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Misc: Blues : Blues

  1. Turnarounds

  2. Baby What You Want Me To Do
  3. Born Under A Bad Sign
  4. Bright Lights, Big City
  5. Cocaine Blues
  6. Duncan And Brady
    +1
  7. I Asked For Water, She Gave Me Gasoline
  8. Hesitation Blues
    +1
  9. Leavin' Town Blues
    +1
  10. Smokestack Lightnin'
  11. Weeping Willow Blues
  12. Willie The Weeper

Turnarounds

E
C7
B7
|---0-----------------------------|
|---------------------------------|
|--------------------------3--2---|
|--------------------------2--1---|
|-----5--5-4--4-3--3---2---3--2---|
|-0----------------------0--------|
Basic
E7
Eb7
D7
E
E7
Eb7sus2
D7
E
E/d
|---4------3------2---0--| |-4--4--4--0---0--2---0-----| |---0-----0-----------0--|
|-3---3--2---2--1---1-0--| |-3--3--3--2---2--1---0-----| |-3---3-2---2-1p0-----0--|
|-4------3------2-----1--| |-4--4--4--3---3--2---1-----| |-4-----3-----2---2-0h1--|
|---------------------2--| |---------------------------| |---------------------2--|
|---------------------2--| |---------------------------| |-5-----4-----3-------2--|
|---------------------0--| |---------------------------| |---------------------0--|
Stefan Grossman
E
A/c#
C
E
E
/g#
/a
/c
E
E
A/c#
C
E
|------------------------| |-0----0-----0-----0-1-0-0--| |------------------------|
|---0-----0--------------| |----3---3-2---2-1----------| |------------------------|
|-4---4-2---2-0---1------| |------------------------1--| |-------------------1----|
|---------------2-2------| |------------------------2--| |-2--2--2--2--2-4-2-2----|
|-5-----4-----3---2------| |----------0-----3-------2--| |-5--5--4--4--3-----2----|
|-----------------0------| |-0--4-------------------0--| |-------------------0----|
A7
Ebdim
Dm
A
E7
|------------------------------------|
|---------------------------5-6-7-7--|
|---------------------------------6--|
|-12-----11-----10-------9--------7--|
|---10-----10-----10----10-----------|
|-----12-----11-----10---9-----------|

Baby What You Want Me To Do [Jimmy Reed]

E
You got me running, got me hiding
E7
You got me run, hide, hide, run anywhere you want me
A
E
Let it roll... yeah, yeah, yeah... let it roll
B
You got me doing what you want, babe
A
E
B
B7
Baby, what you want me to do? Going up, going down Going up, down, down, up, anyway you want me let it roll... yeah, yeah, yeah... let it roll You got me doing what you want me Baby, what you want me to do?
Harmonica over verse chords
You got me peeping, got me hiding You got me peep, hide, hide, peep, anywhere you want me let it roll.. yeah, yeah, yeah... let it roll You got me doing what you want me, now Baby, what you want to do?
Harmonica over verse chords

Born Under A Bad Sign [Albert King]

Original in C#
E7
. . .
E7
. . .
E7
|----------------|----------------|----
|--------------5-|----------------|----
|----------5-7---|-7--------5-----|----
|------5-7-------|------5-7---3b--|-0--
E7
|
E7
E7
E7
Born under a bad sign
E7
E7
I've been down since I began to crawl
B7
If it wasn't for bad luck
A7
E7
E7
I wouldn't have no luck at all
E7
Bad luck and trouble's been my only friend I've been down ever since I was ten Born under a bad sign I've been down since I began to crawl If it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have no luck at all I can't read, never learned how to write My whole life is one big fight Born under a bad sign I've been down since I began to crawl If it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have no luck at all
Solo
If it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have no luck at all If it wasn't for real bad luck I wouldn't have no luck at all You know, wine and women is all I crave A big-legged woman's gonna carry me to my grave Born under a bad sign I've been down since I began to crawl If it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have no luck If it wasn't for real bad luck I wouldn't have no luck at all

