Fahey John - The Yellow Princess guitar tab
m: jboston@delphi.com (John Boston)
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic
The Yellow Princess
by John Fahey
This tune is an epic of simplicity. It sounds long and
complicated but it is made of pieces that are both simple and
physically easy to play even for the inexperienced fingerpicker.
It is great fun to play; there is a well defined melody line and
a catchy loping rhythm even when played at slower tempos. And it
is in standard tuning, unlike most of Fahey's longer pieces.
You can hear Fahey's rendition of this piece on his CD's THE
YELLOW PRINCESS (Vanguard; also available as part of THE
ESSENTIAL JOHN FAHEY) and THE RETURN OF THE REPRESSED: THE JOHN
FAHEY ANTHOLOGY (Rhino). In the very amusing liner notes to THE
YELLOW PRINCESS Fahey states that the tune is based on a passage
from "The Yellow Princess Overture" by Camille Saint-Saens before
descending into the usual Fahey surreal fantasy.
This tune was tabbed by Dave Cohen, User643309@aol.com or
dcohen@bhi.com; the file was created by his faithful transcriber,
John Boston
TW70
INTRO very beautiful, slowly repeat
----0-----------0----------0---|-------------------------------------|
-------12----------12----------|-------------------------------------|
------------13-----------------|-------------------------------------|
-----------------------14------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-0-----------------------------|-------------------------------------|
In this intro, play 3d & 4th strings with thumb
repeat
---0----------0----------0---|---------------------------------------|
------12---------12----------|---------------------------------------|
----------13-----------------|---------------------------------------|
---------------------13------|---------------------------------------|
-----------------------------|---------------------------------------|
0----------------------------|---------------------------------------|
---0----------0----------0--|-----0----------0--------------|--------|
------12---------12---------|--------12---------12----------|--------|
----------13----------------|------------13-----------------|--------|
---------------------12-----|-----------------------12/11---|--------|
----------------------------|-------------------------------|--------|
0---------------------------|--0----------------------------|--------|
repeat
-----0----------0----------0---|-------------------------------------|
--------12---------12----------|-------------------------------------|
------------13-----------------|-------------------------------------|
-----------------------11------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
--0----------------------------|-------------------------------------|
repeat
---0----------0----------0---|---------------------------------------|
------10---------10----------|---------------------------------------|
----------11-----------------|---------------------------------------|
---------------------11------|---------------------------------------|
-----------------------------|---------------------------------------|
0----------------------------|---------------------------------------|
repeat
---0----------0----------0---|---------------------------------------|
------10---------10----------|---------------------------------------|
----------11-----------------|---------------------------------------|
---------------------10------|---------------------------------------|
-----------------------------|---------------------------------------|
0----------------------------|---------------------------------------|
repeat
---0----------0---------0---|----------------------------------------|
------10---------10---------|----------------------------------------|
----------11----------------|----------------------------------------|
---------------------9------|----------------------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------------------|
0---------------------------|----------------------------------------|
repeat B repeat
---0--------0--------0---|-----|------0--------0--------0---|--------|
------9--------9---------|-----|---------7--------7---------|--------|
---------9---------------|-----|------------7---------------|--------|
------------------9------|-----|---------------------7------|--------|
-------------------------|-----|----------------------------|--------|
0------------------------|-----|---7------------------------|--------|
see end for alternate fingering
bend bend bend
---|---------------------------------------|--------------------------
---|--4---5--4---5--4---5------------------|--------------------------
---|--3---4--3---4--3---4--0h1p0h1p0h1-----|--------------------------
---|------------------------------------2--|--------------------------
---|---------------------------------------|--------------------------
---|---------------------------------------|--------------------------
PART A
pause pause E
-0-------------------------0--0--|------12---------12--------|--------
-0-------------------------0--0--|----------9-------------9--|--------
-1-------------------------1--0--|---------------------------|--------
-2-------------------------2--0--|------9--------------9-----|--------
-2---------2---------------2--0--|---------------------------|--------
-0--0--3----------3-----0--0--0--|---0----------0------------|--------
E7 Db+A
--10----------10-----0------|------9-------9-------------
------9---------------------|---------6----------6-------
----------------------------|----------------------------
