From: owner-wanderer-digest@smoe.org (wanderer-digest) To: wanderer-digest@smoe.org Subject: wanderer-digest V5 #1 Reply-To: wanderer@smoe.org Sender: owner-wanderer-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-wanderer-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk wanderer-digest Tuesday, September 6 2005 Volume 05 : Number 001 Today's Subjects: ----------------- blackbird [Bobsart48@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2005 10:08:51 EDT From: Bobsart48@aol.com Subject: blackbird Many many years ago, I figured out a passable version of Blackbird that I lived with until now for my personal playing purposes. However, for a while, I have had a 'realization' (from all of my Joni playing) that this song must have been played in open G.' In looking at a couple of internet tabs (I only began a very cursory lookup) of Blackbird, I noticed that those arrangements were very similar to mine (standard tuning). Today I sat down and began to transpose it into open G. From the 'colorations' , I am more inclined to believe that it is played in open G. Furthermore, all of the chord shapes used are those used by Joni - they can all pretty much be found in either Marcie or the Gallery. If anyone is interested, I would be happy to share my insights (perhaps one of you could tab it). Which leads me to another thought. One of the sites claims that this was purportedly written by Paul (circa 1968 ?) about a black girl ('bird') during the civil rights movement. However, the timing of this work (so few Paul solo guitar solos - does anyone have a proper tab for Yesterday, which also is obviously (to my ear) written in an alternate tuning ?) and of Joni's Marcie and Gallery suggests a connection of some sort to me - is it impossible that they met around that time and shared some chord shapes? Which direction such sharing may have gone I am not sure, but if I had to venture a guess it would be Joni to Paul. Of course, there is the possible Keith Richards connection to consider, too. Also, the title of this song - Black(crow) - rings a bell somewhere in my head :-) When did John tell Joni to put some fiddles on it, I wonder ? We know from the London Bridge song that Joni had been to London while still on the coffeehouse circuit, no ? Ah, I'm a nut. But we guitarists hear things. Is this a bad thing ? Bobsart ------------------------------ End of wanderer-digest V5 #1 ****************************