Well, I'm speaking only for myself here, but let's take the case of Gypsy Rover:

First off, let me say that I only know a relatively small amount of music theory compared to most people on these boards. I came back into this a little late in life, so I have a lot of catching up to do, and the brain doesn't absorb as quickly as it used to. As I remember, I think I learned the song from a Sing Out! reprint pamphlet several years ago, and while it seemed simple enough for the average person, there was one part where the chord progression was too difficult for me to manage in the proper tempo. (I have found that, for me, a Bm chord can be all but impossible.)

Anyway, I asked a friend of mine (who's been playing for many decades more than me) what chords he used, and - surprise - he used slightly different chords, did not use the Bm, and the song actually sounded better to my ear with his chords. I could not have figured out these "alternate" chords by myself, I assure you. So, I was certainly grateful for his help.

What I am disappointed in, however, is when someone makes a chord request, and then they are directed to a website where you can buy sheet music. That's happened to me. I would never buy something "blind", because I don't know if it's precisely what I am looking for. I don't want to possibly waste my money when I do not have a lot of it to waste. I've found I can trust the Mudcatters more than buying "a pig in a poke" as the saying goes.


Jay