Auld Lang Syne

Time signature: 4 / 4
Beats pr bar = 4
Beat symbol = Dot ( . ) or equivalent

Lyrics by Robert Burns, 1788,
Set to a traditional Scottish tune.

ACORDION (BUTTON) NOTATION

Either row: Buttons 5 to 9*

First verse

.5 | ;6    "6 .6 .7 | ;7*    "6 .7*
Should old   ac-quain-tance    be for-got,

.7 | ;6 "6    .7 .8 | .:9*
And nev - er brought to mind?

  .9* | ;8    "7 .7    .6 | ;7* "6 .7*
Should old   ac-quain-tance    be for-got,

.7 | ;6 "5* .5* .5 | :6 .r
And days of   old   lang syne?

Chorus

.9* | ;8 "7 .7 .6 | ;7* "6 .7*
For auld lang__ syne, my dear,

.9* | ;8 "7 .7 .8 | .:9*
For auld lang___ syne,

.9* | ;8    "7 .7 .6 | ;7*    "6 .7*
We'll take a cup of kind - ness yet,

.7 | ;6    "5* .5* .5 | .:6
For days of auld lang syne. /

GUITAR NOTATION
Key of C

STRUMMING: Use chords C, Dm, F, G, G7 and Am
PICKING: from low of String4-Open to high of String6-Fret5
Keys of Db, D, Eb, or E: Capo at Fret 1, 2, 3 or 4, & play in key of C

First verse

C G
.4-0 | ;5-1 "5-1 .5-1 .6-0 | ;5-3 "5-1 .5-3
Should   old   ac - quain-tance be for - got,

C F
.6-0 | ;5-1 "5-1 .6-0 .6-3 | .:6-5
And nev - er brought to mind?

C G7
  .6-5 | ;6-3 "6-0 .6-0 .5-1 | ;5-3 "5-1 .5-3
Should   old    ac - quain - tance be for - got,

Am F G7 C
.6-0 | ;5-1 "4-2 .4-2 .4-0 | :5-1 .r
And days of   old   lang syne?

Chorus

C G7
.6-5 | ;6-3 "6-0 .6-0 .5-1 | ;5-3 "5-1 .5-3
For auld___ lang___ syne, my dear,

C F
.6-5 | ;6-3 "6-0 .6-0 .6-3 | .:6-5
For auld____ lang____ syne,

C G7
.6-5 | ;6-3 "6-0 .6-0 .5-1 | ;5-3 "5-1 .5-3
We'll take a cup of kind - ness yet,

C Am G7 C
.6-0 | ;5-1 "4-2 .4-2 .4-0 | .:5-1
For days of auld lang syne.  /

GUITAR NOTATION
Key of G

STRUMMING: Use chords Am, C, D, D7, & G
PICKING: from low of String3-Open to high of String6-Open
Keys of Ab, A, Bb or B: Capo at Fret 1, 2, 3 or 4 and play in key of G

First verse

G D
.3-0 | ;4-0 "4-0 .4-0 .5-0 | ;4-2 "4-0 .4-2
Should   old   ac - quain-tance be for - got,

G C
.5-0 | ;4-0 "4-0 .5-0 .5-3 | .:6-0
And nev - er brought to mind?

    G D7
  .6-0 | ;5-3 "5-0 .5-0 .4-0 | ;4-2 "4-0 .4-2
Should   old    ac - quain - tance be for - got,

Em Am D7 G
.5-0 | ;4-0 "3-2 .3-2 .3-0 | :4-0 .r
And days of   old   lang syne?

Chorus

   G D7
.6-0 | ;5-3 "5-0 .5-0 .4-0 | ;4-2 "4-0 .4-2
For auld___ lang___ syne, my dear,

   G C
.6-0 | ;5-3 "5-0 .5-0 .5-3 | .:6-0
For auld____ lang____ syne,

   G D7
.6-0 | ;5-3 "5-0 .5-0 .4-0 | ;4-2 "4-0 .4-2
We'll take a cup of kind - ness yet,

   G Am D7 G
.5-0 | ;4-0 "3-2 .3-2 .3-0 | .:4-0
For days of auld lang syne.

Embedded youTube Videos

Ten videos in keys: A=1 Bb=1 C=2 Db=1 Eb,E=1 Eb,F=1 F=1 G=1 G,Bb=1

Key: C

Tempo: ~90 bpm

Singer: Lea Michele

Posted by: We can be Heroes, just for one day

Key: G

Tempo: ~90 bpm for first part and
>100 bpm for most of last part.

Group: Grousebeaters.

Posted by: ulsterscotsonline

Appearing on Ulster-Scots based community radio station fUSe FM operating out of Maghera Orange Hall. Maghera, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

Key: G from time 0 to 2:15
Bb from 2:15 to end

Tempo: ~80 bpm.

Singing by Rod Stewart (live at Stirling Castle)

Key: Eb from time 0 to 3:10
F from 3:10 to end

Tempo: ~70 bpm.

Singer: Sissel
on Swedish TV4 12.30.2008.

Posted by: The Stenar Channel

Sissel sings the first verse in English and the final three verses in Swedish.

Key: A

Tempo: ~80 bpm

Group: Scottish Parliament

Posted by: Tiago Simoes

Key: Db

Tempo: ~80 bpm

Singer: Malukah

Posted by: Malukah

Key: F

Tempo: ~80 bpm

Group: BBC Symphony, Chorus & Singers

Posted by: Kromgols kanal

Key: Eb from time 0 to 1:37
E from 1:37 to end

Tempo: ~90 bpm

Singer: Isisip

Posted by: isisip

Key: C

Tempo: ~90 bpm

Singer: Lea Michele
   in movie soundtrack.
   (also in the first
     embedded youTube
     video above)

Posted by: hollowpapa

Key: Bb

Uploaded by Nomad Jones on Apr 15, 2011, with the undeserved negative comment "Just off Glencoe we hear a noise like a chainsaw going through a bag of cats and this is what we found." Just ordinary folks enjoying their music.

There are four beats per bar (played usually with a rhythmic pattern
of 1-2-3-4- ).

The bass drummer in the video at right hits beats 1 and 3 on the down-swing and beats 2 and 4 on the up-swing, at least in the first part. Near the end, he "jazzes it up a bit".)

BACKGROUND MATERIALS, INFORMATION & LINKS

Lyrics:

Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot, and days of old lang syne?

CHORUS:For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for days of 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 days of 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 days of auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till dine†;
But seas between us broad have roared since days of 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 days of auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Background Links:

Click HERE for Wikipedia background information and lyrics. This opens in a separate window to make it easy to return to this site.

Copyright: