Question for our talented guitar player...

[Claudia]

It seems, it's not his most popular song but I really do like Gordons version of "Me and Bobby McGee" and I would love to be able to play it on guitar myself.

I already got my feet a little wet with fingerpicking but there are still decades to go... Nevertheless, I simply love it!

I just tried to figure that song out by myself but somehow I can't pull it together. Does anyone here, by any chance, knows how to play it and can save me from frustration...) ?

Thanks a lot!!!

Claudia

[closetcanadian]

Hi Claudia,

Play the first verse in the key of G, using just 3 chords, G,C,and D. Same goes for the first chorus. There is a key change to A major for the second verse and the second chorus. The 3 chords change to A, E, and D. You mentioined fingerpicking, this is a great song to fingerpick "Travis" style if you are familiar with that technique. Basically it involves playing an alternating base line with your thumb while playing a counterpoint melody with the first two fingers on the treble strings. To sound like the record, avoid playing the top E string as GL avoids that high E on a lot of his recordings. If this website does not have the lyrics and chords archived, you can definitely find them on Wayne Francis' site (www.lightfoot.ca) Hope you find this helpful.

John

[charlene]

Hey Cowette-get back here and help out or I'll be forced to try to!
lol

[Claudia]

Originally posted by closetcanadian:
Hi Claudia,

Play the first verse in the key of G, using just 3 chords, G,C,and D. Same goes for the first chorus. There is a key change to A major for the second verse and the second chorus. The 3 chords change to A, E, and D. You mentioined fingerpicking, this is a great song to fingerpick "Travis" style if you are familiar with that technique. Basically it involves playing an alternating base line with your thumb while playing a counterpoint melody with the first two fingers on the treble strings. To sound like the record, avoid playing the top E string as GL avoids that high E on a lot of his recordings. If this website does not have the lyrics and chords archived, you can definitely find them on Wayne Francis' site (www.lightfoot.ca) Hope you find this helpful.

John

Hi John,

thanks a bunch, it already helps me a lot!

Did Gordon play it in Standard tuning, capoed second fret?
Concerning the Travis picking: I'm fairly able to play "Sit down young stranger" and that song is played, at least how I play it, with an alternating bass line. In "Me and Bobby McGee" it sounds as Gordon is playing a "rotating bass". Is my beginner ear wrong?

As always - I'm gratefull for every help. I should have picked up the guitar many years earlier, but it somehow didn't work out. And now, it gives me grieve... But the joy clearly outweights my bleeding finger!

Thanks again and Greetings from Minnesota

Claudia

[Claudia]

Originally posted by charlene:
Hey Cowette-get back here and help out or I'll be forced to try to!
lol

Hi Char,

from what I read in your recent posts, you consider yourself as a great Air guitar player - so let's hook up and we might come up with a complete new version of that song LOL!

[closetcanadian]

Hi Claudia and Greetings from Sunny Southern California!

Yes, GL does play "Bobby McGee" in standard tuning, capoed on the second fret. Had to drag out my songbook of "If You Could Read My Mind" to confirm the tuning. FYI - on the 'D' chord he plays the F# bass note on the low E string. Frankly, I'm not quite sure how he plays the bass line as I can't seem to replicate it. Which is why I won't be quitting my day job! The great thing about Travis picking is it allows for variation and experimentation.

Since Cathy Cowette is apparently still having PC problems, you might want to post your inquiry re this song on the Newsgroup site. There are some serious musicians that post regularly there. I'm a rank amateur but I have fun playing and singing Lightfoot tunes and that's "good enough for me."

Have fun and keep practicing!

John

[The Rez]

Guitar Comments from a Piano Guy:

It's always a joy to get close instrumentally to how Gord does it, of course. And practicing is fun.

Music is a performing art. So, all across the yrs, I've tried to present a song (guitar or piano)in a way that communicates w/ the audience in the best manner. Usually, simple is better.

In studio it's different - a different kind of performance if you will.

Please don't misunderstand me. I know full well the absolute jubilation of finally getting Chopin right. Just for me (and Chopin.)

