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Unit 1 · The crew answers

Sweating up

Learn a short-pull shanty: one quick answer and one strong pull at the end, used to get the last inch out of a rope, sung, not shouted. Free to sing.

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More in The crew answers

What it teaches

Haul Away, Joe was for sweating up: one short answer and one strong pull, to get the last inch out of a rope. The shantyman calls, and the crew answers.

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

Pull with your body. Never your throat; stop if anything tightens or hurts

The pull comes at the end. On "Joe", short and sung

What you sing

  1. Find the answer's notes. Each waits until you're on it.
  2. Hear the call, then answer: "Way, haul away, haul away, Joe". Breathe in the call.

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.

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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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