Greensleeves was a popular broadside ballad and jam tune during the Renaissance, and there are literally hundreds of versions of this piece.This lesson's Greensleeves is based on the version in the William Ballet Lute Book (c. 1590-1610).
The English folk song, Greensleeves, was initially published under the title "A Newe Northern Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleeves" in 1580. However, it is likely older than 1580 and exists in numerous arrangements and title variants from the late Renaissance onwards. It is best known today under two titles: Greensleeves and What Child is This?
Legend has it that Greensleeves was composed by Henry VIII for his future queen, Anne Boleyn. Boleyn initially rejected King Henry's amorous attempts, possibly evidenced by the "cast me off discourteously" lyric, the sixteenth century equivalent of a breakup text. Nobody knows for sure if Henry composed Greensleeves, hence the anonymous moniker, but it makes for a good story.
Here is the first verse of Greensleeves (there are eleven more!)
Alas my love, ye do me wrong,
to cast me off discourteously:
And I have loved you so long,
Delighting in your company.
Greensleeves was all my joy,
Greensleeves was my delight:
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but Lady Greensleeves
Study Tips
Melody
Our Greensleeves is a chord-melody arrangement; that is, a melody supported with strummed or arpeggiated chords.
The melody begins with a pickup note on beat 3: count 1-2 and pluck the pickup note on the third beat.
Chords
Simple strum 3/4 is recommend: strum downwards on the first beat of the measure with the flesh of your thumb. That is, strum once every three beats. A P-i-m-a-m-i arpeggio in each measure also sounds great, imparting a harp-like feel.
Listen to the Track
Before practicing, listen to the track and absorb the feel of Greensleeves.
Greensleeves | Peter Kun Frary, ʻukulele
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Practice the melody of Greensleeves until smooth. Play along with the audio track to help shore up your rhythm. Once the melody flows, work on the chords.
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Greensleeves Musings
Study Tips
Melody
Listen to the Track
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Daily Review
