The High Reel

Reel, A Mixolydian, traditional Irish
Also know as: Duffy the Dancer
TrailJams Tune of the Week: September 10, 2023; August 31, 2025

The High Reel lives up to its title, sounding a high and clear fanfare as it starts. Pitched up at A, it’s a great tune for letting the open fiddle strings ring.

Recordings

• Audio – Blue Deux: The High Reel​/​The Congress Reel – from the album Blue Deux (California)
• Video – Anthea Lawrence (Fiddlehead): Julia Delaney/The Convenience/The High Reel – from the album Fiddlehead (Olympia, Washington, USA). (The High Reel starts at time 2:52 in this recording.) Also available as audio track.
• Video – The Dubliners (Featuring Barney McKenna): The Scholar / The Teetotaller / The High Reel – played on tenor banjo. From the album 50 Years. (The High Reel starts at time 2:21 in this recording.

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.

Sets

Examples of sets that include this tune.

• Dunmore Lasses Reel Set: Dunmore Lasses (Em) / The Earl’s Chair (D) / The High Reel (A Mixolydian)
• Julia Delaney / The Convenience/The High Reel
• The Mooncoin Reel / The High Reel
• The Scholar / The Teetotaller / The High Reel
• The High Reel​ /​ The Congress Reel

References and Resources

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

• More Recordings
  • Audio – John Weed and Stuart Mason: The High Reel – played slowly on fiddle with guitar. From the album Slow & Easy Volume 1 (San Luis Obispo, California)
• Books
  • Book – The Portland Collection, Volume 1 – Contra Dance Music in the Pacific Northwest. By Susan Songer with Clyde Curley.
  • Book – John Weed and Stuart Mason: Slow & Easy Volumes 1 and 2
  • Book & Audio – Dave Mallinson: 100 Essential Irish Session Tunes
  • Book – Francis O’Neill and James O’Neill: The Dance Music of Ireland (tune 721, Duffy the Dancer)
• Lessons
  • Lesson – Duncan Cameron Music: High Reel – fiddle demonstration of the tune played slowly
• Additional Resources
  • Article – Jonathan Lay (TrailJams): Dorian, Mixolydian, Oh My: Modes in a Nutshell
  • Webpage – The Session: The High Reel – crowdsourced sheet music, comments, and other information