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Learn to play Irish Folk Songs on guitar,

-even if you've never played before!

A simple, step-by-step course to help you start from scratch or get back on track and finally progress on guitar!

If you’ve ever felt unsure where to start…
or found yourself going in circles with your playing…
this will give you a clear path forward.

Full price €97 

(Less than the cost of 2 private lessons - over 80 videos)

Lifetime access. No subscriptions. No recurring fees.


After this week, the course returns to the regular price of €197. 

Available for early supporters.

👉 Limited-time exclusive access: Get it for just €97

  • Play classic Irish songs and Ballads from day one

  • Learn guitar fundamentals through songs you love

  • Can be applied to any genre of music

  • Community support and backing tracks included

    • GETTING STARTED

    Does this sound familiar?

    You might recognise yourself in this…

    • You know a few chords and can strum a few songs
    • You’ve tried learning before but didn’t progress
    • You pick up the guitar now and again… but not consistently
    • You’re not sure what to practice next
    • You’ve watched YouTube videos — but it all feels a bit random

    And over time…

    the guitar slowly gets put to one side.

    If that’s you — you’re not alone.

    course is for you If:

  • You're NOT a Beginner - You're Just Stuck

  • You’ve started before, but never felt structured progress

  • You know a few chords but struggle with rhythm and flow

  • You’ve always wanted to play Irish folk songs confidently

  • You want proper foundations — not random YouTube lessons

  • You prefer clear, traditional teaching (not flashy gimmicks)

    • Imagine this…

  • Playing complete Irish ballads with confidence while impressing family and friends

  • Understanding what you’re doing — not just copying shapes

  • Understanding keys —and the relationship between chords and scales 

  • Moving smoothly between chords

  • Adding simple fingerpicking that sounds musical

  • Learning to improvise/jam over any song in any key

  • Playing song melodies

  • Feeling proud of your progress within weeks

    • This course is designed to take you from uncertainty to confident, structured playing —step by step.

    What’s inside:

  • Step-by-step beginner and improver modules.

  • Traditional strumming + fingerpicking patterns.

  • Full song tutorials (start to finish).

  • Clear whiteboard teaching.

  • Downloadable resources.

  • Community support & backing tracks included.

  • Lifetime access

    • 👉 Limited-time exclusive access: Get it for just €97

  • Watch Mike Playing Guitar in this video!

    • Get Started in 3 Simple Steps!

    Sign up now for limited time offer.

    You’ll get an email with your login and how to start.

    Go at your own speed.
    No confusion.
    No overwhelm.
    No guessing what to practice next.

    Facebook community support

    Check in regularly with your Facebook community group where you can ask questions about any aspect of the course, share you progress and connect with fellow students. We are here to support you every step of the way.

    COURSE CONTENT

    What's included in this training?

    This training has been specially structured to go over all the core concepts of guitar within 6 modules,

    while learning guitar through all your favourite Irish folk songs & ballads.

    CHORDS

    Learn All Chords

        Open position chords

  • Chords further up the neck.

  • Bar chords-partial chords/triads.

  • Joining chords with bass runs.

  • Suspended chords and variations and how to use them.

  • Common chord progressions found in all styles of music 

    • RHYTHM

    Jam in any Rhythm

  • Strumming patterns.

  • Make your strumming  sound more interesting.

  • Strum like a pro.

  • Strum like a pro.

  • ¼ ,1/8th 1/16th note    strumming patterns.

  • Combining patterns and variations.

    • SCALES

    Solo over any song

  • How to play melodies and improvise.

  • Major and minor scales.

  • Major and minor pentatonic scales.

  • How to transpose all the above scales (play them up the neck in different keys)!

    • FINGERSTYLE

    Fingerpicking Good!

  • Basic arpeggiated fingerstyle patterns

  • More advanced fingerstyle

  • Playing melodies over a bass string rhythm!

    • READING

    How to Read Music

  • Chord charts

  • Tablature!

    • THEORY

    Understanding music

  • Building blocks of all music

  • Understanding how everything fits together

  • No more confusion

  • e.g.what chords belong in a particular key

  • What scale will work over a particular chord sequence

    • SONGS & REPETOIRE

    All your favourite songs

  • Lots of the most famous Irish Folk songs each week to practice the above skills.

