InTune

Free Holiday Songs, New Suggestions & Contest News in The Rest

Posted on Nov 01, 2009 by Monica.

For this month’s free sheet music download, we are offering separate arrangements for piano and guitar.

For our free piano sheet music download, we are featuring a holiday medley of the songs Jolly Old St. Nicholas and Up on the Housetop.

Jolly Old St. Nicholas is a traditional Christmas carol that may have been composed in the early 1900s. The simple lyrics are about someone wishing for St. Nick to come and leave them presents in their stockings. Up on the Housetop (Ho! Ho! Ho!) is an older traditional Christmas carol from the 1860s. Composed by Benjamin Hanby, this popular tune is also about Santa coming down the chimney to fill the stockings of little kids with presents. Combined, the two carols together create a fun, holiday medley that we hope you’ll enjoy singing and playing.

This holiday medley is available as a free sheet music download from now until the end of November. We have provided abridged lyrics as part of the medley, so you can sing our arrangement as a solo or with your family and friends!

Guitar Guru Lovers! Download the Russian Dance for Free!

This month’s free Guitar Guru Session and guitar tab, is a movement from The Nutcracker Suite composed by Tchaikovsky. The Russian Dance, which is also known as Trepak, was composed as part of the ballet in the early 1890s.

Now you can learn how to play the Russian Dance from The Nutcracker Ballet on guitar for free, through the month of November. Simply visit our free sheet music page to download this seasonal arrangement. We hope you enjoy it!

New Songs from YOUR Requests!

We have been hard at work adding a ton of new songs that you’ve asked for. First, we’d like to point out that we are expanding our selection of alternate instruments solos. This week, we added a ton of popular flute sheet music solos by some of your favorite artists. We’ve also added quite a few fun songs for guitar, including new guitar tab by Taylor Swift.

Here are some new songs we’ve added from the songs that you’ve requested:

• For Emma by Bon Iver
• Chances by Five for Fighting
• I Know It’s Today by Jeanine Tesori
• Guitar Guru Session for Cold as Ice by Foreigner
• So This Is Love by Cinderella
• Does It Still McFly? by Michael Giacchino and other songs from the new STAR TREK.
• Come Back to Me by David Cook
• Haven’t Met You Yet by Michael Buble

Contest News! Guitar Guru Headset Give-a-Way and New Contest!

For the month of November, we will be offering a contest that we think many of you will really enjoy. Be sure to stay tuned over the next, few days to read about a contest and how you can win!

We’ve contacted our Guitar Guru headset winner for October’s contest. Thank you to everyone who entered for a chance to win.

Until next time, remember… practice really does make perfect!

Continue Reading

Free Estudio Brillante Guitar Tab and Headset Give-A-Way

Posted on Oct 02, 2009 by Monica.

Spanish guitarist-composer Francisco Tarrega wrote ESTUDIO BRILLANTE in the late 19th Century. This incredibly difficult etude was based on a sonatina by French violinist-composer Jean-Delphin Alard. In addition to Tarrega’s performing and teaching ability, he also arranged many pre-existing works for guitar by composers such as; Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Chopin.

Even though he only wrote less than a hundred pieces for the guitar, the short compositions are enjoyed by many guitarists. Within the music world, many consider Tarrega to be an important founding figure for the classical guitar genre. Other works by Tarrega include how most famous work, RECUERDOS DE LA ALHAMBRA, and LAGRIMA, a popular guitar tab for beginners.

Your free download of ESTUDIO BRILLANTE includes an interactive Guitar Guru Session plus free printable guitar tab, and is available through October 31st.

Download your free guitar tab and Guitar Guru Session for ESTUDIO BRILLANT today. For more recommendations on classical pieces for guitar, we recommend browsing our selection of classical guitar tab.

Guitar Guru Headset Give-A-Way (for PC)

From now until the end of October, comment on this blog post for your chance to win a Guitar Guru headset. To enter, all you have to do is comment below telling us about the song that you had the most fun learning how to play.

What can you do with your Guitar Guru headset? From learning how to play songs from The Beatles Rock Band to our new features in Guitar Guru 3.0, a headset enhances your overall guitar song learning experience. Guitar Guru features voice command functionality for the PC, so using a headset allows you to keep your hands on your guitar while you’re learning how to play your song. We tested a bunch of different headsets for Guitar Guru yet one stood out among all the brands we tested. This Plantronics headset offers noise-canceling, excellent sound quality, and has a retail value of $24.95.