----------9--------------0--|------6----------6----------
----------------------------|--0---------0---------------
---0--------------0---------|----------------------------
Db7 A
-7--------7-----0-----|------5--------5--------|----------------------
----6-----------------|---------2-----------2--|----------------------
----------------------|------------------------|----------------------
-------6-----------0--|------2-----------2-----|----------------------
-0-----------0--------|---0--------0-----------|----------------------
----------------------|------------------------|----------------------
A7 E
-3--------3-----0--------|---0----------------0--|--------------------
----2--------------2--0--|--------------0--------|--------------------
-------------------------|---------0h1-----------|--------------------
-------2-----------2-----|------2----------2-----|--------------------
-0-----------0-----------|-----------------------|--------------------
-------------------------|---0-------0-----------|--------------------
E7 Db7
----------0-----------|------4--------4--------|----------------------
----0-----------3-----|---------0-----------0--|----------------------
----------------------|------------------------|----------------------
-------2-----------2--|------3-----------3-----|----------------------
----------------------|---4--------4-----------|----------------------
-0-----------0--------|------------------------|----------------------
B7 (slide down from Db7) Db7 (slide up from B7)
-2--------2--------------|------4--------4--------|-------------------
----0-----------0--------|---------0-----------0--|-------------------
----------------------2--|------------------------|-------------------
-------1-----------1-----|------3-----------3-----|-------------------
-2-----------2-----------|---4--------4-----------|-------------------
-------------------------|------------------------|-------------------
B7 (slide down) Db7 (slide up)
2---------2--------------|------4--------4--------|-------------------
----0-----------0--------|---------0-----------0--|-------------------
----------------------2--|------------------------|-------------------
-------1-----------1-----|------3-----------3-----|-------------------
2------------2-----------|---4--------4-----------|-------------------
-------------------------|------------------------|-------------------
B7 (slide down) E
-2--------2-----0--------|---0----------------0--|--------------------
----0--------------2--0--|--------------0--------|--------------------
-------------------------|---------0h1-----------|--------------------
-------1-----------1-----|------2----------2-----|--------------------
-2-----------2-----------|-----------------------|--------------------
-------------------------|---0-------0-----------|--------------------
END PART A END INTRO
------------------|-------------------0--|---------0------------|-----
---2-----0--------|------------0---------|---0------------0-----|-----
---------------0--|h1-----0h1------------|-----(1)--------------|-----
------2--------2--|----2----------2------|------2------------0--|-----
------------------|----------------------|----------------------|-----
0-----------0-----|-0-------0------------|0-----------0---------|-----
PART B - Various pick patterns used - stay on 6/7 position for 12
measures
PICK 1
-----------------------|
--------------0--------|
--------0-----------0--|
-----6-----------6-----|
/7---------7-----------|
-----------------------|
PICK 2 PICK 3
------------------------|--------------------------|
---0-----------0--------|-----0-----------0--------|
---------0-----------0--|-----------0-----------0--|
------6-----------6-----|--------6-----------6-----|
7-----------7-----------|--7-----------------------|
------------------------|--------------7-----------|
marker
PICK 4 A'
----------------------------|------------------------|----------------
-----0-------------0--------|---------------0--------|----------------
-----------0-------------0--|--------0------------0--|----------------
--------6-------------6-----|----/9------------9-----|----------------
0h7-------------------------|-/10-------10-----------|----------------
--------------0h7-----------|------------------------|----------------
--------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------
----0------------0--------|---------------0---------|-----------------
----------0------------0--|--------0-------------0--|-----------------
-------9------------9-----|---/11------------11-----|-----------------
10-----------10-----------|/12--------12------------|-----------------
--------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------
roll repeat from A' 3 times
------------------------------|-----------------|---------------------
-0-----------------0------0---|-----------------|---------------------
-0----------0-----------------|-----------------|---------------------
--------11------------11------|-----------------|---------------------
-12------------12-------------|-----------------|---------------------
------------------------------|-----------------|---------------------
repeat or vary in this position
------------------------|--------------|------------------------------
--------------0---------|--------------|------------------------------
-------0-------------0--|--------------|------------------------------
----9------------9------|--------------|------------------------------
10--------10------------|--------------|------------------------------
------------------------|--------------|------------------------------
another 12 measures variations of this position
