"Hey, I am hoping you can help me. I was looking for guitar tabs on the gospel song "Take my Hand, Precious Lord. I am wanting to learn it for my friend's grandmother. She has been given only a few months to live and this is the song she wants played/ sung for her at her funeral. I thought it would be nice if I could play it for her before her funeral though. If you can help, it would be much appreciated!!!
Thank you,
a."

The email moved and inspired me to work on completing a solo guitar arrangement. I've been meaning to do it for awhile. I started something about a year ago from Mahalia Jackson's cover I have from the 60's but never really got anywhere. I've since added Thomas Dorsey's original chart to my music library and found it very helpful in restarting the project. Please keep in mind that this exercise is only an exploration of a beautiful melody.

Here's what I've come up with:

Corn Dog's "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" arrangement

Since the tempo is quite slow, when I play it I arpeggiate from the chords rather than playing them as block chords. Sounds a bit different every time, which I find very cool, so it's not important to me to write out a "definitive" note-for-note transcription. I'll post a sound clip when I have a chance to record it.

I also don't care what the chords are called at the moment, since I was going for a "sound", so that info is not included. I'll go back later and analyze and label stuff.

Thomas Dorsey's original score is in A flat. I moved it up to A for the guitar. Mahalia sings it in C.

I kept the melody up top and tried to work from relatively easy grips I hope. They may be different but not out of reach. It has a traditional old time "churchy" sound in some places and some more exotic jazzy stuff elsewhere; consequently it may not appeal to some folks.

Anyone else have an arrangement they would like to share?

I've replied to the email and suggested looking to this thread to see what we can provide. Maybe the requester will join up.

Seems like a nice thing to do in the context of all the sh*t going on. Gets the XMAS spirit perculating a bit.

Vern Gosden's tune seems to be differnt based on the clip I heard here: Vern Gosden clip

Anyone else play Dorsey's classic Gospel tune?

"Yes. Thank you very much! I had to fool with it for a while, but it turned out well. It was very useful and I was able to preform the song for her over Christmas! She loved it!"

Alright!

I've made some little adjustments to the chart since I posted it. Anyone else take a crack at it?

FYI, I had the unexpected pleasure of meeting Outfidel yesterday, as well as seeing mondo and jvesey, at a triple bill blues show in Berkeley Heights, NJ: Bennett Harris, Ernie Hawkins, and Paul Geremia. John Gorka's going to be there in two weeks so I may visit them again: http://www.sanctuaryconcerts.org/.