Lyr/Chords: Handsome Johnny (Richie Havens)

Subject: ritchie havens chords
From: kc rush
Date: 17 Aug 99 - 09:45 AM

hello folks...i am new here and i need some help...trying to learn a few ritchie havens tunes and i know he plays in some kind of funky open tuning...can somebody help? the paarticular # i am looking for is called handsome johnny, but any others would be great too...thanks...my email is [e-mail]

Subject: RE: ritchie havens chords
From: BeauDangles
Date: 17 Aug 99 - 01:42 PM

Can't help with those chords, or the tuning, kaycee, but I thought you might be interested in knowing that that song was co-written by actor Lou Gossett, Jr. Cool, huh?

Beau

Subject: RE: ritchie havens chords
From: kc rush
Date: 18 Aug 99 - 12:33 AM

well thanx beau i did not know that and yes it is interesting trivia...if you come across any links to rithies music please pass it on and once again thanx...

Subject: RE: ritchie havens chords
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 18 Aug 99 - 12:48 AM

Hi. Ritchie generally plays in open D tuning. Tune your guitar (from the bass string) D A D F# A D.
He uses his thumb (and he's got a hell of a long thumb) to fret all six trings straight across whatever fret he's on. Just as good to use an index finger barre. He generally doesn't use a capo and plays in 2 or 3 keys - usually D, G, or A. (I don't remember what "handsome Johnny's" in.
The secret to his rhythm is that he uses a VERY soft large Fender pick (probably no heavier than .50 or .60 mm. and uses constant down-up-down strokes. He gets minor chords by flattening the 3rd string and this could be tricky. If you get that far come on back and I'll show you how.

Rick

Subject: RE: ritchie havens chords
From: kc rush
Date: 18 Aug 99 - 10:43 AM

thanx rick...very good information...i will NEVER be able to barre 6 frets with my thumb hee hee but i will try the open d tuning...i have played some in alternate tunings in the past with a little success...could you possibly help me with the chords for this song though? i very seldom get stumped on a song and have to ask for help...if not thank you for the usefull info on richie...much gras...

Subject: RE: ritchie havens chords
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 18 Aug 99 - 12:34 PM

Kc. Once again, I don't remember too much about the original song, but I know that Ritchie only uses 4 or 5 chord forms. Are you sure the straight barre (on different frets) isn't all he's using in this one?

Subject: RE: ritchie havens chords
From: Chet W.
Date: 18 Aug 99 - 04:51 PM

As for his pick, it looks like he may sometimes use what I used to use for my lap dulcimer: Take a coffee can lid, cut it into quarters, and you have four free picks. Some lids are stiffer than others, but you can get some idea of that before you buy the coffee.

Chet

Subject: ADD: Handsome Johnny (Richie Havens)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Nov 21 - 03:32 PM

Handsome Johnny
(Richie Havens)

Hey, look yonder, tell me what's that you see
Marching to the fields of concord?
It looks like handsome johnny with a musket in his hand,
Marching to the concord war, hey marching to the concord war.

Hey, look yonder, tell me what you see
Marching to the fields of gettysburg?
It looks like handsome johnny with a flintlock in his hand,
Marching to the gettysburg war, hey marching to the gettysburg war.

Hey, look yonder, tell me what's that you see
Marching to the fields of dunkirk?
It looks like handsome johnny with a carbine in his hand,
Marching to the dunkirk war, hey marching to the dunkirk war.

Hey, look yonder, tell me what you see
Marching to the fields of korea?
It looks like handsome johnny with an m1 in his hand,
Marching to the korean war, hey marching to the korean war.

Hey, look yonder, tell me what you see
Marching to the fields of vietnam?
It looks like handsome johnny with an m15,
Marching to the vietnam war, hey marching to the vietnam war.

Hey, look yonder, tell me what you see
Marching to the fields of birmingham?
It looks like handsome johnny with his hand rolled in a fist,
Marching to the birmingham war, hey marching to the birmingham war.

Hey, it's a long hard road, it's a long hard road,
It's a long hard road, before we'll be free.
Hey, what's the use of singing this song, some of you are not even listening.
Tell me what it is we've got to do: wait for our fields to start glistening,
Wait for the bullets to start whistling.
Here comes a hydrogen bomb, here comes a guided missile,
Here comes a hydrogen bomb: i can almost hear its whistle.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Handsome Johnny (Richie Havens)
From: GerryM
Date: 16 Nov 21 - 01:09 AM

Richie Havens, performing Handsome Johnny at Woodstock: https://youtu.be/SR2v-pApNAw