-----------------|--------------------------|
-------------0---|--------------------------|
----------0------|--------------------------|
-------6---------|--------------------------|
----7------------|--------------------------|
-----------------|--------------------------|
repeat
-------------------------|--------|-----------------------------------
---------0-----------0---|--------|-----------------------------------
---0-----------0---------|--------|-----------------------------------
------0-----------0------|--------|-----------------------------------
5-----------5------------|--------|-----------------------------------
-------------------------|--------|-----------------------------------
repeat
-------------------------|--------|--------------------------|--------
---------0-----------0---|--------|-----------0-----------0--|--------
---0-----------0---------|--------|-----0-----------0--------|--------
------0-----------0------|--------|--------0-----------0-----|--------
2-----------2------------|--------|--2-----------0-----------|--------
-------------------------|--------|--------------------------|--------
-----------------------|------------------------|---------------------
---------0----------0--|---------------------0--|---------------------
---0----------0--------|----0-----0----0--------|---------------------
------0----------0-----|-------0----------0-----|---------------------
2---------/5-----------|/7---------\\5-----------|---------------------
-----------------------|------------------------|---------------------
-------------------------|--------------------------|-----------------
----------0-----------0--|-----------0-----------0--|-----------------
----0-----------0--------|-----0-----------0--------|-----------------
-------0-----------0-----|--------0-----------0-----|-----------------
\\2-----------0-----------|--------------0-----------|-----------------
-------------------------|--3-----------------------|-----------------
------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------
----------0----------0--|----------0-----------0--|-------------------
----0----------0--------|----0-----------0--------|-------------------
-------0----------0-----|-------0-----------0-----|-------------------
/2---------/5-----------|/7---------/10-----------|-------------------
------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------
------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------
----------0----------0--|-----------0----------0--|-------------------
----0----------0--------|-----0----------0--------|-------------------
-------0----------0-----|--------0----------0-----|-------------------
\\7---------\\5-----------|--2---------/5-----------|-------------------
------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------
------------------------|--------------------------|------------------
---------0-----------0--|-----------0-----------0--|------------------
---0-----------0--------|-----0-----------0--------|------------------
------0-----------0-----|--------0-----------0-----|------------------
5-----------5-----------|--5-----------5-----------|------------------
------------------------|--------------------------|------------------
marker X
-------------------------|--------------------------|-----------------
----------0-----------0--|-----------0-----------0--|-----------------
----0-----------0--------|-----0-----------0--------|-----------------
-------0-----------0-----|--------0-----------0-----|-----------------
-6-----------6-----------|--6-----------6-----------|-----------------
-------------------------|--------------------------|-----------------
this pattern or variations
as in part B repeat from X
---------------------|------------------------|-----------|-----------
------------0--------|--------------0---------|-----------|-----------
------0-----------0--|--------0-----------0---|-----------|-----------
---6-----------6-----|-----6-----------6------|-----------|-----------
7--------------------|--7---------------------|-----------|-----------
---------7-----------|-----------7------------|-----------|-----------
transition to part C
------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------
---------0-----------0--|------------0-----------0--|-----------------
---0-----------0--------|------0-----------0--------|-----------------
------0-----------0-----|---------0-----------0-----|-----------------
6-----------6-----------|---5-----------5-----------|-----------------
------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------
------------------------|
---------0-----------0--|
---0-----------0--------|
------0-----------0-----|
2-----------0-----------|
------------------------|
PART C
G
-------3---------3--------|------------------
----------0------------0--|------------------
--------------------------|------------------
-------0------------0-----|------------------
--------------------------|------------------
---3----------3-----------|------------------
marker
C'
3---------------|--0-----3-----------0--------|-----------------------
0---------3-----|--------------3-----------0--|-----------------------
----------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------
----0--------0--|-----------0-----------0-----|-----------------------
----------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------
3------3--------|-----3-----------3-----------|-----------------------
---------------------0--|-----3-----------0--------|------------------
---3-----------3--------|-----------3-----------0--|------------------
