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Shape Note Step 6
Step 6 - Enter the lyrics
We’re almost done. Entering the words of the song is pretty straight forward. There are a few techniques that we use to fix the alignment of notes to words and we’ll list those special symbols up front in the following table.
Symbol | abc meaning | Example |
- | (hyphen) break between syllables with a word | w: re-lieved (2 notes) |
_ | (underscore) previous syllable is held for extra note | w: That_ (2 notes) |
* | One note is skipped (* is a blank syllable) | w: That * (2 notes) |
~ | Appears as a space; multiple words under one note | w: 1.~When (1 note) |
\- | Appears as a hyphen; multiple syllables under 1 note | |
| | Advances to the next bar |
To chose which style of notes you want, “7 shape”, “4 shape” or “normal-oval” simply click your choice in the “Rendering Selections” menu:
Figure 11 - Rendering Selections Menu
So here is our completed abc tune: (Again, you can use cut-and-paste, or even easier, you can clear the input area and press the button “Amazing Grace” in the “Sample” section on the web page.)
%abc-2.1 X:1 T:Amazing Grace C:Lyric Author: John Newton / Early American Melody Z:Public Domain L:1/4 M:3/4 V:S clef=treble name="" V:A clef=treble name="" V:T clef=bass name="" V:B clef=bass name="" %%score (S A) (T B) %%pagewidth 11in K:Ab % Measures 1 - 7 [V:S] (E/ F/) | A2 (c/ A/) | c2 B | A2 F | E2 (E/ F/) | A2 (c/ A/) | c2 (B/ c/) | He2 | [V:A] (C/ D/) | C2 (E/ C/) | E2 D | C2 D | C2 (C/ D/) | C2 (E/ C/) | E2 A | HG2 | w:1.~A_maz-ing_ grace! How sweet the sound! That *saved a_ wretch like me! w:2.~'Twas_ grace that_ taught my heart to fear, And * grace my_ fears re-lieved. w:3.~Thro'_ man-y_ dan-gers, toils, and snares I * have al_read-y come. w:4.~When_ we've been_ there ten thou-sand years, Bright, * shin-ing_ as the sun, [V:T] A, | E,2 A, | A,2 G, | A,2 A, | A,2 A, | E,2 A, | A,2 A, | HB,2 | [V:B] A,, | A,,2 A,, | A,,2 E, | F,2 D, | A,,2 A,, | A,,2 A,, | A,2 F, | HE,2 | % Measures 8 - 14 [V:S] (B/ c/) | e2 (e/ c/) | A2 (F/ E/) | A2 F | E2 (E/ F/) | A2 (c/ A/) | c2 B | HA2 | [V:A] G | A2 (A/ E/) | E2 (D/ C/) | F2 D | C2 (C/ D/) | C2 (E/ A/) | G2 G | HE2 | w:I once was_ lost but_ now am found; Was_ blind, but_ now I see. w:How pre-cious_ did that_ grace ap-pear The_hour I_ first be-lieved! w:'Tis grace hath_ brought me_ safe thus far, And_ grace will_ lead me home. w:We've no less_ days to_ sing God's praise Than_ when we_ first be-gun. [V:T] E | C2 (C/ A,/) | C2 A, | A,2 A, | A,2 A, | A,2 (A,/ C/) | E2 D | HC2 | [V:B] E, | A,2 A, | A,2 A, | D,2 D, | A,,2 A, | F,2 E, | E,2 E, | HA,,2 | |
Figure 12 - Competed abc tune: Amazing Grace
And the sheet music in the 7 shape note tradition is below (with the stylesheet directive of: “%%pagewidth 11in”.
Figure 13 - Amazing Grace in the 7 shape note tradition