The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #14219 Message #121007
Posted By: Rick Fielding
05-Oct-99 - 04:18 PM
Thread Name: Three-chord songs
Subject: RE: Three-chord songs
Ahh, the good ol' number system. I love it. A number of years ago I played a fair bit in and about Nashville. One of the tricks that the session players used (that I consider invaluable) was a kind of numerical shorthand. Now these good old boys wouldn't be caught dead using I, IV, V, but what they scribbled on their little matchbooks before fecording a take was the same thing. It's just Do Re Mi by the numbers so don't be intimidated.
The chords for something easy like "Twinkle Twinkle.." would go like this
1//4/1/5/1/5/1/
You pick the key. How about C. The above would read C//F/C/G/C/G/C/.
OK, something more difficult:
"Little Rock Gettaway"
1/3/6-/1(7)/4/6/2-/2#d/1/5#/5//1/6/2-/5/
Now I know that just looks like hen scratches (and it's a VERY complicated song) but once you know the code and attach a number to each do, re, mi, etc. it CAN be learned without too much trouble. It will allow you to jot down a chord pattern almost the first time you hear the song. The important thing to know is that you DON'T need to play fancy to "play with the men" (GG how 'bout we change that to "the good players"? I've got enough lumps on my head already) but you must play in tune and in time.
Oh, here's the chords for "Little Rock...." in, say.."F"
F/A/Dm/F7/Bb/D/Gm/G sharp dim./F/C#/C//F/F#dim/Gm/C/
Because it's a jazzy/bluesy tune you can use 7ths wherever you'd like. (or 9ths or whatever)
Rick