To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=28635
12 messages

Chords for Classic Bluegrass Nos

13 Dec 00 - 01:24 PM (#356480)
Subject: Chords for Classic Bluegrass Nos
From: beachcomber

Would one of you "old-timers" put up the chord patterns for (a) Dark Hollow

(b) Salty Dog

to oblige an Irish Bluegrass musician who wants to get it RIGHT!!


13 Dec 00 - 02:34 PM (#356558)
Subject: RE: Chords for Classic Bluegrass Nos
From: Gary T

Salty Dog:
  C - E -   
A - A -
D - G -
C - C -


13 Dec 00 - 06:01 PM (#356747)
Subject: RE: Chords for Classic Bluegrass Nos
From: Stewie

You'll find chords for both at Cowpie. Here's a link to 'DH':

Dark Hollow

--Stewie.


13 Dec 00 - 06:11 PM (#356759)
Subject: RE: Chords for Classic Bluegrass Nos
From: mousethief

How can you tell if you have a classic Bluegrass nose? Mine is a large and a little bent to one side -- is that a bluegrass nose?

Alex


13 Dec 00 - 07:03 PM (#356807)
Subject: RE: Chords for Classic Bluegrass Nos
From: Dave T

Here's the way I got it from a recording by Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs. They capo'd to the 1st fret so it's actually in G# (or A-flat) but here are the chords and lyrics for the 1st verse and chorus for reference.
Salty Dog

G E
Standin on the corner with the low down blues
A
Great big hole in the bottom of my shoes
D G (bass run to G chord)
Honey let me be your Salty Dog

CHORUS
G E
Let me be your Salty Dog
A
Or I won't be your man at all
D G (bass run to G chord)
Honey let me be your Salty Dog

I play E7 and A7 instead of E & A.
- Dave T


13 Dec 00 - 07:05 PM (#356808)
Subject: RE: Chords for Classic Bluegrass Nos
From: Dave T

OK...I screwed up the HTML and didn't get the chords lined up with the text. I'll fix it up and re-submit.

Apologies....Dave T


13 Dec 00 - 07:25 PM (#356823)
Subject: RE: Chords for Classic Bluegrass Nos
From: Dave T

OK...I think this will do it. I forgot to enclose the lyric and chord section in the <pre>...</pre> HTML tag. This version below may (or may not!!!) have double spaced lines (I just upgraded to a new PC and Windows version so I'm not sure if it's set up differently in some areas). Bear with me until I get some of the kinks out.
  Salty Dog

G E
Standin on the corner with the low down blues
A
Great big hole in the bottom of my shoes
D G (bass run to G chord)
Honey let me be your Salty Dog

CHORUS
G E
Let me be your Salty Dog
A
Or I won't be your man at all
D G (bass run to G chord)
Honey let me be your Salty Dog

again...apologies for the previous HTML screw-up.
- Dave T


13 Dec 00 - 07:50 PM (#356846)
Subject: RE: Chords for Classic Bluegrass Nos
From: GUEST,guest

They didn't actually capo up a fret; Flatt & Scruggs as well as lots of the early bluegrass bands, would just tune their instruments about a half step high to get a slightly higher pitch and to get a brighter response from the instruments.


13 Dec 00 - 08:17 PM (#356864)
Subject: RE: Chords for Classic Bluegrass Nos
From: Dave T

Thanks, Guest...I didn't realize that. I haven't done that much research into that sort of thing as far as bluegrass goes (blues I have, on the other hand). Do you know of any good web sites or books on bluegrass - especially origins (pre-Bill Monroe), tunings used, etc???

Always interested in learning more,
- Dave T


14 Dec 00 - 12:28 AM (#357010)
Subject: RE: Chords for Classic Bluegrass Nos
From: Rick Fielding

Hey there "guest" you know your stuff. Indeed they did tune up a semitone, as did the Stanleys a few times. There was a story circulating that the real reason was to keep others from "stealing" their songs off the radio. Ralph Stanley said that he doubted that was true..they just wanted more "sparkle" to the music. I can imagine that the necks of the instruments took a bit of a beating.

Rick


14 Dec 00 - 03:19 PM (#357237)
Subject: RE: Chords for Classic Bluegrass Nos
From: Gary T

My apologies, beachcomber. I blew this big-time. Tried to do it out of my head (no guitar handy), which sometimes works fine but sure didn't this time. Thanks to the others who gave the right info.


14 Dec 00 - 03:57 PM (#357253)
Subject: RE: Chords for Classic Bluegrass Nos
From: beachcomber

Many thanks,

especially to GARY T .. yes I know but look at the info you teased out for me. Thanks for the link Stewie, it is spot on.. It's great to be able to pick your brains for Bluegrass music , which I have loved ever since the early sixties when I came across it as part of the American Folk Revival. That sparked off an enormous re-awakening of interest among younger people here too, in traditional Irish music (But you are probably aware of that anyway). Perhaps , from time to time I can call on your valuable assistance again??