A great wee polka in the key of G major, the notes below are grouped in short phases.

In the first part I have highlighted the ending in red as a variation run-in to repeating the first part. Second time around you would play the notes highlighted in green.

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first part

• G’ F# G’   D   B G G | B C A   A’  G’ F# D E F# | G’ F# G’   D   B G G | B C A D   f# G   D E F# :|| B C A D  f# G G

second part

• B A G D   G B G G | B C B A   E   A C A A | B A G D   G B G G | B C A D  f# G G :||

Captain Byng played slowly

Captain Byng played at polka speed

This is a hornpipe in the key of G model which is sometimes played as a reel. In this example we are going to pair it with a great reel in the same key called ‘Splendid Isolation’ by Brendan McGlinchey. The low f’s & c’s are naturals as we introduce new notes namely B flat (2nd string first fret) note the run below ‘ABC | D’ which spans 5 frets. This tune will help develop your left hand span across 6 frets which I have highlighted below in green ABC | D G’ G’ A   B–

first part

• G f | d G G f   G–   ABC | D C D E   F–  G’ A’ | G’ E D C   A D C A | d G G e   f e d c |
•       | d G G f   G–   ABC | D C D E   F–  G’ A’ | G’ F D C   A D C A | G–  G F   G–     |

second part

• ABC | D G’ G’ A   B–  A’ G’ | G’ F D E   F–  G’ A’ |G’ F D C   A D C A | d G G e   f e d c |
•          | d G G f   G–   ABC | D C D E   F–  G’ A’ | G’ F D C   A D C A | G–  G F   G–      |

Caisleán An Óir played slowly with ornaments

Caisleán An Óir played slowly with some chords

Caisleán An Óir & Splendid Isolation Set

Splendid Isolation

Splendid Isolation played slowly