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: This data-driven guide analyzes commercial albums and user sets from the Trad Tune Explorer database to trace how The Silver Spear connects to other tunes in the living tradition.
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.
Below are the top 5 immediate follow-ons for The Silver Spear, ranked by transition occurrences in live session sets:
| 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%
Want to explore these paths interactively? View the live D3 graph on the Set Follow-On Tree page for The Silver Spear.
3. Musical Analysis of Key Transitions
Why the Top Transitions Work Musically
Traditional musicians choose transitions to maintain contrast and energy. Here is a breakdown of why The Silver Spear transitions 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.