Turn Mudcat around now!

Subject: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Mark Clark
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 11:43 PM

I've enjoyed the threads on various chord and fingering patterns and I got to thinking it might be fun to explore all the various turnarounds—little mini chord progressions—used to introduce a tune, end a chorus or simply fill the space between choruses. I'm sure the guitar players among you will have a whole store of these in your bag of tricks.

In the hope of starting a thread on turnarounds, I offer a couple of them to kick things off. The first one is a simple blues turnaround that most people already play. It's just to help get the idea across. I marked the left (noting) hand fingers I use directly above the fret indications in the tab fragment below. The E7 chord ending the turnaround is a C7 pattern moved up so the index finger is on the 5th fret.

Blues Turnaround in A

                                                  E7       
     3 4 3   3 4 3   3 4 1     3       1  2       3
  E    9       8       7           |                      |
  B                                |                      |
  G  9   9   8   8   7   5         |                      |
  D                            7   |                      |
  A                                |   5  6       7       |
  E                                |                      |
  

This next one is more of a jazz turnaround. I've placed it in the key of C but all the chords are movable ones so you can use it anywhere on the neck.

The progression is C6, C#dim, Dm7, D#dim, C6, D#dim, Dm7, G13 with fingering as 8x798x, 9x898x, (10)x(10)(10)(10)x, (11)x(10)(11)(10)x, (12)x(10)(12)(10)x, (11)x(10)(11)(10)x, (10)x(10)(10)(10)x, (10)x9(10)(10)(12). I've made the fingerings active links to chord diagrams if you would rather see a diagram of the left hand fingering. The chords are arpegiated in a swing rhythm and make a nice 8 bar intro to a tune like "Georgia On My Mind." You could also just chop them two chords (four strokes) to the bar.

Anyone else?

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Amergin
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 11:50 PM

Well, shit...I thought this was gonna be a flaming thread done by an "oldtimer" bitching because the cat is not what it was three years ago....

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 12:01 AM

Good thread Mark......You're on a real roll lately!!!

Quick note here.......I tried to get to the home of your diagrams, but couldn't. HOWEVER, by going to a slight extension of it I got your diagram search and that's great!! I tried a couple simple ones with a few oddities thrown in and it does a great job.

For those wanting to use Mark's set-up on the chord diagrams........CLICK HERE....I hope.

Thanks Mark.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: John Hardly
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 12:02 AM

Great thread Idea Mark! and a fine progression (#2)

How about;

X9(10)9(10)X--X7989X--X6757X--X4645X--X3424X--X1212X--2XX220--X2X220--024100

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Mark Clark
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 12:12 AM

I don't know what's wrong with the links. When I click them, nothing happens. When I right click them and choose "open in new window" from the context menu, they display just fine. Included the parameter target="_new" in the anchor tag so they would automatically launch a new window instead of overlaying the current one. I think it's more polite to do that for the reader. I've done that many times before here with no problems.

For you computer geeks, I also noticed that this thread is numbered two to the sixteenth power minus one. In binary, that number is expressed 1111111111111111.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: John Hardly
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 12:15 AM

the link worked fine for me Mark

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: catspaw49
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 12:16 AM

The whole thing is working fine for me Mark.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Mark Clark
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 12:29 AM

John, I like that one. Do you have a particular piece you use it with?

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Matt_R
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 12:31 AM

E--3-3----3----3----3---3--------2------------------------
B--3-3--3--3--2-2--1-1--3---0h1--1------------------------
G--0-0------------------0--------2------------------------
D--0-0------------------0---------------------------------
A--2-2------------------2---------------------------------
E--3-3------------------3---------------------------------

This one has always been a fav of mine....

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Matt_R
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 12:38 AM

Dang HTML!!!!

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Mark Clark
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 12:52 AM

Matt, Don't worry, it was close enough for folk music. I can see how it's supposed to go. Nice turnaround.