Be sure to comment on this post for your chance to win! Contest ends midnight on October 31st. Limited to one entry per customer. One lucky winner will be contacted via email by November 2nd, 2009, so be sure to provide a valid email address in the comment field. We respect your privacy, and will not use your email address for any other purpose than this contest.

Continue Reading

Piano Players! Download Kitten On The Keys for Free in October

Posted on Oct 02, 2009 by Monica.

This month’s free piano sheet music download is a challenging ragtime song entitled KITTEN ON THE KEYS. Composed in 1921 by the late Edward Elzear “Zez” Confrey, KITTEN ON THE KEYS became an instant hit. This fun, ragtime piano solo sounds almost exactly like a playful kitten traipsing around on your piano keys.

A very challenging piece to master due to its construction and “slide” technique, download free piano sheet music for KITTEN ON THE KEYS from now until October 31st. (Please note that we are offering a different song for guitar this month.)

If you enjoy ragtime music, you might love to play or sing some of these other lighthearted songs:

• Dizzy Fingers also composed by “Zez” Confrey
• The Entertainer
• Ragtime
• Tiger Rag
• Puttin’ On The Ritz
• Reflection Rag
• Maple Leaf Rag
• The Bethena Rag
• Happy Days Are Here Again
• Yes, Sir! That’s My Baby

For more suggestions on ragtime songs, we recommend checking out our selection of Scott Joplin sheet music to help you get some ideas.

Continue Reading

“School Days” Free Sheet Music Download for September

Posted on Aug 31, 2009 by Monica.

The song “School Days” was originally written in 1906, and was registered with the copyright office in 1907. This sentimental song about two adults looking back on their youth is also known by the title “School Days (When We Were a Couple of Kids).” Now you can download free sheet music for School Days through the end of September.

The lyrics (which are included below) describe the story of two adult characters named “Nellie” and “Joe,” who take a nostalgic look back at their time in school during the late 1800s. Some of the lyrics shine a light on a much different period of education. For example, a hickory stick was used to discipline kids back in those days, whereas that would never be permitted in today’s educational system.

Fans of music from this era might recognize some other songs by Gus Edwards, who composed School Days. “In My Merry Oldsmobile” and “By The Light Of The Silvery Moon” are two of his most beloved songs.

Click here to get free sheet music for School Days through September 30th.

Lyrics for “School Days”

VERSE 1
Nothing to do, Nellie Darling
Nothing to do you say
Let’s take a trip on memory’s ship
Back to the bygone days
Sail to the old village school house
Anchor outside the school door
Look in and see
There’s you and there’s me
A couple of kids once more

REFRAIN
School days, school days
Dear old golden rule days
Readin’ and ‘ritin’ and ‘rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hickory stick
You were my queen in calico
I was your bashful barefoot beau
And you wrote on my slate
“I love you, so”
When we were a couple of kids

VERSE 2
‘Member the hill Nellie Darling
And the oak tree that grew on its brow
They’ve built forty storeys
Upon that old hill
And the oak’s an old chestnut now
‘Member the meadows so green, dear
So fragrant with clover and maize
Into new city lots
And preferred business plots
They’ve cut them up since those days

REFRAIN
School days, school days
Dear old golden rule days.
Readin’ and ‘ritin’ and ‘rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hickory stick
You were my queen in calico
I was your bashful barefoot beau
And you wrote on my slate
“I love you, so”
When we were a couple of kids

Continue Reading

Alfred Music Publishing and Musicnotes.com Partner to Honor Les Paul’s Memory with a Free Guitar Lesson Download of “Over the Rainbow”

Posted on Aug 27, 2009 by Bill Aicher (Director of Marketing).

Musicnotes.com has partnered with Alfred Music Publishing to offer music lovers everywhere a free Guitar Guru Session and guitar tab download of “Over the Rainbow” to honor Les Paul’s memory.

Now through midnight on September 2, 2009, visitors to Musicnotes.com can download a free, interactive Guitar Lesson (including matching guitar tab that’s worth $7.95) for “Over the Rainbow.” This particular arrangement was arranged by Grammy award-winning artist Aaron Stang, from Alfred Music Publishing to match the performance recorded by Les Paul and Chet Atkins and featured on the album, ‘Masters of the Guitar – Together.’

“Les Paul closed every show at the legendary jazz club Iridium in New York City with an instrumental version of this song,” said Tim Reiland, Chairman of Musicnotes.com. “This song has a very emotional meaning for musicians everywhere.”

In lieu of payment, Musicnotes and Alfred Music Publishing encourage users who choose to download the song to send donations to the Les Paul Foundation, 236 W. 30th St., Seventh Floor, New York, N.Y. 10001.