Bright Lights, Big City [Jimmy Reed]

|
A
|
x4
A
Bright lights, big city, gone to my baby's head
D7
A
Oh, bright lights, big city, gone to my baby's head
E7
D7
A
E7
I'd tried to tell the woman, but she don't believe a word I said All right pretty baby, gonna need my help someday Oh, it's all right, pretty baby, gonna need my help some day You're gonna wish you had a-listened to some of those things I said
Harmonica over verse chords
Go ahead pretty baby, honey knock yourself out Oh, go ahead pretty baby, honey knock yourself out I still love you baby, Cause you don't know what it's all about Bright lights, big city, Went to my baby's head Oh, bright lights, big city, Went to my baby's head I hope you remember, some of those things I said

Cocaine Blues [Gary Davis]

Capo:
II
Original verison by Reverend Gary Davis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPsOpJGBRNc
Taught by Stefan Grossmann: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHR1xk8Rp5k
Keith Richards cover: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SutO9tW9k9g
Intro/Bridge
G6
F
|-------3-------3--|-------3-------3--|-------0----------|------------------|---0--------------|
|------------------|------------------|--1h3----------1--|-------1--------1h|-3-----3-p-1------|
|---0-------0------|---0-------0------|-----------0h2----|---2-------0h2----|-------------2----|
|-----2-------2----|-----2-------2----|----2--------0----|-----3-------3----|-----3-------3----|
|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
|-3-------3--------|-3-------3--------|-3-------3--------|-1-------1--------|-1-------1--------|
G
C
|-2/4-time-|----------3-------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
|----------|------------------|-------0-------1--|---------------1--|------------------|
|----------|----0-------------|---0h2-----0------|---------0--------|------------------|
|----------|-------0-------0--|-----0-------0----|----2--------0h2--|-----2-------2----|
|----------|------------------|------------------|-3-----3----------|-3-------3--------|
|-0----1---|-3----------3-----|-3-------3--------|------------------|------------------|
Verse
C
F
|-3-----3----------|-3-----0----------|------------------|---0--------------|
|------------------|-----------3------|-------1-------1--|h3------3-p-1-----|
|---0-------0---0--|---0-----------0--|---2-------0h2----|---------------2--|
|-----2-------2----|-----2-------2----|-----3-------3----|-----3---------3--|
|-3-------3--------|-3-------3--------|------------------|------------------|
|------------------|------------------|-1-------1--------|-1--------1-------|
Yonder .. baby all dressed in white, hey baby won't you stay all night
Chorus
G
C
|-2/4-time-|----------3-------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
|----------|------------------|-------0-------1--|---------------1--|------------------|
|----------|----0-------------|---0h2-----0------|----------0-------|------------------|
|----------|--------0------0--|-----0-------0----|----2--------0h2--|-----2-------2----|
|----------|------------------|------------------|-3-----3----------|-3-------3--------|
|-0----1---|-3----------3-----|-3-------3--------|------------------|------------------|
Cocaine, all around my brain
Interlude
E
F
|------------------|------------------|------------------|---0--------------|
|---------------0--|-------2p0--------|-------1-------1--|h3-----3----1-----|
|----------0h1-----|---1--------1-----|---2-------0h2----|---------------2--|
|----0h1/2---2-----|-----2---------2--|-----3-------3----|-----3---------3--|
|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
|-0------0---------|-0-------0--------|-1-------1--------|-1--------1-------|
Hey, baby, come here quick this ...... gonna make me sick
 Yonder comes my baby all dressed in white Hey baby won't you stay all night Cocaine all around my brain Yonder comes my baby all dressed in blue Hey baby what you gonna do Cocaine all around my brain Yonder comes my baby all dressed in red Hey baby, cocaine's gonna kill your dad Cocaine all around my brain Yonder comes my baby all dressed in black Hey baby, don't you want me back? Cocaine all around your brain Hey baby come here quick This old cocaine is making me sick Cocaine all around my brain Cocaine's for horses, its not for men They say it'll kill you but they don't say when Cocaine all around my brain