  • Backing Tracks to practice your chords and scales to.

  • -Full ballad group backing tracks to play and sing along to...with and without vocals.

    • Songs include:

  • Fields of Athenry

  • My Cavan Girl

  • Song for Ireland

  • Whistling Gypsy Rover

  • Clare to Here

  • Homes of Donegal

  • McAlpines Fusiliers

  • ....plus many more

    • 👉Legacy Student Relaunch As a former student of mine or long-time follower, you are invited to access the complete course at: €197 €97.

    This special rate is available for 7 days only. After that, the course returns to its standard price of €197. 

    Lifetime access.
    No subscriptions.
    No recurring fees.

    No future discounts are planned.

    Start learning today!

    👉 Claim Your 7-Day Discount Now!

    THEORY

    Understanding music

  • Building blocks of all music

  • Understanding how everything fits together

  • No more confusion

  • e.g.what chords belong in a particular key

  • what scale will work over a particular chord sequence

    • Here's What You Will have access to

    Access To Membership Portal

    Learn from scratch the concepts of guitar in a step by step method via our membership portal 

    Downloadable Worksheets

    Download the PDF sheets that contain all the chord diagrams, rhythm patterns and tablature taught in the video lessons.

    Access To Private Facebook Group

    Join our exclusive private Facebook Group and share your learning and results, get accountability partners, make friends and share your challenges.

  • Meet Our Featured Artists

    Planxty

    Christy Moore

    The Dubliners

    Mary Black

    The Fureys

    Paul  Brady

    123456

     Free Bonuses!

    Bonus #1: One-On-One Support 

    Get exclusive access to a private online community, where you can ask questions, get feedback, and connect with fellow learners. I’ll personally check in regularly to answer your biggest challenges! 

    Bonus #2: Top 10 Irish Songs Play Book

    E-book containing chords and music to the top 10 Irish Folk Songs as voted by an Irish TV audience on a recent Mary Black TV show..

    Bonus #3: Rare footage of the greats 

    Rare video footage of some of the top Irish singers and musicians from the 70’s and 80’s ..

    Bonus #4: Beginners chords/strumming course

    Learn step-by-step beginner chords, common chord progressions and strumming patterns in 5 easy lessons. Perfect for build a solid foundation.

    Bonus #5: Beginners fingerstyle course

    Learn to accompany slow ballads using simple fingerstyle patterns-The building blocks for more advanced fingerpicking guitar. 

    The total value of the bonuses amounts to more than €1000 In absolute value!

    30-Day Money Back Guarantee

    If you go through the material and feel it’s not for you,

    simply email within 30 days for a full refund. No questions.

    No pressure.

    👉 Get Instant Access Before Price Increases — €97

    YOUR TEACHER

    Meet Mike Varden

    Hi Mike here. I’ve spent decades teaching guitar both privately and in my own guitar school.
    This course brings together everything I’ve learned about helping students progress clearly and confidently — without unnecessary complication.

    (See more)

    Just a bit about my background. I completed a diploma at 'The Guitar Institute' in London in 2002 after having qualified as a secondary school teacher from UCC (University College Cork) some years previously.

    In 2003, I decided to go into teaching music full-time, and combining my love of guitar with my passion for teaching, I set up the 'Ennis Guitar School' in my hometown, Ennis in Co. Clare, Ireland.

    I have been playing and teaching guitar for more than 30 years now (having taught privately before opening my school), and I have taught thousands of students of all ages and all levels, both one-to-one and in groups.

    During this time, I also delivered guitar workshops on behalf of a wide range of organisations, including Music Generation Ireland (set up and funded by Bono and U2) and taught guitar in several primary and secondary level schools throughout County Clare, as well as running Adult workshops.

    I am interested in and play many types of music, including Folk, Rock, Blues, Country, Ragtime and Fingerstyle, and I have played in bands, solo and other musical combos.

    I grew up listening to Irish ballads and folk songs performed by artists such as the Dubliners, Clancy brothers, Mary Black, Christy Moore, Planxty and the Furey brothers, to name a few, and this music in particular has always been close to my heart.

