Joni Mitchell - SONG FOR SHARON guitar tab
Song For Sharon - Joni Mitchell
-------------------------------
from the album: Hejira
Transcribed by Howard Wright
Howard@jmdl.com
Tuning
------
Note names: Eb Bb Db F Ab Bb
Joni notation: Eb 73432
I've written out the intro in full, then two of the main picking patterns
used throughout the song. For the bulk of the song, I've just written the
basic chord changes and indicated where the two picking patterns are applied.
Notation:
----------
/ - indicates a slide
h - indicates a hammer on.
Intro:
-------
Most of the notes in the intro are eighth notes. I've left longer gaps
between the numbers to indicate where the notes are held for longer.
Count the slurred notes (the 4/5 slide and 4h5 hammer on) as one eighth
note. If in doubt - have a listen to the original.
Bb-------------------------0----------------------------------------
Ab------------------------------------------------------------------
F-----------------0---0--7-----12-----0------1-0----1-0-------------
Db----4/5-4---4h5--------7-----12-----0---0--2-0----2-0------0------
Bb----------0-------0-------------------0------------------0--------
Eb--0------------------------0--------------------------------------
Bb------------0--------------------------------0-------------------
Ab----------2-0--------------------------------0-------------------
F-------2-----0------1-0----1-0----1-3-----3-----0-----------------
Db----------------0--2-0----2-0----2-4---4-------0-----------------
Bb----0---0-----0----------------------5-----5---------0-----------
Eb--0--------------------------------------------------------------
Bb---------0---------------0--------------------------------------
Ab---------2-0-------------2--------------------------------------
F------2-----0---------2-----0------------------------------------
Db-----2---------0-----2-----0------------------------------------
Bb---0---------0-----0--------------------------------------------
Eb-0-----0---------0-----0----------------------------------------
The 1st pattern (below) gives you the basic picking pattern for all the parts
using chords barred at the 7th/4th/3rd frets. The first chord (on the top
strings) is actually on the last upbeat of the previous bar; the strum on the
lower strings (2nd chord) is the first downbeat. After the first four strums,
the rhythm uses just quarter and eighth notes, the last note sustains on
till the end of the bar. If you listen to the original track you should get
the idea.
Pattern1:
----------
Bb--7------------7-------7-----------------------------------------------
Ab--7------------7-------7-----------------------------------------------
F---7------------7-----9---9-----7---------------------------------------
Db--7-7----------7-----9---9---7-----------------------------------------
Bb----7-----7--------7-------7-------------------------------------------
Eb----7-----7--------7---------------------------------------------------
Just use the same picking pattern (or you can vary it slightly) for the
chords at the 5th and 3rd frets.
The other main pattern in the verse is the bit played down at the 2nd fret:
Pattern2:
----------
Bb------0-----0---------------------------------------------------
Ab------2-----0----------2---0------------------------------------
F-------2-----0----------2---0------------------------------------
Db------2-----2---0------2---0------------------------------------
Bb----0----------------0------------------------------------------
Eb--0----------------0--------------------------------------------
Verse:
-------
So, the structure of the verse goes:
(use pattern 1) (use pattern 2)
Bb---7------7-----7-------0---0---0---0-----------------------------------
Ab---7------7-----7-------2---0---2---0-----------------------------------
F----7------9-----7-------2---0---2---0-----------------------------------
Db---7------9-----7-------2---2---2---0-----------------------------------
Bb---7------7-----7-------0---0---0---0-----------------------------------
Eb---7------7-----7-------0---0---0---0-----------------------------------
I went to .... ... mandolin
(use pattern 1) (use pattern 2)
Bb--5-----5----5-------0---0---0---0-----------------------------------
Ab--5-----5----5-------2---0---2---0-----------------------------------
F---5-----7----5-------2---0---2---0-----------------------------------
Db--5-----7----5-------2---2---2---0-----------------------------------
Bb--5-----5----5-------0---0---0---0-----------------------------------
Eb--5-----5----5-------0---0---0---0-----------------------------------
... saw the long .... store-front manekin ....
( use pattern 1 ................) (pattern 2)
Bb---3----3----3----3-----5---5---5------0---0---0---0---------------------
Ab---3----3----3----3-----5---5---5------2---0---2---0---------------------
F----3----5----3----5-----5---7---5------2---0---2---0---------------------
Db---3----5----3----5-----5---7---5------2---2---2---0---------------------
Bb---3----3----3----3-----5---5---5------0---0---0---0---------------------
Eb---3----3----3----3-----5---5---5------0---0---0---0---------------------
... big boat ... some girl's ... crazy
Now repeat the first half of the intro, and then on to another verse.
