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    • Beginner >
      • Lesson 1: Introduction and History of the Uilleann Pipes
      • Lesson 2: Parts of the Uilleann Pipe Practice Set
      • Lesson 3: Uilleann Practice Set Fundamentals
      • Lesson 4: UIlleann Pipe G and Metronomes
      • Lesson 5: Uilleann Pipe F#
      • Lesson 6: Uilleann Pipe E & Half Note
      • Lesson 7: Uilleann Pipe D​, Whole Notes & 3 Blind Mice
      • Lesson 8: UIlleann Pipe A & Legato
      • Lesson 9: Uilleann Pipe B & Tied Notes
      • Lesson 10: Uilleann Pipe C# & Dots
      • Lesson 11: Uilleann Pipe C and the Key of G
      • Lesson 12: UIlleann Pipe Back D & 8th Notes
      • Lesson 13: Easy Songs and 3/4
      • Lesson 14: Uilleann Pipe High E
      • Lesson 15: Uilleann Pipe F#
      • Lesson 16: Uilleann Pipe High G
      • Lesson 17: Uilleann Pipe High A
      • Lesson 18: Uilleann Pipe High B
      • Lesson 19: Uilleann Pipe Tunes Using Both Octaves and 2/4 Time
    • Novice >
      • Lesson 1: Tuning Uilleann Pipe Chanter
      • Lesson 2: Uilleann Pipe Low Hand Strikes
      • Lesson 3: Uilleann Pipe High Hand Strikes
      • Lesson 4: Uilleann Pipe Songs with Strikes
      • Lesson 5: Uilleann Pipe Cuts on Bottom Hand
      • Lesson 6: Uilleann Pipe Cuts on Top Hand
      • Lesson 7: Uilleann Tunes with Cuts and Strikes
      • Lesson 8: Uilleann Pipe Slow Airs and Slides
      • Lesson 9: Uilleann Pipe Vibrato
      • Lesson 10: Repeats, Intro's and Endings
      • Lesson 11: Uilleann Pipe Polkas
      • Lesson 12: Ascending Uilleann Pipe Cuts
      • Lesson 13: More Ascending Uilleann Pipe Cuts
      • Lesson 14: Descending Uilleann Pipe Cuts
      • Lesson 15: More Descending Uilleann Pipe Cuts
      • Lesson 16: Uilleann Pipe Marches
      • Lesson 17: Uilleann Pipe Triplets and Staccato
      • Lesson 18: Uilleann Pipe Hornpipes
    • Advanced >
      • Lesson 1: Uilleann Pipe Rolls in Jigs
      • Lesson 2: Uilleann Pipe Jigs
      • Lesson 3: Uilleann Pipe Rolls in Reels
      • Lesson 4: Uilleann Pipe Reels
      • Lesson 5: Uilleann Pipe Hard D
      • Lesson 6: Uilleann Pipe Ghost D
      • Lesson 7: Uilleann Pipe Short Rolls
      • Lesson 8: Uilleann Pipe Popping
      • Lesson 9: Uilleann Pipe F Natural
      • Lesson 10: Sessions and Variations in Irish Music
      • Lesson 11: Uilleann Pipe D Crans
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      • Dawn of the Day
      • South Wind
      • Sally Gardens
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      • Mairi's Wedding
      • Song of the Chanter
      • Brian Boru's March
    • Polkas >
      • Britches Full of Stitches
      • John Ryan's Polka
      • Maggie in the Woods
    • Jigs >
      • Garrett Barry's Jig
      • Sporting Pitchfork
      • Kesh Jig
      • Donnybrook Fair
      • Morrison's Jig
      • The Butterfly
    • Reels >
      • Mountain Road
      • The Ships Are Sailing
      • The Morning Star
      • Merry Blacksmith
      • Cooley's Reel
      • Drowsy Maggie
    • Hornpipes >
      • Harvest Home
      • Off to California
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UILLEANN PIPE POLKAS


​​Below is a sample lesson on how to play a polka on the uilleann pipes from uilleannpipe.com
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​Irish Polkas are a kind of dance tune. They are played in 2/4 time and played very fast. The European polka came to Ireland way back in the 1800s, and they have become a core part of Irish music. It’s particularly popular in the Kerry, Clare, Cork and Limerick regions. They are written in 2/4 time with an emphasis on the off beat: 1-and-2-and, 1-and-2-and. 


Polkas are generally easy to learn, but as lively dance tunes, it’s all in the delivery. They need energy!



