This notation is pretty simple; dark circles mean covered holes; empty circles mean uncovered holes; a '+' below means to blow harder to get the upper octave; a '#' below means this note is too low for the whistle chosen and you'll have to fake it :) The author of this program always plays accidentals by closing holes, so you'll never see half-covered holes.
When I was starting, I found notation like this to be very helpful, and I know plenty of people who have trouble reading music who find this notation easier. Good luck!
(This score available as
ABC,
SongWright,
PostScript,
PNG, or
PMW, or
a MIDI file)
(Choose a whistle key:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Ab
Bb
Cb
Db
Eb
Fb
Gb
A#
B#
C#
D#
E#
F#
G#)
Dulcimer tab
for this song is also available
Admiral Benbow (2) Come all you seamen bold, landed here, landed here, It is of an Admiral brave called Benbow by his name, How he ploughed the raging main You shall hear, you shall hear. Last Tuesday morning last, Benbow sailed, Benbow sailed, What a sweet and pleasant gale when Benbow he set sail And the enemy they turned tail In a fright, in a fright. Great Reuben and Benbow fought the French, fought the French, See the boats go up and down and the bullets whizzing round And the enemy they knocked down, There they lie, there they lie. Oh, Benbow lost his legs, by chain-slot, by chain-shot, Down on his stumps did fall and so loud for mercy called, Oh, fight on my British tars, It is my lot, it is my lot. When the doctor dressed the wounds Benbow cried, Benbow cried, Oh, pray pick me up in haste to the quarter deck my place That the enemy I might face Until I die, until I die. Last Tuesday morning last, Benbow died, Benbow died, What a shocking sight to see when they carried him away They carried him to Se'm's'on church There he lays, there he lays. Printed in The Copper Family Songbook - A Living Tradition Recorded by The Copper Family on Song For Every Season SOF
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!