Dhun
Pop Goes the Weasel
Here is Pop Goes the Weasel 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.
- 6/8
- Major
- 8 bars
- 27 notes
- Free to use
Read it in three languages
Scale degrees
1 1 2 2 3 5 3 1 1 1 2 2 3 1 1 1 2 2 3 5 3 1 6 2 4 3 1Swaras (sargam)
s s r r g p g s s s r r g s s s r r g p g s d r m g sMovable-do solfège
do do re re mi so mi do do do re re mi do do do re re mi so mi do la re fa mi doA line under a swara means it is komal (flattened).
Pop Goes the Weasel 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 D D E G E C C C D D E C C C D D E G E C A D F E C |
| G major | G G A A B D B G G G A A B G G G A A B D B G E A C B G |
| D major | D D E E F# A F# D D D E E F# D D D E E F# A F# D B E G F# D |
| F major | F F G G A C A F F F G G A F F F G G A C A F D G Bb A 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 monkey chases an animal round a mulberry bush, and somebody's money runs out.”
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.