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
Rivers of Texas We crossed the broad Pecos, we forded the Nueces Swum the Guadalupe, we followed the Brazos Red River runs rusty, the Wichita clear But down by the Brazos I courted my dear Li li li lee lee lee, give me your hand Li li li lee lee lee, give me your hand Li li li lee lee lee, give me your hand There's many a river that waters the land The sweet Angelina runs glossy and gliding The crooked Colorado runs weaving and winding The slow San Antonio courses the plain But I never will walk by the Brazos again The girls on Little River, they're plump and they're pretty The Sabine and Sulphur have many a beauty And down by the Natchez there's girls by the score But I never will walk by the Brazos no more She hugged me and kissed me and called me her dandy The Trinity is muddy, the Brazos quick sandy I hugged her and kissed her and called her my own But down by the Brazos she left me alone recorded by Sandy and Caroline Paton and by Ellen Stekert and Milt Okum SOF
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!