Kesh Jig: Mandolin Tab
Mandolin tab and sheet music with synced audio · 120 BPM · 6/8 time
Also known as Tear the Callies, Rambler Jig, The Kesh.
Chords used in this arrangement: G, D, C, Em, D7, Am7.
Here's a cool little thing to know before you dig into the mandolin tab for Kesh jig. "Kesh" is actually an Anglicisation of the Irish word ceis, meaning "a wicker bridge"! So you're playing a tune named after a river crossing in County Fermanagh. The melody itself is ancient; it first turned up in print in George Petrie's 1850s collection under the odd title "Tear the Callies," and the very first sound recording of it was made in 1916 by an accordion and banjo duo who called it the "Rambler Jig." Most people today know it through the Bothy Band, whose 1975 recording essentially relaunched it as a session staple. It was fittingly the opening tune on their very first album. It's got a reputation as a beginner's tune, which is both true and a little unfair I think, as I know a lot of easier tunes to play! The A-part is reasonably easy, but the B-part's bouncy runs give you a real chance to work on smooth, even triplets at speed, which is where the tune really starts to sing.
This page includes mandolin tablature, standard music notation, and a chord chart, printable as PDF and playable in sync with the original recording. Change the key, slow the tempo down, and loop the bars you want to practise. Download the Kesh Jig PDF.
Kesh Jig: questions and answers
What chords are used in Kesh Jig?
The chords in this arrangement are G, D, C, Em, D7, Am7. The chord chart on this page shows each shape and highlights the current chord as the tune plays.
How fast is Kesh Jig played?
This recording is at 120 BPM in 6/8 time. Use the speed control to slow it down without changing the pitch, then work back up to full tempo.
Can I download Kesh Jig as sheet music?
Yes. A printable PDF with the mandolin tab and standard notation is free at /tab/kesh-jig.pdf, and there is a download button on this page.
Is Kesh Jig known by any other names?
Yes. It is also called Tear the Callies, Rambler Jig, The Kesh. The same melody often travels under several titles in different regions and collections.
Related tunes
Similar tempo
- After the Battle of Aughrim (Robert Ashton, Am, 120 BPM)
- Amazing Grace (John Newton, D, 120 BPM)
- Angeline the Baker (Stephen Foster, D, 120 BPM)
- Another Jig Will Do (D, 120 BPM)
- Arkansas Traveller (D, 120 BPM)
- Arrivederci Roma (Renato Rascel, G, 114 BPM)
- Away in a Manger (G, 120 BPM)
- Bag of Spuds (D, 120 BPM)
Browse more: Mandolin tabs, or see all songs and the chord charts.