Fisher's Hornpipe: Mandolin Tab
Mandolin tab and sheet music with synced audio · James A. Fishar · Key of D · 180 BPM · 2/2 time · Bluegrass · Intermediate
Chords used in this arrangement: D, G, A.
Despite the name, "Fisher's Hornpipe" has nothing to do with fishing! It's named after James A. Fishar, a professional dancer and ballet master at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, who published it around 1780 as part of a collection of cotillions and hornpipes written for the London stage. So this tune started its life as fancy theatrical footwork, not barn dancing. It spread fast and by 1783 an American soldier named John Greenwood had already copied it into his flute book, and within a few decades it was showing up in Ozark fiddle traditions, New England contra dances, and Irish session books all under different names.
There are a lot of variations of this song and I first learned this from the Jack Tottle bluegrass book. This version is slightly more melodic than that one, although not quite as frantic!
This page includes mandolin tablature, standard music notation, and a chord chart, printable as PDF and playable in sync with the original recording. Change the key, slow the tempo down, and loop the bars you want to practise. Download the Fisher's Hornpipe PDF.
Fisher's Hornpipe: questions and answers
What key is Fisher's Hornpipe in?
Fisher's Hornpipe is in D major. The transpose control on this page moves the tab, notation and chords to any other key.
What chords are used in Fisher's Hornpipe?
The chords in this arrangement are D, G, A. The chord chart on this page shows each shape and highlights the current chord as the tune plays.
How fast is Fisher's Hornpipe played?
This recording is at 180 BPM in 2/2 time. Use the speed control to slow it down without changing the pitch, then work back up to full tempo.
Is Fisher's Hornpipe a good tune for beginners?
Fisher's Hornpipe is rated intermediate, so it is best approached after a few beginner tunes are comfortable.
Can I download Fisher's Hornpipe as sheet music?
Yes. A printable PDF with the mandolin tab and standard notation is free at /tab/fishers-hornpipe.pdf, and there is a download button on this page.
Related tunes
More in D
- Dennis Murphy's Polka (Denis Murphy, D, 200 BPM)
- John Ryan's Polka (Sean Ryan, D, 132 BPM)
- The Lark in the Morning (D, 120 BPM)
- Liberty (John Dickinson and Arthur Lee,, D, 120 BPM)
- Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine (D, 120 BPM)
- Fairy Dance (Nathaniel Gow, D, 120 BPM)
- Briar Picker Brown (D, 120 BPM)
- Banks of the Ohio (D, 120 BPM)
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