English Pub Session Tunes Book

Core English Pub Session Tunes for Traditional Musicians

English Pub Session Tunes Book is part of Dave Mallinson’s popular Pub Session Series, bringing together a carefully chosen selection of tunes that form the backbone of many English pub sessions, folk festivals, ceilidhs and traditional music gatherings.

Although not every tune in the book is strictly English in origin, this collection reflects the real repertoire heard in English sessions, where tunes from England, Ireland, Scotland, Northumberland, America, France and Scandinavia often sit naturally alongside one another.

Quick Overview

This 32-page tune book is ideal for melodeon players, accordionists, fiddlers, whistle players and other traditional musicians looking to build a practical session repertoire. The tunes are arranged in order of difficulty and are designed to be accessible, useful and session-friendly.

Available Formats

• Book Only
• Soundtrack CD Only
• Book & Soundtrack CD Together

Part of the Pub Session Series

This book is one of a wider set of tune collections designed to cover the core repertoire played in English pub sessions.

• Easy Peasy Tunes
• English Country Dance Tunes
• English Pub Session Tunes
• Popular English Session Tunes
• 101 Easy Irish Session Tunes

Across the four main Pub Session Series books, 404 tunes are presented as a practical reference collection for English pub sessions and traditional dance music. Only 14 notes are required to play all 404 tunes, making the series especially useful for D/G melodeon players and other traditional musicians.

Particularly Useful for D/G Melodeon Players

Because the tunes are built around the practical fourteen-note approach described by Dave Mallinson, the collection works especially well for D/G melodeon players without accidentals. This makes the book highly accessible for traditional English session playing while still offering enough depth for experienced musicians.

Why This Book Is Useful

The book gathers tunes that crop up again and again in English pub sessions. A number of the tunes have also been made popular by influential bands and musicians, including The Old Swan Band.

For players who want to join in more confidently at sessions, ceilidhs, barn dances or folk festivals, this collection provides a strong working repertoire rather than a random tune list.

Ideal For

• English pub session musicians
• D/G melodeon players
• Accordion players building traditional repertoire
• Fiddlers, whistle players and flute players
• Ceilidh and barn dance musicians
• Morris musicians
• Players wanting accessible session-friendly tunes

Musical Style and Repertoire

The repertoire includes a wide range of traditional dance and session tunes, including polkas, hornpipes, jigs, reels, marches, waltzes and other widely played session standards.

The settings are intended to be practical and playable, with chord suggestions included as a guide. As with all traditional music, players can adapt the tunes, chords and phrasing to suit their own style, instrument and local session tradition.

Book Details

• Title: English Pub Session Tunes Book
• Publisher: Dave Mallinson Publications
• Series: Pub Session Series
• SKU: AM303
• Format: Book Only, Soundtrack CD Only, or Book & Soundtrack CD Together
• Pages: 32
• ISBN: 9781899512652

Full Tune List

Explore More Tune Books

Browse our full range of accordion, melodeon and folk music books here.

You may also find our English Folk Music Books & Tune Collections collection useful if you are building traditional English repertoire.

Why Buy from Squeezebox Marketplace?

At Squeezebox Marketplace, we carefully select tune books and learning resources that are genuinely useful for traditional musicians. We specialise in melodeons, accordions and folk instruments, with a strong focus on real-world session and dance music.