Here's an HTML template for tablature if it would make things any easier.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Mark Clark
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 01:16 AM

Spaw, Good job on the diagram link. You found all the pieces for a search. Here is the actual root page for The Online Guitar Chord Dictionary. It's on our links page as well. I sometimes use fingerings that don't show up in a search so I figured out how to specify my own fingerings. The writeup is here if anyone is interested. Most people think it's too complex to bother with. The chord diagrams used to play a MIDI interpretation if you clicked on them. That feature seems to be broken at the host site now.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: John Hardly
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 12:14 PM

Mark,
Livinston Taylor said he stole it from--he didn't remember, but he uses it in his "I Must Be Doing Something Right" I've used it as a bridge in an otherwise dull composition.

I've been working this morning on getting up to speed on your turn around.

Oh yeah Matt--I get it!

I sure do hope we get some contributing to this thread! Mine fizzled with only the progressions I put in it. I guess we're the few that sit at the computer with guitar in hand (my little LG2 is great for that!--JH

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 01:49 PM

Oh yes, this is much better than bashing each others heads in. I love the chord site- just got to be cleer enough to play the bloody chords now!! Thanks.

Eric

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 02:34 PM

Great thread Mark.

I LOVE YOUR HEADING!*

Rick

*...but I would, wouldn't I?

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 02:50 PM

Nice site that!

Be even better if it was for multiple tunings...

;-)

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 04:58 PM

Tacdum??????

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: John Hardly
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 01:57 PM

To Keep this too-good-to-die thread alive I'll put a simple one in; 0X20XX-1X02XX-3X000X-X0222X-XX0232

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Mark Clark
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 01:44 AM

John, Sometimes the simple ones are the prettiest.

Here is one Big Bill Broonzy used quite a bit. You can hear this one use in his "Saturday Evening Blues." I play the the G and the first D7 as thumbed chords.

Big Bill's Turnaround in G

      G7      G       D7      G               D7        
  E   7    7  3    3  5    5  3   |                    |
  B   6    6  3    3  3    3  3   |           3        |
  G   7    7  4    4  5    5  4   |           5        |
  D           5    5  4    4  5   |           4        |
  A           5    5  5    5  5   |   3    5  5        |
  E           3    3  5    5  3   |                    |
  

That song, "Saturday Evening Blues," contains one of the sadest verses I think I've ever heard.

Her picture's still on my dresser and her gown's still on my bed,
Her picture's still on my dresser and her gown is still on my bed,
I wonder if my baby's livin', or if my little baby's dead.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 09:16 AM

Great thread even if it's a bit a bove my abilities as a guitarist. I have to be honest, I thought it was going to be a flame thread also. Thanks for the pleasant surprise. Kindest reguards, Neil

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: John Hardly
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 09:34 PM

Is this too pedantic?

X4X44X-XXXXX0-XXXX4X-X3X33X-XXXXX0-XXXX3X-X2X22X-XXXXX0-XXXX2X-0XX100-then either 2X233X2-X2122X or play the low E then pluck it again and slide from the 2nd to the 4th fret, then pluck the A string,and walk it up Bb, B.

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: John Hardly
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 10:28 PM

..keep refreshing with a new one

0XXXXX-XX0XXX-X5X4XX-X4X3XX-X3X2XX-022H1XX-XXXXX0-0XXXXX-XXXX0X

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: GUEST,MAG at work
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 05:43 PM

Refresh ... you guys are psychic; I just volunteered to help at a blues lab at the local teen center (actually my library is right next door, and we do a lot of joint programming).

I was about to start a thread on simple turnarounds, which I have never gotten around to learning.

(I just wish those diagrams cut and pasted better.)

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 06:10 PM

My sincerest applause Mark!

Steve

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: WyoWoman
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 07:52 PM

I'm reading the thread because I feel honor requires me to read the actual MUSIC threads here as much as possible on the rare times I'm able to visit. I cannot, however, in my wildest dreams imagine that I would ever be able to decipher what the hell any of the above means. It makes me feel addled just looking at it. Or that could be the third cup of herbal tea ...

I need a beer ...

ww

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: GUEST,MAg at work
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 08:01 PM

WW, the above represent the guitar strings -- look at the left side, and you will see they are labelled, from the bottom, E-A-D-G-B-E

Beyond that, the diagram shows you what and where to pluck, together and in sequence. Once upon a time, I could do this, then my life got crazy. The beauty of small-town living is, you've got time to go back and pick up stuff, and at least the online support to be able to.

