Suffering Gaels Chords

It's the Finn MacGinty - Conor Byrne Special Guitar Tuning!

The History

Finn says: "As promised here are some charts for the Rhythm Method. First developed by fellow Suffering Gael Conor Byrne, based on a tuning of Gerry O'Beirne's, 'The Method' is a wonderful tuning for Irish traditional guitar accompaniment."

"As far as I know there are only four proponents of this tuning and they are Conor Byrne, Peter Gilmore, Barry Fisher and myself. So, as you can see, the tuning has taken the world by storm." Since then, Max Newman of Fairbanks, Alaska has incorporated the tuning into his style. And being left-handed means he is probably the only one playing the "Method" in reverse!

Get the Equipment

"As your 2nd 3rd and 4th strings are tuned up I would suggest the following string gauges : 12 / 16 / 22 / 32 / 42 / 53. The 22 is imperative for the G/A 3rd string. Depending on the delicacy of your right hand and its use of pick, you will pop this puppy regularily and that's okay......after all strings grow on trees, don't they? If you prefer a heavier gauge, as long as you use a 22 and a 32/36 then you should be okay.

In an ideal world we would all have at least two guitars and all the gigs we need at big money but in this veil/vale of tears most of us are lucky to have one guitar and a once-a-week session in a Mexican restaurant. But, ideally , if you have another axe, then stick in in "The Method"™ and while away your time frustrating yourself and asking yourself 'Why Why Why?' ... it will be worth it when your envious peers stare at your twisted chord shapes and beg to be let in on the big secret."

What Finn fails to indicate is that Conor is trying to get back at the other musicians any way he can and now that he has gotten Finn good, he's likely to start in on Dale next. But Finn really enjoys hearing from folks wanting to learn this tuning, as otherwise, he is quite lonely.

The Basics

Re-tune your guitar from lowest to highest D A E A D E - no warranty on string breakage, so be careful. You might tune everything down two frets before starting, then capo for exact keys. Ideally if you are spending a lot of time in this tuning, you should alter the gauge of some of the strings, as per Finn's cautionaries above.

Finn uses a lot of passing notes between chords and beats, particularly on the bass end - experiment around and see what you come up with.

Some Chords

D   A   E   A   D   E     Tuning  
D   A   E   A   D   E      Tuning 
6   5   4   3   2   1   String No.
 
6   5   4   3   2   1   String No.
D 
=====================
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|   |   |   |   |   |
0---0---2---0---0---3   2nd fret
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 D

|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---1---|
|   |   |   |   |   |
0---2---3---0---0---4   5th fret
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
D

|   |   |   |   |   |
0---1---|---2---0---|
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---3---|---|---4  10th fret
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
D
=====================
|   |   |   |   |   |
0---|---0---|---0---0
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---1---|---|
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---4---|---|---|---|  5th fret
|   |   |   |   |   |
Dm
|   |   |   |   |   |
0---|---|---0---1---0
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---3---4---|---|---|  5th fret
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Gm bar (up two for A)
|   |   |   |   |   |
1---1---|---1---1---|  (bar)5th fret
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---2---|---|---3
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
G
|   |   |   |   |   |
0---1---|---2---0---|
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---3---|---|---4  3rd fret
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
G bar chord (up two frets for A)
|   |   |   |   |   |
1---1---|---1---1---|  5th fret
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---3---|---|---4
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
A
=====================
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---0---0---0---|---0
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---1---|
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---|---|

 



 Am

=====================
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---0---0---|---|---|
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---1---|
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---2---|---|
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---|---|


Am

|   |   |   |   |   |
|---0---|---0---1---0  7th fret
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---2---|---|---|
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|   |   |   |   |   |
|---|---|---|---|---|


 



Key: =====  is nut     0 = open string    1,2,3,4 = which finger








For more information on the Suffering Gaels guitar tuning or to hear it for yourself, write or call:



6227 3rd Ave,  N.W. Seattle, Wa. 98107

(206) 781-8457

or via email




© Copyright Poguemahone Productions 1996-2003










Top of Page
 Suffering Gaels Homepage

Gary's Music Homepage