Topic: He calls that religion, Mississippi Sheiks.

[Dazza]

Hello everyone. Trying tonight to work out "He calls that religion." I am playing it in standard tuning, capo on second fret. G,C,G,E7,A7,D7,G. Would someone please tell me if I am close or way off beam. Any help much appreciated.
                                                          Daryl.

[frankie]

Hi Daryl - that's right in a relative sense, and if that key suits your voice, that'll work just fine.  All the guitarists who "did time" in the Mississippi Sheiks were pretty good at providing backup in flat keys, particularly F, B-flat and E-flat.  "He Calls That Religion" is played by the Sheiks in B-flat without a capo, and the chords would be (each chord gets 4 beats):

Code: [Select]

B-flat | B-flat | B-flat | B-flat |

E-flat | E-flat | B-flat | G      |

C7     | F      | B-flat | B-flat |
If you were to play the same progression in G with a capo on the third fret, you'd sound at the same pitch as B-flat, but play the following chords - very similar to what you're currently playing:

Code: [Select]

G      | G      | G      | G      |

C      | C      | G      | E      |

A7     | D      | G      | G      |
The overall harmony is the same, but the different chord positions give a different sound that what the Sheiks went for without the capo...    the choice is up to you, your comfort level and the kind of sound you're after.  I hope this helps.

[Dazza]

Thanks Frankie, for your detailed explanation. I'll try now to play it in B flat. 
           Daryl.

[uncle bud]

I'd just add that the Bb chord is the form at the sixth fret, not the first.

[Cleoma]

I am not sure I agree with that about the form at the 6th fret -- gotta go back and listen some more. Seems like I've heard it played at the 1st fret and sounded pretty much like the Sheiks.  It's a bit easier to get those bass runs, too.  Walter Vincson's (or however you spell it) guitar playing is fantastic!  Not flashy but totally gets the job done.   
Suzy

[frankie]

For this song, and most of the backup in B-flat, the "home" chord is at the 6th fret.  I'm not saying the 1st position isn't ever used, but that's the basic starting point for just about 99% of the accompaniments in B-flat, including this tune.  The bass runs are all very accessible, and the move to the IV chord is dead-simple.

E-flat (essentially a C chord, high E fingered with the pinky and moved up three frets, 3rd string rings open):

Code: [Select]

e -6-
B -4-
G -0-
D -5-
A -6-
E (6)

The bass run from B-flat to E-flat:

Code: [Select]

e --------------------------
B --------------------------
G --------------------------
D --8-----7-----6-----------
A --------------------8-----
E --------------------------


[Cleoma]

Cool! Thank you Frankie

[Dazza]

Thanks Uncle Bud for your tip about the Bb 6th position and thanks Frankie. I think I get it now. One thing I am not sure about though is, would they have been playing a full bar chord for the Bb and F or a partial bar and thumb over the top?
                                                     Thanks again, Daryl.
                                                   

[uncle bud]

Thumb over the top. Somewhere around here (and on youtube) there's some video of frankie playing this style of Sheiks accompaniment, I believe. A picture's worth a thousand words, but I can't find it!

[Slack]

Frankie's youtube channel is:

http://www.youtube.com/user/frankie12string

He must keep these culled for space or something - but plenty of examples

or his website:

http://donegone.net

[frankie]

I'm a thumb-over guy, myself.  Your own preferences and/or limitations should dictate that particular choice.

Youtube changed the look & feel of the channel homepages a while ago...  I haven't really studied up on the change, but the net effect appears to be to make it harder to find stuff...  (?)

Of the things that I've posted with Kim and Mike, these show a bit of accompaniment in B-flat:

If You Don't Want Me, Please Don't Dog Me 'Round


Baby, How Can It Be?


That Lonesome Train Took My Baby Away


None of them are exactly like 'He Calls That Religion', but many of the same moves are used (or similar).  One of these days we'll get around to posting HCTR - I love singing it...

[Dazza]

Thanks everyone for your help. Thanks Frankie. Didn't realise you were the guy I had watched on youtube before. Like your playing.
                                       

[frankie]

thanks, Daryl.  I didn't realize I was the guy you were watching on youtube, either!

[Parlor Picker]

Oh, we're all watching you, Frankie. There is no privacy... 

[ArthurBlake]

thanks, Daryl.  I didn't realize I was the guy you were watching on youtube, either!

Hi Frankie, I discovered your youtube stuff a while back and loved it, particularly Lemon's Crawlin' baby blues, I couldn't believe anyone knew how to play it, and what a job. I've since found John Miller teaching the song. Anyway I wanted to say G'day and love your work, I wish we had more like you downunder............... Greg