Meta-pieces

House of the Rising Sun in C minor zone 2

2008-08-28T18:54:00.001-07:00

House of the Rising Sun - Melody in Bass

Traditional
Intermediate
North American Folk Music
Arpeggios and Melody in the Bass
Chords at 3rd position, zone 2, key of C minor

Download

House of the Rising Sun Melody (pdf)

House of the Rising Sun (pdf)

House of the Rising Sun Lyrics (txt)

House of the Rising Sun (midi)

House of the Rising Sun (ASCII tab)

House of the Rising Sun (TuxGuitar tab) Get the free program: http://www.tuxguitar.com.ar/

Performance Tips

Learn the tune first, from the tablature, then learn the chords with strumming, and then tackle the arpeggios, if you have not learned this arpeggiation pattern before. Use the thumb of your picking hand for the lowest two notes of the pattern, and fingers index, middle and ring for the highest three notes.

This arrangement should not be attempted until you can play the open zone 2 version at the nut, in A minor, quite fluidly. You will need to have mastered the 1st and 2nd form bar chords (E and A shapes). If you have this version mastered, you can play it anywhere on the neck, giving you any key.

Meta Analysis

Key of C (harmonic) minor
Zone 2, based on 2nd form minor scale in the 3rd position

Progression

Cm, Eb, F, Ab,
Cm, Eb, G, G,
Cm, Eb, F, Ab,
Cm, Eb, Cm, Cm

Nashville Notation

i, bIII, IV, VI,
i, bIII, V, V,
i, bIII, IV, VI,
i, V, i, i

Chord Forms

C minor - 2nd form minor bar, roots on strings 5 and 3
E flat major - 5th form major bar, roots on strings 5 and 2
F major - 3rd form major bar, roots on strings 4 and 2
G major - 1st form major bar, roots on strings 6, 4 and 1
A flat major - 1st form major bar, roots on strings 6, 4 and 1

Notes

The harmonized harmonic minor scale would have indicated that an E flat augmented chord be used for degree bIII. Likewise, the F minor chord would be used for degree IV in the harmonized scale. However, in the melodic minor scale, both A and B appear in the ascending scale, so the harmonization used here fits that variant. The harmonization works in the song as it is, and may be a little bit more interesting than that provided by strict harmonization of the scale. The progression is one I learned when I started to play, and it is undoubtedly related to a version done by the group, Eric Burdon and the Animals. The song was fairly high in the charts at the time, and probably every guitarist of my generation learned to play it.

House of the Rising Sun - Melody in Bass

2008-08-25T20:18:00.000-07:00

House of the Rising Sun - Melody in Bass

Traditional
Novice to Intermediate
North American Folk Music
Arpeggios and Melody in the Bass
Chords at the nut

Key of A (harmonic) minor
Zone 2, based on 2nd form minor scale in the open position

Progression

Am, C, D, F,
Am, C, E, E,
Am, C, D, F,
Am, E, Am, Am

Nashville Notation

i, bIII, IV, VI,
i, bIII, V, V,
i, bIII, IV, VI,
i, V, i, i

Chord Forms

A minor - 2nd form minor open, roots on strings 5 and 3
C major - 5th form major open, roots on strings 5 and 2
D major - 3rd form major open, roots on strings 4 and 2
E major - 1st form major open, roots on strings 6, 4 and 1
F major - 1st form major bar, roots on strings 6, 4 and 1

Notes

The harmonized harmonic minor scale would have indicated that a C augmented chord be used for degree bIII. Likewise, the D minor chord would be used for degree IV in the harmonized scale. However, in the melodic minor scale, both F# and G# appear in the ascending scale, so the harmonization used here fits that variant. The harmonization works in the song as it is, and may be a little bit more interesting than that provided by strict harmonization of the scale. The progression is one I learned when I started to play, and it is undoubtedly related to a version done by the group, Eric Burdon and the Animals. The song was fairly high in the charts at the time, and probably every guitarist of my generation learned to play it.

House of the Rising Sun

2008-08-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

House of the Rising Sun

Traditional
Beginner to Novice
North American Folk Music
Arpeggios
Chords at the nut

Key of A (harmonic) minor
Zone 2, based on 2nd form minor scale in the open position

Progression

Am, C, D, F,
Am, C, E, E,
Am, C, D, F,
Am, E, Am, Am

Nashville Notation

i, bIII, IV, VI,
i, bIII, V, V,
i, bIII, IV, VI,
i, V, i, i

Chord Forms

A minor - 2nd form minor open, roots on strings 5 and 3
C major - 5th form major open, roots on strings 5 and 2
D major - 3rd form major open, roots on strings 4 and 2
E major - 1st form major open, roots on strings 6, 4 and 1
F major - 1st form major bar, roots on strings 6, 4 and 1

She’ll be Coming ‘round the Mountain

2008-08-24T11:03:00.000-07:00

The old children’s song, She’ll be Coming ‘round the Mountain, is presented here, with lyrics and easy chords and easy strumming. Strum down once on each chord chart and each slash. Make the 1st strum on every chord symbol a little louder and stronger. Note the "pick-up" lyrics, "She'll be" at the start, and their reflection in the tune afterward.

Verse 1

							She'll be

	/	/	/		/	/	/
coming	'round the	mountain	when she	comes.			She'll be

	/	/	/		/	/	/
coming	'round the	mountain	when she	comes.			She'll be

	/	/	/		/	/	/
coming	'round the	mountain;	She'll be	coming	'round the	mountain;	She'll be


	/		/		/	/
coming	'round the	mountain	when she	comes.

Verse 2

She'll be driving six white horses when she comes

She'll be driving six white horses

She'll be driving six white horses when she comes

Verse 3

Oh, we'll all come out to meet her when she comes

Oh, we'll all come out to meet her

Oh, we'll all come out to meet her when she comes

Verse 4

We will kill the old red rooster when she comes

We will kill the old red rooster we will kill the old red rooster

We will kill the old red rooster when she comes

Verse 5

We'll all have chicken and gravy when she comes

We'll all have chicken and gravy we'll all have chicken and gravy

We'll all have chicken and gravy when she comes

Analysis

This song uses the I, IV, and V chords of C Major in the open position. Respectively, these chords are a 5th form C major, a 1st form F major and and 4th form G major. In Metafrets terminology, this is open zone 1 in the key of C major.