Chord Req: Strokestown (Gerry O'Beirne)

Subject: Chord Req: Strokestown chords by Gerry O'Beirne
From: GUEST,MIke Anderson
Date: 24 May 16 - 03:30 PM

Here's one that's flummoxing me; the version I know is on "Irish Times" by Patrick street. Possibly an alternate tuning? I hear an Eb in there, I'm pretty good usually at getting most chords by ear but not this one. Be very grateful for any direction in this.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Strokestown chords by Gerry O'Beirne
From: leeneia
Date: 24 May 16 - 05:07 PM

Hello, Mike.

I have a music setup at my computer, so I found the song on YouTube and sounded it out on my piano-type keyboard (a/k/a MIDI controller). I've never heard the song before, so I couldn't get every note, but I got most of them. It is in the key of E - flat. E's, A's and B's are all flat.

The lyrics are in the Digitrad but the melody is not.

This is not good news for the guitarist, but it probably was the best key for the vocalist, enabling him to get both the high and the low notes.

I can't help you any further without the sheet music.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Strokestown chords by Gerry O'Beirne
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 24 May 16 - 07:20 PM

Gerry's two songs allegedly sat uncomfortably on Irish Times, according to one critic whose name escapes me, but I loved 'em. I also think it was Patrick Street's finest album, and I loved 'em all.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Strokestown chords by Gerry O'Beirne
From: GUEST,Mike Anderson
Date: 24 May 16 - 10:53 PM

Thanks very much leeneia, I'm going to spend some time plugging away on it, maybe capo at the first fret and play key of D, not a big issue. :)

Steve, couldn't agree more; Gerry was a bit of an odd fit for a sort-of-trad band, very idiosyncratic songwriting style, but I love both songs too. That's what critics get paid for I guess: to criticize. ;)

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Strokestown chords by Gerry O'Beirne
From: michaelr
Date: 25 May 16 - 01:15 AM

Gerry plays in an open tuning, but here's what I hear in regular (capo I):

The verse is just D to A repeated.

The chorus is

D   F#m   G   F#m   D
D   G    F# (major!) Bm


Hope that works for you.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Strokestown chords by Gerry O'Beirne
From: GUEST
Date: 25 May 16 - 11:24 AM

michaelr, sounds to me like you nailed it! Thanks so much for this! :D

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Strokestown chords by Gerry O'Beirne
From: michaelr
Date: 25 May 16 - 03:24 PM

You're welcome! I've had so much help from the Mudcat community over the years, I'm happy to give back.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Strokestown chords by Gerry O'Beirne
From: GUEST
Date: 30 May 16 - 05:12 AM

Hi Mike,
I ussd a D tuning: DADFsharpAD for this song with a capo on the 1st fret as you guessed. Pretty much impossible to put the chord shapes in writing so if we ever meet i'll be happy to show them to you. Thanks for the kind comments everyone, much appreciated - Gerry
PS: As for critics, I don't even ignore them.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Strokestown chords by Gerry O'Beirne
From: GUEST,Gerry O
Date: 30 May 16 - 05:14 AM

Hi Mike,
I ussd a D tuning: DADFsharpAD for this song with a capo on the 1st fret as you guessed. Pretty much impossible to put the chord shapes in writing so if we ever meet i'll be happy to show them to you. Thanks for the kind comments everyone, much appreciated - Gerry
PS: As for critics, I don't even ignore them.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Strokestown chords by Gerry O'Beirne
From: GUEST,Johnmc
Date: 30 May 16 - 10:47 AM

A great song. I'll be trying out the tuning, thanks.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Strokestown chords by Gerry O'Beirne
From: michaelr
Date: 30 May 16 - 01:09 PM

Gerry, thanks for weighing in here yourself!

As for writing out chord shapes, this method makes it easy:

In standard tuning, an E chord would be written as 022100, an A chord as X02220, a D chord as XX0232 etc.

Works just as well for alternate tunings.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Strokestown chords by Gerry O'Beirne
From: GUEST
Date: 31 May 16 - 07:18 PM

WOW, the man himself, thanks so much for weighing in Gerry! I hope to get to Ireland in the next couple of years so will certainly give you some advance notice. :) Your unique songwriting style is absolutely unforgettable, really gets under your skin and goes straight to the heart.

michaelr, thanks for the additional info. Sorry I missed these posts until now.

best,
Mike.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Strokestown chords by Gerry O'Beirne
From: GUEST
Date: 31 May 16 - 07:20 PM

P.S the ones that are really throwing me are in the last line of the break, after "downstairs they're putting on airs..."

Input appreciated. :)

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Strokestown chords by Gerry O'Beirne
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jun 16 - 07:37 PM

Dunno if anyone's still watching this at all, but I like a Bm in place of the D in the verses?...and here's what I worked out for some very simple chords in the break:

F#                     E
Upstairs my piano plays going up and down the scale
D                  E                A
downstairs they're putting on airs
    D         C G    D          Em         G
and I play for you, oh I play for you, for you.

...but what I REALLY think is that the only way I'm going to get this right is by returning to open D. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Strokestown chords by Gerry O'Beirne
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jun 16 - 07:41 PM

Sorry, the (possible) Em to G should be over the last two "you"s. If that makes sense.