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Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999 18:20:34 +0100 (BST)
From: Howard Wright
Subject: m/mitchell_joni/cotton_avenue.tab
Cotton Avenue - Joni Mitchell
---------------------------------
From the album "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter"
Transcribed by Howard Wright
Howard.Wright@ed.ac.uk
Tuning
------
In Joni notation: C 93525
Note names (low to high): C A C F G C
This is a difficult song to reproduce on the guitar for a few reasons. Firstly, there are
several overdubbed guitar parts on the original. I'm fairly sure that these all use the same
tuning but they don't play exactly the same parts, so there are contrasting notes and chords
which thicken the sound. This is especially true in the introduction where there are (I
think) four different guitars playing. The differences between the guitar parts give a rich
texture to the introduction. There's no way to get quite the same sound on one guitar - what
I've written out is the "essence" of the introduction, which should give the overall feel
and sound of the intro.
More importantly, the original recording uses 12-string guitars. As usual on a 12-string,
the lowest four pairs of strings are tuned in octaves and the top two pairs are tuned in
unison. This means that the upper octave string of the 3rd pair actually has a higher pitch
than the top pair of strings. In other words, on a 12-string tuned to CACFGC, when the open
strings are strummed the highest pitch you hear is the F that comes from the high-octave
string of the 3rd pair. This pitch is higher than the C of the top strings - it's equivalent
to fretting the top strings at the 5th fret.
So what does this all mean? Playing the song on a 6-string guitar won't sound quite the same
because the higher-octave notes from the 3rd-6th strings are missing. In particular, on the
barre chords like 555555, the top note you hear on a 6-string won't be the same as the
original - the octave strings on the 12-string make the difference.
For some parts, a 6-string will sound almost as good, but for other parts, and the
introduction in particular, the high-octave notes from the 12-string are an important part
of the sound. If you try it out, you'll see what I mean.
One way to approximate the 12-string sound might be to get a friend to play the same part
but 12 frets higher! (Maybe not very easy though ...!)
One other variation on the guitars used for the original (just to make things *really*
complicated!) is the fact that of the 4 guitars audible on the intro, 3 of them are normal
12-strings and the 4th sounds like it has *only* the upper octave strings for the 3rd-6th
strings. In other words it's a 6-string guitar 9in CACFGC tuning) with the bottom four
strings tuned an octave higher than usual. I haven't tried restringing my guitar with the
right strings to try this out, but it might be fun!
This guitar has a much higher and brighter sound than the other 12-strings because it
doesn't play any of the low notes. There are parts of the intro where the other 12 strings
come in and out of the mix, sometimes leaving this high-strung 6-string on its own. You can
hear a distinct change in sound at these points (e.g the bits labelled "Point A" and "Point
B" below)
OK, onto the music. I've written out tablature for the intro, with the basic chord shapes
that are used written above the tablature. In a few places I've added a note underneath the
tablature to show where one of the other guitars plays an extra chord or note that is not in
the "main" guitar part.
For the parts with singing I've mostly just written out the chords. The chords 5554xx and
8887xx are used quite lot - I don't hear the open strings being played much with these
shapes, but it doesn't make a big difference if you use the open strings and play 555400
888700.
For the short riffs on the bottom string that appear throughout the song you can get a
somewhat 12-string like sound on a 6-string by playing them as octaves on the 4th and 6th
strings. E.g instead of playing:
C-------------------
G-------------------
F-------------------
C-------------------
A-------------------
C---0--3--5-5-5-5-5-
you can play:
C-------------------
G-------------------
F-------------------
C---0--3--5-5-5-5-5-
A-------------------
C---0--3--5-5-5-5-5-
b indicates a bend
/ indicates a slide
<12> indicates a harmonic (e.g at the 12th fret)
x<77777> means play the top 5 strings as harmonics at the 7th fret.
