CALIFORNIA - Joni Mitchell ------------------------------ From the album 'Blue' Transcribed by Howard Wright howardw (at) jmdl (dot) com In this file, I've written out the actual dulcimer part played by Joni. Guitar players will be glad to know that it's very easy to play this dulcimer part on the guitar as well, using just the top three guitar strings. Dulcimer Tuning --------------- (Guitarists who just want to copy the dulcimer part on the guitar can skip this section) Dulcimer tuning: E B G# This means tune the lowest string (bass) to E, the middle string to B and the double string to G#. Note that the middle string is the string tuned to the highest note. Joni actually uses an unconventional stringing method for her dulcimer, and puts the lowest pitch string (bass string) in the middle of the other strings. This doesn't really affect the sound of the chords, so I've followed the usual conventions (bass string at the top of the dulcimer tablature) as this will be easier to follow for most dulcimer players. In "Joni tuning notation", the tuning for this song would be written as: E 7 -3 OK, you're thinking what is a "-3" in Joni notation?! The "Joni notation" system of writing down tunings looks slightly odd for this song, because the pitch of the last string is *lower* than the middle string. The Joni notation system assumes that each string is tuned higher than the last one, which always gives positive numbers. Because in this song, the middle dulcimer string is actually the highest pitch, the next string is 3 semitones *lower*, hence the -3. Copying the dulcimer part on a guitar ------------------------------------- If you want to play the exact Joni dulcimer part on the guitar, you use just the top three strings (because the dulcimer has only three strings). These three strings are tuned to the same notes: E B and G#. On the dulcimer, the note used for each string is important because one of the dulcimer "strings" is actually a pair of strings, and has quite a different sound (like a drone). For this song, the double string on the dulcimer must be tuned to G#. On the guitar things are simpler because all the strings are singles, so the order of the notes is not so important. The easiest way to do the tuning is: * tune the 3rd string (usually the G) down to the E, * tune the 2nd string (usually the B) down to G#, * tune the 1st string (usually E) down to B. Check you have the correct tuning by playing a note on the 4th fret of the 3rd string (tuned to E). This note is G#, the pitch of the open 2nd string. Playing a note at the 7th fret of the 3rd string gives you B, the pitch of the top string. Tuning this way on the guitar means the strings are in increasing order of pitch, as is uaually the case. Phew! Now, on to the tablature! ---------------------------------------- Dulc frets: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Gtr frets: 0 2 4 5 7 9 10 12 14 16 17 ---------------------------------------- Dulcimer and Guitar tablature ----------------------------- Make sure you read the correct tablature for the your instrument! Becasue of the different ways the instruments are fretted, the fret numbers needed on the two instruments are not the same. The dulcimer tablature is at the top, and the guitar tablature is written underneath the corresponding section of dulcimer tablature. The words are written underneath the two lines of tablature. I've written out the details of the strumming for the first verse and chorus - use the same strumming pattern for the rest of the song. Note that there are rhythmic "slaps" of the strings mixed with the strums. For these, just tap the strings lightly with the strumming hand to get a dry, muted sound. These rhythmic slaps are written in the tablature with x characters, e.g: ---x-- ---x-- ---x-- The basic strumming pattern used throughout is shown below, with the quarter notes indicated as 1 2 3 4, and the "&" characters indicating the eighth notes between each quarter note. 