Auld Lang Syne - guitar tab, notes, chords and lyrics
”Auld Lang Syne” is a traditional melody based on a poem written by the Scottish poet Robert Burns, who is famous for many poems and associated with songs such as ”Flow Gently, Sweet Afton”, ”For the Sake o' Somebody” and ”My Luve Is Like a Red, Red Rose”. The title, ”Auld Lang Syne”, is old-fashioned language and can be translated in modern English to ”Old Long Since”. In English-speaking countries, the song has been associated with New Year festival. The melody in ”Auld Lang Syne” has some resemblance with another old Scottish tune, ”Comin' Thro' the Rye”, which Burn also put the lyrics to.
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Melody & full accompaniment
Free tabs and notes plus sound.
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Auld Lang Syne guitar tab and notes (pdf)
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Auld Lang Syne instrumental guitar (mp3)
Auld Lang Syne (full accompaniment)
"Auld Lang Syne" for guitar with full accompaniment. Free download in pdf-file and audio.
Auld Lang Syne guitar accompaniment
Auld Lang Syne for flute
"Auld Lang Syne" for flute in the key of C. Free download in pdf-file and audio.
Auld Lang Syne flute
Auld Lang Syne for ukulele
"Auld Lang Syne" for ukulele in the C tuning. Free download in pdf-file and audio.
Auld Lang Syne ukulele
Auld Lang Syne (only melody)
"Auld Lang Syne" standard and tablature notation for guitar.
Tips on how to learn this song
The song is based on a common structure with 16 bars (the first pick-up bar excluded). Notice the ABAB structure of these 16 bars: the first and third parts are similar as well as the second and fourth parts.
The melody is only involving three strings, which makes it rather easy to play and to memorize.
Lyrics and chords
Auld Lang Syne chords in the key of C
Verse 1:
Should (C)auld acquaintance (G)be forgot,
and (C)never brought to (F)mind?
Should (C)auld acquaintance (G)be forgot,
and (F)days of auld lang (C)syne?
Chorus:
For (C)auld lang (G)syne, my dear,
for (C)auld lang (F)syne,
we'll (C)take a cup o' (G)kindness yet,
for (F)auld lang (C)syne.
Auld Lang Syne chords in the key of D
Verse 1:
Should (D)auld acquaintance (A)be forgot,
and (D)never brought to (G)mind?
Should (D)auld acquaintance (A)be forgot,
and (G)days of auld lang (D)syne?
Chorus:
For (D)auld lang (A)syne, my dear,
for (D)auld lang (G)syne,
we'll (D)take a cup o' (A)kindness yet,
for (G)auld lang (D)syne.
These versions include only the first verse (plus the chorus) of the song, and include as most four versions in some versions.
The progression consists of only three chords (the I, IV and V), and ends with the V-IV-I cadence in both verse and chorus.
In modernized versions, “auld” is translated to “old” in some passage of the lyrics (“Should old acquaintance be forgot” instead of “Should auld acquaintance be forgot”).
The key of the song can be transposed with a capo (based on the chords in the D major version):
- Capo 1: D# / Eb major
- Capo 2: E major
- Capo 3: F major
- Capo 4: F# / Gb major
- Capo 5: G major
Auld Lang Syne (F major)
"Auld Lang Syne" in the F major key, the original key. Free download in pdf-file.
Auld Lang Syne (F major)
Key, time, tuning and tempo
Information about "Auld Lang Syne" considering musical key, time signature, tuning and bpm.
Key
The (tab) version of Auld Lang Syne is played in the key of C.
Time signature
The song is played in 4/4 tempo (counted one, two, three, four for each measure).
Tuning
The song is normally played in standard tuning (EADGBE).
Tempo (BPM)
The tempo in beats per minute is 120 for the presented version.