Chord Req: Wichita Lineman (easy)

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Wichita Lineman (easy)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 27 Dec 12 - 03:03 PM

For reference, here are the chords from the sheet music. They're not particularly difficult. Note especially the sequence D-C-G/B-Gm7/Bb, which gives you the descending bass-line.

Mick

---

WICHITA LINEMAN
(Jim Webb)

|: (Gm7/C)I am a Lineman for the (Bbmaj7)County (Am7) and I drive the main (Gm7)road,
(Dm7)Searchin' in the (Am)sun for an-(G)other overload (DsusG)
(D)I hear you singin' in the (C)wires I can hear you thro' the (G/B)whine
(Gm/Bb)And the Wichita (D)Lineman (A11) is still on the (Bbmaj7)line (C6susD) (Bbmaj7)

(Gm7/C)I know I need a small va-(Bbmaj7)cation (Gm7/C) but it don't look like (Gm7)rain
And (Dm7)if it snows, that (Am)stretch down south will (G)never be the same (DsusG)
(D) And I need you more than (C)want you and I want you for all (G/B)time
(Gm/Bb)And the Wichita (D)Lineman (A11)is still on the (Bbmaj7)line (C6susD) (Bbmaj7) :| (D) ||

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Wichita Lineman (easy)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Dec 12 - 02:33 PM

Well, the line shifted when my comment got posted. It's supposed to be above the Dm Am to indicate they're sharing a measure. So just remember that those two chords are two beats each rather'n four.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Wichita Lineman (easy)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Dec 12 - 02:31 PM

I agree, many charts for this song on the internet are just wrong. Here's the real chords in their simplest form -- which doesn't lose anything from the essence of the song.

The Dm and Am share a measure -- they're half a measure each, two beats each. Indicated by the line connecting them.
The other chords are one measure each, four beats each.


Intro:   F   C   F   C


Verse:
            _____
Bb F   C   Dm Am   G   D   D

C   C   G   Gm      D   A

Bb C   Bb C


To add most of the color from the original:
Change both F chords in the intro to Fmaj7.
Change both C chords in the intro to C11.
Change the first chord in the verse from Bb to Bbmaj7.
Change the A to A11.
Change the last chord in the verse from C to C11.

Great song, deserves to be played correctly.
Hope you find this helpful.

Subject: RE: Easy Chords for Witchita Lineman
From: M.Ted
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 04:20 PM

We've discussed this before--and we worked out some playable chords here:Previous Wichita Lineman Chord discussion

You can get the chord progression to work if you play one count for the chord symbol and one for each consecutive slash mark.

Jimmy Webb liked his chord progressions to move in unusual ways, so you'll do best by counting and playing simple downstrokes, and resigning yourself to the fact that there are no "easy" chords to this tune--

If I were to change anything, I'd start out the song with an F11 chord(1-3-1-3-1-1) instead of the Gm7. I haven't listen to the record lately, so I don't know if it fits with what is played, but it sounds better to my ear.

Even though Jimmy Webb wrote a lot of really big hits, they didn't get covered a lot by bar and club bands, because the peculiar chordings made it difficult to work them out by ear, as was the custom in those days.

Subject: RE: Easy Chords for Witchita Lineman
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 07:42 AM

I'm not a guitar player. So, I don't know how easy/hard it is but there are chords at COWPIE. You can just go to the following url:
http://www.roughstock.com/cowpie/songs/g/glen-cambell/wichita_lineman
http://www.roughstock.com/cowpie/songs/g/glen-cambell/wichita_lineman

Take Care
Merle

Subject: RE: Easy Chords for Witchita Lineman
From: Nick
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 07:38 AM

The chords on Chordie look rightish and you can transpose from them to a set of chords you like and capo accordingly. Either starting in Dm or Am seems to be the options with the least difficult set of chords:

Dm7 Fmaj7 C Dm7
Am7 Em7 D A
Em7 D
Dm A Em7 F
Am7 Bb (hit once and let ring)

Subject: Easy Chords for Witchita Lineman
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 11 Nov 08 - 07:29 AM

I've really fancied doing this song for some time but I think as it's a Jimmy Webb song it's been written on the piano and the chords I've seen are just ridiculous anybody got some easier ideas