Intro:
------
(Free tempo)
222222 xx3333 555555
C---<12>------5/7--7------5----2-------------------2--0--3--3---5-----
G--------<12>-------------------2------2-----------2--0--3--3---5-----
F--------------------------------2------2----------2--0--3--3---5-----
C---------------------------------2------2---------2-----3--3---5-----
A----------------------------------2------2---------------------------
C-----------------------------------2------2----2---------------------
^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2nd guitar plays slow strums from top to
harmonic at the bottom string
5th fret, top string
222222 3333xx x77xxx
C----5------2--2---2----------------------------------------------------
G----5--5---2--2--------------------------------------------------------
F----5--5---2--2--------------3-----3-----------------------------------
C----5--5---2--2--------------3--5-----3--------------7--7--7--7--7--7--
A----5--5---2-----------------------------3-3-3-3-3/7-7--7--7--7--7--7--
C--5--------2---------2--0--3-------------------------------------------
0x7777 777777
C------------7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7-------7---------------
G------------7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--------7--------------
F------------7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7---------7-------------
C------------7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7----------7------------
A------------------------------------------------------------7-----------
C---7--7--0---------------------------------------------------7----------
^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Second guitar slow strum from top
plays xx5555 to bottom string
tempo:
777777 5554xx 3332xx 5554xx
C-----------------------------------------------0---------------
G--------------0--------------------------------0---------------
F--------------4--4----------2---------------4--0---------------
C---7-------5--0--5--5----3--3------3-----5--5------------------
A---7-------5--------5-------3----3-3-----5---------------------
C-------0---5-------------3-----3-------5-----------------------
555555 222222 3332xx 5554xx
C--5-----------------5---------2-----------------------------------
G--5--5--------5--5--5--5------2-----------------------------------
F--5--5-----5--5--5--5--5--0---2--------------------------2---4----
C-----5-----5--5--5-----5--0---2--------------------------3---5----
A-----5--5--5--------------0---2--------------------------3---5----
C--5-----5-----------------0---2---2-2--0-2-2--0-2-2---3------5----
^^^^^^^^^^
Point A - sound changes
as 12-strings enter
7776xx 222222 333333 555555 222222 2xxxxx 3xxxxx 5xxxxx
C------------------2--2------3------5-----------2-------------------------------
G------------------2--2------3------5--5-5-5----2-------------------------------
F--6--6--6---------2--2------3------5--5-5-5----2-------------------------------
C--7--7--7--7------2--2------3------5--5-5-5----2-------------------------------
A-----------7--7---2----------------5--5-5-5----2-------------------------------
C--7--7--7--7--7---2-------3------5-------------------2--2----0-3--3----0-5--5--
077777 8887xx 777777
C-----7--7-----7--7-----7--7-----------------------7-----7---------
G-----7--7-----7--7-----7--7-----------------------7-----7---------
F-----7--7-----7--7-----7--7-----------------------7-----7---------
C-----7--7---7-7--7---7-7--7------8--------8----7--7-----7---------
A-----7------7-7--7---7-7--7------8-----8--8----7-----7------------
C--0--0--------0--------0-------0-8--8--8-------7-----7------------
^^^^^^^^^
Point B - sound changes as
12 strings stop playing, leaving
just the 6 string guitar
5554xx x22222 x33333 x55555
(free tempo ...)
C----------------------------------------2--2--2---3--3--3---5--5--5--5-----
G----------------------------------------2--2--2---3--3--3---5--5--5--5-----
F------4------------4--4--4--4-----------2--2--2---3--3--3---5--5--5--5--etc
C------5-----5------5--5--5--5--etc------2--2--2---3--3--3---5--5--5--5-----
A------5---5-5------5--5--5--5-----------2--2--2---3---------5--------------
C---5----5-------0--5--5--5--5----------------------------------------------
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
here, one of the other guitars
strums x776xx at the same time
x22222 xx3333 xx55555 x77777
C--0--2--2------3--3-------5--5--5--5--5------------------------------
G--0--2--2------3--3-------5--5--5--5--5---------7--------------------
F--0--2--2------3--3-------5--5--5--5--5-------7-----7----------------
C-----2--2-----------------5--5--5--5--5---------------7--------------
A-----2--------------------------------------------7------------------
C-----------2-2------3--5--------------0---0--------------------------
^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^
2nd guitar 2nd guitar 2nd guitar
plays xxxxx12 plays xxx999 plays 5xxxxx
*******************************
The Big Bass Note comes here!
