Turlough O'Carolan was a blind Irish harper who lived from 1670-1738. He composed over 200 tunes and I am transposing all of them to open tunings in TablEdit format. A few tunes are frankly not very good (to my ear) and although I will include these I will not offer very sophisticated arrangements. Most however are little gems.

You can find midi files of Carolan's tunes on dozens of sites around the web - my site goes further and offers an open tuning, suitable to the original key wherever possible, and a fingering pattern aimed at maximising the 'ringing notes' and drones which open tunings make possible. Whatever your current playing ability, these arangements will challenge you to reach a new level.

Carolan Project. On the next few pages tunes from the O'Sullivan and O'Neill collections which I have arranged are marked with a green background. The list is nwo cpomplete (after about 2 years' work). You are welcome to download any arrangement and try it out - all I ask is an acknowledgement as arranger if you record it - please email me to report back what you think. The new tunes each month should keep your fingers and your brain stretched until the next set is added!

You should also see my TablEdit Advice page and my Open Tunings page.

Project now complete - click here for Carolan Index

Tunes in the Carolan Project
My Tabledit files give suggested fingerings to make best use of the ringing open strings available in the open tunings given.
Look on the next few pages for tunes with a green background - these are full arrangements.

Click here for an example of the Carolan Project Index

These tunes follow the numbering convention given in the 'bible' for Carolan tunes:

Donal O'Sullivan - CAROLAN: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper

(follow the link then click on Books, Artworks , etc)

Ossian Publications 1958/2001 ISBN: 1 900428 71 7

See also:

Carolan Project (O'Neill Tunes)

and: