Camel Bells on the Silk Roard

[Hany Hayek]

Although Chinese, this sounds very classical to me, that's why I am posting it here.
This instrument (ruan) is very close to a Cello. This tune would sound beautiful on an Irish Tenor Banjo. Anyone kindly help me find the score sheet.
The only link I could find on the web is this: http://www.pinterest.com/tongxuemenh...n-sheet-music/
These are supposed to be tabs? In any case I can't read this and need a score sheet.

Meanwhile enjoy the music

[Jim Dalton]

The example that you posted is jiǎnpǔ, a Chinese number notation and NOT a tablature.

It is fairly easy to read. In a very short amount of time, I've learned to be able to sight read it. It's intended to be a simple notation that anyone can learn (Chinese school children learn to sight sing from it in schools.)

The numbers correspond to the pitches of the western major scale. Sharps raise by 1/2 step and flats lower by 1/2 step.
Assume quarter notes. A dash (–) indicates holding through the next beat. A zero would indicate a rest. A line below the numbers indicates eighth notes, two lines, 16th notes etc. Dots after a number function like dotted notes in western music.

That being said, this is a slightly different arrangement than what is in the video but the same tune.

[Jim Dalton]

So, since I'm on Spring Break, I decided to transcribe this into notation from this jiǎnpǔ notation:



I transcribed it for mandolin or octave mandolin tuned GDgd:



and for mandocello tuned DAda (similar tuning to the above performance):

[Hany Hayek]

Thank you so much. Although it looks quite difficult, with a lot of left hand pizzicato. I'll try to play it on the tenor banjo.

[Jim Garber]

I am not sure about scordatura scores: do we play the note as it sounds in the alt tuning or finger it as if it were tuned to std tuning?

[Jim Dalton]

I am not sure about scordatura scores: do we play the note as it sounds in the alt tuning or finger it as if it were tuned to std tuning?

I always write the sounding pitches. I find the other way to be too clumsy and confusing – like reading a bad pseudo-tablature.

[Jim Garber]

Thanks, Jim!

[Hany Hayek]

Now I am confused. I understand what a "scordatura score" is, but how do I play this.
Does my instrument has to be tuned GDgd and I play the notes as if I was playing with normal tuning.

[Jim Garber]

I think what Jim D is saying is that those notes indicate the actual sounds. I might add some fingering after retuning. I play in other tunings (mostly on fiddle) but generally never read music that way.