Traditional reel · G major
Spootiskerry
Also known as Fateful Head, Spoot Askerry, The Spoot O' Skerry, Spootaskerry, Spootis Kerry, The Spootiskerry.
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ABC notation
X:1 T:Spootiskerry R:reel M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G |:DE|G2 DE GDEG|DEGA B2 AB|G2 DE GABd|eged B2 AB| G2 DE GDEG|DEGA B2 AB|g2 ed edBA|B2 G2 G2:| ef|g2 ed ed B2|BABG E2 DE|GABd eged|B2 A2 A2 ef| g2 ed ed B2|BABG E2 DE|GABd eged|B2 G2 G2 ef| g2 ed ed B2|BABG E2 DE|GABd eged|B2 A2 A2 DE| G2 DE GDEG|DEGA B2 AB|g2 ed edBA|B2 GB G2||
Copy this into any ABC tool, or open the setting on The Session (transcribed by MichaelBolton). The Session lists 7 settings of this tune and 2 recordings.
Playing it on a wind instrument
Traditional reels are dance music — lift and rhythm matter more than speed. Learn the tune slowly by ear first, then add ornaments (cuts, taps, rolls). Clarinet and sax players: use the transposition menu above so the part matches the fiddle and flute players.