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Chord Req: Nobody's Business - Bluegrass - Oldtime

30 Sep 05 - 01:06 AM (#1572647)
Subject: Chord Req: Nobody's Business - Bluegrass - Oldtime
From: GutBucketeer

There are a lot of threads on this song already in the forum, but they all seem to focus more on the blues/jazz versions as sung by Jimmie Witherspoon, Eric Clapton, Billie Holiday, etc.

The Bluegrass/Old time version of this song has very different chords (Stanley Brothers, Don Reno, Freight Hoppers). Taj Majal's and Mississippi John Hurt's versions are somewhere in-between.   

Does anyone know the bluegrass/oldtime chords? Can you post them?

Here are some typical lyrics:

Nobody's Business
Blue Grass Lyrics


Some day I'll wake up crazy
Kill my wife and save my baby
Nobody's business what I do
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business what I do

Now my momma drive a Cadillac
I walk the railroad track
Nobody's business what I do
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business what I do

She drive a limousine
I buy the gasloline
Nobody's business what I do
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business what I do

Now She allways drive an 88
What do you know she's never late
Nobody's business what I do
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business what I do

She allways say that she'll bpic me up at 10
That's when the lovin' begins
Nobody's business what I do
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business what I do

That's where my money goes
To buy my baby clothes
Nobody's business what I do
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business what I do

Sliced ham and pickled feet
Ham and eggs and sausage meat
Nobody's business what I eat
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business what I do

Thanks
Gutbucketeer
aka jim bunch


30 Sep 05 - 09:59 AM (#1572682)
Subject: RE: Chord Req: Nobody's Business - Bluegrass - Old
From: dick greenhaus

Whiskey don't faze this baby
Morphine don't make me crazy
Women don't drive me to my grave..
I learned to take my liquor
Way down in Porto Ricka (sic)
Ain't nobody's business what I do.
    Learned in the mid 1940s from somebody or other)


30 Sep 05 - 10:46 AM (#1572727)
Subject: RE: Chord Req: Nobody's Business - Bluegrass - Oldtime
From: M.Ted

I'm looking for a bluegrass version to listen to, but my general impression is that the non-jazz chords to this song can go either like "Plastic Jesus":

|| CC/FF/GG/CC||
From a version that I have by Red Sovine and Minnie Pearl--which is the Taj version(except for his bridge)--

or
||C C/F F/C C/ G7 G7||
Which is from a recording by Tenessee Ernie Ford and Kay Starr(a hot western swing version with Jimmy Bryant and Speedy West)

- or
|| C A7/D7 D7/ G7 G7/C C||--

which is basically the same as the "Salty Dog" progression--


This song has been done so many different ways that it is amazing--and everyone seems to have their own lyrics!!


30 Sep 05 - 04:29 PM (#1572938)
Subject: RE: Chord Req: Nobody's Business - Bluegrass - Oldtime
From: M.Ted

In case you haven't figured it out, the four measure chord progressions just keep repeating for the whole song.


30 Sep 05 - 05:30 PM (#1572962)
Subject: RE: Chord Req: Nobody's Business - Bluegrass - Oldtime
From: GUEST,Hootenanny

Have you tried listening to Frank Stokes's version? it ain't bluegrass but it isn't like the Witherspoon/Spann tune/delivery either,probably nearer to what you are looking for and some nice guitar work too.
Hoot


30 Sep 05 - 05:42 PM (#1572969)
Subject: RE: Chord Req: Nobody's Business - Bluegrass - Oldtime
From: GutBucketeer

Thanks Guys:

One of those progressions should work for what's in my head. I have Frank Stokes version too. I should have mentioned it :-)

See you at the Getaway.

JAB


01 Oct 05 - 02:36 AM (#1573191)
Subject: RE: Chord Req: Nobody's Business - Bluegrass - Old
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

Interesting - I cannot visualize/aurialize this in Blue Grass.

The slow melody can be broken into chord progressions

It is just that wonderful jazzy, hesitation defiante phrase,
Ain't No Body's Business If I do

That I cannot fathom being picked apart by an "Edward Scissor-hands" metal appendage.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Its been perhaps, eight years, cannot find the cheat-sheet, but I doubt I can sleep tonight until the tune is at least eared-out. What a haunting piece...in-laws for dinner this week...I need it.


