The Keel Row

Traditionnel (Northumberland) · Level 3 (Late beginner) · traditional · Guitar, sheet music and tablature

A Northumbrian tune (18th century) sung by the Tyne keelmen, with its little “Scotch snap” rhythms. Arranged in A major: the tune with a thumb bass on every strong beat, in first position.

▶ Play this piece with the interactive score

How to practise it

• Listen first: the site plays it while the score scrolls.
• Wait mode: the score waits for you at every note, at your own pace.
• Tempo challenge: play in time, with a score and a map of the bars you got right.
• Thumb for all the basses, i-m for the tune; prepare each chord shape before the downbeat. Work in four-bar phrases, then play it through at a reduced tempo. The highest note is played at the 5th fret of the high E string.

Source : Arrangement Note after Note d’après l’air traditionnel (Nottingham Music Database) · Public Domain