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Blow the Man Down: the melody (soprano)

The melody of Blow the Man Down, sung by the soprano, in F, from F4 to D5. Hear it on its own or with the others, then sing it and watch each note light up.

Is the shantyman: sings every call alone, from "O blow the man down, bullies" to "just home from Hong Kong", and leads the crew's answers, up to its top D.

Range
F4 to D5
Key
F
Guide voice
The app's own voice

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How to learn the soprano part

  1. 01 · Your part

    Hear your part on its own until the tune of it is in your ear.

  2. 02 · With the others

    Hear it with the others, so you know where it sits in the chord.

  3. 03 · Sing it

    Sing it with the others under you and watch each note light up as you land it. The mic listens only while it plays, and nothing is recorded.

About Blow the Man Down

Words: traditional sea shanty

Tune: traditional sea shanty

Blow the Man Down is a halyard shanty, sung while hoisting heavy yards: the crew rested on the rope while the shantyman sang his line, then took a big pull together on the refrain. Its earliest known trace is from July 1867, in a Syracuse newspaper, and the shanty collector Stan Hugill later sorted it into six separate versions. Our arrangement is read from W. B. Whall's Ships, Sea Songs and Shanties (third edition, 1913), keeping his "Way-ay", and moved from D up to F. This is three verses for 2 to 4 singers, brisk and swinging: the soprano is the shantyman and sings every call alone, and everyone hauls in on the answers in harmony.

All about Blow the Man Down More sea shanties, part by part

Free tools by Stackapella

You've heard your part. Now sing it with the others.

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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