Scottish and Irish traditional music Irish music enthusiasts gather at a pub to play and drink beer Usually traditional sessions are based around acoustic instruments. In Scotland as in Ireland, the most popular instruments include acoustic guitar, fiddle, accordion, mandolin, pipes, whistle, and sometimes double bass. Because an acoustic guitar is relatively quiet, guitarists often experience difficulty being heard over louder instruments such as accordions and whistles. A small amplifier may be used to bring the guitar up to an audible level. However, there are a number of traditionalists who resent the use of guitar amplifiers at an otherwise acoustic session. Depending on the session, the performers may use chord charts or sheet music (more likely at an amateur or beginner session) or no music notation at all,  at a session with experienced participants and/or professionals. In sessions where no music notation is used, the participants or leader "call" well-known tunes that the other performers know "by ear", either by stating the title aloud, or more simply by starting into the melody.
Scottish and Irish traditional music Irish music enthusiasts gather at a pub to play and drink beer Usually traditional sessions are based around acoustic instruments. In Scotland as in Ireland, the most popular instruments include acoustic guitar, fiddle, accordion, mandolin, pipes, whistle, and sometimes double bass. Because an acoustic guitar is relatively quiet, guitarists often experience difficulty being heard over louder instruments such as accordions and whistles. A small amplifier may be used to bring the guitar up to an audible level. However, there are a number of traditionalists who resent the use of guitar amplifiers at an otherwise acoustic session. Depending on the session, some beginning performers may use chord charts or sheet music or no music notation at all, which is typically the case at a session with experienced participants and/or professionals. In sessions where no music notation is used, the participants or leader "call" well-known tunes that the other performers know "by ear", either by stating the title aloud, or more simply by starting into the melody.
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which is typically the case