Lyr/Chords Req: Oh Susannah/Camptown Races

Subject: Oh Susannah/Camptown Races
From: GUEST,Hank
Date: 02 Apr 01 - 08:32 PM

Anyone know the chords to Oh Susanna, or the Camptown races by Stephen Foster? Hank

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Oh Susannah/Camptown Races
From: Ferrara
Date: 02 Apr 01 - 10:15 PM

They're both "three-chord specials." That is, if you're playing in C, your chords will be C, F and G7 (or G if you prefer).

These are good songs to practice learning when to change chords. Just try playing each one, starting on a C chord. When the C chord stops sounding right, try G7. If that doesn't do it, try F instead.

If you play it enough, it will become automatic to select the right chord. After that, you will be able to find your own chords on many other 3-chord songs.

Good luck!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Oh Susannah/Camptown Races
From: LR Mole
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 12:26 PM

Someone wrote that "Doo-dah_" was Camptown ladies' code for "Hey, Sport, wanna have some fun?" or a varient thereof. No dea is it's true. Also, Do Not become infected with the dread Doo Dah virus, which causes people to say (or sing),"Doo Dah" whever anyone in the room says something that fits the meter (Member, New York Stock Exchange; Downtown Buses run all night, Mudcat people write too much; DOO DAH). This annoys everyone, at least everyone I'm around.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Oh Susannah/Camptown Races
From: GUEST,Willa
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 03:15 PM

C
Oh, the Camptown ladies sing this song,
G7
Doo-da, doo-da
C
The Camptown race track's two miles long,
G7       C
Oh, de doo-da day 
Chorus
C
Goin' to run all night
F      C
Goin to run all day
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag
G7       C
 Somebody bet on the bay
Oh, the long-tailed filly and the big black horse
Doo-da, doo-da
Come to a mud-hole and they all cut across
Oh, de doo-da day
I went down south with my hat caved in
 doo-da, doo-da
I came back north with a pocket full of tin
 Oh, de doo-da day

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Oh Susannah/Camptown Races
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 03:59 PM

Dear Hank--

Wanna kick this up a notch?? I dunno what instrument you're on or how you play it, but flat-picking Camptown in E on a guitar is a lovely primrose path to walk down to go from thank-you-I-just-chord to I'm-tired-singing-let-me-pick the melody. If you have half an ear, you can prob'ly find the right notes; I almost think it's better making you work them out yourself. That will force you to internalize what a major scale is.

But regardless of all that, here's one possible enhancement/substitution on the chorus. E C#m A E Gwine to run all NIGHT, gwine to run all day.

The other nice thing about this key is the majors and the minors can be played with very little left hand finger movement. Notice that with E major and A minor your fingers are in the same relative position?? OK. Now make those chords with middle, ring and pinkie instead of index, middle and ring. That leaves index free for the dreaded "bar" (barre to you, Pierre). E is standard; C#m is Am barred at 4. Then it's the smallest distance to A played as an E barred at 5.

I do run on at times. Tell me if this makes any sense.