Nic Jones Tablature

Subject: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,OSVP
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 06:18 PM

Desperately searching for a copy of English Folk Guitar vol.1 by author Mike Raven. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've found it's out of print and numerous emails to (I presume) Mike Raven have yielded no results. Actually any collection of Nic Jones in written music would be fantastic. I'm at my ends here. I live in the States so please don't suggest the Cambride library or such. I've very few resources to work with here. Sheet music for the folk forum is generally thin here. Please help, I'm desperate. Thanks, OSVP

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: fogie
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 03:05 AM

I've got it, and in spite of having some N.J. songs in it I dont think its that good, in that there wasn't anything in it that I couldn't have or hadn't worked out for myself. He does provide the appropriate tunings for songs, but simplifies them in most cases, and they seem to be formalized in a classical way. This is not to say that I wouldn't be proud to have been able to have written and tabbed it myself, but it hasnt got some more complicated pieces in it like William and Nancy's parting,and You gentlemen who take delight in hunting bold reynard , which are great fun to work out yourself (in G tuning) . It has the tremolo-study type Arran Water, which is pretty near the real thing, but Mike slips in plenty of his own stuff which I think is bland in comparison with those pieces he transcribes. Do it yourself if you can- get someone to start you off, and really get into listening and playing what he did.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 03:43 AM

I found a copy of the book in a local shop (midlands, UK). I did not buy it. The Nic Jones content is mundane (one of the songs, as I recall, is merely the lyrics and chords) and a very small proportion of the whole. Mike Raven's website lists Nic's tunings and capo positions for a large number of his better-known songs - a good Internet guide to open-tuning chords will provide the palette Nic was using in a particular case, and you can experiment from there. The Raven website also describes how Nic achieved that percussive sound.

I have found tab for Canadee-i-o - use the title in Yahoo and it finds it (can't do blue clickies) which is reasonably accurate and gives some of the techniques which make Nic's sound unique and which can be adapted to other songs.

Why not make the Nic Jones version of a song the basis for a version of your own, rather than attempt to copy the master?

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: okthen
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 05:03 AM

quick google search
hope this works

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 06:26 AM

I have ordered material from Mike Raven several times, the last time being last year, with no problems and had a very prompt and friendly service.

The latest details I have are:
[e-mail]

Yew Tree Cottage, Jug Bank, Ashley, Market Drayton, Shropshire, TF9 4NJ
Tel: [phone]


Good luck

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 01:06 PM

I have just recently bought both In Search of and Unearthed from Nic and Julia, via "[e-mail] " really great material.
Although I do my own versions of a couple of the songs, they include a lot less notes. I unearthed my copy of English Folk Guitar, which I bought many years ago, about 1993 I think. One thing I was having a great deal of difficulty with was trying to get that percussive thump, so I am off to the Mike Raven website now, Bye and thanks.
JohnB.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,OSVP
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 04:41 PM

Thanks for the help. I am rather new to guitar. I began playing almost a year ago, but for the majority of that time lived on a somewhat small ship (my room, which was roughly 8'x15' berthed three people). Needless to say it was difficult to practice and even more difficult to hear yourself over the sound of twin diesels when I could find an hour or so before or after work. I guess what I'm trying to say is - I'm still a beginner, and just now starting to "hear" the music on the fretboard. Perhaps, the dumbed down versions of Nic's music would suit me best at this act. I will continue my search, unless of course someone is willing to deal. I can be contacted at [e-mail]

Thanks
OSVP

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,Ken Hobbs
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 11:27 AM

I bought all the LPs/CDs recently (via web, stores and Mollie Music); I bought the various Mike Raven books (from MR). MR's arrangement for "Little Heathy Hill" certainly works - I think these books are worthwhile, if limited. What else is there? (BTW Canadee-i-o was published in "Acoustic Guitar", the USA guitar mag in November 2000).

I've used Nic's CGCGCD tuning for several songs (Farewell to the Gold, Little Pot Stove, Don't You Be Foolish, Pray, Wanton Seed), so they are my own versions and don't neccessarily correspond to what Nic played (for instance, his early songs were in standard tuning).

