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Of all the children’s songs about civil engineering, “London Bridge” is probably the best. It has materials analysis (“Iron bars will bend and break”). It shows a respect for the client’s budget (“Gold and silver, I have none.”) What more could you ask for?
The rhyme has a deep history, with the earliest records going back to the 17th century. It wasn’t paired with the modern melody until much later, though. It first appeared in print in the 19th century, when it gained popularity as a children’s song and game.
No one really knows if the song is meant to refer to a specific event or to a specific “fair lady.” London Bridge has been around for a long time in one form or another, and it has been torn down, repaired, and rebuilt a number of times.
“London Bridge” Playing Tips
You can choose to play this one in a strict first position, in which case you’ll only use your middle finger and pinky. Or you can shift up and place your index finger on the second fret, using your ring finger on 4th. Better yet, use this as an opportunity to practice shifting positions, jumping up (or dropping down) halfway through the song.
I added a few eighth notes for variety in the second half of the song. They are extra notes, not attached to the lyrics, so you may need to count out the rhythms ahead of times to keep everything straight. Let’s look at measure 9 as as example:
You can use numbers and “ands” to represent the quarter notes and the eighth note:
One-Two-and-Three-Four
Or you can use rhythm syllables, where quarter notes get a Ta and pairs of eighth notes are teetee:
Ta-teetee-Ta-Ta
Click the link or the ‘Download’ button below to see the sheet music if your browser doesn’t display the embedded PDF.
Don’t have a low G uke? Not a problem. I’ve included a standard (high G) TAB for this song as well. Find the link at the bottom on the post. Happy picking!
“London Bridge” Low G Sheet Music Download
“London Bridge” High G Sheet Music Download
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