Video Lesson
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Editorβs notes
With New Years just around the corner, I wanted to learn this very timely traditional song - Auld Lang Syne. This video shows a relatively simple way to play it, involving strummable chords with a melody that weaves through each of the 8 measures. Iβll teach the chords, explain the melody, talk about some of the difficult transitions - all with tabs to help you through it. I hope you enjoy! Happy New Years to you and yours - hereβs to many more years of music for all of us.
Guitar arrangement
Hereβs the arrangement Iβm using in my video lesson. This is 8 bars, which can be repeated over and over again if you want to play additional verses and/or choruses. Your job is to either strum, pluck, or fingerpick the chords - adding melody notes as you desire. For your ending, the final measure should be the C chord only (without the G). If you are repeating the 8 bars, the final measure should include the G chord on the final 2 counts - which creates a nice βturn aroundβ to setup the C in the first bar.
"Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind..."
E ββββββ|βββββββββββββ0βββ|βββββββββββββ0βββ|βββββββββ0βββ3βββ|β5βββββββ5βββ5βββ|β
B β/5β3β|β1βββββ0β1βββββββ|β3βββββ1β3βββββ3β|β1βββββ1β1βββββββ|β4βββββββ4βββββββ|β
G ββββββ|β0βββββββ0βββββββ|β0βββββββ0βββββββ|β0βββββββ0βββββββ|β5βββββββ5βββββββ|β
D ββββββ|β2βββββββ2βββββββ|β0βββββββ0βββββββ|β2βββββββ2βββββββ|β3βββββββ4βββββββ|β
A ββββββ|β3βββββββ3βββββββ|β2βββββββ2βββββββ|β3βββββββ3βββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|β
E ββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|β3βββββββ3βββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|β
C G C F7 F#dim7
4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
"Should old acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne"
E β|β3βββββ0β0βββββββ|βββββββββββββ0βββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|β
B β|β1βββββββ1βββ1βββ|β3βββββ1β3βββββ3β|β1βββββββββββββββ|β1ββββββββββ/5β3β|β
G β|β0βββββββ0βββββββ|β0βββββββ0βββββββ|β2βββββ2β2βββ0βββ|β0βββββββ0βββββββ|β
D β|β2βββββββ2βββββββ|β0βββββββ0βββββββ|β2βββββββ3βββββββ|β2βββββββ0βββββββ|β
A β|β3βββββββ3βββββββ|β2βββββββ2βββββββ|β0βββββββ3βββββββ|β3βββββββ2βββββββ|β
E β|βββββββββββββββββ|β3βββββββ3βββββββ|ββββββββ(1)ββββββ|βββββββββ3βββββββ|β
C G Am F C G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
β|βββββββββββββββββ||
...repeat the 8 bars for each verse. β|β1βββββββββββββββ||
To end the song, replace the final β|β0βββββββββββββββ||
measure with this, which plays only β|β2βββββββββββββββ||
the C chord (and not the G). β|β3βββββββββββββββ||
β|βββββββββββββββββ||
C
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Chord guidance
For a few of these chords, I want to call out some tips that will help you on your way - specifically with finger positions.
G major chord
For the G major chord, notice how youβre not really ever putting a left-finger on the 1st string (high E string). Also, youβll often need to remove the 2nd-string-3rd-fret note, in order to play the 2nd-string-1st-fret. As such, youβll want to use your pinky on the 3rd fret of the 2nd (B) string. This sets up your index finger to be in place at the same time.
E βββββ E βββββ
B ββ3ββ <= left pinky B ββ1ββ <= left index
G ββ0ββ G ββ0ββ
D ββ0ββ D ββ0ββ
A ββ2ββ <= left middle A ββ2ββ <= left middle
E ββ3ββ <= left ring E ββ3ββ <= left ring
G G*
F7 and F#dim7 chord
For the F7 and the F#dim7, the main thing to call out is that the thinnest 3 strings will use the exact same notes (and fingers). All that changes between these two chords is which fret your left index finger is playing.
E ββ5ββ <= left pinky E ββ5ββ <= left pinky
B ββ4ββ <= left middle B ββ4ββ <= left middle
G ββ5ββ <= left ring G ββ5ββ <= left ring
D ββ3ββ <= left index D ββ4ββ <= left index
A βββββ A βββββ
E βββββ E βββββ
F7 F#dim7
If the F7 section gives you trouble, use this voicing. I got this via Justin Sandercoeβs lesson. You can ignore the F#dim7 chord altogether.
E ββ5ββ <= left pinky
B ββxββ <= (muted by left ring)
G ββ5ββ <= left ring
D ββ3ββ <= left index
A βββββ
E βββββ
F7
Switching from the C to F7
The most difficult part of this song, for me, is switching from the C to the F7. Hereβs one important tip when practicing this - which is your right pinky is staying on the high-E string for both chords! Specifically, itβs moving up from the 3rd fret to the 5th fret (of the high E-string). This is a helpful thing to keep in mind, as it is one less finger that needs to switch strings. Hereβs a simple deconstruction of this progression to practice - do it slow over and over again, until you can do it without mistakes. From there, slowly speed it up until you can play it at the pace of the normal song.
E βββ3βββ5βββ <= left pinky stays on this string for both chords!
B βββ1βββ4βββ
G βββ0βββ5βββ
D βββ2βββ3βββ
A βββ3βββββββ
E βββββββββββ
C F7
F major chord
Donβt let the F chord in the 7th measure throw you off. You donβt need to do any barring! Hereβs two ways to play it. The first way (left) shows you a 4-string version, where youβre only playing the thickest four strings. However, if this voicing is too difficult - try the right version - which ignores the 6th (lowest) string. This lets you only worry about 3 strings, which is much easier to switch to in a hurry. In a pinch, Iβll use this version so I can be sure I stay in time (especially when playing with people singing).
E βββββ E βββββ
B βββββ B βββββ
G ββ2ββ <= left middle G ββ2ββ <= left middle
D ββ3ββ <= left pinky D ββ3ββ <= left pinky
A ββ3ββ <= left ring A ββ3ββ <= left ring
E ββ1ββ <= left index E βββββ
F F*
Lyrics
Hereβs the English translation of the lyrics, in the βminimalistβ translation as per Wikipedia:
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you'll buy your pint cup!
and surely I'll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
[CHORUS]
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we've wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.
[CHORUS]
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dineβ ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.
[CHORUS]
And there's a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o' thine!
And we'll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.
[CHORUS]
Good luck!
Let me know if you have questions. I hope this was helpful.
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