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
Road to Dundee 1. Cold winter was howlin' o'er moorland and mountain And wild was the surge of the dark rolling sea When I met about daybreak a bonnie young lassie Who asked me the road and the miles to Dundee. 2. Says I, "My young lassie, I canna weel tell ye, The road and the distance I canna weel gie, But if you'll permit me to gang a wee bittie, I'll show you the road and the miles to Dundee." 3. The lassie consented and gie me her airm Not a word did I speir wha the lassie micht be She appeared like an angel in feature and form As she walked by my side on the road to Dundee. 4. At length wi' the howe o' Strathmartine behind us The spires o' the toon in full view we could see, She said, "Gentle sir, I can never forget ye For showin' me so far on the road to Dundee. 5. This ring and this purse please accept as a token And surely there's somethin' that ye can gi'e me, That in years to come I'll the laddie remember Who showed me the road and the miles to Dundee?" 6. I took the gold pin frae the scarf on my bosom, And said, "Tak' ye this, in remembrance o' me", And bravely I kissed the sweet lips o' the lassie And I pairted frae her on the road to Dundee. 7. So here's tae the lassie; I canna forget her, And ilka young laddie wha's listenin' to me, O never be sweir to convey a young lassie, Though it's only to show her the road to Dundee. from the singing of Murray Shoolbraid. JB
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!