01 Oct 05 - 03:22 AM (#1573195)
Subject: RE: Chord Req: Nobody's Business - Bluegrass - Old
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

CRIPES - Non-Jazz Version?

I'll dig deeper - what makes this melody into a class far beyond "Plastic Jesus" is the delightful BENDING, SLURRING, SLIPPING of the notes from an un-resolved chord into something other than the expected tonic.

This is a piece you can REALLY play and play-with/fool-around.

But "blue-grass" I'd have to hear it....

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

When do you think the MC will allow a public exchange forum...(one that stands 30 days) you play what you think....I play examples of how you and Frank Stokes are wrong....you mend your ways, confess your sins, and drop into the blue-world.

MAX - how much do you need $ to launch into a new paradyme (how much per regular GUEST?)- you are sort of at the "make or break point" - continue, revert, ABC, DOS, or launch beyond. I don't believe you can continue being the "hub" of world-links and diverse discussions - your audience is too limited - and your forum is not focused. The field postings for DT have become so diverse one cannot separate the thistles from the grain.

Create the third area - REAL MUSIC threads last seven days - JAZZ/BLUES - REAL BLUES last 30 days. Chit Chat about festivles, circles, etc last 24 hours.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle


01 Oct 05 - 06:37 PM (#1573681)
Subject: RE: Chord Req: Nobody's Business - Bluegrass - Oldtime
From: M.Ted

Keep in mind, Gargoyle, that I said the chord progression was the same--even still, Plastic Jesus isn't a bad melody--

I don't have any of the strictly bluegrass versions, but if you can find some way to contact me(PM or some such, I can send you a copy of the Taj version, the Minnie Pearl version, the Tennessee Ernie Ford version, or a very cool BB King/Ruth Brown version, for educational purposes only--I assume you have the Billie Version, Whitherspoon, and similar ones--


28 Oct 10 - 06:31 AM (#3017563)
Subject: RE: Chord Req: Nobody's Business - Bluegrass - Oldtime
From: GUEST

Funny- I came here for the lyrics after having worked out some chords in the style of Taj Mahal. Ragtime guitar, finger picking, alternating bass strings, ideally using a slide for the melody notes. Picking ragtime while wearing and using a 4th finger slide is a cool sound, guys like Peter Rowan, or Tony Furtado, Warren Haynes, Bob Brozeman, they blow my mind! Check out Tony Furtado, BTW.
So I play this song "Nobody's Business" in the key of D. The arrangement has 4 parts, sort of an A_A_B_A, with an introduction and an ending phrase or turnaround, identical to the last A part. Am I making any sense? The three A parts start the same, but the first one ends/resolves to the five chord, A major or A7. The other two resolve to the one chord, D major. The B part is where Taj would embellish or talk to the audience before a final refrain.
1) D-G7-D-D7-A7   
2) D-G7-D-A-G-D
3) F#m-Bm-E7-A-G-A
4) D-G7-D-A-G-D
start on fret 7 D chord, fret 3 G7, adding pinky finger notes for melody


28 Oct 10 - 11:14 AM (#3017746)
Subject: RE: Chord Req: Nobody's Business - Bluegrass - Oldtime
From: Bob the Postman

You Tube has Earl Johnson And His Clodhoppers' version of this song. The recording was made in 1927 and so is a likely source for later old-time/bluegrass renditions.


28 Oct 10 - 11:20 AM (#3017753)
Subject: RE: Chord Req: Nobody's Business - Bluegrass - Oldtime
From: pdq

The Country Gentleman, usually considered a bluegrass group, did this song in the 1960s. John Duffy sang lead.


09 Jan 11 - 07:58 PM (#3070918)
Subject: RE: Chord Req: Nobody's Business - Bluegrass - Oldtime
From: GUEST,maddogonbanjo

G C D G same chord progression through the whole song.


12 Jun 11 - 01:17 AM (#3169147)
Subject: RE: Chord Req: Nobody's Business - Bluegrass - Oldtime
From: GUEST

Just discovered a version on satellite tv radio by Rob Lutes...fanfriggintastic!!