I would appreciate any help with tabs of Nic's arrangments of any of his songs/tunes, as I'm lousy at working things out. Would especially like help with "Courting is a pleasure".

Last thought: Pete Coe told me that a songbook is a possibility from Mollie Music (perhaps with tab? oh, *please*) and that Nic's son Joseph can do anything that Nic could (and that's certainly on, judging by Joe's guitar work on the Halliard Broadside Ballads CD).

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 01:26 PM

Ken, Julia (Jones) & I have discussed the possibility of a 'Nic Jones' song-book with standard & tab notation, but we remain at the discussion stage. 'The Halliard, Broadside Songs' is still our main preoccupation. A 'NJ Songbook' would be a huge project....hopefully one day!
                Very Best,
                         Nigel Paterson.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: Peace
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 05:27 PM

"Nic Jones' Tunings

Here are the tunings most used by Nic in the time before his accident.

G major D G D G B D

C major C G C G C C

G minor D G D G Bb D

C minor C G C G C Eb

G modal D G C G C D

C modal C G C G C D

He also used D A D G A D, which is very popular with Irish musicians today.

Here are some song titles and their tunings.

Canadee-i-o, Wanton Seed, Gordon, Ten Thousand Miles and Wanton Glove are all in C modal; Crockery Ware and Indian Lass are in G major; Isle de France is in G modal; and Miles Weatherhill is in C minor. He did, of course, sometimes use a capo to alter the pitch."

From

www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/ inart_nicjones_guitarstyle.htm

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,Nickp cookieless
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 12:39 PM

Hey Nigel, If there ever is a NJ Songbook I want one!!

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: bentallamy
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 05:07 PM

i'm sure you're already aware of this but there is a songbook of songs from the Halliard, not in tab but still a nice selection of arrangements - also comes with a CD.

i can play versions of a few of jones's songs - don't suppose we could club together?

there's a real lack of tabs for his stuff and his arrangements are beautiful

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,Ken Hobbs
Date: 13 Feb 07 - 10:52 AM

Hello, bentallamy! If you were suggesting to me that we 'club together' - fine, but I re-emphasise that I've just got a few tricks/riffs in c-modal which I use for some of Nic's songs, but they don't pretend to be Nic's arrangements -oh, I wish! (Must remember to revisit this thread more often!).

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 13 Feb 07 - 12:41 PM

A year or so back, I wrote to Happy Traum of Homespun Tapes suggesting that a book/cd or dvd devoted to Nic's playing would be a good idea. Happy agreed with me. Maybe Joseph Jones should pursue this idea with Happy.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,Johnmc
Date: 14 Feb 07 - 06:06 AM

One of the more accessible is "Little Musgrave", standard tuning and capoed; play a G shape then C/G and for the D7 just str 6 fret2 and str2 fret 1.
I also think "Courting is a Pleasure" tab with its minor tuning should still be on the net because I got it some time ago - a totally accurate tab - God bless 'em.
It might be John Wesley Harding's?

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,John C
Date: 18 May 07 - 11:45 AM

Does anyone out there really know which guitar tuning Nic used for Farewell to the Gold on the Penguin Eggs LP?

It's driving me mad trying to work it out!

Someone please help!

John C

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: The Sandman
Date: 18 May 07 - 12:05 PM

try cgcgad or cgcgcd

,thay are likely possibilities.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 18 May 07 - 12:20 PM

Some Nic Jones Tunings

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,Phil in Mission
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 02:47 PM

Found this thread a bit late in my career, though it's nice to see so many interested in NJ's work. Before I lost the majority of my hearing, I was introduced to NJ's version of Canadee-IO, and my playing was never the same.

Not that attempted to imitate his sound, as I was doing a lot of work with modal tunings and such, due to another favorite guitarist of mine, Michael Hedges. Another inspiration was Phil Keaggy from Glass Harp, who I saw in a small intimate concert, which was the last one I attended before losing my hearing.

I still play, but find it very difficult to execute anything in modal tunings, which I love, due to my relative inability to hear semitones, not to mention my hearing loss is mostly in the range of the human voice and guitar frequency ranges. Though, 98% gone, I still try, and am trying to teach my children open tunings and guitar selections. One favorite is Blackbird in G modal. After a performance of it, many of the folks came up to find out what I used as tuning, as they said they've never heard it or played it sounding so full.

