Dhun
Hot Cross Buns
Here is Hot Cross Buns written the way we write a tune on the board in class: the rhythm on top, the scale degree under it, then the swara. 1 is Sa, an apostrophe after a number takes it up an octave (5’) and a comma in front takes it down (,5). Read it, sing it, and you have the song in every key at once.
- 4/4
- Major
- 4 bars
- 17 notes
- Free to use
Read it in three languages
Scale degrees
3 2 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 2 1Swaras (sargam)
g r s g r s s s s s r r r r g r sMovable-do solfège
mi re do mi re do do do do do re re re re mi re doA line under a swara means it is komal (flattened).
Hot Cross Buns note names, key by key
The numbers never change. Only the letters do. That is the whole point of learning a tune by its degrees.
| Key | Notes |
|---|---|
| C major | E D C E D C C C C C D D D D E D C |
| G major | B A G B A G G G G G A A A A B A G |
| D major | F# E D F# E D D D D D E E E E F# E D |
| F major | A G F A G F F F F F G G G G A G F |
The app has all twelve keys, and it will also turn this tune into natural minor, harmonic minor, Dorian, Mixolydian or Mayamalavagowla while you listen.
The Joker’s clue: “A bakery advert that only needs three notes.”
How to practise it
- Guess it by reading. Sing the numbers in your head before you play a single note.
- Hear it. Play it back and check whether what you sang matches what it does.
- Play it in all twelve keys. Same numbers, twelve sets of letters.
- Write it out. In each key, name every note. That is when it sticks.