This tune is from the Quah re-issue and was also recorded with lyrics under the name "Letter to the North Star" on the Hot Tuna album Phosphorescent Rat.

I recorded it on my new CD "Live On GLT" and have gotten a couple requests for tab. This is one of my favorite songs on the new CD. I may tab it out someday, but in the meantime, here is a breakdown of the song. Once you get the chords down in a basic alternating thumb style, the melody ain't too far away.

Here is the entire tune from my CD in mp3 format: Lord Have Mercy
(This link is ONLY for members of this forum - Please don't forward!)

Its almost all first position chords and the progression is as follows:

Intro:
AaddDaddA: 002235
AaddDaddG: 002233
AaddDaddF# 002232
AaddD: 002230
A: 002220 (Bang!)

Song:
|D |G |C |Em |C D |G GAddD|
|D |G |C |Em |C D |G |
|Em |- |D |- |C |- |Em |A |
|D |G |C |Em |C D |G GAddD|
|D |G |C |Em |C D |G |
|Em |- |D |- |C |- |B7 |C7 B7| (back to beginning)

Performance Notes:

• Many of the chord changes come on the 4-and beat of the previous measure. This gives the tune much of it's forward momentum. This is a very common technique in Country Blues.
  
• Always use the F# thumb wrap on the D chord
  
• Gadd D is this: 320030
  
• Em is this form: 005450 and 004543 and 2nd time around goes up the neck to this: 000987
  
• C7 is this: XX2313
  

This is a great tune and works well as a set opener in a solo show. Hope you enjoy it!

Oh, I had the pleasure of playing this for Jorma. He said "I remember that! I'll have to work that up again sometime." Last I heard he's now teaching it at camp.

David

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dberch,

Great tune, and Great job on it. When I play it, always remember to slide into the "rev Gary Davis" em form chord.

Also, Jorma sometimes after going from the em to the D slides up to an A suspension with the first finger on the E string 5th fret and the ring finger on the B string 7th fret. Adds a nice little bit of color to the B section of the tune.

Huh? I guess you're right, D2H, that's the way Jorma plays it. But I prefer to put my own spin on it. Jorma prefers it that way, too.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dberch,