The Cliffs of Moher

Jig, A Dorian, Traditional Irish

On Ireland’s west coast, in County Clare, the Cliffs of Moher rise up 390 feet (120 meters) above the Atlantic Ocean. With its distinctive high opening notes, this tune reflects the height of those cliffs. It is a great tune for finishing a set and letting the open strings of a fiddle ring out.

If you are a bit hazy on Dorian mode, see the article “Dorian, Mixolydian, Oh My: Modes in a Nutshell” for a brief and friendly explanation.

Recordings

• Video – Kevin Burke: Paddy Fahy’s Jigs/Cliffs Of Moher – solo fiddle, from the album If the Cap Fits. (The Cliffs of Moher begins at time 1:03 in this recording.)
• Video – John Whelan: Tar Road To Sligo/Cliffs Of Moher – from the album Celtic Roots (Spirit Of Dance). (The Cliffs of Moher begins at time 1:05 in this recording.)
• Video – Shane Farrell: Cliffs of Moher Irish Jig. Irish Tenor Banjo Music

Sheet Music

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.

About the chords: The A5 chords here are “omit 3” chords that are neither major nor minor. Using these chords keeps the harmony less dense and gives more space for melodic variation than would using full chords. Any of the A5 chords here can be replaced with A minor chords.

Sets

Examples of sets that include this tune.

• Lilting Jig Set: The Humours of Ennistymon (G) / Lilting Banshee (A Dorian) / Cliffs of Moher (A Dorian)
• The Cliffs of Moher / Farewell to Ireland (reel)
• Lilting Banshee Jig Set: Lilting Banshee (A Dorian) / Cliffs of Moher (A Dorian)

References and Resources

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

• More Recordings
  • Audio – John Weed and Stuart Mason: The Cliffs of Moher – played slowly on fiddle with guitar. From the album Slow & Easy Volume 1 (San Luis Obispo, California)
  • Audio – Stephen Ducke: The Cliffs of Moher – played on tin whistle. From the book Irish Music – 400 Traditional Tunes
• Books
  • Book – John Weed and Stuart Mason: Slow & Easy Volumes 1 and 2
  • Book & Audio – Matt & Shannon Heaton: In Harmony 
  • Book & Audio – Dave Mallinson: 100 Essential Irish Session Tunes
  • Book – Foinn Seisiún, Volume 1 Published by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
  • Book & Audio – Stephen Ducke: Irish Music – 400 Traditional Tunes
• Lessons
  • Lesson: Kevin Burke (Fiddlevideo): The Cliffs Of Moher (Jig): Fiddle Lesson by Kevin Burke – partial lesson. (Full lesson requires subscription to Fiddlevideo.)
  • Lesson – Mandolessons (Baron Collins Hill): The Cliffs of Moher – mandolin lessons with sheet music, video, and play-along audio tracks.
  • Lesson – Sean Cunningham (whistletutor): Tin Whistle Lesson: Cliffs of Moher (Awesome beginner jig!) – video lesson with part-by-part breakdown and suggestions for ornamentation. (Tabs and sheet music on Patreon / whistletutor by subscription.)
  • Lessons – Online Academy of Irish Music: The Cliffs of Moher – lessons on button accordion, tenor banjo, and guitar (accompaniment); play-along virtual session. (Requires subscription to OAIM.)
• Additional Resources
  • Article – Jonathan Lay (TrailJams): Dorian, Mixolydian, Oh My: Modes in a Nutshell
  • Webpage – The Session: Cliffs of Moher – crowdsourced sheet music, comments, and other information
  • Article – Wikipedia: Cliffs of Moher