revelation to me (once I started to try to pick it up) how much the - dropped-D tuning adds to the Byrds arrangement. Having the bass tuned

revelation to me (once I started to try to pick it up) how much the

View chords used in this chart
down to D too really puts a floor under the song! The tab, of course,
is not perfect. Corrections, additions, etc. always sought and welcome.
Peace.
 
Rick
rsambu@aol.com
__________________________________________
 
THE BELLS OF RHYMNEY
(Idris Davies & Pete Seeger)
 
as performed by The Byrds on their self-titled first LP
(Robyn Hitchcock does true-to-The-Byrds version)
 
- one guitar and bass drop low E to D (necessary)
- one 12-string (you know what brand) guitar would be great
 
opening riff:
 
e|--------0-2------|----3-2-0-------|--------0-2------|----3-2-0--------|
B|----3-------3----|----------3-----|----3-------3----|----------3------|
G|------2-------2--|------------2---|------2-------2--|-------------2---|
D|-----------------|--------------0-|-----------------|---------------0-|
A|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D|--0--------------|--0-------------|--0--------------|--0--------------|
 
(verse 1):
D G D/F# E D(w/opening riff)
Oh what will you give me say the sad bells of Rhymney
C Em A
Is there hope for the future say the brown bells of Merthyr
D C Em A
Who made the mine owner say the black bells of Rhonda
D G D/F# E D(w/opening riff)
And who killed the miner say the grim bells of Blaina
 
(opening riff)
 
(verse 2):
D G D/F# E D(w/opening riff)
Put vandals in court say the bells of Newport
Bm C Em A
All will be well if if if if if say the green bells of Cardiff
D Bm G E
Why so worried sisters why say the silver bells of Wye
D G D/F# E D(w/opening riff)
And what will you give me say the sad bells of Rhymney
 
(break; also see note):
/ D / D / D / D / G / Em / Edim7 / Edim7 /
 
(opening riff)
 
(repeat first verse)
 
(end):
| opening riff |
G / D / E / E / D / D / D / D /
oh.....oh.....oh..........oh.............
| opening riff |
G / D / A / A / D / D / D / D /
oh.....oh.....oh..........oh.............
 
__________________________________________
note on break:
 
If someone wants to post accurate tab for the break, please do. Meanwhile,
what I do is improvise a bit around this. Most of it is strummed~~~~~~~~.
I think Pete Seeger would approve of (any) liberties I've taken; I hope
Roger McGuinn would, too.
 
D D D D
e|----------------|-----------------|-----------------|--------------------|
B|-10~~~~~~~~~~~--|-12~~~~~~~~~~~~--|-10~~~~~~~~~~~~--|---12-10------------|
G|-11~~~~~~~~~~~--|-11~~~~~~~~~~~~--|-11~~~~~~~~~~~~--|---------12--11-----|
D|-12~~~~~~~~~~~--|-12~~~~~~~~~~~~--|-12~~~~~~~~~~~~--|----------------12--|
A|----------------|-----------------|-----------------|--------------------|
D|0---------------|0----------------|0----------------|0-------------------|
 
G Em Edim7 Edim7
e|-7~~~~~~~~~~~--|--7~~~/12~~~~~~--|--3~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--3~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|
B|-8~~~~~~~~~~~--|--8~~~/12~~~~~~--|--2~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|
G|-7~~~~~~~~~~~--|--9~~~/12~~~~~~--|--3~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--3~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|
D|---------------|-------14~~~~~~--|--2~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|
A|---------------|-----------------|-----------------|--------------------|
D|---------------|-----------------|-----------------|--------------------|
 
__________________________________________
some chords for the dropped-D guitar:
 
D G E D/F# Edim7 Em C A Bm
e|----3------x-------0-------2------3-------0-------0-------0-------2-----|
B|----2------x-------0-------3------2-------0-------1-------2-------3-----|
G|----3------x-------1-------2------3-------0-------0-------2-------4-----|
D|----0------5-------2-------0------2-------2-------2-------2-------4-----|
A|----0------5-------2-------0------x-------2-------3-------0-------2-----|
D|----0------5-------2-------4------x-------2-------x-------x-------x-----|

How to play revelation to me (once I started to try to pick it up) how much the

Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.

What is the starting chord?

The first identified chord is D. You can transpose without leaving the page.

Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?

Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.

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