Tuning for Kate Rusby songs

Subject: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: GUEST,izzymac
Date: 20 Jan 00 - 05:30 PM

I was lucky to catch Kate Rusby last night at Glasgow's Celtic Connections - I thought her albums were great but they don't do her justice in the least.

Anyway, there's been a few people looking for chords, etc for her songs and I'd like to point out that she was playing in the same open tuning for all her songs, capoing up and down....here's the detective work....

1st (Root) chord, one finger on 5th fret of lowest (tone) string
4th - C Shape 5th - C shape up 2 frets
Rel. Minor - one finger on 2nd fret, lowest 2-3 strings

I would have thought DADGAD, but DADGBD seems to make more sense....shurely shome mishtake?

Hope this helps you, or prompts someone to post a corrected version of my ramblings. Cheers, Izzy

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Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: clare s
Date: 20 Jan 00 - 05:37 PM

As far as my eyes and ears can tell, she almost always plays with DADGBD

The above with chord shapes of: 550000, 220000, 010230, 030450 pretty much define her sound.

And it's a lovely sound...

Clare

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: clare s
Date: 20 Jan 00 - 05:52 PM

There are of course variations on the above...

Kate does however strike me as being one of the rare breed who can play something really simple (that we could all play) and still have us thinking 'I wish I was that good'

Clare

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: GUEST,izzymac
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 04:48 AM

It really puts your faith back in keeping it simple, I think a lot of it's the fact that she seems so passionate about what she's doing.

Does anyone know about who rewrote the lyrics of her version of Drowned Lovers (also known as clyde's water and mother's mallison). I think she used the same lyrics as Nic Jones but the version I found is set up quite differently.

I also note that the price of the horse goes up from 'twice twenty pounds' to 'thrice thirty pounds' ...well that's inflation for you!

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: GeorgeH
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 06:03 AM

IMO (and I've said this before) her duo album with Kathryn Roberts is the only recording which does her justice.

My memory doen't recognise her "Clyde Water" as being the Nic Jones version - whereas her Annan Water I find disturbingly close to Nic's; I can't listen to it without being powerfully moved by the vivid recollection of Nic performing it.

G.

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: GUEST,izzymac
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 08:04 AM

I found the lyrics for Drowned Lovers (off Penguin eggs) at http://www.sarcon.demon.co.uk/engfolk/nicjones.htm It seems to be the version she sings on 'sleepless'

The sleevenotes (from memory) mention witchcraft and there's a bodycount of at least 2 which gives it a bit more gravity. The other version I got of it (from digitrad) mentions a nosebleed which was always thought to be a precursor of impending doom. It's been changed from a nose to a heart in the later versions.

izzy

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: Ringer
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 10:20 AM

For many years, I've sung The Wild Goose Shanty (sometimes as a self-parody, 'cos you can fit as many syllables into each line as you want). Whilst it's a good chorussy singable song, Kate's The Wild Goose on her Sleepless CD, using the same words (plus a fourth verse) and with recognisably similar tune, has transformed it completely, and made it trancendentally beautiful, heartbreakingly lovely, and I'm obsessed with it.

What gives it that quality? It's not the words, 'cos they're not much above banal (except, perhaps, her 4th verse), and I don't think it's Kate, 'cos her other songs don't move me, don't touch my soul, in quite the same way (don't get me wrong: without The Wild Goose the CD would be high up among my favourites, but this particular song itself is off any scale I can imagine - as I say, I'm obsessed). So what is it about this song?

Incidentally, I went out and bought the CD after Mike Harding had played The Wild Goose on his BBC Radio-2 program on Wednesday evening a few weeks ago. Dave Burland is guest vocalist on the track and I'm sure Mike Harding referred to him as "Uncle Dave Burland". Is he Kate Rusby's uncle?

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: clare s
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 11:49 AM

Bald Eagle,

In this case I think 'uncle' is reference to someone who was a close friend of the family in her childhood rather than a biological relationship.

