Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Mississippi John Hurt: The Guitar of
Mississippi John Hurt: The Guitar of
Mississippi John Hurt: The Guitar of
John Miller
Contents
You Got To Walk That Lonesome Valley ................................................................ 4 Worried Blues ................................................................................................................. 8 Avalon Blues ................................................................................................................ 12 Richland Woman Blues ............................................................................................ 15 Big Leg Blues ............................................................................................................... 19 Candyman .................................................................................................................... 23 Payday ........................................................................................................................... 29
Notes with downward stems are played by the thumb of the right hand. Notes with upward stems are played by the fingers of the right hand. Where two notes are connected by a slur, the letters H, P and SL indicate a hammer-on, a pull-off, or a slide. An arrow curved upwards ( ) and the letter B indicates that the note is bent, and an arrow curved downwards ( )indicates that
the stroke, relative to the strings represented by the lines in the tablature. The tablature employs the same methods of notating rhythm as does standard music notation. A quarter note () has the same duration as two eighth notes () or four sixteenth notes (). A single eighth note looks like and a single sixteenth note has a doubled flag (). Each of these note values has its own rest symbol, as wellthe quarter rest (), the eighth rest (), and the sixteenth rest (). A dot following a note or rest adds on one half of the note or rests rhythmic duration. An eighth note triplet ( ) divides one beat into three notes of equal duration. The 12/8 time signature has four beats per measure with each beat divided into three eighth notes. Thus the beat can be broken into three eighth notes (), a so-called broken triplet ( ), or one beat (.), the dotted quarter note. When a note is sustained or held across beats, the notes are connected by a tie (). Where two notes are tied, only the first note is plucked by the right handthe left hand continues to hold the position for the duration of the second note. Thus ties are helpful
not only for indicating how long notes should sustain, but also when the left hand should move. Good luck and have fun!
j C & #
VERSE
j j j
j0
0 0
3 0 3
3 0 3 2
j
0 3
j j
0
3 0 0
3 0
j j
3 0 0 2 0 0
# &
j
mute
5 0 0
j j
j
3 3 0 0 5 0
j
5 5 3 5 0
j
5 5 0 0 0
j
3 3 0
0 3 0
# &
SL
j j
j
7 0 7 7 7 7 5 7 0 0 0
j
7 7 0 0 0
j
5 5 0
j j
3 0
3 0 3 2
j
0
11
j # &
3 0
j j
3 0 0
j
3 0 0 2 0
j
0 3 0 2
j
3 3 0 0
14
# &
SL
7 0 0 0
j
7 0 7 7 7 7 5
j
5 5 0 0 7 7 0 5 0
j j
3 0 3
3 0 3 2
17
&
#
3 0 3
j
3 3
j j j
3 0
j0
0 0
VERSE TWO
3 0 3
3 0 3 2
j
0 3
3 0 0
20
# &
0
j j
j
3 0 0 2 0
j
0 3 0 0
j
3 3 0 0 5 0
j
5 5 3 5 0 5 0
23
j j # &
G
n
SL
j
0 5 5 0 0 0
j
3 3 0
j
7 0 7 7 7 7 5 7 0 0 0
j
7 7 0 0 0
j
5 5 0
26
&
#
3
j j
3 0
j j
3 0
3 0 3 2
j
0 3
3 0 0
j
3 0 0 2 0
j
0
29
# &
SL
7 0 0 0
j
3 0 0 3 0 0
j
7 0 7 7 7 7 5
j
5 5 0 0 7 7 0 5 0
32
&
#
3
j j
3 0 3
o
3 0 0 0 2 3
3 0
3 0 3 2
o
6
You got to walk that lonesome valley Well, you got to walk it for yourself Aint nobody else can walk it for you You got to walk that valley for yourself. My mother had to walk that lonesome valley Well, she had to walk it for herself Its nobody else could walk it for her Yes, she had to walk that valley for herself. Oh yes, you got to walk that lonesome valley Well, you got to walk it for yourself Its nobody else can walk it for you You got to walk that valley for yourself. My father had to walk that lonesome valley He had to walk it for hisself Its nobody else could walk it for him He had to walk that valley for hisself. Oh, Jesus had to walk that lonesome valley He had to walk it for hisself Its nobody else could walk it for him He had to walk that valley for hisself. Oh yes, you got to walk that lonesome valley Well, you got to walk it for yourself Its nobody else can walk it for you You got to walk that valley for yourself.
