Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)

Subject: Nic Jones - Canadee-i-o
From:
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 01:36 PM

Can anyone help with the tuning and/or tab for Nic Jones' Canadee-i-o? A talented friend of mine is trying to work it out from the album Penguin Eggs, but is not very clued up on open tunings.

Any help would be appreciated - thanks.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones - Canadee-i-o
From: john c
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 01:55 PM

Ive been fighting with this one for quite a while - cant help with the tab, but try playing it in CGCGCD tuning. Its a tuning that I use for more or less everything and gives a great bass and a really percussive feel at the same time. John.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones - Canadee-i-o
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 04:57 PM

E-mail sent inviting return for reply.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones - Canadee-i-o
From: GUEST,Bern
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 10:57 AM

Praise - thanks for posting - haven't had your e-mail yet.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones - Canadee-i-o
From: Willie-O
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 11:15 AM

Well, getting tab for it would be complicated and useless as far as I can figure--there are lots of tunings you can play that particular application of the chord scale in. (G-Am-Bm-C-G-Ddeedle-G)

The Nic Trick is to snap the strings just right in that wonderful slightly off-kilter way he has, it's what makes his accompaniments so distinctive but not distracting except to fanatics like us, (they're not really all that complicated although I wouldn't care to try duplicating them...that's what makes em great).

This just plain can't be learned off paper. Only by listening and trying.

I've tried it in DADGAD, but prefer Semi-Standard Dropped G-C (CGDGBE) which provides a I, V and IV open bass but you don't have to relearn all the treble string positioning--try it its fun!

Willie-O

Subject: RE: Nic Jones - Canadee-i-o
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 11:29 AM

I believe Nic played it in CGCGCD as per john c's post above which I've never tried. I've tried it in DADGAD (my usual tuning) but can't get a good approximation. Maybe you can help me there Willie-O! I had a much better fit with EADEAE for this one and for a lot of others that I'm not quite happy with in DADGAD but it certainly doesn't in any way sound like Nic's version.

All the best,

mcmoo

Subject: RE: Nic Jones - Canadee-i-o
From: Willie-O
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 11:46 AM

Well, to each his/her own. The trouble with DADGAD is its too pretty--has a nice wide sound, but its not edgy at all. I like having something in there that isn't quite right. (Jest ain't raht, yeronnor) As long as you can have the right bass note in there, its pretty cool what you can get away with in the rest of the chord!

But I stand by my comment that it ain't the tuning, its the timing and the snap!

W-O

Subject: RE: Nic Jones - Canadee-i-o
From: GUEST,Neil Comer
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 05:16 PM

I have a version of the tab, in CGCGCD, buy have no idea how to post it, besides as an attachment by E-Mail. Give me an address, and i'll send it

Subject: RE: Nic Jones - Canadee-i-o
From: Mike Robertson
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 02:04 AM

Mail me here and I'll post it where everyone can get to it.

-mike-

Subject: Lyr Add: CANADEE-I-O (from Nic Jones)
From: Mike Robertson
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 08:18 PM

Thanks Neil, for the mail (this will either work or generate vaat amounts of rubbish, but I have to try, it's a great song that more people should have a go at).

CANADEE-I-O
(Trad. arr. Nic Jones)

CAVEAT: This is not a note-for-note transcription, but will provide the basic riffs and chords for the piece, and you can then smooth out the rough parts yourself. Also, I haven't figured out the percussive effects, i.e., the rhythmic tapping. I don't know if he's tapping on the guitar body, strings, or floor. Maybe someone who's seen him play can answer that.

Note from Mike - it's on the strings...

I will say, however, that it is a very difficult piece to learn and play with any semblance to Nic's inimitable style.

Guitar tuned CGCGCD (low to high). (Note: on the recording, Nic actually tunes down to BbFBbFBbC, where `Bb' denotes B flat.)

Chords: (Note: I have no idea what the proper chord names are, so I mostly identify them by random labels. Perhaps someone can supply the correct names.)

002020 - A
005500 - B
050000 - C
054000 - D
075000 - E
097000 - F
0(10)0000 - G
0(10)9000 - H
00999(10) - I
077777 - J
00007(10) - K
055555 - L

Guitar Intro (This, or parts of it, repeat throughout the song).

Notes: 0^5 denotes slide from fret 0 to fret 5.

