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chords wanted to dylans "river theme"


scooter

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Posted

If you have the recordings it should be fairly easy to figure out. Isn't it a variation on the "Knocking On Heaven's Door progression"?

Anyway, the funny thing on that CD is how he sings three different versions of Billy. One like he sang at the time, then th one recorded in Mexico City which he sings like he would have sung it ten years earlier (messed up lyrics and all, perfect parody of himself) and finally he sings something that sounds like he thought he would sound ten years later. He wasn't too far off with that one either.

Now, how much did that help you with the chords. Wait, I must have it here... no, it's not in the old The Songs of Bob Dylan book which has everything from 1966 to 1975. Doesn't that tell you something? It's too simple to be written down, just get out the record and your guitar and figure it out.

Now, over to the more important question... why do you wanna play that tune?

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Posted
Originally posted by Terje

If you have the recordings it should be fairly easy to figure out. Isn't it a variation on the "Knocking On Heaven's Door progression"?


, just get out the record and your guitar and figure it out.


Now, over to the more important question... why do you wanna play that tune?



i am somewhat deaf so picking out individual chords
and things isn't very easy for me without some help

{doesn't help trying to learn guitar but what can you do}:(

why do i want to play that tune?
simply, i just like it
:)

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Posted
Originally posted by scooter



i am somewhat deaf so picking out individual chords

and things isn't very easy for me without some help


{doesn't help trying to learn guitar but what can you do}
:(

why do i want to play that tune?

simply, i just like it

:)



If I have the time I'll try to figure out the chords. I have the CD so why not. Need some eartraining anyway. See ya later Scooter!

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Posted

Ah, its' that old Dylan progression! :) The one he's used for about half of all the songs he wrote from the begining to mid 70's :D

I don't really play guitar and I figured this out using my balalajka. Watch out for my mistakes!

Anyway, it's in the key of A. And basically the chords are
|A|E|D|A|
|A|E|D|A|
|A|E|D|E|
|A|E|D|A|

Those E chords can of course be played as E7 chords too. The melody goes around the notes C# B A most of the time. It's hard to write a melody like this, with letters, but on the first chord they sing C#, then down to B, then D on the D chord and down to A on the A chord.

Repeat the same thing for the next four bars and then the third time do everything the same way but go up to the E on the E chord. Then repeat the same melody as the first times.

They add some bluesy notes here and there in the playing, that's a bent C note most of the time. Don't know who's doing it. Could be The Mighty Bob himself :)

The exact picking... I can't help you with that. It's in A so try with those fingerings. But if that doesn't work remember that our friend Bobby loves to use a capo and open tunings too.

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Posted
Originally posted by Terje

Ah, its' that old Dylan progression!
:)
The one he's used for about half of all the songs he wrote from the begining to mid 70's
:D

I don't really play guitar and I figured this out using my balalajka. Watch out for my mistakes!


Anyway, it's in the key of A. And basically the chords are

|A|E|D|A|

|A|E|D|A|

|A|E|D|E|

|A|E|D|A|


Those E chords can of course be played as E7 chords too. The melody goes around the notes C# B A most of the time. It's hard to write a melody like this, with letters, but on the first chord they sing C#, then down to B, then D on the D chord and down to A on the A chord.

.



thanks a lot :)
its much appreciated,
i thought it went something like
G.D.A......shows how far out i was ;)

how long have you played balalaika?
i saw one for sale in a charity shop for

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Posted

You're most welcome. And please, try that out with the record and listen for yourself cause it might not be correct. Any other Dylan tunes you want help with, don't hesitate to ask OK.

I've played the balalajka for about 15 years or so. The one I have is a solidbody elelctric thing made for me by a violin maker. It has a P-94 pick-up and sound pretty much like an electric guitar.

$10 for a balalajka... hm... That could be a good price and it could be a bad one. If it's a fine concert balalajka it's a good price. If it's a tourist balalajka it's too much.

How do you know? If the top is painted/decorated it's a tourist balalajka. If the fretboard goes higher for the highest string it may be a fine balalajka. It shouldn't be hard to set it up for a left handed player.

They do have a nice tone. Especially when played in big orchestras.

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Posted

Originally posted by Terje


How do you know? If the top is painted/decorated it's a tourist balalajka. If the fretboard goes higher for the highest string it may be a fine balalajka. It shouldn't be hard to set it up for a left handed player..

 

 

it looks like i saved myself

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