Worried Blues
Worried Blues, played in A, standard tuning, was transcribed from Rounder CD 1082. It is one of John Hurts most intense performances on record, and he really sounds like he is going for broke instrumentally and vocally. The short second line in the verses adds a note of urgency.
### C . j j j j j j j j j j j j n n n n . &
A INTRO
. 2j 2j 2j 0j .0 4 2 4
j j n j n j
D
j j j j
5 0 4 0 2 2 2 2 0
j j j j
2 4 2 2 2 4 0
&
###
2 3
A j j
j j j j
5 0 4 0 2 2 4 2 0
j
2 3 0 0 2 3 0 3 2 0 3 0 0 2 3 0
j j 0 3
0 2
&
###
5 2 0 2 2 2 0 2 5 5 2 2
j n j j n
5 2 0 2
Bm
j j j
2 4 0 3 0 2 0 0 2 2 2 0 0
j
2
10
### j j &
A
j j . .
j
###
0 2 0 2 2 2 0 0
j
2
j
5 2 2 2 2 0 0 5 5 2 2 0 5 2 2
j j
5 0 5 5 2 2
. .
13
&
3 j j j j j j j j 2 j j j j j j C n #
VERSE
j j j j
2 3 4 2 2 2 4 2 0
j j j j
2 4 2 0 2 4 2 0
j j j j j j
2 4 2 0 2 4 2 0 2 4 2
16
### C &
SL
j Aj
5 0 0 0 5 0
5 0
7 7 0
5 0
j j 0
0 2
j
5 2 2 2 2 0 0 5 5 2 2
19
### j &
5 2 0 2
Bm
j
2 2 0 4 2 0 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 0 0
j
2
22
&
###
j j
j j j j
j
5 2 2 2 2 0 0 5 5 2 2 0 5 2 2
j j
5 0 5 5 2 2
INTERLUDE
j j j j
2 4 2 2 4 2
2 0
25
D ### j j j j &
SL
n j
j j j j
2 2 4 2 2 2 4 2 0 5 0
j
7 7 0 5 5 0 7 7 0 5 7 0 8 0 7
SL
28
j ### j &
j n j j n
5
Bm
j5
2 2 2 0
j
5 5 2 2 0 2 2
j j j
2 4 0 3 0 2 0 0 2 2 2 0 0
j
2
31
### j j &
A
j j j w w ow w w
j
0 2 0 2 2 2 0 0
j
2
j
5 2 2 2 2 0 0 5 5 2 2 0 5 2 2
j j
5 0 5 5 2 2
5 2 2 2 0
10
WORRIED BLUES
(Rounder CD 1082) Dont your home look lonesome when your baby pack up and leave? Home look so lonesome Dont your home look lonesome when your baby pack up and leave? Home look so lonesome when your baby pack up and leave Home look lonesome Home look so lonesome when your baby pack up and leave. Dont the sun look lonesome shining down through the trees? Dont the sun look lonesome? Sun look so lonesome shining down through the trees. Oh, tell me, baby, whats the matter now? I want to know Oh, Lordy, baby, tell me whats the matter now? Is you gonna quit your daddy anyhow? Is you gonna quit your Is you gonna quit your daddy anyhow? Baby, thats all right, thats all right for you Baby, thats all right Baby, thats all right, honey, thats all right for you. Well, you know I love you any way you do You know I love you You know I love you any old way you do. I want to know whats the matter, something going on wrong Tell me whats the matter, baby Went away last night and you stayed out all night long. Honey, thats all right, thats all right for you Baby, thats all right I love you, baby, any old way you do. Well the sun going down, aint this a lonesome place? Sun going down Sun going down, aint this a lonesome place? I feel so lonely, cant see my babys face (Guitar plays line) So lonesome here, I cant see my babys face. Well, Lordy, baby, please dont put me down Please You are the sweetest girl in town. Dont your home look lonesome when your baby pack up and leave? Home look so lonesome Home look lonesome when your baby pack up and leave.
11
Avalon Blues
Avalon Blues was transcribed from Rounder CD 1081, and is played out of E, standard tuning. It is exceptionally fun to play and the signature lick really works its way under your skin. Like some of Robert Wilkinss songs, Avalon Blues has a form which is simultaneously original and completely natural.
