That's the best thing that could be happening. In a three-chord song (key of G) when you hear a chord change--or what you think is a chord change--you've got two choices: C or D. (We're taking for granted that the first chord is G. But that's not always true. Having these songs go through your head day and night seems to be part of the learning process. I wrote the arrangement so that any listener would here the melody clearly. 5-string Banjo TAB for You are My Sunshine. Is your family sick of hearing Skip To My Lou, Polly Wolly Doodle, and Go Tell Aunt Rhody?
Exceptions include Rawhide, Salty Dog, Old Homeplace, any song with a minor in it, including Foggy Mountain Breakdown, and all the songs with an F like Little Maggie and Love Come Home. I hear it all the time! " Hello, all you hard-working chord changers out there! Most of them had too many chords! When I was younger, I remember seeing him at bluegrass festivals in GA a time or two. So forget I even mentioned it. You're beginning to understand how to listen and what to listen for, even if you can't articulate what it is you're hearing. Which are open 4th, open 3rd, and second fret on 3rd. First, strum a G chord to get the pitch of the song in your head. You are my Sunshine is a three chord song. Anyhow, in my pre-banjo days, it was the words to the songs that stuck with me.
If D doesn't sound right, try C. If C doesn't sound right, try D. If neither of those sounds right, go back to G. Maybe there wasn't a change there after all! The word "sun" is a B note, open 2nd. Like many bluegrass songs, the verses in You Are My Sunshine have the same chord progression as the chorus. The TAB uses only a few basic banjo rolls-your forward roll and alternating thumb roll. You can play almost all of the bluegrass songs ever written! Because then you'll just go by the rules and always try C first. Because it's good for strumming. But enough about me…. When the song starts, you don't play on these.
But I don't want you to be thinking of that as any kind of rule. You are my) sunshine, my only sunshine. Of course, they did it in the key of D (using D tuners), and that's a whole nuther subject. I'd go hear Gamble every chance I got, which meant staying out late, skipping classes, buying a motorcycle, and eventually dropping out of college. Now, there are "scads and oodadlins" of bluegrass songs that start in G and then go to C. It's a very common change. With the C chord and You Are My Sunshine, you are now officially acquainted with the Three Main Chords of bluegrass: G, C, and D. With those three chords (and a capo! ) By the way, if you want to hear a funky instrumental version of this song check out the version J. D. Crowe cut with Jimmy Martin. "You are my banjo, my only banjo/You make me happy when skies are grey/You'll never know, dear, how much I love you/Please don't take my banjo away! COURSE HOME (members). Back to G on "love. "
The changes are listed at the bottom of the column. Doing songs with three chords doesn't change the process, it just gives you more chords to choose from. Please don't take my sunshine away. So I had Gamble's songs going through my mind constantly. Our first three-chord song is one I think you'll know-You Are My Sunshine by Jimmy Davis, former governor of Louisiana, and Charles Mitchell.
Some history about You are my Sunshine: You are my Sunshine was copy written by Jimmy Davis & Charles Mitchell in 1939. Quite a contrast to "Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling…") I tried to play Gamble's songs on the guitar, but, guess what? Chord changes: Start in G. Change to C on "happy. " We'll be using C in the first position (found in any beginning banjo instruction-you could probably Google it! ) Since you've got the hang of working with two chords, let's bring in the C chord. You Are My Sunshine – get the tab. Change to C again on "know. " Video of "You Are my Sunshine" for 5-string banjo.
So, as always, I want you to get your banjo out, and start singing and strumming. Remember, it's still a guessing game, a process of trial and error. Gene Autry sang this classic song in his movie Back in the Saddle again. Legend has it a man from Lagrange, GA named Oliver Hood wrote the tune at an earlier point in time. If the sounds are the same, likely the chord changes are the same, too.
Delete, delete, delete. I hope to see some of you there! You'll never know dear, how much I love you. And Hank Williams's non-bluegrass classic, Jambalaya. Online Banjo Lessons - Learn banjo today! I want you to work out the possibilities by yourself. Mid-West Banjo Camp, Lansing, MI, June 2-4.
How fast you sing these determines how fast the rest of the song goes. If you're having trouble finding and singing the pickup notes they are D, G, and A. It was great training-and great fun! You make me happy, when skies are grey. 9 Ways to Practice Smarter (FREE book & video). California Bluegrass Camp, Grass Valley, CA, June 11-14.
All you need to know are your G, C, and D chords. You'll notice the first three words are in parentheses. As a prerequisite, the major ornamentation you need to know is a pull-off. Tom Adams also recorded the tune on his Right Hand Man CD. BREAKTHROUGH BANJO COURSE. And look out for patterns. Hmmm, maybe we could talk about transposing sometime… the chording part…hmmm. ) If not, you've been slacking!
It just seems like the chord should change there. This was back in my University of Georgia days, back when I was a pre-med student with a 12-string guitar. 10 EASY but AWESOME banjo tabs (free). June 2006: First Three-Chord Song. Also, if you've been working with the other songs, your ear is developing. I trust we can print the words to the chorus without violating any copyright laws. Nevertheless, I played what I could and faked the rest. Many people don't know this, but the song wasn't written by Jimmy Davis, he simply purchased the rights to it. One of my local students came in the other day and said, "I can't get Skip To My Lou out of my mind! Click To Download The Tab.
It's also included in the Jimmy Martin boxed set.