Duncan And Brady

<Trad; Roud 4177>
e|-----------------------|----------------|--------|------------|
B|-----------------------|----------------|--------|----2----2--|
G|------------2----------|----------------|--------|----2----2--|
D|----2--2-------------0-|--2-------------|--------|----2----2--|
A|-----------------4-----|--------------0-|-3b--3b-|--0----0----|
E|-----------------------|------0----2----|--------|------------|
Gonna shoot some body just to see him die Well he
1
2
3
4
e|------------------------|----------------------------|
B|-----1-----1-----1---1--|----2---2---2-----2-------2-|
G|-----2-----2-----2---2--|----2---2---2-----2-------2-|
D|------------------------|------3b--3b-----------3b---|
A|--0-----0-----0----0----|-0--------------0-----------|
E|------------------------|----------------------------|
been on the job too long
A
A
Well, it's twinkle, twinkle little star
E
Well along came Brady in his 'lectric car
E
Well he got a mean look right in his eye Gonna shoot somebody just to see him die
Am
A
Well, he been on the job too long Well, Duncan, Duncan was tending the bar Well along come Brady with his shiny star Well Brady says, Duncan, you are under arrest And Duncan shot a hole right in Brady's chest Yes, he been on the job too long Well it's Brady, Brady, Brady, well you know you done wrong Well a-breaking in here when my game's going on Well breaking down the windows, knocking down the door Now you're lying dead on the barroom floor Yes, you been on the job too long Well, old King Brady was a big fat man Well the doctor reached out, grabbed hold of his hand Well he felt for his pulse, doctor said "An' I believe to my soul ol' King Brady's dead" Yes, he been on the job too long Well a-high tailed carriages a-standing around Waiting to take King Brady to the burying ground Well high tailed carriages, rubber tired hack Well, they took him to the graveyard but they didn't bring him back Yes, he been on the job too long Well, women all heard King Brady was dead Well they go back home and re-rag in red Come a-slipping and a-sliding and a-shuffling down the street In their big Mother Hubbards and their stocking feet He been on the job too long Well, Brady, Brady, well you know you done wrong Well breaking in here while my game's going on Well breaking down the windows, knocking down the door And now you're lying deaden on the barroom floor Yes, you been on the job too long

I Asked For Water, She Gave Me Gasoline [Howlin' Wolf]

D7
A
A7
Oh, I asked her for water, she brought me gasoline Oh, I asked her for water, she brought me gasoline
E7
D7
A
That's the troubling-est woo-hoo that I ever seen
D7
A
A7
The church bell tollin', the hearse come driving slow The church bell tollin', the hearse come driving slow
E7
D7
A
I hope my baby, don't leave me no more
D7
A
A7
Oh tell me baby, when are you coming back home? Oh tell me baby, when are you coming back home?
E7
D7
A
You know I love you baby, but you've been gone too long

