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Unit 3 · The shantyman

Make up a line

Shantymen made up new lines as they went while the chorus stayed the same: fit a line of your own, one syllable a note, then lead a whole verse. Free to sing.

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More in The shantyman

Make up a line

A shantyman made up new lines as he went, often about the ship. The chorus never changed. Your line fits if it has one syllable for each note.

The chorus stays. Only the shantyman's line is new

One syllable a note. Say it in rhythm first; stop if anything tightens or hurts

As big as you could keep up. Like calling a friend across a garden

What you sing

  1. First Sharp's line: hear the call, then sing it back.
  2. Your own line to the call's tune: about your day, your street, your week. Then hear yours beside the guide's.

Challenge: Lead Leave Her, Johnny

You lead a whole verse: you sing the shantyman's lines, and the guide's crew answers you in four parts.

Your lines alone. The crew comes in after you

Breathe in their chorus. Then lead again; stop if anything tightens or hurts

Headphones or a speaker. The calls sound in your rests either way

What you sing

  1. A verse as the shantyman, the crew answering.

Singing safely

As big as you could keep up for the whole song, never shouted: a shout has no pitch, so it can't be scored. Pull with your body, not your throat. Stop if anything tightens or hurts.

Free tools by Stackapella

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Stackapella teaches you to sing harmony one part at a time, right in your browser.

Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up.
  • A guide sings your partHear your line over the others, slow it down, then take your turn.
  • Your notes light upEach note shows where you landed, and a hint when to go up or down.
  • Record every part yourselfStack your takes in time until you're the whole choir.
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