Bluegrass Learning Jam at Harry’s Guitar Shop

Bluegrass Learning Jam at Harry's Guitar Shop

Handouts for May through August 2017

Introduction to "Chord Numbers"

Songs: Carolina Mountain Home (key of D, or "key of C" with capo on second fret) Little Maggie (key of G) Love Please Come Home (key of A, or "key of G" with capo on second fret) The Old Home Place (key of A, or "key of G" with capo on second fret) Tennessee Waltz (keys of D, C, and G) Wagon Wheel (key of A, or "key of G" with capo on second fret)

Instrumentals: Cherokee Shuffle (key of A, or "key of G" with capo on second fret) Devil's Dream (key of A, or "key of G" with capo on second fret)

Introduction to "Chord Numbers"

The II (two) chord

In Part 1, we talked about using Roman numerals to refer to the I (one), IV (four), and V (five) chord changes we frequently encounter in bluegrass and other types of music. In Part 2, we talked about using the lowercase Roman numeral "vi" to refer to the minor six chord, also called the relative minor chord.

Now, we'll add an additional chord change to the chart on the next page--the two chord. In many songs, the two chord is a minor chord (ii), but in other songs, it's a major chord (II).

Examples of songs and instrumentals that use a "minor two chord" (ii) are "Devil's Dream," "Whiskey Before Breakfast," "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere," and "Steam-Powered Aereo Plane."

Examples of songs and instrumentals that use a "major two chord" (II) are "Blackberry Blossom," "Sailor's Hornpipe," "Life is Like a Mountain Railway," and "The Old Home Place."

Introduction to "Chord Numbers"

The III (three) chord

In Part 1, we talked about using Roman numerals to refer to the I (one), IV (four), and V (five) chord changes we frequently encounter in bluegrass and other types of music. In Part 2, we talked about using the lowercase Roman numeral "vi" to refer to the minor six chord, also called the relative minor chord. Next, we talked about the ii (two) chord, and now we'll add the III (three) chord to our chart and play some songs that demonstrate it.

In many songs, the three chord is a major chord (III), but sometimes occurs as a minor chord (iii). The three chord is often played as a "seventh" chord (also called a "dominant seventh"); for example, B7 in the key of G, or E7 in the key of C.

Some examples of songs and instrumentals that use a three (III) chord are "The Old Home Place," "Tennessee Waltz," "Cheyenne," and "Dixie Hoedown."

Introduction to "Chord Numbers"

The VII (flat seven) chord

In Part 1, we talked about using Roman numerals to refer to the I (one), IV (four), and V (five) chord changes we frequently encounter in bluegrass and other types of music. In Part 2, we talked about using the lowercase Roman numeral "vi" to refer to the minor six chord, also called the relative minor chord. Next, we added the II (two) chord and the III (three) chord to our chart and played some

songs that demonstrate it. Now we'll add the VII (flat seven) chord

to our chart.

In bluegrass, folk, and country music, the VII (flat seven)

chord is very common, and lends a "bluesy" or "lonesome" sound to a

chord progression. In fact, the VII (flat seven) chord (for example,

an F chord in the key of G) is so common, and the "regular seven" chord (for example, an F chord in the key of G) is so rare, that sometimes in jams, players may just say "seven" when they actually mean the "flat seven" chord.

Some examples of the many bluegrass songs and instrumentals

that use a VII (flat seven) chord are "Little Maggie," "Love Please

Come Home," "Salt Creek," "Old Joe Clark," "Wheel Hoss," "June Apple," "Big Mon," and "Over the Waterfall."

Key Chord Numbers (Chord Changes) I II III IV V vi VII

G G A B C D Em F A A B C# D E F#m G

C C D E F G Am B D D E F# G A Bm C

Carolina Mountain Home

(Key of D) by L. Wright & E. Scarborough Verse-Chorus

If you use a capo on the second fret to play in the key of D, then you'll use the C, F, and G chord shapes for this song.

Verse:

D

G

D

D

A

D

G

D

D

A

D

Chorus:

G

D

D

A

D

G

D

D

A

D

Carolina Mountain Home

by L. Wright & E. Scarborough

Verse-Chorus

I left my old home back in the mountains, For many long years I roamed around. I can hear that lonesome whistle blowing, I'm going back there to settle down

Chorus: I love those Carolina mountains, And the little girl I left behind. But I know I'll never forget her, Oh how I long to make her mine.

I looked out my window and wondered If everything there looked the same. I can see the blue eyes of my darling, I'm going back there to change her name.

(Key of G)

Little Maggie

Traditional

Verses only (no Chorus)

Verse and Chorus (same chords for both):

G

F

G

D

G

G

F

G

D

G

Over yonder stands Little Maggie, With a dram glass in her hand. She's drinking away her troubles And courting some other man.

Pretty flowers were made for blooming, And pretty stars were made for shine, Pretty women were made for loving, Little Maggie was made for mine.

Oh how can I ever stand it Just to see those two blue eyes, A-shining in the moonlight Like two diamonds in the sky.

The last time I saw Little Maggie, She was sitting on the banks of the sea With a .44 buckled around her And a banjo on her knee.

March me down to the station, Suitcase in my hand. I'm going away Little Maggie, I'm going to some far, lonely land.

Go on, go on, Little Maggie, Go and do the best that you can. Gonna get me another woman, You can get you another man.

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