Well, enough already. Just really wanted to touch base with other soulmates. Play on...

Subject: All tunings for Penguin Eggs
From: GUEST,Sam Carter
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 07:03 AM

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

Subject: Re: All tunings for Penguin Eggs
From: GUEST,Sam Carter
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 07:06 AM

And Courting Is A Pleasure - EbFBbFBbC

www.myspace.com/samjohncarter

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,Ken Hobbs
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 01:23 PM

Nice video on YouTube of a version of Courting Is A Pleasure by 'Litegauge' at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHU1DSiygYM - it's not too difficult to work out what he's doing. I've used CGCGCD and it's close (at least as close as a duffer like me can make it!). Trying to imitate Nic's style is going to be difficult (see remarks in related threads). Get the gist of it and make your own version, and enjoy singing/playing the song - that's what's important in folk music, isn't it?

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: pavane
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 02:17 AM

I do have a copy of Mike Raven's book, and once tried "The butcher and the Tailor's wife" from it, but I seem to recall that it didn't sound right. On the recording, you can hear that lines 2 and 3 of each verse are not the same as line 4. But it was a long time ago, and I don't have the book handy to check what I am saying.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,Sam Carter
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 05:21 AM

Re Farewell to the Gold, the tuning is CFCFAC. Here's my version: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_j9GNU0VlWE

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 06:49 AM

just to give cedit where it is due,farewell to the gold, was written by Paul Metsers

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,ant
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 07:55 AM

hello,
i am looking for tabs/tunings to Hardiman the Fiddler and Swimming Song. Can anyone please help?
Thanks.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: Seaking
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 01:47 PM

Does anyone know what tuning Nic Jones used for 'Ruins by the Shore' please.

Thanks
Chris

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: Seaking
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 07:15 AM

Refresh - still hopeful

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,Catty
Date: 14 Feb 11 - 07:11 PM

William Glenn Basic Cords in concert tuning. Can anyone please help me I would like to play this in standard tuning. I Cannot work chords out myself Thank You

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,Peter Beech
Date: 23 Sep 11 - 03:25 PM

Nigel, any further word on that NJ songbook?

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: skipy
Date: 20 Apr 12 - 06:42 PM

Anyone got the chords for Humpback in standard tuning?
Skipy

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,Yozza
Date: 04 May 13 - 07:13 AM

Does any one know the tuning for lakes of shilin?

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,Mark Gibson
Date: 30 Oct 13 - 12:24 AM

I purchased a book called "Pioneers of English Folk Guitar" published by Wise Publications. I initially bought it because it had the full tab and notation for Richard Thompson's 1952 Vincent Black Lightning in it, but was very pleased to find, when it arrived that it had the full tab and notation for Nic's Canadee-i-o in it, all accurate too!

I did struggle with the click/slap sound technique in the song, but that was straightened thanks to Sam Carter uploading a video of tips on playing the song to Youtube!

For those interested, here is the ISBN No for the book - ISBN 978-1-78038-199-2

And here is a link to Sam's video of tips!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAOny7J33Lk

I hope this helps!

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Oct 13 - 09:25 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,alfie
Date: 21 Jan 20 - 03:32 PM

does anyone know where i could find tablature for annan waters ? i worked out its in his BbFBbFBbC tuning but struggling . thought i would enquire in case someone had it or knew who else i could email ?

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Jan 20 - 04:21 PM

annan water i think might have been in drop d

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,Johnmc
Date: 22 Jan 20 - 05:24 AM

Mike Raven in "English Folk Guitar" says Annan Water is in Open G, but the guitar on the record
is playing in F. So Open F by tuning down a tone.
The tab shows a constant tremelo on the first string using m and i with the thumb playing the bass pattern. The 6th string is not played.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones Tablature
From: GUEST,Johnmc
Date: 22 Jan 20 - 05:33 AM

As a further point relating to my previous post, M Raven says that for Sir P Spens,
Nic tuned a tone down, which makes the Annan Water tab tuning more likely.