Ghost Riders in the Sky First off, if you want just a simple version, ignore all the chords in parentheses, and simply play the Em, G and C where indicated. Strum in a rythm that sounds like a galloping horse; you know, like the first few opening bars to the theme from Bonanza (tum tada dum tada dum tada dum). On the other hand, you can make this simple song more interesting with a few easy tricks. The first is to play the bass line along with the Em chord. The bass line is easy, and goes... E|---------------------------------- B|---------------------------------- G|---------------------------------- D|---------------------------------- A|-----1-2------1-2-------1-2------- E|--0-------0---------0---------0---
...where the open sixth string (E) is a quarter note, the two notes on the fifth string (Bb abd B, repectively) are eighth notes. If you play the Em chord as... EADGBe ||1||| |23||| |||||| ...(Yes, that's right; two fingers on the fifth string), you can play the bass line while you strum the Em chord just by picking up and putting down your 3rd finger. The changes to (C/E) and (A/E) are attempts to cover the sound originally filled in by a couple of background singers singing "ah" on the notes B, C, C#, C. This works on acoustic guitar if you continue to strum the low E (open sixth string) rather prominantly while playing the following positions. C/E (regular old C position, A/E or A7/E EADGBe but with the low E played EADGBe EADGBe (i.e., use your third ||||1| with a vengeance!) |||||| |||||| finger to mute the ||2||| ||111| ||||1| 4th string. I prefer |3|||| |||||| |||||| this because the |3|||| |3x||| changes are smoother) Good luck. Send email or post if you have any questions. "Ghost Riders in the Sky" Em G An old cowpoke went riding out one ... Em Upon a ridge he ... Em (C/E) (A/E) (C/E) When all at once a mighty herd ... C (Am) Em Coming through the ragged ... Em G Their brands were still on fire ... Em Their horns were black and shiny and ... Em (C/E) (A/E) (C/E) A bolt of fear went through him ... C (Am) Em Then he saw the riders coming .... (Chorus) G Em (D) Yippe-ai-ay, ... C (Am) Em Ghost riders ... Em G As the riders loped on by him, ... Em If you want to save your soul ... Em (C/E) (A/E) (C/E) Then cowboy change your ways today ... C (Am) Em Trying to catch the devil's .... h. kelly shuldberg hkelly@edsr.eds.com Albuquerque, NM
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