The Famous Ballymote

Reel (G Major)

first part

• | f# d A d | f# A A B | C A B G | e f# G e | f# d A d | f# A A B| C A G e e d d –
• | f# d A d | f# A A B | C A B G | e f# G e | f# d A d | f# A A B| C A G e e d d –

second part

• | f# d f# A | D – E D | C A B G | e f# G e | f# d f# A | D – E D | C A G e e d d –
• | f# d f# A | D – E D | C A B G | e f# G e | f# d f# A | D – E D | C A G e e d d –

Listen to the Bothy Band playing ‘The Famous Ballymote’ as part of a set of tunes.

Reel (D Major)

first part

• | A | B f# f# B f# A f# | e f# d e f# A  A |  B f# f# B f# A f# | e f# d e f# d d
• | A | B f# f# B f# A f# | e f# d e f# A  A |  B f# f# B f# A f# | e f# d e f# d d ||

second part

• | A | D F# E D B D A B | D F# E D B E E | D F# E D B D A f# | e f# d e f# d d
• | A | D F# E D B D A B | D F# E D B E E | F# D E C# D B A f# | e f# d e f# d d ||

I have highlighted the f#, A and E crotchets (quarter notes) in green to show were you can add triplets in the reel. These notes would effectively translate as 4 notes i.e. f#   f# f# f#, playing the first note with a down stroke followed by down up down. Don’t try to play the tune at speed, practice the triplets slowly so as you hit each notes with accuracy.