&
####
j n #
j j
0 2 2 0 0 0
INTRO
2 0
j
0
1 2
j0
j n #
2 2
0 2 0 0
j
0
1 2
j # # # # j j j 6 j & n # 4
0 2 2 0 0 0
j0
2 2
0 2 0 0
j
0
1 2
2 2
j0
0
2 2
0 2 0
j E # # # # C j &
VERSE
j 4j
4
j %
j n #
j
4 0 4 0 2 2 4 4 4 2 2 4 0 2 0 0 0
j
0
1 2
12
10
E j # # # # j j j 6 j C & n # 4
2 2
j0
0
2 2
0 2 0 0
j
0
1 2
2 2
j0
0
2 2
0 7
SL
13
A # # # # C j j j &
0 7 4 7 7 4 0
j 0j
6
j
0 7 5 0 6
n j #
j
2 0 0 0
1 2
16
E j # # # # j j n j # 6 j & 4 C
2 2
j0
0
2 2
0 2 0 0
j
0
1 2
2 2
j0
0
2 2
0 2 0
19
B # # # # C j j &
j
2 0 2
j j j
j
2 0 2 2 0 2 2
n j #
0 2
0 2 0 0
j
0
1 2
13
22
E Fine j # # # # j j j 6 j C & n # 4
####
2 2
j0
0
2 2
0 2 0 0
j
0
1 2
2 2
j0
0
2 2
0 2 0
25
&
VERSE TWO
j j C
E
j 4j
4
j To %
D.S. al Fine
4 0
2 4
2 4
AVALON BLUES
(Rounder CD 1081) Avalon my home town, always on my mind (2x) Pretty mamas in Avalon want me there all the time (2x) When I left Avalon, throwing kisses and waving at me (2x) Says, Come back, Daddy, and stay right here with me. (2x) Avalon my home town, got no great big rain Avalon my home town Avalon my home town, got no great big rain. Pretty mamas in Avalon sure will spend your change Pretty mamas in Avalon Pretty mamas in Avalon sure will spend your change.
14
& C
INTRO
# j .
SL
j
1 3 1 1 1 1 3 1
j
4
j
1 3 2 0 0 3 2
# j &
SL
j
4
0 0
3 0 3
3 0 3 3
3 0
1 0
j j 6 & 4 .
C
C
0 3 3 1 1 1 0 3 3 3
0 1 3 2
0 2 3 3
3 2
3 3 1 0
1 1
15
10
& C
1
j
0 3 0 3 2 3 0 2 1 0 3 3 0 2 0
3 0 3
3 0 3
13
&
1 0
j #
j
3
F
VERSE
j
0 0 2 4
3 0
1 3 2
1 0
1 0 3
3 0
16
&
1
j
1 3 1 1 1 3 1
0 3
j
3 3 1 1 3 2 0 0 3 2
19
j &
j
3 0 0 2 1 0 3 3 0 2 0
3 0 3
3 0 3 3
3 0
1 0
16
22
&
0 1 3
j j j j
j
3 2 3 2
j
5 5
j
3 2
0 2
j
2 3 1
j
1 1 3 1
25
&
j
1
G
j
1 3 2 1 3 2 0 0 3 2 3
j
0 0 2 1 0 3 3 0 2 0
2 3
1 1
28
&
j
0
w w w w ow
0 1 0 2 3
3 0 3
3 0 3 3
j0
0
j
3 0 1 3 2 0 0 3 2
17
Give me red lipstick and a bright poppy rouge A shingle-bob haircut and a shot of good booze. (Chorus:) Hurry down, sweet daddy, come blowing your horn If you come too late, sweet mama will be gone. Stop at the fashion shop, get the one looks best Your own sweet mama wants a brand new dress. (Chorus) Red rooster says (guitar finishes verse and chorus) Red rooster says, Cock-a-doodle-doo-doo The Richland woman says, Any dude will do. (Chorus) Repeat verse 2 and chorus Dress skirt cut high, then they cut low Dont think Im a sport? Keep on watching me go! (Chorus) Every Sunday morning, church, watch me go My wings are sprouted out, the preacher told me so. (Chorus) Come along, young man, everythings sitting right My husbands going away til next Saturday night. (Chorus)
