Thank you for visiting. |
GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH Yes, it's "Doug's Dirty Little Secrets" |
| I subtitled my Tech Tip "Doug's Dirty Little Secrets" after reading someone's posted message on a guitar web forum. The writer asserted that professional virtuoso guitarists all had secrets they kept to themselves and wouldn't tell anyone else, so no one would play as well as them! |
Photo by Robin Gentile, NYC
| BE SURE TO VISIT DOUG'S "SECRET VAULT" Doug's Dirty Little Secrets. It contains ALL of Doug's Previous Guitar Technique Tips of the Month |
Have a comment?
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
We have a Printer Friendlier (PDF) version of this article that's also easier on the eyes.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
Type your email address in box above and click GO.
The "Guitar Technique Tip of the Month" is available in newsletter form, which can be emailed to you every month. FREE, no muss no fuss. No more checking to see if the new tip is out each month. VERY convenient.
We promise you will NOT be sent anything else. This is just the Tech Tip.
By Douglas Niedt
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This article may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
For my December technique tip, I always enjoy giving you a little Christmas gift. This year it is
an arrangement of Greensleeves (What Child Is This?). It will be fun to learn now during the
Christmas season.
This arrangement is based on one by Jorge Morel, one of my former teachers. It is an
intermediate level arrangement (in standard notation and tablature) so I hope it won't be too
much of a struggle to learn by Christmas. Unlike some easy arrangements, I think this one has
some nice harmonizations. (Incidentally, this is not the arrangement I play on my Christmas
CD, In Heavenly Peace.)
I have also included a performance/practice version with notes on how to play and practice the
piece.
The story behind the carol
Greensleeves (What Child Is This?) Traditional Words by William Dix
What Child Is This? is a Christmas song with religious lyrics set to the secular melody,
Greensleeves. The text of “What Child Is This” was written by Englishman William Chatterton
Dix in 1865. At the age of twenty-nine, he was stricken with a sudden near-fatal illness and
confined to bed for many months. He suffered deep depression, and as he lay near death,
often reflected on his faith. Reading his Bible and studying the work of respected theologians,
Dix reaffirmed his belief in not only Christ as Savior, but in the power of God to change his own
life.
Not long after regaining his strength, an inspired Dix wrote some of the greatest hymns ever
written by a layman. His Christmas work, entitled The Manger Throne, quickly emerged as his
most memorable opus. Dix’s inspired words are recognized as some of the most concise and
effective ever used in a hymn. The poem was used in church services and printed in
magazines and newspapers in England and America. But it wasn’t until English composer and
organist Sir John Stainer coupled Dix’s words with the melody “Greensleeves” that the carol
became immensely popular on both sides of the Atlantic.
The melody “Greensleeves” is impossible to date. It has appeared in many different versions
with many different harmonizations, a few of which are presented here in this arrangement. It
has also had many different sets of lyrics, most of which were not at all religious. One version
describes the lament of a jilted lover, while others are downright bawdy. As with many other
carols, the marriage of traditional music and sacred words came late. With the lyrics of William
Dix, “Greensleeves” had, at last, become respectable.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Dix’s powerful words presented a unique view of the birth of Christ. While the baby was the
focal point of the song, the viewpoint of the writer seemed to be that of an almost confused
observer. In a stroke of brilliance, Dix imagined visitors to the humble manger wondering who
the child was that lay before them. We can almost hear the question being asked from one to
another as they gazed upon the child. How difficult it must have been for them to understand
that the Babe who lay “in such mean estate” was truly the long-awaited Messiah. How forcefully
the triumphant answer to the carol’s question bursts forth in the refrain—“This, this is Christ
the King.”
And Now, The Arrangement
1. The arrangement in standard notation and tablature.
2. Annotated performance/practice version. I have made notations of how to execute certain
passages.
The Lyrics
1. What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the king,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing; (1)
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, (2)
The babe, the son of Mary!
2. Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading. (3)
Nails, spear shall pierce him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you; (5)
Hail, hail the Word made flesh, (6)
The babe, the son of Mary!
3. So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
Come, peasant, king, to own Him. (7)
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him. (8)
Raise, raise the song on high, (4)
The virgin sings her lullaby; (9)
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The babe, the son of Mary!
Alternative renderings and sources:
1. Whom shepherds worship and angels sing (NEH, CP, EP)
2. Haste, haste to bring Him praise (NEH, CP, EP)
3. Come, have no fear; God's son is here, His love all loves exceeding: (NEH, CP, EP)
4. Some versions replace the last half of the second and third stanzas with "This, this is Christ
the King…". (UMH)
5. The cross he bore for me, for you (EP)
6. Hail, hail, the Saviour comes, (NEH, CP, EP)
7. All tongues and peoples own him, (NEH, CP, EP)
8. Let every heart enthrone Him: (NEH, CP, EP)
9. While Mary sings a lullaby, (NEH, CP, EP)
EP: English Praise NEH: New English Hymnal CP: Common Praise UMH: United Methodist
Hymnal
Here is the story of and lyrics to the secular Greensleeves.
