Greensleeves
Traditional · English, 16th century · solo guitar
Techniques
Melody over an open-string bass
bars 1–16 →The tune lies on the top strings in the first position, with a bass note on the first beat of most bars. Let the bass ring under the melody instead of stopping it.
Long-short rhythm in three
bars 2–8 →Most bars of the tune lean on a long note followed by a short one. Count 1-2-3 out loud at first so the long notes get their full value.
The refrain
bars 17–33 →The second half starts on a C chord and climbs to the high point of the tune. It repeats the chords of the verse, so once the verse is clean this half comes quickly.
Key and harmony
A minor; the refrain opens on C major, the relative major, before it returns home. The shading on the circle of fifths shows how many of the 33 bars use each chord.
Chords and positions
Practice plan
Four steps, about a week each at 15 minutes a day. Each link opens the player at that bar and tempo.
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STEP 190 BPM
The first phrase
Learn the pickup and the first eight bars. Play the melody alone first, then add the bass notes.
Open bars 1–8 at 90 BPM → -
STEP 2110 BPM
The second phrase
Bars 9 to 16 repeat the opening and close on E, then A minor.
Open bars 9–16 at 110 BPM → -
STEP 3120 BPM
The refrain
Learn the C-major refrain and join it to the verse.
Open bars 17–33 at 120 BPM → -
STEP 4160 BPM
The whole song
Play all 33 bars without stopping, then raise the tempo step by step.
Open bars 1–33 at 160 BPM →
Related pieces
Tab by easytabs.studio from the Mutopia Project edition #109 (public domain).