The Guitar of Paul Brady – DVD or Video
Homespun Tapes

By John Cutliffe

Paul Brady has been around for more years than I am sure even he cares to admit. He was an original member of the Johnsons in the 60s, a member of Planxty in the 70s and one of the most successful solo artists to emerge from the Irish music scene in the last thirty years. His songs have been covered by the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Tina Turner and Eric Clapton and he has appeared as a guest on countless albums by both Irish and International artists alike.

It is a guitarist and interpreter of traditional songs that always impressed me. His guitar style as he sang songs like “Mary And The Soldier” and “Arthur McBride” has intrigued anyone who ever picked up the instrument. His tunings have always fascinated me and the chord sequences he uses to play his own songs, as well as the traditional ones have always been imaginative and, for a young amateur like I was back then, were also elusive.

Some twenty or so years later the secrets are finally out. On a recent tour of the U.S. Paul stopped for a couple of days in a studio in Woodstock New York and made a DVD which goes a long way to demystifying the whole Paul Brady sound.

On the DVD, which is hosted by Homespun Tapes owner Happy Traum, Paul has chosen ten of his most popular songs, six original and four traditional. He guides us through the techniques for each of them, explaining along the way the various tunings he uses and the rhythmic, flatpicking and other techniques he incorporates in putting each song together.

For me it is a joy to at last be able to find my way through the beautifully haunting “I Am A Youth That's Inclined To Ramble”

Happy is the ideal host, asking Paul just the right questions to draw him out and make the whole experience interesting. Paul also tells us about his influences down through the years and what goes into his unique vocal style. As a songwriter he lets us into the world of his original songs too. Songs like “Luck of the Draw” which was covered by Bonnie Raitt, The World Is What You Make It” and “Traveling Light” are all dissected for the eager student. I was also very happy to play along with Crazy Dreams, a song that has been sung by many but played properly by few.

This is a powerful and entertaining DVD. You have to have a good grasp of basic guitar and a little experience of alternative tunings to begin to get to grips with it, but even non playing fans of Paul will enjoy this as a documentary of what makes him tick and where a lot of his music comes from.

I highly recommend this as a gift for any child who is learning to play guitar. As a tuition video it is rich with various and very usable techniques and will also serve as a great inspiration to anyone who wants to make guitar their instrument of choice.

Check out some more of their great titles at;