Traditional reel · E Dorian
The Ships Are Sailing
Also known as All Da Ships Ir Sailin, All Da Ships Ir Sailin', All The Ships Are Sailing, The Seals Are Shaping, The Ships A Sailing, Ships A-Sailing.
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ABC notation
X:1 T:The Ships Are Sailing R:reel M:4/4 L:1/8 K:Edor |:Beed BcdB|AD (3FED A,D (3FED|~E3F GFGA|Beef gfed| Beed BcdB|AD (3FED A,D (3FED|~E3F GFGA|Beed e3z:| ~g3a bgeg|~f3g afdf|gfga bgaf|gefd e2 de| gfga bgeg|fefg afdf|g2bg f2af|edef gfed:|
Copy this into any ABC tool, or open the setting on The Session (transcribed by b.maloney). The Session lists 16 settings of this tune and 3 recordings.
Playing it on a wind instrument
Traditional reels are dance music — lift and rhythm matter more than speed. Learn the tune slowly by ear first, then add ornaments (cuts, taps, rolls). Clarinet and sax players: use the transposition menu above so the part matches the fiddle and flute players.