*******************************
tempo:
8887xx 77777x 5554xx 444444
C------------------------------------------------4----------
G------------------------------------------------4--4--4----
F---7------------7--7----------4--4--------4--4--4--4--4----
C---8------8--7--7--7--7----------5----5---4--4-----4--4----
A----------8--7--7-----7--7-------5----5---4--4-----4--4----
C------8-8----7-----------7----5-----5-----4--4--------4----
5554xx 8887xx 030200 5xxxxx
C------------------------------------0----------------------
G------------------------------------0----------------------
F------4---4--4----7------7-------X--2----------------------
C---5--5---5--5----8------8-------X-------------------------
A---5--5------5----8---8--8-------X-------------------------
C---5--5------5----8---8--8----0--X-------0-3---5-5-5-5-5---
x<55555> x<77777> 5xxxxx x<12 12 12 12 12> x<55555> x<77777>
C---<5>-------<7>---------------------------<12>------<5>---<7>----
G---<5>-------<7>---------------------------<12>------<5>---<7>----
F---<5>---X---<7>---------------------------<12>------<5>---<7>----
C---<5>---X---<7>---------------------------<12>------<5>---<7>----
A---<5>---X---<7>---------------------------<12>------<5>---<7>----
C---------X------------0-3---5-5-5-5-5-----------------------------
0xxxxx 3xxxxx 5xxxxx 7xxxxx 077777
(free tempo ...)
C----------------------------------------7--7--7--7------------
G----------------------------------------7--7--7--7------------
F----------------------------------------7--7--7--7--etc-------
C----------------------------------------7--7--7--7------------
A----------------------------------------7--7-----7------------
C--0---3--5-5-5----0--5-5---0--7-7----0------------------------
xx2222 xx3333 xx5555 xx2222 xx3333 xx5555
C--2----3----5--5--5--5----2----3----5------2---3--5--5--5--
G--2----3----5--5--5--5----2----3----5------2---3--5--5--5--etc, ad lib
F--2----3----5--5--5--5----2----3----5------2---3--5--5--5--
C--2----3----5--5--5--5----2----3----5------2---3--5--5--5--
A-----------------------------------------------------------
C-----------------------5-----------------------------------
xx9999 xx5555
C--9----5-------------------
G--9----5-------------------
F--9----5-------------------
C--9----5-------------------
A---------------------------
C---------------------------
The above two chord are played just at the point where the vocals
start singing "eeeeeeeeeee"
Drums enter:
------------
tempo:
3xxxxx 0xxxxx 3xxxxx 5xxxxx x<55555> x<77777> 0xxxxx 3xxxxx 5xxxxx
C--------------------------------<5>----<7>--------------------------
G--------------------------------<5>----<7>--------------------------
F--------------------------------<5>----<7>--------------------------
C--------------------------------<5>----<7>--------------------------
A--------------------------------<5>----<7>--------------------------
C---3----0---0--3--5-5-5-5-5---------------------0--3----5-5-5-5-5---
xx<12 12 12 12> x<55555> x<77777> 0xxxxx 3xxxxx 5xxxxx 7xxxxx
C---<12>-------<5>----<7>---------------------------------------------
G---<12>-------<5>----<7>---------------------------------------------
F---<12>-------<5>----<7>---------------------------------------------
C---<12>-------<5>----<7>---------------------------------------------
A---<12>-------<5>----<7>---------------------------------------------
C---------------------------------0----3----5-5-5----0--5-5----0--7-7-
VERSE:
------
077777 333333 555555
A red ...
5554xx 8887xx
And...
3xxxxx 0xxxxx
sweet ...
C--------------------
G--------------------
F--------------------
C--------------------
A--------------------
C--0--3--5-5-5-5-5---
077777 333333 555555
You ...
5554xx 8887xx
That's ...
3xxxxx 0xxxxx
With ...
