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The Drunken Tinker reel

Also known as Dick Cosgrove’s, Dick Cosgroves, The Old Yellow Tinker, W’ere Be Da Fiddle?, The Yellow Haired Tinker, The Yellow Tinker.

There are 35 recordings of this tune.

This tune has been recorded together with

The Drunken Tinker appears in 1 other tune collection.

The Drunken Tinker has been added to 24 tune sets.

The Drunken Tinker has been added to 246 tunebooks.

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Six settings

1
X: 1
T: The Drunken Tinker
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Amix
EAAG EGDG|EA~A2 fAeA|EAAG EDEF|1 G2BG =cGBG:|2 GABd dBGB||
A2eA fAeA|fAeA dBGB|A2eA fAeA|d2BG DGBG|
A2eA fAeA|fAeA dBGB|~e3f ~g3e|d2BG DGBG||
2
X: 2
T: The Drunken Tinker
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Amix
EAAG EGDG|EA~A2 fAeA|EAAG EDEF|1 G2DG B,GDG:|2 GFGA BcdB||
A2eA fAeA|fAeA dBGB|A2gA fAeA|d2BG EFGB|
A2eA fAeA|fAeA dBGB|~e3f ~g3e|d2BG EFGB||
3
X: 3
T: The Drunken Tinker
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Amix
EAAG EGDG|EA A2 fAeA|EAAG EDEF|G2BG =cGBG|
EAAG EGDG|EA A2 fAeA|EAAG EDEF|GABd dBGB||
A2eA fAeA|fAeA dBGB|A2eA fAeA|d2BG DGBG|
A2eA fAeA|fAeA dBGB|e3f g3e|d2BG DGBG||
# Added by JACKB .
4
X: 4
T: The Drunken Tinker
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmix
DGGF DEF2|DGG2 eGdG|DGGF D3E|F2CF AB~c2|
[DA]GG2 DEF2|DGG2 eGdG|DGGF D3E|F2CF ABcA|
dGG/G/G dGeG|dGG/G/G d2cA|dGG/G/G d2ed|(3cdc AF CFAc|
dGG/G/G eGG/G/G|dGG/G/G d2cA|dcde fefd|(3cdc AF CFAF|
5
X: 5
T: The Drunken Tinker
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmix
DG{A}GF DEFE|DGG/G/G dGBG|DG{A}GF DCDE|F/F/EFG ABcB|
[DA]~G3 DEFE|DGG/G/G dGBG|DGGF D3E|FEFG ABcA|
G2dG eGdG|G/G/GdG d2cA|G2dG eGdA|~c2AF CFAF|
G2dG eGdG|G/G/GdG d2cA|~d3e fefd|cAFD G3F|
6
X: 6
T: The Drunken Tinker
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmix
F|DG ~G2 DF ~F2|DG ~G2 dGcG|DG{A}GF D3 E|F2 AF CFAF|
DG ~G2 DF ~F2|DG ~G2 dGcG|DG{A}GF DCDE|F2 AF CF [A2F2]||
(3ddd d2 eG d2|(3ddd dG cAFD|(3ddd d2 eGdG|c2 AF CF [A2F2]|
(3ddd d2 eG d2|(3ddd dG cAFD|~d3 e fefd|c2 AF CF [A2F2]||

Eight comments

This is more or less Altan’s setting - the one they call “The Yellow Tinker”. Transcribed directly from the playing of the fiddler out of Felpeyu. You would think that since the only “C” in this setting is a C natural, the obvious choice of mode would be Ador, but something about the structure of the melody suggests Amix to me (I think because it uses lots of F#s where an Ador tune would use G’s in the same situation).

One of my first reels. Used to play it with the Tamlin reel, I think it was because I learned them both in the same week. Haven’t really played it much since then but still remember it well. The Cnatural works well in it, seems to come it at the right time.

What mode?

Actually, I think it’s both! If you were to improvise slightly, and chuck in some Cs and C#s, you’ll see C fits in with the first part while C# fits into the second. Ergo the first part is dorian and the second mixolydian.

I think the fact I’m spending time thinking about this and writing about it means I should get out more!

Posted by .

Dick Cosgrove’s Reel

As played by fiddler Hugh Gillespie after “The Girl That Broke My Heart”. Absolutely cracking version. Mick Gorman (Michael’s nephew) does the same set on CD 1, track 18 of “It Was Mighty”. He may be the same Mick Gorman who also plays flute and whistle.