Chords Req: Soul of Man (Blind Willie Johnson)

Subject: Chord request-Soul of man-Blind Willie
From: dilly daly of Adelaide
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 06:29 PM

Does anyone know the chord progression or note progression for this brilliant song.I've tried all over the net but can't find out.I think it is in open D.

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Soul of Man (Blind Willie Johnson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Jan 11 - 06:14 AM

The lyrics have been posted here.

You can hear the song at YouTube.

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Soul of Man (Blind Willie Johnson)
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 18 May 11 - 01:15 PM

I'd sure be interested in this too.

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Soul of Man (Blind Willie Johnson)
From: dilly daly of Adelaide
Date: 19 Sep 11 - 08:15 AM

Considering what a great song this is, does no-one know the chord sequence ? definately one of the best blues/gospel songs of the 20th century. dalying dilly

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Soul of Man (Blind Willie Johnson)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 19 Sep 11 - 09:47 AM

PoppaGator posted an answer to this in the other thread last May: Soul of a Man - Chords. He gives (in E):


(E)Well, won't somebody tell me, answer if you (B7)can
(E)Won't somebody tell me, tell me what is the (B7)soul of a (E)man?



As he says, the song on mostly on the tonic. I'd play the basic chords slightly differently in the verse and chorus as:

(E)Well, won't somebody tell me, answer if you (B7)can
(E)Won't somebody tell me, tell me (A7)what is the soul of a (E)man?

(E)I'm going to ask the question, please answer if you can
Is there anybody sure can tell me, tell me (A7)what is the soul of a (E)man?

(Blind Willie Johnson I believe played this using open E tuning (EBEG#BE - see Adventures in Vestapol), though the recording linked is more or less in F, so he may have a capo on the first fret for this).

The A7 chord needs the 7th (G) on top. You could also play an Eb chord there (again with G note on top).

Mick

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Soul of Man (Blind Willie Johnson)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 19 Sep 11 - 06:14 PM

Correction - I realised when I was out walking the dog (as you do!) that when I said you could play an Eb there in that last sentence, it should have been G (not Eb), still with G note on top.


Mick

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Soul of Man (Blind Willie Johnson)
From: dilly daly of Adelaide
Date: 25 Oct 11 - 06:18 AM

Mick,
    thanks a lot, that's brilliant.
             Dilly

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Soul of Man (Blind Willie Johnson)
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 08:43 AM

there are 2 chords. in open "D". the tonic- D; then the 5th, in this case the A7th, in the open position. you can find it somewhere on the net. The chorus or refrain you can change a little bit- if playing slide playing the D at the 12 fret and sliding down to the A- 5 fret, then down to the open pos,