Robert Johnson tabs

[Deleted]

Hi

Can anyone tell me where to find tabs for some of Robert Johnsons original acustic tunes.

I am at pressent interested in Crossroads

Jørgen

[Michael Messer]

Hi Jorgen,

I am not a TAB expert, but I think Woody Mann has done some good RJ TABS.

....The best TAB is your ears! Listen to RJ's Crossroads over and over and copy what you can. Crossroads is in G tuning, but that is not the key. RJ is pitched higher using a capo. Your first task is to find the key.

Shine On
Michael

[frank64f]

Hi Jorgen
Oak published Woody Mann's book 'The Complete Robert Johnson' in 1991. It contains all 29 songs, some in more detail than others.
You may be able to find a copy on the internet.
Looking at my copy, it cost £9.95 UK or $12.95 US when I bought it around 1991, I reckon people will be looking for more than that today!!
Good Luck
Frank

[snakestretcher]

Apr 8, 2009 9:54:54 GMT Michael Messer said:

Hi Jorgen,

I am not a TAB expert, but I think Woody Mann has done some good RJ TABS.

....The best TAB is your ears! Listen to RJ's Crossroads over and over and copy what you can. Crossroads is in G tuning, but that is not the key. RJ is pitched higher using a capo. Your first task is to find the key.

Shine On
Michael

I recall reading somewhere a while back that there had been some controversy suggesting that the original recordings had been made too fast and, if played back nearer concert pitch, they actually sounded far more lifelike and 'ballsy'.
I have no idea and obviously unless someone was around at the time we'll never know. Interesting thought though...

[frank64f]

Hi Jorgen
forgot to say that Woody Mann's tabs are in the guitar tunings, e.g. open G, and then as Michael mentioned, you need to capo to suit.
Frank

[Gerry C]

Much as I admire Woody's work (and he is a very nice chap too), I'd recommend Scott Ainslie's work to anyone trying to get a handle on RJ's stuff. He has a book called Robert Johnson - At The Crossroads, which includes the full transcription of each song plus lyrics, background notes, details of tunings, capo positions etc. It's published by Hal Leonard (ISBN 0-7935-1093-7). Scott also has a DVD available on RJ in the Signature Licks series: it doesn't cover all the songs but gives a very good idea of how RJ played in Open G, Open D, standard and Dropped D.

Rory Block also has a DVD on RJ but I found it rather disappointing: it seemed much more about Rory's interpretations of Johnson and her own playing (forceful, expressive but idiosyncratic) than Johnson's.

But, like Michael said, the best thing to do is to LISTEN to what you want to play and then listen again; when you get bored with it, it's time to listen to it once more! ;D

Cheerily,

Gerry C

[Deleted]

Hi everyone

Thanks for the suggestions.

Funny – I was convinced that I would have no success at my local library, but I actually found Scott Ainslie’s book there

Thanks again – and a happy Easter to you all.

Jørgen