Hesitation Blues

<Trad; Roud 11765>
Notes:
1. Low notes, on the beat, are always played by the thumb
2. I use the chord positions marked above the tab to play all the
other notes--just use the most obvious convenient finger within
the chord (or nearby) to fret the tabbed notes
3. The vamp in the first line shows h's before the treble notes in the
Am and E7 chords: these are hammered on on the beat, but not plucked.
4. There are probably some errors-- if it doesn't sound right, you'll
know. It is pretty obvious, once you get the feel. I never play it
exactly the same, two verses running, so this is just a template.
I'm not at all sure of the first line of that last verse, but it's
my best guess. I'd be happy to hear alternate "translations".
Am
E7
Am
E7
e|----|-----------------0-------|-----------------0-------|
B|----|h1x----1-----0---3-------|h1x----1-----0---3-------|
G|--0-|h2x----2---0h1---------0-|h2x----2---0h1---------0-|
D|----|h2x----2----h2-----2-----|h2x----2----h2-----2-----|
A|----|-0x---------h2-----------|-0x---------h2-----------|
E|----|-------------0-----------|-------------0-----------|
A nickel is a nickel and a dime is a dime
Am
E
C
C7
|-----------------0-1---2-|!3---0-------------------|
|h1x----1-----0-----------|!1-----1---------3-1-----|
|h2x----2---0h1---------0-|!0---------4-3---------0-|
|h2x----2----h2-----2-----|-------2-----------2-----|
|-0x---------h2-----------|!3-----------3-----------|
|-------------0-----------|-------------------------|
I need a new gal she won't mind, tell me
Chorus
F
F
F
F
e|-------------------------|-------------------------|
B|-1x----3x----3^----3---1-|--x----3x----3^----3---1-|
G|-2x----2x----------2---2-|--x----2x----------2---2-|
D|-3x----------3-----------|-3x----------3-----------|
A|-------------------------|-------------------------|
E|-------------------------|-------------------------|
How long do I have to wait?
C7
C7
e|-------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
B|-------1x----------------|-1x------------------------------------------|
G|-------3x----2-/-3----x--|-3x----2-/-3---------------------------------|
D|-------2x----1-/-2----x--|-2x----1-/-2---------------------------------|
A|-3x----------2-/-3----x3x|-------2-/-3------------- OR:-----0---1--|-2-|
E|-------------------------|-----------------0-1---2--------3--------|---|
G7
G7
C
C7
F
Fm6
C
G7
e|------1-----1------|-------------------|-------------------|---------1---------|
B|---------3---------|--------5-4---3----|-----1-----1---1---|-1-------0---------|
G|----0------------0-|----0-------0----0-|-------3---2---1---|-0--0----0---------|
D|------0-------0----|----//5---4---3----|-------2---3---0---|-----------0-------|
A|-------------------|-------------------|-3-----------------|-3-----------------|
E|-3x--------3-------|-3-----------------|-------------------|------3--------3---|
Can I get you now, Lord, must I hesitate? Well, the eagle on the dollar says "in God we trust" You say you want a man, I wanna see that dollar first, tell me... If the river was whiskey, and I was a duck You know I'd swim to the bottom, Lord, an' never come up, tell me... Rocks in the ocean, baby, fish in the sea Knows you mean the world to me, tell me... Well, the hesitatin' stockings got them hesitatin' shoes Lord, I got them Hesitatin' Blues, tell me... How long do I have to wait? Can I get you now, Lord, must I hesitate Said, can I get you now, how long must I hesitate?

Leavin' Town Blues [Ishman Bracey]

Now, tell you, mama, now, I'm sure gonna leave this town Now, tell you, mama, now, I'm sure gonna leave this town 'Cause I been in trouble ever since I sot my suitcase down Now you don't believe I'm leavin', just watch the train I'm on Now you don't believe I'm leavin', just watch the train I'm on Now you don't believe I'm looking, just count the days I'm gone Now, I ain't gonna be your, your teasin' brown no more Mama, and I ain't gonna be your, your teasin' brown no more Sugar, the way you do me, you make my blood run cold Now, 'fore I stay here, mama, and be treated this-a-way Mama, 'fore I stay here, now, and be treated this-a-way Now I let some freight train steal me every day Mmm, Lord, oh Lord, oh, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord Mmm, Lord, oh Lord, oh, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord Now the woman I'm lovin', she treat me like some mangy dog Now, look ye yonder, sugar, where the risin' sun done gone Mmm, look y yonder, sugar, where the risin' sun done gone I'd be way over here mama, a long ways from my home

