sessions, the question always arises:

“I’m only beginning to memorize tunes, so which ones should I learn first?”

Some musicians are very guarded about answering this question, and I’m not certain why; but my friend Eric Marschner has compiled a great list, which offers a starting point for anyone new, not-so-new, or still finding their footing in the world of Celtic Traditional Music.

Here is a list of 50 widely played tunes; you will hear at least some of these tunes played at nearly every session, anywhere in the world, every time you attend … so you really can’t go wrong. All of these tunes are drawn from the larger list of Baltimore Session Tunes (also available on this website).

REELS

Banshee (aka McMahon’s)
Cooley’s
Cup of Tea
Earl’s Chair
Humours of Tulla
Maid Behind the Bar
Merry Blacksmith
Mountain Road
Musical Priest
Rolling in the Rye Grass 
Silver Spear
Silver Spire
Wind That Shakes the Barley
Wise Maid

JIGS

Banish Misfortune
Blarney Pilgrim
Connaughtman’s Rambles
Jimmy Ward’s
Kesh
Lark in the Morning
Lilting Banshee
Morrison’s
Out on the Ocean
Rolling Waves

HORNPIPES

Boys of Bluehill
Chief O’Neill’s Favorite
Harvest Home
Home Ruler
Kitty’s Wedding
Off to California
Rights of Man

SLIP JIGS / HOP JIGS

Boys of Ballisodare
Butterfly
Fig for a Kiss
Patsy Geary’s

SLIDES

Dennis Murphy’s
Merrily Kiss the Quaker
Road to Lisdoonvarna
Star Above the Garter

POLKAS

Peg Ryan’s
John Ryan’s
Dennis Murphy’s
Britches Full of Stitches

AIRS

Inisheer
Planxty Fanny Power
Planxty Irwin
Sidh Bheag Sidh Mhór

WALTZES

Diamond
Flatwater Fran
Josefin’s