Easy piano lesson: how to play the song Skye Boat on the piano
Skye Boat Song is a traditional Scottish song. It tells the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s flight to the Isle of Skye after his defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. He traveled in disguise with the help of Flora McDonald.
The song begins with the chorus. Then each verse is sung with the chorus in the middle. Here are the lyrics:
Chorus
Speed, beautiful boat, like a bird on the wing,
Ahead! the sailors cry;
Take the boy who was born to be king
Over the sea to Skye.
Pour
Strong the winds howl, strong the waves roar,
Thunder makes the air;
Puzzled, our enemies stand on the shore,
Follow that they will not dare.
repeat the chorus
To play the song on the piano, you will use the range of one octave (8 notes). The lowest note is G and the highest note is G. Place both thumbs on middle C. The right hand will cover the notes middle C, re, mi, fa, and sol. The left hand will cover the notes directly below middle C. it will be B, A, and G. To help distinguish right and left notes, left-hand notes will be written in lowercase. So B, A and G will be written as b, a and g.
The song begins in the left hand. Here are the notes for Skye Boat Song:
Chorus
C-clamp, CCDEDG
year DTS
C-clamp, CDEDG
year DTS
Pour
CEE, D b DD,
C to CCC to
CEE, D b DD,
C to CCC ag
repeat the chorus
