Contrast

                          Contrast

John Newton, 1725-1807                   Early American tune
                                       Mandolin tablature by 
                                    Elizabeth T. Knuth, 1998

Key: G

All of the quarter notes are dotted, so three beats each.


           Q                                         
E--||---------------------|-----------------------------------|
A--||--6:-----------------|--------------------2-----------2--|
D--||--8:--5--------------|--5-----0-----5-----------5--------|
G--||---------------------|-----------------------------------|
           |                 |_____|_____|     |_____|_____|

          How               te - dious  and  taste-less   the


   Q                 Q
|-----------------------------------|
|--5-----------------3--------------|
|--5-----------------2--------------|
|-----------------------------------|
   |                 |

 hours             when


|-----------------------------------|
|--2-----3-----5-----5-----3-----2--|
|--0--------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------|
   |_____|_____|     |_____|_____|

  Je -  sus   no    lon - ger    I                                                   


   Q                 Q
|-----------------------------------|
|--0--------------------------------|
|--4-----------------5--------------|
|-----------------------------------|
   |                 |

  see!             Sweet


|-----------------------------------|
|--------------------2-----------2--|
|--5-----0-----5-----------5--------|
|-----------------------------------|
   |_____|_____|     |_____|_____|

 pros-pects, sweet birds, and  sweet


   Q                 Q
|-----------------------------------|
|--5-----------------3--------------|
|--5--------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------|
   |                 |

 flowers           have


|-----------------------------------|
|--2-----5-----2-----0-----------0--|
|--------------------------5--------|
|-----------------------------------|
   |_____|_____|     |_____|_____|

  all  lost  their sweet-ness   to


   Q                 Q
|-----------------------------------|
|--------------------5--------------|
|--5-----------------5--------------|
|-----------------------------------|
   |                 |

  me;               The


|-----------------------------------|
|--5-----2-----5-----5-----2-----5--|
|--5--------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------|
   |_____|_____|     |_____|_____|

  mid - sum - mer   sun shines  but


   Q                 Q
|--0--------------------------------|
|--------------------3--------------|
|--------------------2--------------|
|-----------------------------------|
   |                 |

  dim,              The


|-----------------------------------|
|--2-----3-----5-----5-----3-----2--|
|--0--------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------|
   |_____|_____|     |_____|_____|

fields strive in   vain   to   look


   Q                 Q
|-----------------------------------|
|--0--------------------------------|
|--4-----------------5--------------|
|-----------------------------------|
   |                 |

  gay;              But


|-----------------------------------|
|--------------------2-----------2--|
|--5-----0-----5-----------5--------|
|-----------------------------------|
   |_____|_____|     |_____|_____|

 when    I    am    hap - py    in


   Q                 Q
|-----------------------------------|
|--5-----------------3--------------|
|--5-----------------2--------------|
|-----------------------------------|
   |                 |

  him,              De -


                                       Q
|-----------------------------------|-----------------||
|--2-----5-----2-----0-----------0--|-----------------||
|--------------------------5--------|--5--------------||
|-----------------------------------|-----------------||
   |_____|_____|     |_____|_____|     |

  cem - ber's as   pleas- ant   as    May.

============================================================
==                 TABLATURE EXPLANATION                  ==
============================================================

---------- 
-4:------- Time
-4:------- Signature 
---------- 

Rhythm:
  Q = dotted quarter

Meter: 8.8.8.8.8.8.8.8.

This tune sounds nice on mandolin, almost like a dance.

The only thing sung to the tune of Contrast, at least to my knowledge, is this hymn, so I include the lyrics for the first verse. Both the tune and the lyrics are in the public domain worldwide. By the way, the John Newton who penned these words is also the author of Amazing Grace.

If you like, you can hear a MIDI file of "Contrast".

Simple Gifts Mandolin Tablature Archive | Elizabeth T. Knuth's Home Page

Comments to: eknuth@unix.csbsju.edu