Merry Christmas. Enjoy!
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This article may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
For my December technique tip, I always enjoy giving you a little Christmas gift. This year it is
an arrangement of Greensleeves (What Child Is This?). It will be fun to learn now during the
Christmas season.
This arrangement is based on one by Jorge Morel, one of my former teachers. It is an
intermediate level arrangement (in standard notation and tablature) so I hope it won't be too
much of a struggle to learn by Christmas. Unlike some easy arrangements, I think this one has
some nice harmonizations. (Incidentally, this is not the arrangement I play on my Christmas
CD, In Heavenly Peace.)
I have also included a performance/practice version with notes on how to play and practice the
piece.
The story behind the carol
Greensleeves (What Child Is This?) Traditional Words by William Dix
What Child Is This? is a Christmas song with religious lyrics set to the secular melody,
Greensleeves. The text of “What Child Is This” was written by Englishman William Chatterton
Dix in 1865. At the age of twenty-nine, he was stricken with a sudden near-fatal illness and
confined to bed for many months. He suffered deep depression, and as he lay near death,
often reflected on his faith. Reading his Bible and studying the work of respected theologians,
Dix reaffirmed his belief in not only Christ as Savior, but in the power of God to change his own
life.
Not long after regaining his strength, an inspired Dix wrote some of the greatest hymns ever
written by a layman. His Christmas work, entitled The Manger Throne, quickly emerged as his
most memorable opus. Dix’s inspired words are recognized as some of the most concise and
effective ever used in a hymn. The poem was used in church services and printed in
magazines and newspapers in England and America. But it wasn’t until English composer and
organist Sir John Stainer coupled Dix’s words with the melody “Greensleeves” that the carol
became immensely popular on both sides of the Atlantic.
The melody “Greensleeves” is impossible to date. It has appeared in many different versions
with many different harmonizations, a few of which are presented here in this arrangement. It
has also had many different sets of lyrics, most of which were not at all religious. One version
describes the lament of a jilted lover, while others are downright bawdy. As with many other
carols, the marriage of traditional music and sacred words came late. With the lyrics of William
Dix, “Greensleeves” had, at last, become respectable.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Dix’s powerful words presented a unique view of the birth of Christ. While the baby was the
focal point of the song, the viewpoint of the writer seemed to be that of an almost confused
observer. In a stroke of brilliance, Dix imagined visitors to the humble manger wondering who
the child was that lay before them. We can almost hear the question being asked from one to
another as they gazed upon the child. How difficult it must have been for them to understand
that the Babe who lay “in such mean estate” was truly the long-awaited Messiah. How forcefully
the triumphant answer to the carol’s question bursts forth in the refrain—“This, this is Christ
the King.”
And Now, The Arrangement
1. The arrangement in standard notation and tablature.
2. Annotated performance/practice version. I have made notations of how to execute certain
passages.
The Lyrics
1. What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the king,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing; (1)
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, (2)
The babe, the son of Mary!
2. Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading. (3)
Nails, spear shall pierce him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you; (5)
Hail, hail the Word made flesh, (6)
The babe, the son of Mary!
3. So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
Come, peasant, king, to own Him. (7)
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him. (8)
Raise, raise the song on high, (4)
The virgin sings her lullaby; (9)
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The babe, the son of Mary!
Alternative renderings and sources:
1. Whom shepherds worship and angels sing (NEH, CP, EP)
2. Haste, haste to bring Him praise (NEH, CP, EP)
3. Come, have no fear; God's son is here, His love all loves exceeding: (NEH, CP, EP)
4. Some versions replace the last half of the second and third stanzas with "This, this is Christ
the King…". (UMH)
5. The cross he bore for me, for you (EP)
6. Hail, hail, the Saviour comes, (NEH, CP, EP)
7. All tongues and peoples own him, (NEH, CP, EP)
8. Let every heart enthrone Him: (NEH, CP, EP)
9. While Mary sings a lullaby, (NEH, CP, EP)
EP: English Praise NEH: New English Hymnal CP: Common Praise UMH: United Methodist
Hymnal
Here is the story of and lyrics to the secular Greensleeves.
Merry Christmas. Enjoy!
| A Christmas Gift For You. Greensleeves |
BE SURE TO VISIT DOUG'S "SECRET VAULT"
Doug's Dirty Little Secrets.
It contains ALL of Doug's Previous
Guitar Technique Tips of the Month
Doug's Dirty Little Secrets.
It contains ALL of Doug's Previous
Guitar Technique Tips of the Month
Have a comment?
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
We have a Printer Friendlier (PDF) version of this article that's also easier on the eyes.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
 | |  | |  |
 | |  |
 | |  |
 | |  | |  |