18
&
##
n # n
2 0 1 0 2 0 1 0
# n #
2 0 1 2 1 2 0 2 3 2 3 0
j
3
INTRO
j0
0
3 0 3
# # j j j j &
D
j j
j0
0
j
3 3 0 2
j
0 0
j2 3
3 2 0 0
j2 3
j
0 3 0 2 3 2 3 0
A D j j j # # j j j & n # J
j j
j5
2 2 0
5 2
j
2 0
j j
3 2 2
0 3 J
19
j2 3 3 0
2
j2 2 2 3 3 3 0 0
j
0 0
11
# # j &
G VERSE
j j
2 0 0 0
j0
0
j
3 3 0 3 0 2
j0
0
3 0
3 0
14
# # j &
j
2 0 0 3 0 2 3 2 3 0 0
j
3 2 0 0 3 3 3 0
j
0 2
j
3 0 0 3 3 0 3 3 0
17
# & #
2 0 0 0
j
0 3 3 0 3 2 0 0 3 0 2 3 2 3 0 0 0 0
j
2 5 2 2 2 0 2
20
D j # # j j j j &
j j
5 2 2
j
2 0
j
2 4
j
2 0
j2 3
20
3 2 0 0
j2 3
j
2 0 0 2 3 2 3 0
23
D # # j & SOLO
SL
5 0
j j j n # n #
SL
j5
0
5 0
7 0
j5
0
SL
j
3 0 3 0 1 0
j
2 0 1
5 0
2 0
26
# # n # n j # &
H
j
2 2 0 3 0 1
j
H
# j n .
j
2 0 3 3 3 0 2
##
1 0
2 0
0 2
j0 3 .3
29
&
2 0 0 0
A j j j
j j
j
2 0 3 3 0 3 2 0 0 3 0 2 3 0 0
j
0 3 0
j
2 2 0
j
5 2 2 0 5 2
j
2
32
j j ## & J n #
5 2
3 2
j2 3
21
3 2 0 0
j2 3
2 3
2 3 0 0
Raise up, baby, get your big leg off of mine (2x) It's so heavy make a good man change his mind. I asked you, baby, come and hold my head (2x) Sent me word that youd rather see me dead. Im going, Im going, crying wont make me stay (2x) More you cry, further you drive me away. Some crave high yellow, I like black and brown (2x) Black wont quit you, brown wont let you down. It was late at midnight, the moon shined bright like day (2x) I seen your faro going up the right of way.
22
Candyman
Transcribed from Rounder CD 1081, Candyman is played out of A, standard tuning, and is a real tour de force. The solo is huge, and I know very little in the way of anything to compare it to in the style. Probably the piece closest to it is an instrumental by the Tennessee guitarist, Sam McGee, called Sally Long. The variety and unexpected nature of John Hurts thumbwork on Candyman make it a real challenge to play.
j j j j j ### C c & e
E/A INTRO
SL
j
12 12 9
2 9 9 2 9 9
10 0
9 9
j 12
0
j
9 9 9 0
j 12
9
j
9 0 10 10 9 9
j j ### &
A/D
9 10 0
9 10 0
j
0
D
9 9
j 10
0 0 0
j
9 10 0 9 10 10 0
j
E
10 0
9 10
9 9 10 10 0
&
###
5 7
j j J
j
5 7 0
j
5 7 5 7 5 7 0
j
0 5 6
0 6
0 4
j
3 4
J2
23
10
&
###
j j
4 2
j
###
2 0 2 2 4 3 2
j
5 2 0 2 3 3 2 0 0
j
3 0
j
3 0 2 0
j
2
A
13
&
j n
j n
j j
j
2 0
2 2 0
3 2
j
2 4 3 2
j
5 2 0 2 3 3 2 0 0
j
3
16
### &
4 2
j n
j
3 0 0 2 0
j
2 2 0
j
5 2 2 0
j
3 2 5
19
### &
VERSE
j
H
j
0
j
3 2 2
j
0 2 0
2 0
3 2
2 0
3 0
24
22
# # # j & n
H
j j
4 2
j
3 2 2 2 4 3 2 0
j
3 3 2 0 0
j
3 0
j
3 0 2 0
j
2
###
2 0
25
&
j n
j
2 0
j
3 2 2 0 5 2
j
0 5 0
2 2 0
2 0
3 2
28
# # # j &
H
j
H
j
3 2 2
j
0 2 0
j
3 2 2 2 4 3
2 0
2 0
3 2
2 0
31
### &
j j
4 2
0 2
SL
j
2 0 3 3 2 0 0
j
3 3 3 0
5 2 2 0 2
25
34
### &
e
SOLO
SL
E/A
j j
10 0
j
5 4 2 5 5
j
12 0 9 0 12 9 9 9 9
e
0
2 2
9 9
j 12
0
j
9 9 9
37
j j ### &
j
12 0
A/D
9 10
j 12 9
j
9 0 10 10 9 9 9 9
j 10
0 0 0
j
9 10 0 9 10 9 0
40
j ### &
j
E
j
A
j
5 7 5 7 5 7 0
10 0
10 9
10 9 0
9 0
5 7
5 7 0
0 6
43
# # # j j & J
j n
j j
j
0 3 0 4
j
3 4
j
2 0 2 2 4 3 2
j
3 3 2 0 0
j
3
26
46
### &
4 2
j n
j
3 0 0 2 0
j
2 2 0
j
5 2 2 0
3 2 2
j
2 2 4 3
49
### &
j j
4 2
j n
j
2
j
3 2 0 0 3 0
j
3 0 2 0
j
2 2 0
j
5 2 2 0
3 2 2
52
### &
5 0
j .
