This week we're embarking on something I've been excited to teach since I first started teaching here at Sonic Junction: Norman Blake's song Church Street Blues. And although Norman wrote it and recorded an absolutely sublime version, Tony Rice also has an equally iconic recording of the song. To me, Church Street Blues is the perfect song to be played and sung by one person with a flatpick and an acoustic guitar. This first week I play/teach the song itself and go over the various chordal schemes that Norman and Tony have used.
Over the course of the remaining lessons in this series we're going to look at a simple but Norman Blake-y way to play the melody, Norman's actual version, and, finally, Tony Rice's version.
Chris
Topics and/or subjects covered in this lesson:
Bluegrass
Chris Eldridge
Church Street Blues
Tony Rice
Norman Blake
Print Chords & Tab
Loop 0:00 Run-Through of Church Street Blues
Lord I been hangin' out of town in that low down rain
Watchin' good time Charlie friend is drivin' me insane
Down on shady Charlotte Street the green lights look red
Wish I was back home on the farm in my feather bed.
Get myself a rockin' chair
To see if I can lose
Them thin dime hard times
Hell on Church Street blues.
Found myself a picker friend who's read yesterday's news
Folded up page twenty-one and stuck it in my shoe
Gave a nickle to the poor my good turn for the day
Folded up my own little folder threw it far away.
Lord I wish I had some guitar strings Old Black Diamond brand
I'd string up this old Martin box and go and join some band
But I guess I'll just stay right here just pick and sing a while
Try to make me a little change and give them folks a smile
Loop 3:40 Introduction to the Series of Lessons
Loop 5:53 Chord Breakdown in the Style of Norman Blake and Tony Rice
Loop 14:12 Closing Thoughts and Outro
Comments
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Hi Chris,
Great videos! Very helpful.
Can you tell me what brand of capo are you using?
Hi Kevin, thank you! Glad you're getting something out of them!
My capo is an Elliott. They're expensive but as long as you don't lose them they will last you a lifetime. I've had the same one for over 20 years. Tom McKinney (the original designer of this style of capo) gave that particular capo to my dad in the 80s - my dad gave it to me when I was in high school and I still use it now. I got a second Elliot about 10 years ago when I started playing a guitar with a wider nut width. They're both great. Can't recommend them enough.
James I hope I live long enough to be able to play half that good - awesome. Very nice performance and your guitar sounds great. I have no idea if it's right wrong or otherwise - all I know is that is some great pickin'.
Thank you so much Kip! That means a lot. You are a great picker. Play on my friend!
James, you sound so great! Love it! I really love how you're putting your own spin on it and I love the edge that you're bringing. Keep it up!
p.s. shout out to the tag that TR plays in his video that you played at the end!
Nice job James thougholy enjoyable
Great song, and you've really made your own version as well, Chris. Norman hasn't been in the best of health lately and this just sorta kinda makes me sad.
I know what you mean Ted, but it's pretty awesome that Norman put out a new record this year (and it's great!): Brushwood Songs and Stories
I know what you mean Ted, but it's pretty awesome that Norman put out a new record this year (and it's great!): Brushwood Songs and Stories
That run from about the 2:05 minute mark to around 2:35 is really sweet - I like that a lot.
Thanks Kip!
I really enjoyed the video of you playing Church Street Blues on the Tony Rice benefit Bourgeois guitar.
Thanks for teaching this song.
I'm so glad you're doing this song! I transcribed Norman Blake's original a while back as a bit of a challenge and learned so much about nuance from really listing hard to it slowed down.
Kip - another interesting lyrical thing with this song...the original Blake lyric is "I found myself a paper, friends, and read yesterday's news" and over time it's morphed into "I found myself a picker friend..."
It's such a good one. We can thank Tony Rice for the new "picker" lyric.
Beautiful ... and all this time I thought it was "Hello" Church Street Blues. As it turns out, my desert island needs to be a lot bigger.