Cotton Avenue tab by Joni Mitchell

Tabs

Cotton Avenue - Joni Mitchell
		   ---------------------------------


			From the album "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter"

			Transcribed by Howard Wright
			[email protected]


Tuning
------

In Joni notation: C majorC 93525

Note names (low to high): C majorC A augmentedA C majorC FF G+G C majorC

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 FF that comes from the high-octave
string of the 3rd pair. This pitch is higher than the C majorC 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
 indicates a harmonic (e.g at the 12th fret)

x means play the top 5 strings as harmonics at the 7th fret.


Intro:
------

(Free tempo)

               222222          xx3333 555555

C---------5/7--7------5----2-------------------2--0--3--3---5-----
G---------------------------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 augmentedA - 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 BB - 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 x    5xxxxx  x x x

C--------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------
F------X-------------------------------------------
C------X-------------------------------------------
A------X-------------------------------------------
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 x 0xxxxx 3xxxxx 5xxxxx

C--------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------
F--------------------------------------------------------------
C--------------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------------
C---3----0---0--3--5-5-5-5-5---------------------0--3----5-5-5-5-5---


xx x x 0xxxxx 3xxxxx 5xxxxx    7xxxxx

C-----------------------------------------------------------
G-----------------------------------------------------------
F-----------------------------------------------------------
C-----------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------
C---------------------------------0----3----5-5-5----0--5-5----0--7-7-


VERSE:
------

077777        333333  555555

A augmentedA 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--------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------
F--------------------------------------------
C--------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------
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----------------------------------------------------
G----------------------------------------------------
F----------------------------------------------------
C----------------------------------------------------
A----------------------------------------------------
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--------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------
F--------------------------------------------
C--------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------
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--------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------
F--------------------------------------------------
C--------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------
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------------------------------------
G------------------------------------
F------------------------------------
C------------------------------------
A------------------------------------
C---------------------0---3------5-5-5-5-5-


Chorus:
-------

555555               077777

If..


333333

If ..


10 10 10 10 10 10       3xxxxx  0xxxxxx

Well ...


C------------------------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------------------------
F------------------------------------------------------------
C------------------------------------------------------------
A------------------------------------------------------------
C--0--3--5-5-5-5-5--------------0-3---5-5-5-5-5-------------------0--3-5-5-5-


C---------------------------
G---------------------------
F--------------------------- repeat several times
C---------------------------
A---------------------------
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----