All the nice girls love a sailor
As an island nation, a good deal of Britain’s military, economic and cultural tradition is drawn from its seafaring experience. So what better way to mark the romance of our heritage than a good old sea shanty?
A few years ago the Doc was chaperoning the West Sussex Youth Orchestra on their tour of Germany and Austria. As a finale to each concert, the orchestra chose to perform Sir Henry Wood’s wonderful Fantasia Of British Sea Songs, a fulcrum of the annual last night of the Proms. The prize number from the fantasia is the Sailor’s Hornpipe. ‘Tis music to stir the heart of any a true Brit; and as the revellers display the glorious eccentricities of their patriotic pride, you just can’t wait for that Mr.Toad car horn and a frenzied climax which, with every tin of spinach on the planet, even Popeye could not sustain.
All the nice girls love a tar
And just before we launch into our own rendition, let’s pay credit to the real inspiration for this piece when played on the harmonica. As a schoolboy, the young Doc was spellbound one Saturday morning when he tuned in his telly and saw Huey Lewis wandering the Kids’ TV studio, armed with a blues harp and nonchalantly playing the Sailor’s Hornpipe. How on earth did he do that? The answer, as always, is with practice.
Bright and breezy, free and easy
So, to launch you on your voyage of discovery, here are two ways to tackle this tricky tune. The first version is ‘by the book’ (although you can take a leaf from Charlie McCoy’s manual and use two major diatonic harps tuned a tone apart – as indicated in blue). The second version is the Good Doctor’s own arrangement for beginners – not entirely faithful to the original, but easier to master as it avoids any bends.
A major (and B major) diatonic harp(s) in 1st position…but you can use any two harps tuned a tone apart
7B..7D..7B 4B 4B
6B..5D 5B..6B 7B..7D 7B..8B
8D..7B..8D 4D 4D
4D..4B 3D..4D 6B..6B
6D..7D 7B..7D..6D..6B
6D..6B..5D..5B
5D..5B..4D..4B
4B..3D..3D”..2D
3D”..4B 3D..4D 4B..5D
5B..4D..5B 4B 4B
6B.. 5D..
5B..6B..7B..6B
5B..6B..7B..6B
6D 5D 5D
3D”..2D 6B.. 5D..
2D’..3D”..4D..3D” 5B..6B..7B..6B
2D’..3D”..4D..3D” 5B..6B..7B..6B
3D 2D..2D 6D 5D 5D
5B
5D..5B..5D..6B
6D..6B..5D..5B
5D..5B..4D..4B
4B..3D..3D”..2D
3D”..4B 3D..4D
4B..5D..5B..4D
5B 4B 4B
The Good Doctor’s arrangement (also on an A major diatonic)
7B..7D..7B 4B 4B
6B..5D 5B..6B 7B 7B..
7D..7B..8D 4D 4D
4D..4B 3D..4D 6B..6B..
6D..7D 7B..7D..6D..6B
6D..6B..5D..5B
5D..5B..4D..4B..3D
..2D
3D..4D 4B..5B 4D..4D
5B..4D..5B 4B 4B
6B.. 5D..
5B..6B..7B..6B
5B..6B..7B..6B
6D 5D 5D
5D…
2D..3D..4D..3D
2D..3D..4D..5D
5B 4B..4B
5B
5D..5B..5D..6B
6D..6B..5D..5B
5D..5B..4D..4B
3D..
..2D
3D..4D 4B..5B 4D..4D
5B..4D..5B 4B 4B
It should sound something like this:
