LadyDpiano: How To Play Auld Lang Syne

Many ways to say "Happy New Year!"

- Feliz Ano Nuevo (Spanish)
- Bonne Nouvelle Annee (French)
- Glückliches Neues Jahr (German)
- Feliz Ano Nuevo (Spanish)
- Buon Nuovo Anno (Italian)
- L'shana tovah (Hebrew)
- Akemashite, omedatou gozaimasu (Japanese)
- Hau'oli Makahiki Hou (Hawaiian)
- kul sana winta tayyib ( Arabic)
- Xin Nian Kuai le (Chinese)

What does Auld Lang Syne mean?

The title of the Scottish tune translates to “times gone by” and is about remembering friends from the past and not letting them be forgotten. Most of us know that it's a poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song, as Wikipedia tells us. I think it's interesting to read up on the background of the song. For more information, see http://abcnews.go.com/blogs

Learn accompanying Auld Lang Syne.

A good key would be F, which makes the lowest note C and the highest note D.

Example:

r.h. melody single notes- C, F, F, F, A, G, F, G, A, G, F, F, A, C, D...

1. A short intro will serve to announce the song, establish the key, and set the tempo. Providing good rhythm is especially important for keeping the group together. A typical introduction can be fashioned from the last four or two bars of the song. (Since Auld Lang Syne is relatively slow, two bars are sufficient.)

Example:

CG/ CEA to G
DD/ ADF
BB/ ABbD, BbBb/ ABbD
CC/ EBbC
FF/ ACF
CC to low F
CC/ EBbC

2. Pound out the melody, doubling it in octaves if possible.

CC/ EBbC
F/ FACF, F/FACF
DD/ FADF
DD/ ADFA
BbBb/ GBbDG
BbBb/ FBbDF
CC/ GBbEG
CC/ ACEA, to GG
F/ FACF, F/ FACF
FF/ ACEbA
AA/ CEAC
BbBb/ DFBbD

3. Once you are sure that the group knows the tune you can stop playing the melody and use a more rhythmic form of accompaniment. But notice that the right hand still touches on the main melody notes, to keep the singers on pitch.

Example:

CC/ EBbC
F/F, then FAC
DD/ FAD
BbBb/GBbD
CC/ GBbE
F/FAC
F/ ACEb
BbBb/D
BbBb/DFBb

4. When you come to the end of the tune you may want the singers to go on to another verse. You can signal them to do so by playing a "turnaround" emphasizing the dominant (i.e. the fifth note of the scale, which would be C in the key of F).

BbBb/DFBbD
AA/ CFC
FF/CFA, FF/CFA
DD/ BDF
CC/BbEG
CC/BbDF
CC/ BbEG
C#C#/ AEA, to G
DD/ADF
BbBb/ ABbD, BbBb/ ABbD
CC/ EBbC
FF/ ACF
CC/CC (3 times)

5. To create a final ending for the song, slow the tempo slightly, hold the last note (I have added a tremelo in the left hand) and then cut it off with a sharp "button" consisting of a tonic chord (i.e. a chord on the first note of the scale). Notice that as the tempo broadens. I have provided an upper octave doubling, to give a fuller sound.

Example:

C#C#/ AEA, to G
DD/ ADF
BbBb/ DFBbD (twice)
CC/ CEBbC
FF(tremelo)/ FACF (hold it out)
F/ FACF

Now, when you follow the soloist, remember not to push the rhythm... just follow the artist. When the soloist wants to pause and hold a note, play a fill or arpeggiate a chord, hold it with the sustain pedal while she catches her breath...

Auld Lang Syne (Tribute to Susan Boyle) - Single

Just Three Chords

F, C, F,

Bb, F, C

Bb, C, F

C, F, C

F, Bb, F

C, Bb, C, F

Photo credit: Free-notes.net

Auld Lang Syne (Tribute to Rod Stewart) - Single

Duane Shinn Tutorial

If you're an intermediate-advanced player, I think you'll be blessed watching Duane's video on adding color tones to the popular song, Auld Lang Syne

Chord Chart to Auld Lang Syne (http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com)

      C                G
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
     Am               F
And never brought to min'?
        C                 G
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
     F       G         C
And days of auld lang syne?

Refrain
     C         G
For auld lang syne, my dear
     Am        F
For auld lang syne
       C              G
We'll tak' ae cup o'kindness yet
     F    G     C
For auld lang syne

Free Sheet Music and Midi (Yoke Wong)

http://www.pianomother.com

Free Sheet Music (Level 2)

http://makingmusicfun.net

Free Piano Music

http://gmajormusictheory.org

And don't forget to check out Musician Transformation 44 page Guide (Free Download)

*some affiliate links in this post*

Happy New Year, everyone!

Warmly,