Dhun
Old MacDonald
Here is Old MacDonald 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
- 16 bars
- 59 notes
- Free to use
Read it in three languages
Scale degrees
1 1 1 ,5 ,6 ,6 ,5 3 3 2 2 1 ,5 1 1 1 ,5 ,6 ,6 ,5 3 3 2 2 1 ,5 ,5 1 1 1 ,5 ,5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ,5 ,6 ,6 ,5 3 3 2 2 1Swaras (sargam)
s s s ,p ,d ,d ,p g g r r s ,p s s s ,p ,d ,d ,p g g r r s ,p ,p s s s ,p ,p s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s ,p ,d ,d ,p g g r r sMovable-do solfège
do do do ,so ,la ,la ,so mi mi re re do ,so do do do ,so ,la ,la ,so mi mi re re do ,so ,so do do do ,so ,so do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do ,so ,la ,la ,so mi mi re re doA line under a swara means it is komal (flattened).
Old MacDonald 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 | C C C G A A G E E D D C G C C C G A A G E E D D C G G C C C G G C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C G A A G E E D D C |
| G major | G G G D E E D B B A A G D G G G D E E D B B A A G D D G G G D D G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G D E E D B B A A G |
| D major | D D D A B B A F# F# E E D A D D D A B B A F# F# E E D A A D D D A A D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D A B B A F# F# E E D |
| F major | F F F C D D C A A G G F C F F F C D D C A A G G F C C F F F C C F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F C D D C A A G 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 farmer who is terrible at spelling. He only ever uses vowels.”
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.