The most common tune played immediately after The Silver Spear in sessions is The Earl's Chair (Reel, D Major), appearing in 11.36% of sets. The second most popular choice is The Maid Behind The Bar (7.16%), followed by The Sally Gardens (6.25%). Traced from 880 session sets, these pairings represent the top transitions.
Why this page is useful: The Silver Spear is loved for its scalar D major fingering. This guide analyzes how session players pair it to create balanced, flowing sets.
1. Introduction & Sourced Statistics
The Silver Spear is one of the most popular D major session reels, loved for its bright fiddle and banjo-friendly scale. As a standard of the Irish session repertoire, it acts as a perfect centerpiece or release tune. But what follows this magnificent reel? Using the Trad Tune Explorer database, we analyzed over 800 sets to find the statistics, musical patterns, and artist examples that define the perfect follow-on tune.
Here are the top 5 tunes that most commonly follow The Silver Spear in live sessions, ranked by transition counts:
| Rank & Tune Name | Key / Mode | Sets Occurrences | Transition Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Earl's Chair, The (ID: 221) | D Major | 103 sets | 10.22% |
| 2. Maid Behind The Bar, The (ID: 64) | D Major | 61 sets | 6.05% |
| 3. Sally Gardens, The (ID: 98) | G Major | 57 sets | 5.65% |
| 4. Humours Of Tulla, The (ID: 141) | D Major | 47 sets | 4.66% |
| 5. Banshee, The (ID: 8) | G Major | 43 sets | 4.27% |
2. Visualizing the Three-Level Set Continuation Tree
Set building isn't just about the next tune—it's about the entire arc. Below is a three-level set continuation tree showing what tunes follow immediately, and what tunes usually follow *those* in three-part combinations:
Three-Level Set Continuation Tree: The Silver Spear (Root)
-
Root: The Silver Spear (REEL, D Major)
-
→ 1. Earl's Chair, The (ID: 221, D
Major) — 10.22%
- * Musical Priest, The (ID 73, B Minor) — 13.55%
- * Frank's (ID 646, A Major) — 7.57%
- * Cooley's (ID 1, E Dorian) — 3.19%
- * Cup Of Tea, The (ID 20, E Dorian) — 2.99%
-
→ 2. Maid Behind The Bar, The (ID: 64,
D Major) — 6.05%
- * Cooley's (ID 1, E Dorian) — 12.40%
- * Banshee, The (ID 8, G Major) — 5.32%
- * Sally Gardens, The (ID 98, G Major) — 5.32%
- * Wind That Shakes The Barley, The (ID 116, D Major) — 4.87%
-
→ 3. Sally Gardens, The (ID: 98, G
Major) — 5.65%
- * Sligo Maid, The (ID 399, A Dorian) — 6.11%
- * Maid Behind The Bar, The (ID 64, D Major) — 5.50%
- * Miss McLeod's (ID 75, G Major) — 4.27%
- * Merry Blacksmith, The (ID 72, D Major) — 3.97%
-
→ 4. Humours Of Tulla, The (ID: 141, D
Major) — 4.66%
- * Skylark, The (ID 632, D Major) — 15.46%
- * St. Anne's (ID 103, D Major) — 3.62%
- * Toss The Feathers (ID 113, D Dorian) — 2.30%
- * Cooley's (ID 1, E Dorian) — 1.97%
-
→ 5. Banshee, The (ID: 8, G Major) —
4.27%
- * Sailor's Bonnet, The (ID 570, D Major) — 16.87%
- * Cooley's (ID 1, E Dorian) — 8.38%
- * Maid Behind The Bar, The (ID 64, D Major) — 4.19%
- * Merry Blacksmith, The (ID 72, D Major) — 2.94%
-
→ 1. Earl's Chair, The (ID: 221, D
Major) — 10.22%
Trace these musical pathways visually using the uilleann piping and fiddle transitions on the Silver Spear Set Follow-On Tree page.
3. Musical Analysis of Key Transitions
Why the Top Transitions Work Musically
Fiddlers and whistle players choose follow-ons for The Silver Spear that complement its scalar movements. Here is an analysis of why these pairings work so well:
This keeps the key signature identical, staying within D Major. The transition works seamlessly because both tunes share a bright, cheerful dance atmosphere and flow naturally from one to another.
Another transition staying in D Major. The Maid Behind the Bar starts on F# (FAAB AFED...), which matches the bright energy of the Spear and builds the set's overall momentum.
4. Commercial Recording Examples (Landmark Albums)
Artist Examples: Who Recorded These Sets?
Many of these combinations were popularized by legendary recordings:
The Bothy Band — Live In Concert (1978)
Track Set: The Silver Spear → The Earl's Chair
The Bothy Band popularized this pairing globally, showing how staying in D Major keeps a steady, bouncy lifting rhythm.
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is The Earl's Chair so popular after The Silver Spear?
Both tunes are in D Major, providing a continuous, cheerful dance feel that transitions smoothly from one to another.
6. Conclusion
Understanding tune transitions is key to developing your session craft. Start practicing these popular pairings to build cohesive, high-energy sets.
Build your own tune sets using Trad Tune Explorer.