Smokestack Lightnin' [Howlin' Wolf]

|---0-3b---|-------------|---0------|-------------|-----
|---0-3b---|---3---------|-----0----|---3---------|-----
|----------2/4---4-2p0---|----------2/4---4-2p0---|-----
|----------|-----------2-|----------|-----------2-|-----
|----------|-------------|----------|-------------|-----
|-0-0-0-0--|-------------|-0-0-0-0--|-------------|-----
 Whoa, smokestack lightnin' Shinin' just like gold Why don't you hear me cryin'? A-woo-hoo, a-woo-hoo, whoo Whoa-oh, tell me, baby What's the matter here? Why don't you hear me cryin'? Woo-hoo, woo-hoo, whoo Whoa-oh, tell me, baby Where did you stay last night? Why don't you hear me cryin'? Woo-hoo, woo-hoo, whoo Whoa-oh, stop your train Let a poor boy ride Why don't you hear me cryin'? Woo-hoo, woo-hoo, whoo Whoa-oh, fare-you-well Never see a you no more Why don't you hear me cryin'? Woo-hoo, woo-hoo, whoo Whoa-oh, who been here baby since I, I been gone a little bitty boy? Girl, be on A-woo-hoo, woo-hoo, whoo

Weeping Willow Blues [Blind Boy Fuller]

Capo:
III
Intro
A
Dm
A
---------|--------------|----1---0-----|--------------|--------------|
---------|----/2---0----|----3-3-3-3-3-|---/2---0-----|---/2---0-----|
---------|-------2----2-|--------0---0-|------2---2-2-|------2---2-2-|
---------|-0--/2---0----|-0--0-------0-|---/2---0-----|---/2---0-----|
---------|------------4-|--------------|-0----------4-|-0----------4-|
-0-4/5/7-|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
Dm
A
|----1---0-----|----1---0-----|--------------|----------------|
|----3-3-3-3-3-|----3-3-3-3-3-|---/2---0-----|---/2---0-------|
|--------0---0-|--------0---0-|------2---2-2-|------2---------|
|------------0-|----0-------0-|---/2---0-----|---/2---0---0-1-|
|-0--0---------|-0------------|-0----------4-|-0--------4-----|
|--------------|-0------------|--------------|----------------|
E7
D7/f#
B
A
|---0---0------|---------0----|-----4-5p4-0------|--------------|
|-----3-3-3----|-1-1-----0----|--/4------------2-|----2---2-----|
|-------1---1--|-2-2-2-1----2-|-2/4--------------|----2---2-----|
|-2-2---2---2--|--------2-----|-2/4--------------|----2---2-----|
|--------------|----------/4--|-0----------6/5-4-|-0------------|
|-0----------1-|-2------------|------------------|------0---2/4-|
Verses 1 and 2
A
Dm
A
|--------------|----1---0-----|--------------|--------------|
|---/2---0-----|----3-3-3-3-3-|---/2---0-----|---/2---0-----|
|------2----2--|--------0---0-|------2---2-2-|------2---2-2-|
|---/2---0-----|-0--0-------0-|---/2---0-----|---/2---0-----|
|-----------4--|--------------|-0----------4-|-0----------4-|
|-0------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
Dm
A
|----1---0-----|----1---0-----|--------------|----------------|
|----3-3-3-3-3-|----3-3-3-3-3-|---/2---0-----|---/2---0-------|
|--------0---0-|--------0---0-|------2---2-2-|------2---------|
|-0--0-------0-|----0-------0-|---/2---0-----|---/2---0---0-1-|
|--------------|-0------------|-0----------4-|-0--------4-----|
|--------------|-0------------|--------------|----------------|
E7
D7/f#
B
A
|---0---0-------|-----------0-----|------4-5p4-0------|-------------|
|-----3-3-3-----|-1-1-------0-----|---/4--------------|---2---2-----|
|-------1---1---|-2-2-2-1-------2-|-2-/4--------------|---2---2-----|
|-2-2---2---2---|---------2-------|-2-/4--------------|---2---2-----|
|---------------|------------/4---|-0-----------6/5-4-|-0-----------|
|-0-----------1-|-2---------------|-------------------|-----0---2/4-|
Verse 3 - alternative last two bars:
A
|---------------|-----------------|----------0-----|------------|
|-%-------------|-%---------------|---/2-----------|---2--2-----|
|---------------|-----------------|---/2-2---------|---2--2-----|
|---------------|-----------------|---/2---2-------|---2--2-----|
|---------------|-----------------|-0----------1-0-|-0----------|
|---------------|-----------------|----------------|--------2/4-|
Outro
E7
D7/f#
A
|----0---0-0-----|-----------0-----|----------0-----|---------3---|
|------3-3-3-----|-1-1-------0-----|---/2-----------|---------2---|
|--------1---1---|-2-2-2-1-------2-|---/2-2---------|---------2---|
|-2--2---2---2---|---------2-------|---/2---2---1-0-|---------2---|
|----------------|------------/4---|-0--------------|-0---0---0---|
|-0------------1-|-2---------------|----------------|---4---------|
 Lord, that weepin' willow and that mournin' dove That weepin' willow and that mournin' dove I got a gal up the country, Lord, you know I sure do love Now, if you see my woman, tell her I says hurry home You see my woman, tell her I says hurry home I ain't had no lovin' since my gal been gone Where it ain't no love, ain't no gettin' along Where it ain't no love, mama, ain't no gettin' along My gal treat me so mean and dirty, sometime I don't know right from wrong Lord, I lied down last night, tried to take my rest I lied down last night, tried to take my rest (spoken: What happened, boy?) You know, my mind got to ramblin' just like wild geese in the west Gonna buy me a bulldog, watch you whilst I sleep Gonna buy me a bulldog, watch you whilst I sleep Just to keep these men from makin' this early mornin' creep Now, if you see my woman, tell her I says hurry home You see my woman, tell her I says hurry home I ain't had no lovin' since my gal been gone You gonna want my love, baby, some lonesome day, yeah You gonna want my love, mama, some old lonesome day Then it be too late, I'll be gone too far away

