Topic: 12 string majesty

[Willie Poor Boy]

Below are two YouTube videos I've been scrutinizing.  The first is a version of Lead Belly's Fannin Street played on a Holzapfel replica.  The second is a Ma Rainey song played on a Lead Belly replica.

I see the obvious chords in the Fannin St but what is the chord that follows the E that starts the song and what is the one where he moves his index and middle up and down? 



For the Ma Rainey since we're at a difficult angle any chordal helping hand would be appreciated.



Thanks

[uncle bud]

Hi Willie - welcome to WC. I'm not certain of the chord you're referring to as the starting chord in Fannin Street but when he goes into the regular form for the verses (where the vocal would be going "Follow me down, follow me down" etc), he is playing an A chord with a less common fingering I'd say, which then switches the last time round to a more obvious A7.

For the other chord you refer to in which the index and middle move up and down, I would say it is not a chord but a bass riff. Early on (around 0:50) he does a quick hammer-on riff to the 2nd fret and then to the 4th fret of the 6th string, and after than he mainly sticks to the 2nd fret hammer-on in the bass.

As for the other tune, there's someone else around here who may be able to explain it.

[Willie Poor Boy]

The first chord in the Lead Belly song that leaves me in the lurch is around 28 seconds in when he leaves the E chord.  It has the basic look of an E but moved up and it looks like it is moved a set of strings lower as well.  Later one he has a similar shape to the fingering but is on the treble strings--that is around 1:07. 

I'll try out the simple A as you suggest when I get home tonight and see if that gets the sound.

I really like this version by the way--it's quite a bit different form the recording I have.  Any thoughts as to which Leady Belly period this stems from?

[Johnm]

Hi Willie,
I was just going to suggest getting in tune with the performances, listening, watching and imitating.  In instances where you have strong performances with good visuals, there's a lot to be said for an empirical, hunt-and-peck approach to finding the sounds you're looking for.  You won't have to search for long, you can see where the notes live.  Best of luck with this.
All best,
Johnm

[uncle bud]

Hi Willie - John's right, you'll get good results fairly quick by trying to match the visual clues with the aural results of trying this fret, that fret etc. I think you are being misled a bit by the sound of the 12-string and its double courses into hearing chords, where what he is playing in most of the spots you are asking about is bass lines.  When he is playing single notes, his hand may sometimes retain the shape of a chord in the interest of economy of motion. Setting aside the one point where he travels up high on the treble strings to the 7th fret, there are really only two chords in this: E and A, with variations and embellishments, and then bass lines and treble riffs. Even that travelling up the neck, I just consider an extension of the E he does at the 4th fret myself.

[funkymonk71]

I think what your alluding to is the sliding, basically an E7. Basically open D string with a B note on the G and D note on the B string. Hit twice slide back a half step and back up then to the A7.