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
Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor Now, 'twas twenty-five or thirty years Since Jack first saw the light; He came into this world of woe One dark and stormy night. He was born on board his father's ship one day As she was lying to, 'Bout twenty-five or thirty miles Southeast of Bacalhao. cho: Jack was every inch a sailor, Five and twenty years a whaler, Jack was every inch a sailor, He was born upon the deep blue sea. When Jack grew up to be a man, He went to Labrador, He fished in Indian Harbor Where his father fished before. On his returning in the fog, He met a heavy gale, And Jack was swept into the sea And swallowed by a whale. The whale went straight for Baffln's Bay 'Bout ninety knots an hour, And ev'ry time he'd blow a spray, He'd send it in a shower. "Oh, now," says Jack unto himself, "I must see what he's about." He caught the whale all by the tail And turned him inside out. RG
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!