Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: GUEST,Litegauge
Date: 14 Jun 11 - 05:12 PM

Corrected version uploaded. I think Nic recorded it in Open G, no capo. It should be quite easy to follow the video. This first instrumental verse is probably the most complete, when I add the vocals things get a bit more tricky.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: GUEST,Litegauge
Date: 10 Jun 11 - 05:47 PM

Just removed it. Should be in Open G. I'll repost a corrected version soon.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: GUEST,Litegauge
Date: 09 Jun 11 - 05:31 PM

I'm not sure about this but I've just posted a video on YouTube (litegauge: Sir Patrick Spens Nic Jones tutorial) I hope it's clear. I'm using an Open G5 tuning (DGDGGD) which seems to work quite well. John Raven mentions several of Nic's open tunings and Nic seems to like modifying Open C and Open G slightly to create modal tunings (without the 3rd).
I'm not too happy with the DADGAD version. It definitely doesn't sound like it's in the right key as per the original.
Nic may have tuned down a semi-tone from Open G - I think Little Heathy Hill is also Open G down a sem-tone and Master Kilby is also Open G based.
For Sir Patrick, I'm basically playing on the 5th, 4th and 3rd string and hitting the top strings occasionally.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: michaelr
Date: 24 Oct 10 - 02:59 PM

I'm sorry I was rude, Vic. It's just that I've seen responses like yours on a number of "chord request" threads and finally got exasperated -- because it's really not what the poster asked for.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: Vic Smith
Date: 24 Oct 10 - 02:07 PM

I think I said try singing it unaccompanied to yourself rather than you should sing it unaccompanied which has a difference in emphasis. My suggestion had no compulsion to it.... and how does cursing me for making an honest suggestion help the situation?

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: michaelr
Date: 24 Oct 10 - 12:59 PM

Why is it that in every thread that asks for guitar chords someone shows up and says "you should sing it unaccompanied"? Sod off, you're not helping!

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 24 Oct 10 - 07:45 AM

Here is a fine way to do it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAxDaHe3V0U

You can see all his fingering, and the comments tell you that it's being done in DADGAD capo 2.

I use a very similar tune and my "folk and roll" chord patterns based around a Shubb C7 capo, which makes it pretty much a 3-chord trick although the chord shapes are a bit different from the standard ones.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: Vic Smith
Date: 24 Oct 10 - 06:46 AM

It is a traditional ballad - try singing it unaccompanied to yourself. You should find that it sounds better without any backing - guitar or otherwise.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: GUEST,Allan Powell hopeless guitarist
Date: 23 Oct 10 - 08:44 PM

I used G D Bm and A. it seemed to work and sounded okay, wrong obviously but it carries the tune along. Cheers to you all

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 01:15 PM

I wish I had Martin Carthy's (and Martin Simpson's) ability but, if I had, I'd not want to sound like him/them - it would make me a sort of Elvis impersonator! I've always tried to develop an individual style.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: Bee
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 12:12 PM

Thank you so much, Terry.

Guest radnor, no doubt I would - I'm an older learner, doin' it for fun.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: GUEST,radnor3
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 11:22 AM

I bet you'd find it difficult to emulate the guitar on Carthy's version.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 05:26 AM

The chords to the Fairport version are:

G - D - G - D (first line)
G - D - G - D (second line)
Em - C - G - D (third line)
D - C - G - Am (fourth line)

These were given to me by Martin Carthy in the early 70s, when he stayed with us after a gig at the Wessex Trad club in Bournemouth. I said I liked Fairport's version and he picked up my guitar and played the above chords for me - I like them because you can hear the tune in them.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: GUEST,Texas Guest
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 12:36 AM

The only version of this song I have ever heard - live or recorded - is on a Geoff Kaufman disc titled, "Fair Stood The Wind." A few years ago we did a "songs of the sea" festival down in Rockport, Texas along with the Johnson Girls, Dick & Carol Holdstock and the Corsairs - much fun. Truth is, I was a fish out of water; but, Kaufman is the real deal. We exchanged recordings and I've since picked up, "Ambletown" and "Old Zeb" from those discs.

Thanks to this thread I am reminded as to how much I liked "Sir Patrick Spens" and that I need to work it up. Oh, yes, Geoff does it without the guitar - just his voice. Go give his CD a listen and see if you might give it a go without the chords too. Cheers.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: Bee
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 12:16 AM

It's a start. Thank you Malcolm.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 11:19 PM

Fairport didn't use a traditional 'Patrick Spens' tune. They used instead a tune that they got off a Ewan MacColl recording of 'Hughie Graeme'. See thread  'Patrick Spens' and 'Hughie Graeme' for more detail; though not guitar chords.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: Bee
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 08:50 PM

I've searched diligently. I have read many threads. I have Googled to infinity. I have never heard Nic Jones tune for SPS (never heard Nic Jones, in my splendid colonial isolation).

So, could someone start me off with one or two chords somewhat similar to those for the tune used by Fairport Convention, which tune at least I know how to sing? Pleeeease?

Thankee

Bee

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 18 Jul 05 - 09:02 AM

Roberto

I've posted the basic chords for Nic Jones' version in Tune Req: nic jones' sir patrick spens.

Mick

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 17 Jul 05 - 12:04 PM

Interestingly enough, there aren't any chords given in MacColl's "Folk Songs and Ballads of Scotland", though doesn't Peggy accompany him on a recording of it?

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: GUEST,pavane
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 07:56 AM

I think a transcription of Nic Jones's playing has been published. Got the book somewhere at home (English Folk Guitar/Raven, I think), but I'm not there at the moment, so I can't check if tune and/or chords are given.

Subject: Chord Req: Sir Patrick Spens
From: Roberto
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 05:23 AM

What chords would you suggest to back the following renditions of Sir Patrick Spens: Ewan MacColl's; Nic Jones'; June Tabor's? Thank you. Roberto