    Here's what some past students have said

    “If any of you are wishing you could play guitar and sing some of your favourite songs don’t hesitate…I guarantee you will not regret it. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. Within a month I was playing some of my favourite songs”

    Paul Barrett

    Paul Barrett

    Co.Clare

    “I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this course to anyone interested in learning guitar or for anyone who already plays but has hit a wall and wants to improve”

    Dan Kennedy

    Dan Kennedy

    Co.Kerry

    “I found the course content excellent: you are developing a first class site and content”

    Nessan Rickard

    Co.Dublin

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    Your questions answered

    I've never played guitar before. Will this course be too hard for me?

    No. No experience is needed at all.

    This course starts right from the very beginning — including how to hold the guitar, how to sit comfortably, and how to place your fingers correctly on the fretboard.

    Everything is explained step-by-step, so even if you’ve never played before, you’ll be able to follow along.

    What exactly will I be able to do after completing the course?

    By the end of the course, you’ll be able to confidently play and accompany a range of well-known Irish folk songs.

    More importantly, you’ll have developed solid rhythm, smoother chord changes, practical fingerpicking and improvisational skills— the kind of foundation that makes playing any style of music feel easier and more natural.

    Will this course help me play other types of music too?

    Yes, absolutely.

    While the course uses Irish folk songs, what you’re really learning are the foundations of good guitar playing — rhythm, chord changes, accompaniment, fingerpicking, improvising/melody playing.

    These skills apply to many styles of music including pop, country, ballads, and acoustic playing/song writing.

    So you’re not just learning songs — you’re building a solid musical foundation.

    Will I get support if I get stuck?

    Yes — you won’t be on your own.

    You’ll have access to a private Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your progress, and learn alongside others on the course.

    I also check in there regularly to answer common questions and guide you when needed.
    If you’re not on Facebook, you can contact me by email for support.

    My aim is to make sure you always have help available — without feeling stuck or unsure what to do next.

    I’ve tried learning guitar before and struggled — will this be different?

    Many people have had that experience.

    The difference here is that everything is taught in a clear, structured way, building one step at a time — starting from the very basics that are often skipped.

    You’ll also have access to a private Facebook support group where you can ask questions, share your progress, and get encouragement along the way.
    If you’re not on Facebook, you can contact me by email for support.

    You’re not left on your own — and that makes a big difference in how quickly and confidently you improve.

    I already strum some basic chords and play some songs. Is the course for me?

    Yes absolutely.

    Most lessons have a level 2 for more intermediate players like you but I would encourage you to watch all the lessons... lots of level 1 lessons contain more than just the basics.

    Fundamental skills such as fingerpicking, scales, improvising/melody, theory and reading are also covered.

    How long will it take before I can actually play a song ?

    Obviously, everyone is a bit different. However, this course was created in such a simple way that you can be playing a song after your first lesson.

    That may be a bit hard to believe, but I literally break it down to the simplest basics possible.

    However, realistically it generally takes approx 6 months to be able to play several songs in a few different keys and maybe 2 years to be quite competent on guitar if you are consistent in your practice and follow the guidelines.

    How long will I have access to the course?

    You have 24/7 lifetime access to the course which will include all updates and will always be available on our membership portal whenever you log in.

    How is this different from free YouTube lessons?

    Free lessons can be helpful, but they’re often scattered and don’t follow a clear path.

    This course is designed as a step-by-step journey, so you always know what to learn next.

    It’s the closest thing to being taught by me in person.

    🎸 Legacy Student Relaunch

    As a former Ennis Guitar School student or long-time follower, you are invited to access the complete course at:

    €197/€97

    This special price is available for 7 days only.
    After that, the course returns to its standard price of €197.
    Lifetime access. No subscriptions. No recurring fees.

    No future legacy discounts are planned.

    👉 Get Instant Access Before Price Increases — €97

    🎸 Sorry, this offer has expired!

    Thank you for your interest in my courses.
    Get the course here

    €197

    👉 Secure Your Access Now!

    www.vardenguitar.com

    Questions? Contact Mike at [email protected]

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