I completely understand what you're saying about Wild Goose. I remember when, having loved it live, a 30 second sample appeared on her web site. I spent ages with some digital audio editing software to repeat bits to make it longer - I'm not really obsessive, honest.

I personally much prefer the live version issued on the Cowsong CD single. 5 pounds for 3 songs may seem expensive, but I think they are Kate at her best, and well worth the money.

Regarding Wild Goose - did (do) you sing it with the chorus (refrain) that Kate uses? None of the printed / recorded versions that I've found contain it.

As to why it's so wonderful - talent, I guess

Looking at my earlier post about Kate's guitar tuning and chords, I made a mistake. Her tuning is DADGBD, the chord shapes she tends to use are (bottom string first) 550000, 220000, 032010 (a C shape) 054030 (C shape moved up 2 frets) She does of course use a capo a lot, and obviously doesn't restrict herself to those 4 chords. It should give any budding Katie an idea.

It's a lovely tuning, I can particularly recommend it as a good starting point if you want to sing lullabies to your kids.

Clare

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: GUEST,izzymac
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 12:17 PM

Re chorus of 'Wild Goose' - I think it's from a shanty actually called 'Ranzo'. When I saw her, she mentioned it was a bit of a drunken lads' song - perhaps in Barnsley and surrounding area. I think Barnsley harbour's probably quite small considering it must be 100 miles from the sea!

Clare, I know what you mean about the lullabies - it strangely has a sort of dulcimer kind of sound and they are (were) widely used for getting the old nippers off to kip. Wouldn't know first hand but I got it reliably from Tony Revell in Mid Wales - an excellent maker of all things stringed - who used one to get his husky off to sleep (?)

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: Ringer
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 12:59 PM

As to the chorus: no, I don't sing it and hadn't come across it till I heard the KR version. Thanks for info

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: GUEST,Victoria
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 06:05 PM

This may seem a simplistic point of view to some (and I am the first to say that I consider Kate Rusby a wonderfully talented Singer - in fact my favorite!) but I think that what brings the true beauty into the songs that she sings is the fact that she loves the music. It is plain from the way she approaches them (and also the fact that she turned her back on the opportunity to "go commercial" when Kathryn Roberts and the other members of "The Equation" did so) that her loyalty to the music (and to the "folk tradition", which includes her own songwriting) is the foundation for everything she does musically. In other words (without the flourishes) I think the beauty comes from the fact that that Kate sings from the heart, out of a sincere love for the songs. Can anyone tell me what songs are on the "Cowsong" release (other than "Cowsong" obviously!)And Izzy, I am Sooooo jealous! The 'grapevine' has it that Kate will be touring the States in 2000 - anyone have any scoops on where or when? :-) (We wait on the edge of our collective seats!)

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: GUEST,clare s
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 06:50 PM

Cowsong has - Cowsong (obviously) Botany Bay and a live version of Wild Goose. I think the US releases are different with Cowsong and Botany Bay being included on Sleepless which they aren't here.

I hope Kate does tour the US, you'd be in for a real treat - last thing I heard was that she was scared of flying

Clare

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: bbelle
Date: 22 Jan 00 - 12:13 AM

I'm not familiar with Kate Rusby. Prior to this past year, I've not enjoyed Irish music at all. I attribute this to the fact that my exposure was very limited, to be sure. During the past few months, however, I've heard a lot that I like. One of my favorites is Mary Black, whose voice is quite similar to mine. In addition, I'm reluctant to purchase cd's without having heard the person or group. Tell me more about Kate Rusby, please ... moonchild

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: Grey Wolf
Date: 22 Jan 00 - 12:32 AM

moonchild,

Kate Rusby isn't Irish - she's English. She plays guitar and piano and sings traditional tunes more beautifully than pretty much anyone you've ever heard.

She's also completely mad and gives the most entertaining song intro's that you're ever likely to hear.

Take a risk and buy the cds - you won't regret it.

What else can I tell you?