       C          E          F        H                                    A
  D---------------------------------------------------------------------------------2--
  C------------0----------0---------0----------0--------------------------0---2-0------
  G--0-----------0----------0---------0----------0----------------------0---------0----
  C---------4-----------5---------7----------9-------0-4---5-4--0-----0-------2--------
  G----0^5---------5^7--------7^9-------9^10-------5-----5--------4-5-------5----------
  C------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
                                    J                            A          B
  D--3--5-----------------7--5---5----------------------------0------------2-3--5------
  C-----------0--7-----7-------5-----0-2-4-5-4-2-2^0----0-------0--0----0--------------
  G---------0--------7--------------------------------0----5---------------------------
  C-------0--------7---------------0-----0-----2-----------5----------0----------------
  G-----5--------7--------5------0---------------------------------5------------5------
  C------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  D------0------------7-9--10--10--10-5--0^2--------------------------2-3^5------------
  C----0----7------7--------0----------------0------0--2^4^5^4--2---0-----------0--7---
  G--0-----------7----------0--------------------0----------------------------0----7---
  C------------7------------0------------0-----0----0-------------2---------0------7---
  G---------7---------------0-----------------------------------0---------0--------7---
  C------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
                                                                                  D        E        K
  D--------7-9-10-----10-10--5--0^2-----------------------------5--------7--------10---
  C------7--------------------------0------2^4^5^4--2------0--4---4----5---5----7------
  G----7------------0-------------------0--------------0------------0--------0---------
  C--7------------0-------------------0-------------0----2----0--------0--------0------
  G-------------0---------0-----0------------------------------------------------------
  C------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
          L
  D-----------7^5---------5-------------------0---------------------0------------------
  C---7----5------5----4-----4--2--0----0--------0--2--0-----0--0-----0--2------0------
  G-----0-----------5----------------0--5--5--------0----0^2----5-5------0--0^2--------
  C-----------------------------2-------5-----------2-----------5--------2-------------
  G--------5-----------5--------0------------------------------------------------------
  C------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  D------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  C---------0--------0--------0---------0---------------------------0------------------
  G-------0--------0--------0---------0---------------------------0--------------------
  C-----4--------5--------7--------10----------4---4^5^4^0------0-----0^2--------------
  G---5--------7--------9--------9---------0-5---5----------4-5-----------0------------
  C------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's of a fair and handsome girl
And she's all in her tender years
She fell in love with a sailor boy
And it's true that she loved him well
For to go off to sea with him
Like she did not know how
She longed to see that seaport town called Canadee-i-o

So she bargained with a young sailor boy
And it's all for a piece of gold
Straightway then he lead her
All down into the hold
Saying, "I'll dress you up in sailor's clothes.
Your jacket shall be blue.
You'll see that seaport town called Canadee-i-o."

Now when the other sailors heard the news
Well, they fell into a rage
And with all the whole ship's company
They were willing to engage
Saying, "we'll tie her hands and feet me boys.
Overboard we'll throw her.
And she'll never see that seaport town called Canadee-i-o."

Now when the captain, he's heard the news
Well, he too fell in a rage
And with all of his whole ship's company
He was willing to engage
Saying, "she'll stay all in sailor's clothes.
Her collar shall be blue.
She'll see that seaport town called Canadee-i-o."

Now when they came down to Canada
Scarcely about half a year
She's married this bold captain
Who called her his dear
She's dressed in silks and satins now
And she cuts a gallant show
She's the finest of the ladies
Down in Canadee-i-o

Come all you fair and tender girls
Wheresoever you may be
I'd have you to follow your own true love
When he goes out on the sea
For if the sailors prove false to you
Well, the captain he might prove true
You see the honor that I have gained
By the wearing of the blue

Repeat intro (Note: instead of chord G, play chord I)

Subject: RE: Nic Jones - Canadee-i-o
From: Mike Robertson
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 08:36 PM

I knew that wasn't going to work, having read of experiences with PRE markup...:-(

Try this link and maybe the bit that didn't work will look a little better (crossing fingers here...)

-mike-

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: GUEST,Dave F
Date: 13 May 05 - 12:59 PM

It's in open G with the capo on the 3rd fret - you can't make those sounds with any other tuning! Some of the riffs just can't be played in the CGCGCD tuning.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: tball
Date: 25 May 06 - 06:47 AM

Thanks to Mike for the tab. I've been wanting to tackle this one for a long time. No time like the present!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o tablature(Nic Jones)
From: GUEST,Jeff
Date: 16 Jul 06 - 05:54 AM

thanks for the tab neil & mike.. this is a beautiful little ditty. It changes under the vocals however... try using the chord shapes used in the first 2 bars of the intro for the verses until the last line in each verse... use the climb on the treble strings for the "..You'll see that seaport town called Canadee-i-o." and continue into whichever fall down you want... the end result sounds good to me.

thanks a bunch fellas

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o tablature(Nic Jones)
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 17 Jul 06 - 04:47 AM

Nearly right Jeff.
What has confused everyone is that although Nic was indeed playing in CGCGCD tuning....The whole guitar was de-tuned by a semi-tone...devious bugger!!
And you do need a Fylde to make it sound right!
Regards

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: GerryMc
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 05:42 AM



It's in open G with the capo on the 3rd fret - you can't make those sounds with any other tuning! Some of the riffs just can't be played in the CGCGCD tuning.