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: WyoWoman
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 08:15 PM

This is why small towns may be getting cooler and cooler in the future. If only people can figure out how to make money there. But ... I digress ...

I probably could sort this stuff out if I could sit down with an actual picker and see the relation of the chart to the pluck.

ww

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Pied Piper
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 10:37 AM

Nice thread Mark. Keep up the good work. All the best PP.

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Cappuccino
Date: 27 Jul 02 - 10:38 AM

Best thread I've seen for ages.

But I agree with WyoWoman, the formulae do my head in... reminds me of the moves you see written out for chess matches!

But I've cut and pasted, and now I'm going to get my guitar and play through the lot of 'em!

Many thanks - Ian B

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: allanwill
Date: 27 Jul 02 - 11:21 AM

Wonderful thread, Mark. I'll just throw in the standard 3XXX0X, X0XX1X, X2XX3X, 332010 while you guys at home with nothing better to do than sit around strumming your guitars work out some more interesting progressions.

Allan

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Lane
Date: 27 Jul 02 - 12:48 PM

Trying to learn these - this is great stuff! Allan, I like that one.... any more? I'm trying to figure out where to use it, how to fit it into a piece... it would be used coming from a G to a C.... where from there.

Lets post more of these...

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: allanwill
Date: 27 Jul 02 - 12:57 PM

Lane

Put it this way - you've just started to play "Alice's Restaurant". Keep going.

Allan

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Mark Clark
Date: 12 Aug 02 - 11:11 AM

I only just noticed that this old thread had been resurrected. If people are trying to use the guitar chord diagram links above, I've just discovered they are broken links. The Online Guitar Chord Dictionary has evidently moved. The new link here should work fine. I'll try to revise and repost the chord links above.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Mark Clark
Date: 12 Aug 02 - 11:50 AM

Well, I can't repair and repost the chord diagram links because the University of Virginia has changed the application program interface (API) for the dictionary. It no longer seems to take a string of parameters to form a chord diagram but relies solely on it's library of chords. Too bad because a lot of informal chord patterns are commonly used that haven't made it into their dictionary.

If I get time, maybe I'll try to replace that functionality so we can display chord diagrams again.

Maybe new members will see this thread and add some of their own turnarounds. I'll check back to look.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Mark Clark
Date: 10 Aug 03 - 11:16 AM

Simon-Pierre posted a turnaround in another thread and I thought I'd cross link it here as well.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: GUEST,Literalist
Date: 10 Aug 03 - 11:19 AM

I did that, but I couldn't see the screen.

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Peter T.
Date: 10 Aug 03 - 11:26 AM

Given the title, has anyone used the idea of the "turnaround" in a song (and I don't mean "turnaround and you're tiny, turn around and your grown"); i.e. using the recurring end of the song on the dominant as a lyric theme. I am sure there must be.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Jeri
Date: 10 Aug 03 - 12:24 PM

Peter, I suppose this is sort of, almost, nearly applicable:

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

(I still swear Cohen wrote that song on a bet: every verse contains a rhyme with 'halleluja'.)

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Peter T.
Date: 10 Aug 03 - 12:32 PM

Hi Jeri, well, not quite there is it? Hallelujah is like Cole Porter's "Every Time You Go Away" ("How strange the change from major to minor").

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: Jeri
Date: 10 Aug 03 - 01:04 PM

It's not all there, but (stressed: I can't remember the tune exactly) you got, in G:
C/D/Em/C
So it's at least discussing a chord sequence.

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: GUEST,Sheila
Date: 10 Aug 03 - 01:10 PM

"Every Time We Say Goodbye" ?

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: C-flat
Date: 10 Aug 03 - 01:28 PM

332010 5x566x x5455x 3x344x makes a nice easy jazz turn-round in C.
I often prefer to use the barre C x3555x deadening the top and bottom strings for a more mellow tone.

Or a bluesy 022100 42x100 5x565x 6x565x 797977

Subject: RE: Turn Mudcat around now!
From: C-flat
Date: 10 Aug 03 - 02:19 PM

And another couple I like to use..
x02120 x12023 x24232 024232
x33210 x4344x x3233x x3232x
Nice easy progressions that take you back to where you started..