The free download is available online at http://www.musicnotes.com/free (now through midnight, September 2, 2009). Be sure to watch a video of Les Paul playing Over the Rainbow on YouTube!.

Continue Reading

Download There’s a Hole in my Bucket Free

Posted on Jul 31, 2009 by Monica.

“There’s a Hole in My Bucket” is known as a children’s song with a circular set of lyrics, since the hole in the bucket never seems to get fixed. The song starts out with a man named Henry complaining to his dear Liza, that he has a hole in his bucket. Going through several rounds of questions and answers, dear Henry never manages to fix his bucket after all.

This song is so popular you can find it in most collections of children’s songs. It’s most popular version was sung by Harry Belafonte and Odetta. “There’s a Hole in My Bucket” was originally sung in German and, according to Wikipedia, has roots in the early 1700s.

In August, enjoy your free download of sheet music for There’s a Hole in my Bucket. A full set of verses is provided for you with the guitar tab and the piano sheet music for the song. Enjoy this month’s free sheet music!

Download Free Sheet Music for There’s a Hole in My Bucket through August 31st..

Lyrics for “Hole in My Bucket”

While there are several variations of lyrics for this song, here are the lyrics available through our free sheet music download for August.

There’s a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There’s a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, a hole.
Then fix it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Then fix it, dear Henry, dear Henry, then fix it.

With what shall I fix it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I fix it, dear Liza, with what?
With some straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With some straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, some straw.

The straw is too long, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The straw is too long, dear Liza, too long,
Then cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Then cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it.

With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, with what?
With an axe, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With an axe, dear Henry, dear Henry, an axe.

The axe is too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The axe is too dull, dear Liza, too dull.
Then sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Then sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, sharpen it.

With what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, with what?
With a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, a stone.

The stone is too dry, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The stone is too dry, dear Liza, too dry.
Then wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Then wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, then wet it.

With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, with what?
Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, try water.

From where shall I get it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
From where shall I get it, dear Liza, from where?
From the well, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
From the well, dear Henry, dear Henry, the well.

In what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, dear Liza?
In what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, in what?
In a bucket dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
In a bucket dear Henry, dear Henry, in a bucket.

There’s a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There’s a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, a hole.

Continue Reading

Download I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles Sheet Music FREE!

Posted on Jun 01, 2009 by Monica.

This month’s free sheet music download of the month is a song we really think you’re going to love. The song “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” was written by songwriters from Tin Pan Alley back in the early 1900s. Recorded originally as a waltz, the song was covered by most of the popular performers during the late 1910s and early 1920s.

Since the early 20th century, the song has been appeared in dozens of films in several musical styles. For example, “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” appeared in the Woody Allen movie Sweet and Lowdown starring Sean Penn. In this movie, Penn “performs” a solo guitar version of the popular tune, which is actually the recorded performance of jazz guitarist Harold Arlen. Other movies that the song “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” has appeared in include: Eight Men Out (which used a baseball version of the lyrics), The Roaring Twenties, Hooligans, The Eddie Cantor Story, Sweet and Lowdown and several others.

This song also has special significance for those of you who live in London, for “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” is the theme song for West Ham United, a London football team. The story behind how this popular song from the twenties became the anthem for their team is pretty interesting. It’s rumored that one of the players from the early 20s resembled a child from a painting used in a commercial that featured that song. Many fans over the years have sung this song to support their favorite football team. You can find dozens of videos recorded by West Ham United fans on YouTube!

Still popular today, we hope you enjoy your free sheet music download for the month of June. Enjoy a standard arrangement of “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” and kick off your summer!

After you download your favorite song, don’t forget to practice it for June’s Musicnotes.com YouPerform Contest for your chance to win a $100 gift certificate to our store! Keep with us for May’s round of voting, too!

Download your free sheet music for “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” today!

Continue Reading

May Guitar Guru Sale, YouPerform Contest Voting, Free Download in The Whole Note

Posted on May 01, 2009 by Monica.

This month we’d like to help you play like a rock-n-roll guru!

We’ve taken off $1.00 on every Guitar Guru Session in our catalog, offering you the chance to learn your favorite songs! Choose from blues Sessions like The Thrill is Gone or classic rock Sessions like Barracuda.

Here are a few other Guitar Guru Session favorites that you’ve enjoyed:

No coupon code is required for you to enjoy this limited time offer, which is good through the entire month of May.

Want more Guru? Each week we’ll be getting behind-the-music to feature some of your favorite artists and performers that define what a “rock-n-roll” guru is all about. For more about how this software can help you learn your favorite song, visit Guitar Guru Sessions online or download your free Guitar Guru Session on our free sheet music page and give Guru a try!

