Strange Woman Blues by David Holt

[bendyman]

Hey,

I'm new to slide and I found this on YouTube:

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_lxHSSpLhhA

I think it is in open D tuning but I cannot seem to make it work. Does anybody know the chord sequence and the ragtime picking pattern?

Regards

[Gerry C]

Hi bendyman - thanks for posting that clip, which I really enjoyed. You're right in thinking the song is in open D. The chord sequence is roughly as follows (roughly because he does all sorts of twiddly stuff in between):

D - B7 - E(7) - A(7) - D (repeated) Then the 'stop-time' sequence is D - D7 - G - Bflat. Then you return to the original sequence; the end repeat, when he sings"I mean..." and repeats the final line of the verse, is a quick move to the B7 and then through the E7-A7-D sequence.

In the stop-time section he seems to play the G on the 5th fret with the slide and then moves up to the 8th fret for the Bflat. (Often in this type of ragtime or Piedmont style the final chord would be G# diminished but the Bflat works and gives it a nice bluesy feel.)

There doesn't seem to be a fixed pattern to the picking apart from the strong alternating bass keeping things moving and melodic lines played in the treble. However, most of the notes seem to be played within the chord-shapes - check out the thread elsewhere on this forum called "Chord Boxes" for help with chord shapes in Open D.

Hope this helps - thanks again for the clip!

Cheerily,

Gerry C

[leeophonic]

Anyone notice the guitar strap?
compulsary accessory for some of you lightening owners out there!
Regards
Lee

[bendyman]

Hey,

Thank you for the information. I have been playing standard tuning for years but find it more difficult to get my ear in with the slide. I guess more practice is required I will copy out the chord boxes and use them, great stuff.

PS Today, I got delivery of my MM Lightning ;D