Swinging on a Gate

Reel, G, Traditional Irish
Also known as: Swinging on the Gate

Swinging on a Gate is a cheerful Irish reel that is popular for sessions and dance. From its traditional Irish settings, it has found its way into the contra dance and American old-time repertoires.

Recordings

• Audio – Comhaltas: Swinging On The Gate – from the album Foinn Seisiún Volume 2
• Audio – MandoLessons (Baron Collins-Hill): Swinging On A Gate (Fast​)​: Mandolin & Guitar – for the full lesson that includes this track see the References and Resources section below.
• Video – ejdodson: Swinging on a Gate/Spoodiskerry/Temperance Reel/East Neuk of Fife – played on fiddle, with bodhran

Dots (Music Notation)

As always for traditional tunes, the musical notation and chords do not indicate the “right” way to play the tune, but are a useful reference.

Sets

Examples of sets that include this tune.

• Sligo Maid Reel Set: The Sligo Maid (A Dorian) / The Sally Gardens (G) / Swinging on a Gate (G)
• Devanney’s Goat Reel Set: Devaney’s Goat (D) / Galway Rambler (G) / Swinging on a Gate (G)
• Ships are Sailing Reel Set: Ships are Sailing (E Dorian) / The Longford Collector (G) / Swinging on a Gate (G)
• The Torn Jacket (D) / Swinging on a Gate (G) / The Silver Speer (D)
• The Merry Blacksmith / Cooley’s / Swinging On A Gate
• Swinging on a Gate / The Longford Collector

References and Resources

For those who want to dig deeper, here are some other resources.

• More Recordings
  • Audio – Barn Owls: Texas Gals / Swinging on a Gate / It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got That Swing) – played on fiddle and whistle, with rhythm backing. From the album Barn Owls Live. “Swinging on a Gate” starts at time 2:22 on this recording.
  • Video – Shane Farrell: Swinging on the Gate Reel Irish Tenor Banjo Music
  • Audio – Stuart Mason & John Weed: Swinging on the Gate – played slowly on fiddle with guitar backing. From the album Slow & Easy Volume 2.
  • Audio – Jeff Norman: Swingin’ on a Gate – clawhammer banjo and fiddle. From the album Stripey Cat (Jeff Norman; Molly McBride; Chris Scales).
• Books
  • Book – Comhaltas: Foinn Seisiún Volume 2 
  • Book & Audio – Matt & Shannon Heaton: In Harmony 
  • Book – John Weed and Stuart Mason: Slow & Easy Volumes 1 and 2
  • Book – The Fiddler’s Fakebook, by David Brody 
• Lessons
  • Lesson – MandoLessons (Baron Collins-Hill): Swinging On A Gate – mandolin lesson with video, play-along tracks and sheet music.
  • Lesson – Shannon Heaton: Swingin on a Gate [Reel] – Tune of the Month with Shannon Heaton – flute lesson video, taught phrase-by-phras
• Other Resources
  • Webpage – The Session: Swinging On The Gate (Reel) – crowdsourced sheet music, comments and more.
  • Webpage – The Irish Traditional Music Tune Index: Tune ID#1868 (Swinging on a Gate) – tune information, including links to recordings and other resources.