Download Old McDonald Had a Farm for Free!

Did you know that “Old McDonald Had a Farm” has a song history spanning over two hundred years? Some music scholars speculate that the song’s history may be traced to an early 18th century opera called “The Kingdom of the Birds,” but it wasn’t until the early 20th century that “Old McDonald” evolved to the song as we know it today. Initially published in 1917, this beloved nursery rhyme has been translated into several languages and has been recorded by dozens of performers around the world.

Download free sheet music for Old McDonald Had a Farm through the end of May. Don’t forget, this song is eligible for your entry into our Musicnotes.com YouPerform Contest for May 2009. Just join our May 2009 contest group on YouTube! and submit your performance for a chance to win!

Vote Now for Your April 2009 Contest Winner!

Speaking of contests, will you help us decide your favorite YouPerform contest winner for April? We have three entries this month, and we’d love to get your vote. Hope you’re considering entering next month’s contest, we’d love to hear you sing or play!

Don’t forget to check out our Musicnotes.com YouPerform Contest rules page to find out how you can submit your video for May!

Continue Reading

Download “(I’ll be With You) In Apple Blossom Time” for Free!

Posted on Mar 31, 2009 by Monica.

Composed by Fleeson and Von Tilzer, this song was first performed in the 1920s. (I’ll be With You) In Apple Blossom Time is a perfect wedding song for Spring. Our piano sheet music version contains a full set of lyrics with a voice solo line. The guitar tab version of the song primarily focuses on the main chorus of the song, and is great for beginning guitarists.

Although this song originated in the 1920s, the most popular version was performed by “The Andrews Sisters” during WWII. The song has been recorded by a number of artists ncluding Nat King Cole, Barry Manilow, The Platters, Jo Stafford, Wayne Newton and several others.

This song is now available for free through April 30th through our free sheet music download page, for guitarists, vocalists and pianists. Remember, if you’re curious about Guitar Guru, you can try the software with your free Guitar Guru session, too!

Here are the lyrics included with the piano/vocal (aka the Singer Pro) edition of the free sheet music! Remember, you can download your copy all throughout the month of April!

Lyrics to (I’ll be With You) in Apple Blossom Time

First Verse

I’m writing you dear,
Just to tell you
In September, you remember
‘Neath the old apple tree
You whispered to me
When it blossomed again, you’d be mine.

I’ve waited until I could claim you,
I hope I’ve not waited in vain.
For when it’s spring in the valley,
I’m coming my sweetheart again!

Chorus:

I’ll be with you in apple blossom time,
I’ll be with you to change your name to mine.

One day in May I’ll come and say,
“Happy the bride the sun shines on today!”

What a wonderful wedding there will be,
What a wonderful day for you and me!
Church bells will chime
You will be mine,
in apple blossom time.

Second Verse

I hope that you meant
what you promised
in September, you remember
and I’ve thought of the day
I’d take you away
just to have and to hold, for my own.

It’s such a long time since you kissed me
and told me that you would be true
but when the orchard is blooming
my sweetheart I’m coming to you.

Chorus:

I’ll be with you in apple blossom time,
I’ll be with you to change your name to mine.

One day in May I’ll come and say,
“Happy the bride the sun shines on today!”

What a wonderful wedding there will be,
What a wonderful day for you and me!
Church bells will chime
You will be mine,
in apple blossom time./ul>

Continue Reading

Bunessan Free Sheet Music, More from Twilight in The Whole Note

Posted on Feb 27, 2009 by Monica.

Do you remember the song Morning Has Broken? The popular melody performed by Cat Stevens in the early 1970s was originally based on a song by Scottish composer Mary MacDonald (1789 – 1872). The original lyrics for her hymn entitled Leanabh an Aigh were written in Gaelic. When the hymn was translated into English by Lachlan Macbean, the song title was renamed Bunessan after a Scottish village close to Mary MacDonald’s hometown of Ardtun. Believe it or not, the song was originally associated with a hymn called Child in the Manger. (1)

This March, download your free sheet music for the song Bunessan and enjoy this gorgeous melody.

To download your free copy of Bunessan, please visit our free sheet music page on Musicnotes.com.

Twilight Sheet Music News!

Yesterday, we were pleased to bring you an interview with Twilight score composer Carter Burwell. We hope you enjoy reading about this score composer who has worked on over fifty films!!!

