Mr. Dowland’s Midnight by John Dowland (1563-1626). PDF Sheet Music and Video for Classical Guitar. Includes both a notation-only edition with left hand fingering and a tab edition. The level is Early-Intermediate (Grade 4). This work is found in the Margaret Board Lute Book (Poulton 99).
My pdf sheet music at Werner Guitar Editions
Please note that you must tune the 3rd string down to F# (Dowland’s lute tuning) for this edition (the video lesson covers this). John Dowland was an English Renaissance composer, lutenist, and singer. He is best known today for his melancholy songs and lute compositions. He’s one of my favourite composers of the Elizabethan era. YouTube Lesson Link.
Why do guitarists use capos and 3rd string F# tuning?
Hi Bradford, I understand the bit about tuning down the G string to F# and how fitting a capo at 3rd fret raises the pitch to approximate lute tuning. Where I struggle is to navigate the keyboard 3 frets up. All the navigation points are shifted (e.g. 5th 7th and 12th frets). Are there any simple techniques for this or is it just a matter of practice?
Well, eventually you will get used to it, especially if you always capo at the 3rd fret. A good thing to do would be to practice some 1-2-3-4 fingering in 1st position and then shift and do a 1-2-3-4 at the 5th position (position relative to capo) to help orient yourself. That might speed up the process.
Dear Bradford, can you please give me the name of the composer (Francis………) of the ricercare witch you play in your lesson where the capo on the 3 fret is important. Very nice piece.
Lot of thanks.
Anton van Geel
Hi, yes, it’s Francesco Canova da Milano (1497–1543). I have two works by him on the site: Ricercare 7 and Ricercare 16