Sacramento Area Sacred Harp

About Sacred Harp  

Sacred Harp--3- and 4-part acapella singing --is also called “shape note” for the syllable shapes fa-sol-la-mi used to learn the tune before singing the words. It began in New England over 200 years ago and stayed lively in the American south. It is now sung nationwide and in other countries.  More about Sacred Harp music in Wikipedia. 

About Sacramento Area Sacred Harp

Our monthly singings are free and open to the public. Listeners and beginners are welcome. Ability to read music, while helpful, is definitely not required. We are not affiliated with any faith community, and participants come from a variety of religious and non-religious backgrounds.  The Sacramento Area monthly singings are informal and are not "minuted", i.e. we do not keep records of singing participants and songs.

When: We sing at 2-4 PM usually on the first Saturday of each month, rotating between Sacramento and Davis -- but occasionally elsewhere.  Check this website and see below to sign up for email notifications.

Locations:   The Davis singing is held at the Davis Friends Meetinghouse, 345 L St, Davis 95616.  The Sacramento singing is held in a private home backyard patio in east Sacramento.  In April and October 2026, we sang at the wonderful Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Grass Valley.  

Light snacks are offered. Feel free to bring snacks, but this is not required.  

Songbooks:  We have loaner and purchase copies of the new 2025 Sacred Harp book. 

COVID:  Do not attend if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID or other respiratory illness, if you have recently been exposed, or if you are at risk for other reasons.  In Davis, the Friends Meetinghouse room where we sing has ceiling fans and two HEPA air purifiers.  In Sacramento, we sing outdoors on a backyard patio, weather permitting.  

To receive email notifications:  Let us know if you'd like to be on our email list (usually two emails/month).  Email your request with your name and email address to info@sacramentoareasacredharp.org.