Packington’s Pound is a very old traditional melody dating back to the fifteen hundreds. It is an easy acoustic guitar solo, so once you become familiar with it, let it swing. The technical requirements are minimal so if you are a beginner fingerstyle guitarist you should give it a try to add some zing to your classical guitar repertoire at modest outlay.
The Story of Packington’s Pound
The title of the piece refers to Sir Thomas Packington, a friend of Queen Elizabeth I of England. The word “pound” is an alternative spelling for “pond”. Packington was ordered to drain a pond on his land because it took up land designated for a road. Just to show he was a good sport, he simply dismantled the wall of the pond, allowing the water to cause a flood. Such a minor incident, but the tune has been popular since the 1590s.
An Easy Acoustic Guitar Solo
If you listen to some of the recordings of Packington’s Pound, you will find it has an interesting contrast between the lively rhythm and the dramatic melody. Once you get used to it you will be able to practice it at different speeds to give it the mood you most enjoy.
Here is a link to Packington’s Pound tabs
And here is a feisty performance of this easy acoustic guitar solo, so you can see how it should be played:
