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Chords: So Round So Firm So Fully Packed (Travis)

27 Aug 01 - 10:52 PM (#536524)
Subject: Chords: So Round, So Firm - M. Travis
From: Armen Tanzerian

Anyone got a source for the chords to Merle Travis's semi-lewd take on 40's advertising slogans, So Round, So Firm, So Fully-Packed? I have almost all of them -- standard ragtime circle, but there is one place where I'm lacking something (in the song...in the song!). But serially, thanks for any info.

27 Aug 01 - 11:52 PM (#536558)
Subject: RE: Chords: So Round, So Firm - M. Travis
From: Sorcha

Justa Picker does some Merle, you might try PMing him. He fingerpicks, though.

28 Aug 01 - 01:14 AM (#536577)
Subject: RE: Chords: So Round, So Firm - M. Travis
From: M.Ted

Paste up whatcha got--and mark whatcha don't--I've lent someone the CD, but I can get it back tomorrow, and I'll work it out--

28 Aug 01 - 09:23 AM (#536689)
Subject: RE: Chords: So Round, So Firm - M. Travis
From: Armen Tanzerian

OK, there's really only one spot where I'm sure there's another chord. It's in the bridge ("Toasted by the sun, etc.") I'm in A:

C#7 - F#m - C#7 - F#m
B7 - ?? - ?? - E7

I just stay on the B7, and it sounds OK, but there's meant to be something else in there. F#7 and back to the B7? Not sure.

Thanks for all info.

28 Aug 01 - 06:05 PM (#537003)
Subject: RE: Chords: So Round, So Firm - M. Travis
From: M.Ted

I am not sure what recording you are listening to--I've got Merle's 1946 recording, which is in G, but transposed, it is exactly what you've got: |C#7C#7/F#mF#m/C#7C#7/F#mF#m/B7B7/B7B7/B7B7/E7E7|

At least on that recording, the chords are exactly what you've got--If you are so inclined, you can change the third measure of B7 to Bm7-- /B7B7/B7B7/Bm7Bm7/E7E7|

which isn't there, but sounds good,

or you could play:

/B7B6/B7B6/F#9B7/E7E7| which would sound good, too--

28 Aug 01 - 10:18 PM (#537164)
Subject: RE: Chords: So Round, So Firm - M. Travis
From: Armen Tanzerian

Alrighty, then. Thanks for checking for me.

29 Aug 01 - 02:40 AM (#537241)
Subject: RE: Chords: So Round, So Firm - M. Travis
From: Gary T

From the sheet music (I'll let you traspose-I'm tired) 
     F
  So round, so firm, so fully packed,
  G7
  that's my gal,
  C7
  So complete from front to back,
  F
  that's my pal:
  A7             Dm
  Toasted by the sun
      A7             Dm
  and I'm a son-of-a gun
     C                 C#dim
  If she don't make my five o'-clock shadow
  G7             C7
  come around at one

29 Aug 01 - 09:18 AM (#537396)
Subject: RE: Chords: So Round, So Firm - M. Travis
From: Armen Tanzerian

That 5-chord (C) sounds a little strange at first, but the diminished is definitely on the right track. Right now, just sitting on the 2-chord (G7 here) sounds better to me, which is what Ted says Merle played. But I'm going to try this one some more. Merci.

29 Aug 01 - 01:21 PM (#537569)
Subject: RE: Chords: So Round, So Firm - M. Travis
From: M.Ted

I have listened again, and I still think the rhythm guitar stays on that A7(Your B7) but the bass player walks up by half steps, so you could play:

|B7B7/CdimCdim/C#m7C#m7/E7E7|

to get the full bass effect, you'd do it like this:

*B7* 7-x-7-8-x-x

*Cdim* 8-x-7-8-x-x

*C#m7* 9-x-9-9-x-x

*E7* 12-x-12-13-x-x

I think the Cdim probably should be called B# dim in this instance, but I'd have to think about it to be sure--

Still haven't figured out which recording you are listening to, but mine is great--a tight, punchy Western Swing arrangement with horns, steel, and accordion--I'd have loved to play with that band!!

04 Sep 01 - 12:54 AM (#541285)
Subject: Chords Add: SO ROUND SO FIRM SO FULLY PACKED
From: GUEST,Tim Ausburn

Why don't you just play it with simple hillbilly chords like this: From Merle Travis 1946 recording

(G) So round, so firm, so fully-packed,
(A7) That's my gal.
(D7) So complete from front to back,
(G) That's my pal.
(B7) Toasted by the sun,
And (E7) I'm a son-of-a-gun,
If (A7) she don't make my five o'clock shadow (D7) come around at one.

You can (G) bet your boots I'd walk a mile
(A7) Through the snow,
(D7) Just to see her toothbrush smile
They (A7) mention on the ra-(Bb7)-di-(B7)-o.
(E7) If you don't think she's a lot of fun,
(A7) Just ask the man that owns (D7) one.
So (G) round, so firm, so fully-(A7) packed,
(D7) That's my (G) gal.

So round, so firm, so fully-packed,
(A7) That's for me.
(D7) She's just like a money-back
(G) Guarantee.
Like a (B7) barfly goes for drinks,
Like the (E7) bobby-socks goes for Frank,
And (A7) just like Jesse James would go for
(D7) money in the bank.

From (G) head to foot she's perfect size.
(A7) She's a whiz,
(D7) Always wears her forty-five
(A7) Gun (Bb7) that (B7) is.
(E7) She's got the look that's so impressin'.
(A7) She's got the pause that's so refresh-(D7)-in'.
So (G) round, so firm, so fully-(A7) packed,
(D7) That's my (G) gal.

(E7) She's done told me that I'm top-hand,
(A7) It won't be long till she wears my (D7) brand.
So (G) round, so firm, so fully-(A7) packed,
(D7) That's my (G) gal.

04 Sep 01 - 03:19 PM (#541757)
Subject: RE: Chords: So Round, So Firm - M. Travis
From: M.Ted

Probably because those aren't exactly the chords that he is hearing--f you followed our discussion, Armen started out with what you have, except that he is in the key of A, and that, as he outlined, the correct chords move from the B7 to an Em(twice, actually) then to an A7, but the bass walks up, and he wants to get that sound--which you can do as I pointed out thanks for posting the all the lyrics and all the chords, though- The 1946 recording uses different chords than you have in the line "From Head to toe she's a perfect size"--which goes:

|GG/GG/A7A7/A7A7/
D7D7/D7D7/D7C#7-C7/B7B7/
or,as you had shown it, with words:,
From (G) head to foot she's perfect size -
(A7) she's a whiz,
(D7) Always wears her forty-five -
(D7) gun (C#7-C7) that (B7) is,
(E7) She's got the look that's so impressin',
(A7) She's got the pause that's so refres in',
So (G) Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed--

30 Aug 10 - 03:18 PM (#2976101)
Subject: RE: Chords: So Round So Firm So Fully Packed (Travis)
From: GUEST

Why does no one make a reference to Ricky Scaggs recording ?   I love his arrangement. I wish I could find a copy of thoses chords he uses somewhere.