Chord Req: Barb'ry Allen (Tom Rush)

Subject: Chord Req: Tom Rush's 'Barb'ry Allen'
From: NormanD
Date: 29 May 07 - 03:04 PM

My current obsession tune (COT - you've all been there) is "Barb'ry Allen", as recorded by Tom Rush for Prestige.

He plays guitar with a slide, presumably in an altered tuning.

Does anyone know what tuning he uses? Any suggestions of the chord structure would also be helpful.

Thanks in advance.

Norman

PS I have looked through most of the threads re. this song (in its various lyrical combinations)

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Tom Rush's 'Barb'ry Allen'
From: MissouriMud
Date: 29 May 07 - 03:39 PM

According to Tom's web page "It's an open D: starting with the bass string - D,A,D,F#,A,D. Back when I recorded it I seemed to be tuning my guitars down either a half or sometimes a whole step from A=440, so the recording may be pitched lower than D."

In his early years Tom didn't play normal slide guitar with a typical finger slide, although perhaps he does now. He put the guitar face up on his lap and played itsort of of dobro style and often using a common table knife handle as a slide.   He counsels against using a sharp knife.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Tom Rush's 'Barb'ry Allen'
From: Wesley S
Date: 29 May 07 - 04:00 PM

He still plays slide guitar lap style. He was just in town a few months ago and played "Wasn't that a mighty storm" that way.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Tom Rush's 'Barb'ry Allen'
From: Bugsy
Date: 30 May 07 - 07:24 AM

Open D tuning, Bar on 5th fret, bar on 7th fret and start with playing 1st string 4th fret, then 2nd fret, going straight after that to the 5th fret bar. I think you'll get the idea once you start picking.

Try hammering on 2nd string 2 frets up from where you bar to get a semblance of melody.

I hope this makes some kind of sense to you.

CHeers

Bugsy

Oh, by the way, if anyone from Australia is reading this, please check out my Thread "What's the deal with AMCOS?" I really could do with some feedback.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Tom Rush's 'Barb'ry Allen'
From: Bugsy
Date: 30 May 07 - 07:26 AM

Sorry NormanD, Open D = D A D F# A D, as mentioned above.


Cheers Again

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Barb'ry Allen (Tom Rush)
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Apr 25 - 04:54 AM

Hi, I noticed this question while researching Tom Rush's 'Bar'by Allen' song. The guitar is in open D tuning and tom plays this lap style with some sort of slide. I have transcribed Tom's recording of this and will post it up to Youtube this afternoon. Also a free pdf is available. Just email a request to [e-mail]. and I will send it to you.
I hope this answers your question.