We just got in a brand new sheet music book for Twilight that includes some great songs that you’ve been asking for and collector’s photos. Here’s a little bit about this collector’s sheet music book:

This sheet music book for Twilight includes Bella’s Lullaby, and 10 more tracks from alt-rock bands author Stephenie Meyer listened to as she wrote the novels. Features the hit singles Decode by Paramore and Go All the Way (Into the Twilight) by Perry Farrell, as well as songs from Muse, Linkin Park, Collective Soul, Mute Math and others, plus Never Think by British actor Robert Pattinson, who plays the movie’s male lead.–SOURCE: Twilight Sheet Music Book

Watch for new digital sheet music downloads to come out next week for this popular movie sheet music. To stay on top of Twilight news, be sure to check out our Twilight sheet music post.

What’s Popular on the Musicnotes Blog Lately?

Over the past few months, we’ve been actively bringing you sheet music news, interviews with songwriters and composers, and other music-related goodies. We have been working hard behind-the-scenes here to look for new ways to bring you great content. In the meantime, here are some posts that many of our music lovers have enjoyed reading this past week:

• 10 Free Music Wallpapers – This post was so much fun to put together, we just might do another one!
• Sightreading Tips for Singers and Musicians – We just posted about how you can increase your sight-reading abilities to help you with your performances or our Musicnotes.com YouPerform contest. This was a very popular post this past week; it’s really great to see that so many musicians out there wanting to improve their musical skills!
• Sheet Music from the 2009 Oscars – Many of you have enjoyed reading about your favorite movies. There are a lot of new films coming out that are generating a lot of excitement including Watchmen, a brand new Harry Potter film and a whole lot more!

That’s all the time we have for now. Stay tuned for next week as we bring you updates about your song requests, offer you a fun battle of the contest videos and get into American Idol. For now, feel free to subscribe to the Musicnotes.com Blog RSS feed or follow Musicnotes on Twitter! We’ve got some give-a-way contests going on today!

Continue Reading

Free Jazz Love Song, Death Cab for Cutie Guitar Tab Sale and More in This Week’s The Whole Note

Posted on Jan 31, 2009 by Monica.

Can you hear birds singing? While it might not be Spring just yet, our hearts are all a-flutter here. February’s free sheet music download of the month is an interesting love song called “When My Baby Smiles At Me.”

Composed in 1920 by Bill Munro, the lyrics for “When My Baby Smiles at Me” were written by Ted Lewis and Andrew B. Sterling. Ted Lewis was the original performer of the song. Ted Lewis enjoyed a career in music, spanning over fifty years. “When My Baby Smiles at Me” marked the beginning of the roaring twenties and the start of Lewis’ world-wide popularity. Lewis used to enjoy world-wide recognition for his music up until the mid-1930s, even though he went on to enjoy a long career in music.

Both the guitar tab and the piano sheet music includes the lyrics to “When My Baby Smiles At Me.” We hope you enjoy February’s free sheet music download of the month, and hope you are inspired to sing or play this fun, uplifting tune for your sweetheart.

The free song should be available no later than Monday. For now, you can still download “Hail to the Chief.”

35% Off Guitar Tab for Death Cab for Cutie’s Latest Album!

Have you listened to Death Cab for Cutie’s album Narrow Stairs? This best-selling album is the latest from Death Cab for Cutie, who is currently on tour. According to the Death Cab for Cutie 2009 Tour page, they’re making their way to the U.S. later this year.

Hone your musical skills and strum along to songs like “I Will Possess your Heart” and “Your New Twin-Sized Bed” with an exclusive 35% off coupon. Take 35% off Death Cab for Cutie guitar tab for songs from the album “Narrow Stairs” through Midnight CST on Saturday, February 7, 2009.

Click here for guitar tab on sale. Death Cab for Cutie’s album “Narrow Stairs.”

Know How to Play Fur Elise? Submit your Entry for February’s YouPerform Contest!

We’ve been really happy with how our Musicnotes YouPerform contest has been going these past, few months. We know it’s pretty tough to try to learn a new song and record it, but we’re still hoping that you’ll give it a shot. As you know, we opened up the contest to include classical pieces from our Musicnotes Editions collection. There are a ton of familiar and classical songs to choose from including: Clair de Lune, Canon in D, Fur Elise, Amazing Grace, Nocturne No. 3 by Liszt and a whole lot more. Remember, your arrangements are eligible of these songs, too. So get out there and play your flute or sing a tune, because we’ll declare another winner of a $100 gift certificate to our site next month.

Just to let you know, if we don’t get another entry into the Musicnotes YouPerform Contest for January, then we will be able to announce a winner early next week. We’re hoping we’ll get at least one more entry, so we can offer you another music-filled battle! So what are you waiting for? Find your song among over 1,000 Musicnotes Editions today!

Continue Reading