Jim Ward’s, or Jimmy Ward’s, jig is a traditional Irish jig, which I’m playing here on the fiddle. Jimmy Ward’s jig is a really popular session tune, played in Irish trad sessions all over the world. In the video below you can hear me playing my setting of this tune. I have also included sheet music for Jimmy Ward’s jig below, if you find that helpful.
Jim Ward, or Jimmy Ward, was a well-known banjo player from County Clare.
He was one of the members of the important ceili band, the Kilfenora Céilí Band. Jimmy Ward originally played the flute, piccolo and the whistle, but switched to the banjo in the 1940s, and it became his main instrument. He won the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil with the Kilfenora Céilí Band three years in a row, in 1954, 1955 and 1956.
Jim Ward’s, or Jimmy Ward’s jig is his most well known tune. (Although some contest that it may have not been written by him, but merely a tune associated with him).
If you would like to learn this traditional Irish jig on the fiddle with me, then please do let me know — I am planning on making a full tutorial on this tune soon.
For those that read sheet music here is the score for the setting of this tune that I generally play. The sheet music for Jimmy Ward’s jig below doesn’t include any of the ornamentation or variations I am playing in the video – this is just the melody. In this tune, I typically use lots of long rolls, cuts, bowed triplets and chords and drones.
Nor does the sheet music include any of the slurs or bowing patterns I use in playing this jig. If you would like to learn more about bowing patterns, slurs, and bowed emphasis for playing jigs, do check out my Complete Fiddler Course.
Fiddle players, if you would like to take your fiddle playing to the next level, take a look at my online fiddle courses, including my free Irish fiddle course.