A guide for listeners and new players
Find your way into Celtic folk music
Hear the tunes, songs and dance music of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man. Then, if you'd like to join in, get practical advice on a first instrument.
What people mean by “Celtic folk music”
“Celtic folk music” is a broad label, not a single style. It usually covers the traditional music of places where a Celtic language is, or was until recently, spoken: Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany in north-west France, Cornwall and the Isle of Man. Galicia and Asturias in Spain, and Cape Breton in Canada, are often included too.
These traditions share some history and trade tunes with each other, but each has its own repertoire, instruments and ways of singing. An Irish reel played at a pub session, a Scottish strathspey, the Welsh triple harp, a Breton chain dance with call-and-response singing: all of them get called “Celtic”, and each is worth knowing on its own terms. Much of this music was passed on by ear and is still played socially, at sessions, dances and festivals, as well as on stage.
Choose where to start
Start listening
A route through the regional traditions, landmark recordings, living artists and the festivals where the music is played.
Listening guide →Explore instruments
What the tin whistle, bodhrán and other traditional instruments sound like, where they fit, and which are realistic for a beginner.
Instrument hub →Learn to play
A realistic first year of learning by ear: practice habits, tune types, lessons and free archives, and how to find a slow session.
Beginner path →Two instruments beginners often start with
The tin whistle
An inexpensive six-hole whistle that plays the melody. It's a common first instrument in Irish music, and a D whistle covers a huge share of session tunes.
Read the tin whistle guide →Photo: Daniel Fernandez, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
The bodhrán
A goatskin frame drum played with a small wooden tipper. It's easy to get a first sound from, but it takes real listening to play well with others.
Read the bodhrán guide →Photo: Hinnerk Rümenapf, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped
Beginner buying guides
Thinking of buying a first instrument? These guides explain what matters, what to avoid and what to check before you order. They do not replace advice from a teacher who can see you play.
How to choose a first tin whistle
Key, bore, air requirement and tuning, compared across several widely available beginner whistles.
Tin whistle buying guide →How to choose a first bodhrán
Size, depth, crossbars and tuning systems, plus the tipper and case you'll need.
Bodhrán buying guide →What this site offers
Celtic Folk Music is an independent, reader-supported guide. We write original explanations of the music and its instruments, check our facts against archives, makers and published sources, and link to free learning resources wherever they exist.
Some pages include Amazon links to instruments, tutor books and recordings. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, which helps pay for the site. We say clearly where recommendations come from research rather than hands-on testing. See our editorial policy and affiliate disclosure.