Auld Lang Syne

I’m big on learning songs everybody should know how to play. It goes without saying that you need “Happy Birthday” in your repertoire. Some version of the “Bridal Chorus” will likely serve you well. And “Auld Lang Syne” will save your bacon at least once a year.

So why does it surprise and terrorize me every December 31st at about 11:57 PM as I struggle to remember the tune? I guess it’s because I tend not to play it on any of the other 364 days of the year. “Auld Lang Syne” is pretty much identified, at least in the USA, as a New Year’s Eve song, even though it has a beautiful melody and a wonderful lyric sentiment.

I arranged this double stop version of “Auld Lang Syne” to give me a specific arrangement of the song to play when needed. And, since a double stop arrangement is a bit more difficult to play than a single string rendition, my thinking was that I’d be more likely to actually rehearse it before 11:57 PM on December 31st. I’ll have to get back to you on that.

The lower notes of the double stops make up the melody to “Auld Lang Syne,” the upper notes are the harmony. Play through the lower note melody first and familiarize yourself with the closed position (no open string notes) locations of the melody. You should also play through the chords as they determine which harmony notes will be paired with which melody notes. Once you’re familiar with the melody and chords, start working on the double stops. Suggested fretting fingerings are shown between the standard music and TAB staffs. If you can't reach them as written, change them as you see fit.

I usually tremolo everything except the eighth notes. I suggest you leave out the tremolo the first few times you play through “Auld Lang Syne” until you feel comfortable with the locations of the doubles stops, especially those that are placed up the neck. Take it slow and easy and make sure you can play through the song without stopping and starting before you speed it up. Good luck!

Take it slow and easy and make sure you can play through the song  without stopping and starting before you speed it up. Good luck!

For more must-know songs check out my “Favorite Mandolin Picking Tunes”  book/CD (Mel Bay Pub.) which includes over thirty great tunes in a wide  range of styles, from bluegrass and jazz standards to classics,  waltzes, polkas, and other ethnic music. For more info on playing double stops try my “Getting into Bluegrass Mandolin” book/CD (Mel Bay Pub.) Don’t forget these other fun publications: “The Parking Lot Picker’s Songbook for Mandolin” (Mel Bay Pub.). Over 215 great bluegrass, old time, and gospel songs with music, TAB, lyrics, chords, and 2 CDs packed with EVERY song from the book. “Gypsy Swing & Hot Club Rhythm for Mandolin” and “Gypsy Swing & Hot Club Rhythm II for Mandolin” (brand new!) book/CD set. Each teaches 12 great standards in the style of Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grappelli and the Hot Club of France. Learn chords, melodies, lyrics and practice soloing while the recorded Hot Club band backs you up! “Swing and Jazz Mandolin: Rhythm” (Brand new DVD!). Learn chords, transposing, the rhythm comp, and a bunch of great swing songs with this new play-along DVD. Information on all plus lots of free music, MP3s, and TAB to download is available on
my website: www.musixnow.com.

Can I be the first to wish you a Happy New Year 2009?

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