Wolf

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: bbelle
Date: 22 Jan 00 - 12:47 AM

Oops! Can't imagine why I had the impression she was Irish. But that's okay ... English is good! Since I'm planning a trip to Yorkshire sometime this year ... I would like to further my knowledge. I will look for her cd's ... what would you recommend? moonchild

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: Grey Wolf
Date: 22 Jan 00 - 12:56 AM

She has two solo albums, 'Hourglass' and 'Sleepless' and also did an album with Kathryn Roberts.

I think that 'Hourglass' is the best, but it's all a matter of taste.

Kate comes from Yorkshire (Barnsley) and seems very proud of the fact.

I wouldn't however recommend going to Barnsley during your Yorkshire sojourn. It's not the most attractive town in Yorkshire

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: bbelle
Date: 22 Jan 00 - 01:19 AM

I, and my 11 year old niece, Caitlin Grace, will be the guests of Bill and Lorna Sables. I'm hoping to meet and jam with a few of the UK mudcatters, while I'm there. BTW, my niece, Caitlin, has a wonderful voice and has learned most of the folksongs that I sing, so I thought this would be an educational trip for her, musically, as well... moonchild

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: GUEST,izzymac
Date: 22 Jan 00 - 06:58 AM

Just back from a short shopping trip and managed to pick up the the album with Kathryn Roberts (Thanks GeorgeH for the tip!) and it is well worth a listen.

Moonchild, one thing I can tell you about Kate Rusby is that she could definately have cut it as a comedienne if the music hadn't caught on - her chat in between songs is really funny. A lot of it might be to do with her strong Barnsley accent(?) I hope the marketing folks don't start messing about with it for the US market - I always remember the story of how the airbrushed in Shane McGowan's (The Pogues) teeth for his US promo photos. Oh..and she has a fan on stage because "me ears go hot and red when I play me own songs" in Barnsley accent....honest!

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From:
Date: 22 Jan 00 - 11:50 AM

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From:
Date: 22 Jan 00 - 11:52 AM

I saw Kate for the first time on the TV show of the Cambridge Folk Festival last summer - she sang one song and re-kindled my interest in traditional folk. We saw her in December and will see her again in about two hours - she is exceptional.

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: Tim Salt
Date: 22 Jan 00 - 12:07 PM

Moonchild, if you want to check out Kate Rusby and her music, which is great by the way click here

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: Grey Wolf
Date: 22 Jan 00 - 12:08 PM

For anyone interested her website is here: Kate Rusby's web site

Izzymac, you forget that without the fan "me head might explode"

Wolf

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: Tim Salt
Date: 22 Jan 00 - 12:09 PM

As Homer Simpson would say "Wahooooooo, mmmmmm I love you blue clicky thing" Tim

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: bbelle
Date: 22 Jan 00 - 12:23 PM

Thank you for the great response ... now I'm off to check out Kate Rusby ... moonchild

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: GUEST,Jon Wearne
Date: 17 Oct 02 - 10:48 AM

Anyone know of any tab sites?

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: GUEST,David Tomlinson
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 02:04 PM

Thanks (especially Clare) for the tuning tip - I had thought she used DADGAD, but you're right. NOW, how about the intro to "Fairest of all Yarrow"? I'm pretty sure Ian Carr uses a more standard tuning - probably the standard tuning - but I can't get the descending arpeggio. Anyone provide TAB or tips? Be most grateful. Either post it or send to [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: GUEST,Paul Giles
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 06:03 PM

Does anybody know any more chords for Kate's DADGBD tuning.
Or any chords for her songs.

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 06:50 PM

Try using your ears, Paul. There's enough information above to set you on your way

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 08:17 PM

The tuning above (DGDGBD) is sometimes called "Spanish " tuning and is very much like 5string BAnjo's G tuning .. using a banjo chord tutor will be very enlightening for getting started. It sounds like Kate is using more open additions like G sus 2's and G sus 4's and her querky sence of rythum really is wonderful .She is one of my faverite guitar players besides that angelic voice ! All the best , Guy

Subject: RE: Tuning for Kate Rusby songs
From: GUEST,RichardK
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 08:34 AM

There's just been a book of Kate's songs published. That might provide more information.
See the website, under Merchandise.