Topic: Sam Chatmon's Guitar Playing: Queries and Tips

[outfidel]

Last night, I popped in the DVD Legends of Country Blues Guitar Vol. 2 to watch Sam Chatmon perform "Big Road Blues". It looks like a D-G-A tune in standard tuning, with lots of tasty runs played during and between verses.

Q: what is the chord shape that he takes up the neck singing the opening lines of each verse ("Well - I ain't goin' down - big road - by myself / Now don't you hear me cryin'")? I assume he starts with a partial D with an F# bass, then takes the bass up to G, then G#, before ending the line with a plain ol' D. But I can't figure out which strings he's fretting when he's walking up the neck.

Anyway, this is a great tune that I'd love to learn. Love his singing on this, too.

[uncle bud]

Hi outfidel,

It's a great performance by Sam Chatmon, isn't it? The song is actually played out of dropped D. Sam does variations on the part you're referring to I think, but essentially, he's alternating between the 4th and 6th strings. He's playing a D chord with an upstroke of his fingers, then hitting the low D on the open 6th, 4th string 2nd fret, 6th string 2nd fret, 4th string 3rd fret, 6th string 3rd fret, 4th string 4th fret, 6th string 4th fret. Pretty much like Tommy Johnson's Big Road Blues (I can't remember exactly how he does it) or The Mississippi Sheiks' "Stop and Listen".

[robertbidochon]

Hello

I have worked today on Sam Chatmon 's "trouble in mind" version. But, I have some problems with a little part ( betwenn the 19 and 22 sec of the song) I think he  play a A chord but I'm not sure...

I got something like this:
D|------------4---3-------------0-----------0-----------4---4-4--------|       
A|------------3---2-----------0---3---------0---------4-4-4-4-4--------|   
F|-----3/4--4---3---2-0H1-------------------1-----------5--------------|   
C|------------------------2-----2----(2)-----2-----------6--------------|   
G|------------------------------------------------------------------0---|   
D|--------------------------0-------0---(0)------0--4--------4---4------| 


|-----0-3-0-2-0---0-0-3----0-3---0-----------------------2-2---2-2-0-----|       
|--2------------2--------2--------------------------------0-0---0-0-------|   
|-------------------------------------------[?]------------2-------2-------|   
|-----2-------2-------2---------2-----------------------1---------1-------|   
|---------0-------0--------0-------------------------2--------2-----------|   
|-----------------------------------0----------------------------------0---| 


|--------------------------0--0------|   
|------3----3--------------0--0------|   
|---/4---/4----0-----------1--1------|   
|--------------------2-----2-----2---|   
|-----------------4--------2-----2---|   
|-----------------------0--0-----0---| 

All advices will be appreciate.   

[craigmulcahy]

This is a fun little tune and I can't get it out of my head.

I've worked it out for the most part. I'm in tune with Sam on the video. I get muddled on the turn around part at the end of the verses. Sounds like closed positions.

Can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks,

Craig.

[Pan]

Hi Craig

If this is the video you are referring, it sounds like Sam is playing something like this:

| IV7 #IV7 | I/5 VI7 | II7 V7 | I ||

It looks to me like he is playing out of G-position, but tuned down so as to sound like he is playing in the key of E-Major?

In G-position the chords would be:

| C7 C#7 | G/D E7 | A7 D7 | G ||



Hope this helps

Pan

Edited to make the corrections Johnm suggests below; #C7 instead of #Cdim7.

[Johnm]

Hi Craig,
I think Sam played it just as Pan has it, except that I think he played a straight C#7, just moving his C7 shape up one fret, at the place in the progression where the C#dim7 would normally come.
All best,
Johnm

[craigmulcahy]

Thanks guys! I love this forum! Too good.

Are they all first position? Or is the G an F moved up?

Cheers again guys.

[jim58]

I found this old hillbilly in the Lomax archives but can't find out anything about him.  He was old in the 1970's so he must have passed by now.  His song "Make me up a Pallet on the Floor"  was classic mountain blues.  Any help in finding more information would be appreciated. Thanks,
Jim

[ScottN]

Hi jim58,

Try revising the spelling to Sam Chatmon with a t instead of a p. Also, you can use the search function or tags (at the bottom left) to see more references.

Thanks,
              Scott

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I merged four threads on Sam Chatmon's playing into this single source thread.
All best,
Johnm

[GrasshopperBlues52499]

Glad this thread was started! I have to say, the most intriguing Sam Chatmon clip (IMO) is the one of him playing/singing "That's Alright" (or "Who's Gonna Love You Tonight?"). This shows A) His chops as a player and singer and B) That Sam was one BAD mofo! I haven't learned the whole song yet, but he plays some really cool licks/chord shapes out of G position (tuned down to E).

Cameron

[Blues Vintage]

Are you learning it by ear or do you have a tab for it?

Check out the link below and you can learn Sam's Hollandale blues. It's basically the same arrangement as That's Alright. I helped to transcribe the song. It's not note perfect but close enough to figure out how Sam played a slow blues in G.

http://www.52weeksofblues.com/?song=hollandale-blues