What can I say? I have a special place in my heart for tunes in the key of Bb, even if they aren’t hornpipes. I found Daley’s Reel in the book “Hot Licks for Bluegrass Fiddle” by Stacy Phillips. I hadn’t looked at that book in a while, and thumbed through it, and found Daley’s Reel, which I had played through a couple of times years ago. I don’t know much about it’s history, but I think it’s a pretty cool tune.
I really can’t find much about it. If you know something about it’s history, please let me know.

Daley’s Reel according to Fiddler’s Companion
DAILEY’S REEL. AKA – “Daley’s Reel.” Old‑Time, Bluegrass; Breakdown. USA. B Flat Major. Standard tuning. AABB (Brody): AABB’ (Phillips). According to the notes on Joe Greene’s LP, the tune is Canadian in origin. Source for notated version: Kenny Baker [Brody]. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 82. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; pg. 64. County 775, Kenny Baker‑ “Farmyard Swing.” County Records, Joe Greene‑ “Joe Greene’s Fiddle Album” (1969). County 2705, Kenny Baker – “Master Fiddler.”
Greetings Vi,
Really enjoyed today’s “Dailey’s Reel” as always. Stacy Phillips is an awesome fiddler AND steel guitar player. I have his “The Art of Hawaiian Steel Guitar” which I am enjoying. Now that I know he has a fiddle book I will look for it as well. It may seem incongruous for someone to play both steel guitar and fiddle, but the level of musicianship is similar for both instruments. I have “Dailey’s Reel” in Cathye Lynne Smithwick’s “The Bluegrass Fiddle Songbook”. Now that I know how it goes I will put it on my list to learn.
Thanks again for FTAD, I am really getting a lot out of it and my playing has improved markedly since I signed up.
Regards,
Hans Lueschen
Hi Hans,
I’m glad you are enjoying it. It is fantastic that my Fiddle Tune a Day has helped you improve your playing. If you haven’t seen it yet, my current project is completely education oriented: http://www.myTalentForge.com
Check it out and let me know what you think.
Vi
Howdy Vi,
A friend just turned me on to this tune. Searching for info on it turned up your video as well as this:
http://libcudl.colorado.edu/sheetmusic/brief_record.asp?oid=381996
Images of the original publication of Daly's Reel by Jos. M. Daly in 1911.
Thanks for your rendition. Now it's time to get it under my fingers.
Regards,
John I.
Wonderful musical performance !
Howdy John,
That's fantastic. Thanks for sharing it! It's cool that he marketed it as a follow up to Chicken Reel too. 🙂 I will have to try it in C for variety since that's the key he wrote it in.
Thanks, Michael!
I really liked this. Thank you!
It's a cool twisty tune, eh? 🙂
that was a great tune,,,there is a version of that on Jay Unger’s Fiddle Fever cd with triple fiddles
…on the Fiddle Fever cd this tune is called Contranova
That’s an interesting observation. Maybe I should ask Matt Glaser about that. 🙂