j
5 2 5 0 2
j
2
INTERLUDE
5 4
5 4 3 3 2
j
2 2 4 3
55
### &
0 3
5 0 2
j
2
j
5 4 3 5 5 3
5 2 0 2
5 4
27
58
### &
0 3
4 3
5 0
o
5 2 2 2 0
j
2 5 5 2 0 4 2
CANDYMAN
5 2 0 2
(Rounder CD 1081)
Well, all you ladies, gather round Good sweet candymans in town Its the candyman. Hes got stick candy thats nine inches long He sells as fast, a hog can chew his corn Its the candyman Its the candyman. Well, you all heard what Sister Jones said She always take the candy stick to bed Its the candyman. Well, you and the candyman, youre getting mighty slick Umm hmm, umm hmm You must be stuck on the candymans stick Umm hmm, umm hmm Well, all you ladies, gather round The good sweet candymans in town Its the candyman Its the candyman. Hey, his stick candy dont melt away It just gets better so the ladies say Its the candyman. You and the candyman are getting mighty slick Umm hmm, umm hmm You must be stuck on the candymans stick Umm hmm, umm hmm
28
Payday
Played in open D tuning, this version of Payday comes from Rounder CD 1100. It has a beautiful ruminative quality and the fact that there are no chord changes just adds to the trance-like feeling it evokes. I could easily imagine the melody in African or Asian music.
## C &
H
SL
SL
0 0
0 0
4 0 0 0 0 0
0 0
4 0 0 0
# & #
SL
j j 6 4
j
0 0 0
j
4 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
j
2 0 0 0 0
2 0
0 0
## 6 & 4
0
j j j j
0 0 0
j 0j j
0 0 0 0
j
7 7 0 0 0
SL
7 9
9 0
29
11
# & #
0 0
SL
7 0 0
SL
0 0
j
9 9 0 0 0
14
2 0 0
4 0
7 0
2 0
0 0
## &
SL
j j
j
H
SL
j
0 0 0
17
2 0
4 0 0 0 0
4 0
2 0
0 0 0
2 0
## &
SL
SL
j
SL
j
20
j
4 0 0
0 0 0
2 0
0 0
4 0
4 0
2 0
0 0
&
##
j j e
SL
j
4 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
2 0
0 0
4 0
j
0 0
SL
4 0 0
30
23
# & #
0 2 2 0
j
H
j
H
9 0 0 0
26
0 0
2 0
0 0 0
2 0
## &
7 0
j j j
0 0
SL
j
0 0 0
j
0 0
j
0 0
j
7 7 0 0 0 7
SL
29
9 0
&
##
7 0
SL
SL
j
0 0 0 0 0
32
2 0
0 0
2 0
4 0 0 0
# # j j &
j
H
SL
j
0 0 0
j
0 0 0 0
4 0
2 0
0 0 0
2 0
2 0
31
35
# & #
VERSE
j
0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
38
&
##
j
2
SL
41
0 0 0 0
j0
0
0 2 2 0
4 0
2 0
0 0
2 0
## &
9 0 0 0
7 0
44
0 0 0
0 0
2 0
j
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
&
##
SL
0 0
SL
7 0 0 0
SL
7 0 0 0 0
9 0
7 0
9 0
32
47
# & #
0 0
SL
j
50
0 2 2 0
j
H
0 0
2 0
0 0
2 0
4 0 0
2 0
0 0
2 0
## &
j
H
j
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0
2 0
2 0
0 0
PAYDAY
(Rounder CD 1100) I done all I could do and I cant get along with you Im gonna take you to your Mama, pay day Pay day, pay day Im gonna take you to your Mama, pay day. Just about a week ago, I stole me a ham of meat Im gonna keep my skillet greasy if I can If I can, if I can. Well, the rabbit in the log, I aint got no rabbit dog Lord, I hate to see that rabbit get away Get away, get away Lord, I hate to see that rabbit get away. Well, Ive did all I can do and I cant get along with you Im gonna take you to your Mama, pay day Pay day, pay day. Repeat last verse
33