C--------------------<5>---<7>---------------------
G--------------------<5>---<7>---------------------
F--------------------<5>---<7>---------------------
C--------------------<5>---<7>---------------------
A--------------------<5>---<7>---------------------
C--0--3--5-5-5-5-5--------------0-3---5-5---0--5-5-
Chorus:
-------
555555 077777
If ...
333333 10 10 10 10 10 10 3xxxxx 0xxxxxx
If ...
C-------------------<5>--<7>--------------------<12>---<5>--<7>------
G-------------------<5>--<7>--------------------<12>---<5>--<7>------
F-------------------<5>--<7>--------------------<12>---<5>--<7>------
C-------------------<5>--<7>--------------------<12>---<5>--<7>------
A-------------------<5>--<7>--------------------<12>---<5>--<7>------
C--0--3--5-5-5-5-5------------0-3---5-5-5-5-5------------------------
C-----------------------------------
G-----------------------------------
F-----------------------------------
C-----------------------------------
A-----------------------------------
C---0--3-5-5-5---0-5-5--0-7-7-------
Bridge
-------
8887xx 777777
I ...
5554xx 444444 5554xx 8887xx
Ripe ....
077777
Cotton ..
C----------------------------------------
G----------------------------------------
F----------------------------------------
C----------------------------------------
A----------------------------------------
C---0--3----5-5---0--7-7-----------------
8887xx 777777
To ..
5554xx 444444 5554xx
See ...
8887xx 3xxxxx 0xxxxxx
Anytime...
C--------------------<5>---<7>---------------------
G--------------------<5>---<7>---------------------
F--------------------<5>---<7>---------------------
C--------------------<5>---<7>---------------------
A--------------------<5>---<7>---------------------
C--0--3--5-5-5-5-5--------------0-3---5-5-5-5-5----
Chorus:
-------
555555
If ..
077777
You ..
333333
If ..
10 10 10 10 10 10 3xxxxx 0xxxxxx
Well ...
C-------------------<5>--<7>--------------------<12>---<5>--<7>----
G-------------------<5>--<7>--------------------<12>---<5>--<7>----
F-------------------<5>--<7>--------------------<12>---<5>--<7>----
C-------------------<5>--<7>--------------------<12>---<5>--<7>----
A-------------------<5>--<7>--------------------<12>---<5>--<7>----
C--0--3--5-5-5-5-5------------0-3---5-5-5-5-5----------------------
C-----------------------------------
G-----------------------------------
F-----------------------------------
C-----------------------------------
A-----------------------------------
C---0--3-5-5-5---0-5-5--0-7-7-------
Bridge
-------
8887xx 777777 5554xx
You ..
444444 5554xx 8887xx
By ..
3xxxxx 0xxxxxx 5xxxxx 7xxxxx
To ..
8887xx 777777
Poor ..
5554xx 444444 5554xx
They ..
8887xx 3xxxxx 077777 5xxxxx
While ..
C---<5>------<7>---------------------------
G---<5>------<7>---------------------------
F---<5>------<7>---------------------------
C---<5>------<7>---------------------------
A---<5>------<7>---------------------------
C---------------------0---3------5-5-5-5-5-
Chorus:
-------
555555 077777
If..
333333
If ..
10 10 10 10 10 10 3xxxxx 0xxxxxx
Well ...
C--------------------<5>---<7>--------------------<12>---<5>--<7>------------
G--------------------<5>---<7>--------------------<12>---<5>--<7>------------
F--------------------<5>---<7>--------------------<12>---<5>--<7>------------
C--------------------<5>---<7>--------------------<12>---<5>--<7>------------
A--------------------<5>---<7>--------------------<12>---<5>--<7>------------
C--0--3--5-5-5-5-5--------------0-3---5-5-5-5-5-------------------0--3-5-5-5-
C---<5>---<7>---------------------
G---<5>---<7>---------------------
F---<5>---<7>--------------------- repeat several times
C---<5>---<7>---------------------
A---<5>---<7>---------------------
C---------------0-3---5-5-5-5-5---
C--------------------------------
G--------------------------------
F--------------------------------
C-------------------------------- repeat and fade
A--------------------------------
C--5b6---5-5-5----5b6---5-5-5----