BRITCHES FULL OF STITCHES PART A SLOW

This tune will allow you to learn your first polka as well as practice many of the things you have learned thus far. It also demonstrates that most tunes are broken up into two parts an "A" part and a "B" part. I have removed most of the cuts in this tune so you can concentrate on how a polka should be played and less on the embellishments. ​ Also, there will only be 2 beats before the tune starts because it's in 2/4 time, most of the exercises and tunes you have done thus far have been in 4/4 so there have been 4 beats.
uilleann pipe polka britches full of stitches A

BRITCHES FULL OF STITCHES PART B SLOW

uilleann pipe polka britches full of stitches B

Britches of Stitches 

I have included a "fast" audio to play along with. When I say fast I actually mean up to speed. Once you have learned the tune slowly and correctly you should play it at the "fast" speed. Plus, it's a little more fun to play fast for a change.
uilleann pipe polka britches full of stitches

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  • Home
  • Lessons
    • Beginner >
      • Lesson 1: Introduction and History of the Uilleann Pipes
      • Lesson 2: Parts of the Uilleann Pipe Practice Set
      • Lesson 3: Uilleann Practice Set Fundamentals
      • Lesson 4: UIlleann Pipe G and Metronomes
      • Lesson 5: Uilleann Pipe F#
      • Lesson 6: Uilleann Pipe E & Half Note
      • Lesson 7: Uilleann Pipe D​, Whole Notes & 3 Blind Mice
      • Lesson 8: UIlleann Pipe A & Legato
      • Lesson 9: Uilleann Pipe B & Tied Notes
      • Lesson 10: Uilleann Pipe C# & Dots
      • Lesson 11: Uilleann Pipe C and the Key of G
      • Lesson 12: UIlleann Pipe Back D & 8th Notes
      • Lesson 13: Easy Songs and 3/4
      • Lesson 14: Uilleann Pipe High E
      • Lesson 15: Uilleann Pipe F#
      • Lesson 16: Uilleann Pipe High G
      • Lesson 17: Uilleann Pipe High A
      • Lesson 18: Uilleann Pipe High B
      • Lesson 19: Uilleann Pipe Tunes Using Both Octaves and 2/4 Time
    • Novice >
      • Lesson 1: Tuning Uilleann Pipe Chanter
      • Lesson 2: Uilleann Pipe Low Hand Strikes
      • Lesson 3: Uilleann Pipe High Hand Strikes
      • Lesson 4: Uilleann Pipe Songs with Strikes
      • Lesson 5: Uilleann Pipe Cuts on Bottom Hand
      • Lesson 6: Uilleann Pipe Cuts on Top Hand
      • Lesson 7: Uilleann Tunes with Cuts and Strikes
      • Lesson 8: Uilleann Pipe Slow Airs and Slides
      • Lesson 9: Uilleann Pipe Vibrato
      • Lesson 10: Repeats, Intro's and Endings
      • Lesson 11: Uilleann Pipe Polkas
      • Lesson 12: Ascending Uilleann Pipe Cuts
      • Lesson 13: More Ascending Uilleann Pipe Cuts
      • Lesson 14: Descending Uilleann Pipe Cuts
      • Lesson 15: More Descending Uilleann Pipe Cuts
      • Lesson 16: Uilleann Pipe Marches
      • Lesson 17: Uilleann Pipe Triplets and Staccato
      • Lesson 18: Uilleann Pipe Hornpipes
    • Advanced >
      • Lesson 1: Uilleann Pipe Rolls in Jigs
      • Lesson 2: Uilleann Pipe Jigs
      • Lesson 3: Uilleann Pipe Rolls in Reels
      • Lesson 4: Uilleann Pipe Reels
      • Lesson 5: Uilleann Pipe Hard D
      • Lesson 6: Uilleann Pipe Ghost D
      • Lesson 7: Uilleann Pipe Short Rolls
      • Lesson 8: Uilleann Pipe Popping
      • Lesson 9: Uilleann Pipe F Natural
      • Lesson 10: Sessions and Variations in Irish Music
      • Lesson 11: Uilleann Pipe D Crans
  • Tunes
    • Airs >
      • Dawn of the Day
      • South Wind
      • Sally Gardens
    • Marches >
      • Mairi's Wedding
      • Song of the Chanter
      • Brian Boru's March
    • Polkas >
      • Britches Full of Stitches
      • John Ryan's Polka
      • Maggie in the Woods
    • Jigs >
      • Garrett Barry's Jig
      • Sporting Pitchfork
      • Kesh Jig
      • Donnybrook Fair
      • Morrison's Jig
      • The Butterfly
    • Reels >
      • Mountain Road
      • The Ships Are Sailing
      • The Morning Star
      • Merry Blacksmith
      • Cooley's Reel
      • Drowsy Maggie
    • Hornpipes >
      • Harvest Home
      • Off to California
  • Blog
  • Links
  • Contact