WHY DO THE NOTES HAVE FUNNY SHAPES?
The shaped notes in Sacred Harp music are there for a reason. Different shapes were originally assigned to notes in order to teach beginners how to sing. The traditional notes in four-shape singing (such as you’ll find in most Sacred Harp music) include “FA” (a flag-shaped note), “SO” (a round note), “LA” (a square note) and “MI” (a diamond-shaped note). If this information seems complex, please don’t worry. It’s not as difficult as it sounds. Really.
