The Infamous "Rules"

These rules are not meant to discourage you from attending the sesion. They simply attempt to clarify what the nÓg session is all about. There's nothing unusual here; the rules are mostly based on commonly accepted session etiquette. This will help you decide if this is the session for you. We hope it is.

  1. No smoking in the session. The pub allows smoking, so I can't promise it'll be smoke-free.
  2. Players of all ages and all abilities are welcome. This is a great session for students (of any age). The only requirement is that you can play your instrument well enough to learn a tune by ear in an hour.
  3. This is an inclusive session--during all parts of the session, we round-robin to make sure everyone gets to start a tune. And, we respect the tempo of the player who started the tune(s).
  4. No sheet music or music stands allowed. You will learn the tune better if you learn it by ear.
  5. Everyone plays the melody. Baselines and harmonies (unless they come from piano or guitar backup) are not traditional as defined for this session.
  6. Please don't play unless you know the tune very well (except in the learning and slow jam parts). This goes for backup instruments as well.
  7. NEW  Drumming is distracting and prevents us from hearing each other well while learning and practicing tune melodies. So, no drumming until after 4:30, please! And, please, bodhrans only (and bones).
  8. If you play guitar or bodhran, please coordinate with other players so that only one of each plays at a time (unless you can play quietly).
  9. Please tip the bartenders, if you have drinks!

We wish we could please everyone, but to keep a set of "regulars" coming every week, we have to keep the session consistent in focus.

What instruments are welcome?

This is a highly controversial issue and it bothers some people. This is not the first session in the world to restrict instruments to some degree. There are sessions in Ireland that ban bodhrans and even guitars.

Because the session strives to promote traditional music, we prefer that only players who play traditional instruments attend. See the session definition of traditional music.

But, if you need a list: fiddle, uilleann pipes, whistle, flute, concertina, banjo, guitar, bodhran, accordion, bouzouki, mandolin, and piano.

NEW  If you'd like to play a percussion instrument, please restrict it to bodhran and bones. Other drums,  such as djembes and bongos, detract from the traditional sound we strive for. Sorry!

Note: Although I don't hear mandolin on the recordings I listen to, the mandolin is tuned just like the fiddle, and many fiddle players can play mandolin, so mandolin is included on the list. Also, many of our mandolin players play other instruments as well.

All of that being said: If you are willing to learn the tune melodies we learn by ear, and you are willing to listen and learn the traditional rhythmic qualities we strive for, we don't care what instrument you play!!!