|
 Acoustic Guitar Forum
 The IGS Guitar Forum
 Charlie Patton's Some of These Days
|
 UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! |
next newest topic | next oldest topic |
| Author | Topic: Charlie Patton's Some of These Days |
|
Lcwx2 Member Posts: 249 From: Chicago Registered: Aug 2000 |
posted 08-15-2001 14:58
   
Can anybody give me the chord progression for this tune? I don't think he's playing all of it in first position chords, but I'll be damned if I know what chords they are. Thanks very much for any help. IP: Logged |
|
Hambone Member Posts: 642 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: Jan 2000 |
posted 08-18-2001 01:28
I thought you'd never ask! I've loved playing this tune for nearly 20 years. At IGS/NY 2000 Martin Simpson and I jammed on it and discussed it at length. It is played in standard tuning, A position, capoed 2nd fret. The first lick is played beginning on the open 1st string, followed by sliding from the 2nd fret to the 4th fret with your pinky on the 1st string and your ring finger on the 3rd. (Your thumb picks the 3rd string while your index finger picks the 1st. The song is picked with thumb and forefinger only.) Then you slide back down to the 2nd fret A position, removing your pinky from the 1st string (yes, that was and A6 chord for a moment there) while fretting the A chord with your middle and ring fingers. You slide back up in the same manner for the second phrase, and when you come back down for the B7 chord, your pinky and ring fingers are right there, ready to fret the 1st position B7. When he sings "You know you're gonna MISS ME" he's playing a B7 shape in E position up by the 7th fret. (World-famous Bob Brozman claims that Patton is doing a hand-clap over the words "SWEET DREAMS" and I believe Bob is correct, even though I find this tricky to execute.) Patton also plays this E7 chord in the B7 shape during the bridge ("You will never know...") I hope this description is not too confusing. If you are in Vancouver tomorrow night I will show it to you. I recommend playing with the recording capoed at the 2nd fret. This is an absolutely delightful tune to play. The rhythmic quality Patton gets is quite esoteric, and illustrates his extremely nuanced technique, which is clearly the result not of study, but of familiarity i.e. lots of playing, IMHO. Martin and I were both fascinated with the vocal melody, which we agreed was most probably of American origin from the Civil War era. Charley Patton lives!! IP: Logged |
|
Lcwx2 Member Posts: 249 From: Chicago Registered: Aug 2000 |
posted 08-23-2001 18:34
Wow! I couldn't have asked for more. Thanks so much, and I'm glad you guys are still jammin on this piece. A couple of questions though. First, when you say "A position", do you mean fretting an E chord? How do you successfully slide like that with your pinky? I'm having a pretty hard time with that. When you "slide back to the second fret in the A position", do you take your pinky off of the first string, and play the A? I know it's an A after the first line of each stanza, but doesn't each stanza's first two lines start in E, with the pinky thing? Could you explain what you mean by the terms "position" and "shape"? What is a B7 shape in an E position that is also a E7 chord? Here's how I hear it: E with the pinky thing, A (end of first stanza), E with the pinky thing, B7 (end of second stanza), E with the pinky thing, A (end of third stanza), B7 at seventh fret, clap, B7 with pinky thing, E (end of last stanza). Is this right? Sorry if I'm being ridiculous about this. I'm just confused about your post. Thanks very much for all your help. This is really great. Patton DOES live! Jon W.
IP: Logged |
All times are PST (US) | next newest topic | next oldest topic |
  |
|
Contact Us | IGS
©1999,2000,2001,2002, 2003,2004,2005,2006 IGS. All Rights Reserved
Powered by Infopop www.infopop.com © 2000
Ultimate Bulletin Board