Enough of the piano guy - I'll go wait in the truck.

The Rez

[Cathy]

Originally posted by charlene:
Hey Cowette-get back here and help out or I'll be forced to try to!
lol

I helped her on the newsgroup!

Claudia, look for the rubber thing that sticks out of the side. It's called an air-valve. Now just blow gently until the guitar is big and firm. (Char... no comments from the Canadian contengent).
Okay. Now, you have a guitar just like Char's. Treat it with the same respect she treats hers with, and you'll do just fine.

Cathy
http://www.cathycowette.com

[Cathy]

Originally posted by closetcanadian:
Hi Claudia and Greetings from Sunny Southern California!

Yes, GL does play "Bobby McGee" in standard tuning, capoed on the second fret. Had to drag out my songbook of "If You Could Read My Mind" to confirm the tuning. FYI - on the 'D' chord he plays the F# bass note on the low E string. Frankly, I'm not quite sure how he plays the bass line as I can't seem to replicate it. Which is why I won't be quitting my day job! The great thing about Travis picking is it allows for variation and experimentation.

Since Cathy Cowette is apparently still having PC problems, you might want to post your inquiry re this song on the Newsgroup site. There are some serious musicians that post regularly there. I'm a rank amateur but I have fun playing and singing Lightfoot tunes and that's "good enough for me."

Have fun and keep practicing!

John

I'm not having computer problems. I got a new PC and I played with it 24/7 until I was so sick of the thing, I didn't want to look at it. Computer burn-out.

Claudia, Bobby McGee is played with a flat pick. There is no fingerpicking in it. He's alternating the bass between high and low, and he's playing arpeggios (sp?), a series of notes played one after the other, like a bass run. If you think of boom-chucka boom-chucka, with the boom being the bass note and the chucka a down-up strum, you'll get a feel for how it's played. Don't worry about the arpeggios in the beginning. Just learn the chords and the strumming style, and work the rest in after you have that down.

I hope this helps.
Is that good 'nuf, Char?

Cathy
http://www.cathycowette.com

[Cathy]

Claudia, you can get the chords at http://www.lightfoot.ca, or directly at this link: http://www.lightfoot.ca/mebobby.htm
This is Wayne Francis' site. It has lyrics and chords to every Lightfoot song known to man.

Cathy
http://www.cathycowette.com

[Claudia]

Hi Cathy,

it seems, my question helped you to get over the computer burn out syndrom...)) I'm sure glad about that - like everybody else here I bett!

Thanks a bunch for your help with that song, I'm already trying it, although I rather fingerpick it instead of using a flatpick ( I'm a terrible flatpicker ) The funny thing is, I was sooo sure Gordon played it fingerpicked as well - to mee it sounds like it but obviously my ears are not trained enough...
At first I'll try to keep it simple, with the basic Travis pattern you suggested. When I get this down I'll try to throw those extra notes in you can hear on that CD - I'll see how that goes.
May I bother you again should another question turn up???
Thanks again and greetings from Minnesota ( Home of the Mosquitos....)
Claudia

[Cathy]

Originally posted by Claudia:
Hi Cathy,

it seems, my question helped you to get over the computer burn out syndrom...)) I'm sure glad about that - like everybody else here I bett!

Thanks a bunch for your help with that song, I'm already trying it, although I rather fingerpick it instead of using a flatpick ( I'm a terrible flatpicker ) The funny thing is, I was sooo sure Gordon played it fingerpicked as well - to mee it sounds like it but obviously my ears are not trained enough...
At first I'll try to keep it simple, with the basic Travis pattern you suggested. When I get this down I'll try to throw those extra notes in you can hear on that CD - I'll see how that goes.
May I bother you again should another question turn up???
Thanks again and greetings from Minnesota ( Home of the Mosquitos....)
Claudia

Sure. Ask away. If you want, go ahead and e-mail me at cathy@cathycowette.com, so I'll be sure to get it. I'm going to try to get here once a day to check things out, so people don't think I kicked the bucket or something.

Cathy
http://www.cathycowette.com