Willie The Weeper [Dave Van Ronk]

<Trad; Roud 977>
Capo:
IV
Em
|
C7*
B7*
|
x2
Em
B7
Em
That is the story about Willie the Weeper
Em
B7
Em
Willie the Weeper was a chimney sweeper
Am
He had the habit, boy, he had it bad
Em
B7
Em
Let me tell you about a dream he had
Em
De-dah de-dah de-dah De-dah de-dah de-dah Ba-da ba-da ba-da-da
B7
Em
De-dah doh He went to the hop-house the other night Wherein the lights were shining bright Called out to the boy to bring him some hop Started into smoking like he'd never stop De-dah de-dah de-dah ... After he had smoked about a dozen pills He said, "This ought to cure all my aches and ills" He turned on the sign and he went to sleep Dreamed he was a sailor on the ocean deep De-dah de-dah de-dah ... They played draw poker as they left the land He won a million dollars on the very first hand He played and he played until the crew went broke Then he turned around and had another smoke De-dah de-dah de-dah ... He came to the island of Siam He rubbed his eyes and said, "I wonder where I am?" He played crap with the king, he won a million more Had to leave the island 'cause the king got sore De-dah de-dah de-dah ... He went to Monte Carlo where he played roulette He couldn't lose a penny 'cause they won every bet He played and he played until the bank went broke Then he turned around and had another smoke De-dah de-dah de-dah ... Then he thought he'd better be a-sailing for home He chartered a ship and sailed away alone The ship hit a rock, he hit the floor The dope gave out and the dream was o'er De-dah de-dah de-dah ... That was the story about Willie the Weeper Willie the Weeper was a yen-pox eater Some day a pill too many he'll take And dreaming that he's dead he will forget to wake De-dah de-dah de-dah ...