---------0--------------|--------------------------|------------------
------0-----------0-----|--------0-----------0-----|------------------
------------------------|--------------------------|------------------
3-----------3-----------|--3-----------3-----------|------------------
---------------0--|-----3-----------0--------|------------------------
---------3--------|-----------3-----------0--|------------------------
------------------|--------------------------|------------------------
---0--------0-----|--------0-----------0-----|------------------------
------------------|--------------------------|------------------------
3-----3-----------|--3-----------3-----------|------------------------
D
------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------
---3-----------0--------|------------------0--------|-----------------
---------0-----------2--|------0-----2-----------0--|-----------------
------0-----------0-----|---------0-----------0-----|-----------------
------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------
3-----------3-----------|---2-----------2-----------|-----------------
repeat from C' roll
------|------------|------------------|-----------------|-------------
------|------------|------------0-----|--0-----3-----0--|-------------
------|------------|------------0--0--|-----------------|-------------
----0-|------------|-----0------0-----|-----0-----0-----|-------------
------|------------|------------------|-----------------|-------------
3-----|------------|--3-----3---------|--3-----3--------|-------------
E G
-0-----------0--------|-----------------------|-----------------------
----------0--------0--|--------------3-----0--|-----------------------
-------1--------------|---------(0)-----------|-----------------------
----2-----------2-----|------0----------0-----|-----------------------
----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------
-0--------0-----------|---3----------3--------|-----------------------
E G roll
-0-----------0--------|-------------------------|---------------------
----------0--------0--|---3------0-----3--------|---------------------
-------1--------------|---0------------------0--|---------------------
----2-----------2-----|-------0-----------0-----|---------------------
----------------------|-------------------------|---------------------
-0--------0-----------|---3---------3-----------|---------------------
E bend G roll
-0-------3-----0--------|-------------------|-----------------0--|----
---------------------0--|---3---0--3--------|-----3--------3-----|----
(1)---------------------|---0------------0--|-----------0--------|----
----2-------------2-----|-------0-----0-----|--------0--------0--|----
------------------------|-------------------|--------------------|----
-0----------0-----------|---3------3--------|--3-----------3-----|----
roll
-3--------3----------|--3-----3--------|--0-----0--------|------------
-0-----0--------(0)--|-----0--------0--|-----3-----------|------------
---------------------|-----------------|--------------0--|------------
----0--------0-------|-----0-----0-----|-----0-----0-----|------------
---------------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------
-3--------3----------|--3-----3--------|--3-----3--------|------------
---------------|--0--------------------|-------------------|----------
3--0--3-----0--|--------3-----0-----2--|-------------0-----|----------
---------------|-----------------------|--------0h2--------|----------
---0-----0-----|-----0-----------0-----|-----0----------0--|----------
---------------|-----------------------|-------------------|----------
3-----3--------|--3--------3-----------|--2-------2--------|----------
end C' repeat from C'
---3--------3---------|--3------------------|--3--------3--------|----
------0------------0--|---------------------|--------0--------0--|----
0---------------------|---------------------|--------------------|----
---0-----------0------|-----0---------------|-----0--------0-----|----
----------------------|---------------------|--------------------|----
3--------3------------|--3------------------|--3--------3--------|----
4 bars variations
in this position
-----------------|-----3--------3--------|----------------------------
-----------0-----|--------0----------0---|----------------------------
--------0--------|-----------------------|----------------------------
-----6-----------|-----0-----------0-----|----------------------------
/-7--------------|-----------------------|----------------------------
--------------7--|\\-3--------3-----------|----------------------------
repeat part B ad lib,
slowing tempo
3--------3------------|-----------------------------------------|----
---0-----------0------|-----------------------------------------|----
----------------------|-----------------------------------------|----
------0-----------0---|-----------------------------------------|----
----------------------|-----------------------------------------|----
3-----------3---------|-----------------------------------------|----
repeat part A E END
----------------------|--------------0---||
----------------------|--------------0---||
----------------------|--------------1---||
----------------------|--------------2---||
----------------------|--------------2---||
----------------------|-----------0--0---||
alternate fingering for intro
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------4h5--4h5--4h5-----------------------------
------------------4----4----4-------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------0----0----0-------------------------------