No it's not, it's in CGCGCD tuned down as someone said earlier. Hence the reason the lowest string isn't used. I'm not sure about that TAB though. There seems to be some bits missing - unless I'm really crappy at reading TAB which is just possible.

Good piece to work on though.

Gerry :-)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 06:49 AM

Some of the riffs just can't be played in the CGCGCD tuning

Yes they can. I can (on a good day). Not that I can make it sound a lot like how Nic Jones plays it, you understand. But the notes are right. I spent oooh, a very long time writing it out but in notation, not tab. The tuning down was only for recording, he always played Canadee-i-o live in C modal. Damping the bass strings is achieved by placing the thumb palm on the strings close to the bridge (so I've been told - this is far easier said than done).

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 09:36 AM

Spot on CR and GMcN, Ralphie and MR.
C modal (a generally 'accepted' misnomer) was Nic's choice of weapon on this one 'live'
(that's the tuning I use for it too, as a result - tho for my voice I capo 'up' to D)
- and he did indeed tune down a tone (to Bb) for the recorded 'Penguin' version.

Having vowed never to play an acoustic version of this song
(see also my contribution to the 'definitive version' thread)
I was thrilled to bits to have Nic and family watch our band play our 'leccie' version only a week ago
- to discuss, amongst other things, this track with my hero afterwards (at great length)
- and hear his and their opinions about that song - and so much more.
I can now die a happier man - hero struck? Yep!
PM me if any 'friend' wants more on that evening's conversation - but I can vouch for the tuning as mentioned above.
cheers - Duncan McFarlane

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 11:44 AM

The MncF Band do an amazing version of said song on "The Wooshed Boys" CD. By it it is full of great songs and music

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: GerryMc
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 07:26 PM



Nic gave me an interesting (and welcome) piece of advice that night about playing the guitar whilst you're busy doing something else (obviously mowing the lawn is out of the question) so the guitar part becomes second nature. Particularly useful with Canadee-i-o methinks.

I haven't broken a guitar part down this much since I learned Sultans of Swing in the 1970s. Good fun though.

Gerry :-)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: The DeanMeister
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 04:43 AM

I had fun with this, broke it down and practised till I could play it behind my head while riding a unicycle so I could concentrate on singing it. I used open G, (DGDGBD)capo 3rd fret. Works for me.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: GerryMc
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 08:06 AM



Open G! Arrgh, can't afford anymore guitars. I'll stick with the C tuning as it gets used a lot these days

Gerry :-)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Dec 07 - 08:28 AM

I've been trying to get this sounding right for years in CGCGCD, and i tried it in open G with capo on 3rd fret today, and got it sounding pretty damn perfect in the space of a few hours...so i think this is the key to try this song in personally!!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: GerryMc
Date: 05 Dec 07 - 08:41 AM


I've heard a few versions in G-tuning but prefer C-modal meself. There are a few versions on youtube, some good, some not so but at least you get to look at bits of the fingering

Gerry :-)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: Rasener
Date: 05 Dec 07 - 09:22 AM

And the way it should be done :-)

Nic Jones

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: cptsnapper
Date: 05 Dec 07 - 10:36 AM

But what happened to the boy who she originally went with, because as far as I can see he was superseded by the captain.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 05 Dec 07 - 11:11 AM

I don't think he really cared, or lifted a finger to help. It doesn't even seems as if they were romantically involved.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: GUEST,Sam Carter
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 04:07 AM

It's definitely in CGCGCD down a semitone. You need a plastic thumbpick (John Pearse are good). It also helps if like Nic you have don't have long fingernails on your right hand - this helps to get the 'spitting' sound Nic creates by getting right under the strings.

myspace.com/samjohncarter

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 05:21 PM

CGCGCD down a semitone would mean he sang it in the key of B, which he didn't, he sang it in B flat (or at least the recording on Penguin Eggs is in B flat)

FWIW I am quite happy playing the song in Open C, CGCGCE.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: GerryMc
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 05:38 PM



Def in Bb (Bb F Bb F Bb C). Don't suppose it matters what tuning if you like playing it.

Gerry :-)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Canadee-i-o (Nic Jones)
From: GUEST,Sam Carter
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 02:00 PM

All of the tunings listed here are slightly sharp on the recordings. The tunings in brackets are the standard pitch equivalents of Nic's tunings:

Canadee-i-o: BbFBbFBbC (CGCGCD)
Humpback Whale: AEAEAA (CGCGCC)
Drowned Lovers, Farewell To The Gold, Barrack St, Little Pot Stove: CFCFAC (DGDGBD)
Planxty Davis: BF*BF*BC* (CGCGCD)
Flandyke Shore: CGCGCD