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & Strum slap strum strum slap * * sometimes an extra strum is played on the final eighth note. As always, listen to the original recording and it should all become clear. NB this song was transcribed in the "Hits" songbook, but there were quite a few mistakes with the chords and the strumming patterns. h - hammer on p - pull off / - slide INTRO : -------- Dulc: E-----------0----3---x--3-3---x--3-----0---4---4-0-0---x-- B---2h3p2-0---0--3---x--3-3---x--3---3---0---4---0-0---x-- G#----------0----3---x--3-3---x--3-----0---4---4-0-0---x-- Gtr: B---4h5p4-0---0--5---x--5-5---x--5---5---0---7---0-0---x-- G#----------0----5---x--5-5---x--5-----0---7---7-0-0---x-- E-----------0----5---x--5-5---x--5-----0---7---7-0-0---x-- Dulc: G#--0-0---x--0-0---x--0-0---x----- B---0-0---x--0-0---x--0-0---x----- E---0-0---x--0-0---x--0-0---x----- Gtr: B---0-0---x--0-0---x--0-0---x----- G#--0-0---x--0-0---x--0-0---x----- E---0-0---x--0-0---x--0-0---x----- VERSE 1: -------- Dulc: E--7----------x---7---7-----x-------------- B--7----------x---7---7-----x-------------- G#-7----------x---7---7-----x-------------- Gtr: B--12---------x---12--12----x------------------ G#-12---------x---12--12----x------------------ E--12---------x---12--12----x------------------ Sitting in a park in Paris France Dulc: E---3----x---3--3-------------x----------1---- B---3----x---3--3-------------x----------1---- G#--3----x---3--3-------------x----------1---- Gtr: B---5----x---5--5-------------x----------2----- G#--5----x---5--5-------------x----------2----- E---5----x---5--5-------------x----------2----- Reading the news and it sure looks bad Dulc: E---x-----1---1---------------x----------------- B---x-----1---1---------------x----------------- G#--x-----1---1---------------x----------------- Gtr: B---x-----2---2---------------x------------ G#--x-----2---2---------------x------------ E---x-----2---2---------------x------------ They won't give peace a chance Dulc: E---4--------x--4--4--------x-----------7---x-- B---4--------x--4--4--------x-----------7---x-- G#--4--------x--4--4--------x-----------7---x-- Gtr: B---7--------x--7--7--------x----------12---x-- G#--7--------x--7--7--------x----------12---x-- E---7--------x--7--7--------x----------12---x-- That was just a dream some of us had Dulc: E--7---7---------x----3-------x---3-3-------x---- B--7---7---------x----3-------x---3-3-------x---- G#-7---7---------x----3-------x---3-3-------x---- Gtr: B--12--12--------x----5-------x---5-5-------x---- G#-12--12--------x----5-------x---5-5-------x---- E--12--12--------x----5-------x---5-5-------x---- Still a lot of lands to see, but I wouldn't want to Dulc: E----1------x------1--1-----x----4-----x--4--4---------x---- B----1------x------1--1-----x----4-----x--4--4---------x---- G#---1------x------1--1-----x----4-----x--4--4---------x---- Gtr: B----2------x------2--2-----x----7-----x--7--7---------x--- G#---2------x------2--2-----x----7-----x--7--7---------x--- E----2------x------2--2-----x----7-----x--7--7---------x--- stay here, it's too old and cold and settled in its ways here CHORUS: ------- Dulc: E---3--x--3-3--x--3-3--x--3-3-------------------- B---3--x--3-3--x--3-3--x--3-3-------------------- G#--3--x--3-3--x--3-3--x--3-3-------------------- Gtr: B---5--x--5-5--x--5-5--x--5-5--------------------- G#--5--x--5-5--x--5-5--x--5-5--------------------- E---5--x--5-5--x--5-5--x--5-5--------------------- Ah but California Dulc: E--x-0-0--x--0-0--x--5----x---5-5----x------------ B--x-0-0--x--0-0--x--5----x---5-5----x------------ G#-x-0-0--x--0-0--x--5----x---5-5----x------------ Gtr: B--x-0-0--x--0-0--x--9----x---9-9----x------------- G#-x-0-0--x--0-0--x--9----x---9-9----x------------- E--x-0-0--x--0-0--x--9----x---9-9----x------------- Ca-li-fornia I'm coming home Dulc: E---3-------x-----3--3---------x------------ B---3-------x-----3--3---------x------------ G#--3-------x-----3--3---------x------------ Gtr: B---5-------x-----5--5---------x-------------------- G#--5-------x-----5--5---------x-------------------- E---5-------x-----5--5---------x-------------------- I'm gonna see the folks I dig Dulc: E--2------x--2--2-----x--0---4--------------- B--0------x--0--0-----x--0---4--------------- G#-0------x--0--0-----x--0---4--------------- Gtr: B--0------x--0--0------x--0--7---------------- G#-0------x--0--0------x--0--7---------------- E--4------x--4--4------x--0--7---------------- I'll even kiss a sunset pig Dulc: E---x--4---4---x----0--0-----------------0---- B---x--4---4---x----0--0---------2h3p2-0---0-- G#--x--4---4---x----0--0-----------------0---- Gtr: B---x--7---7---x----0--0---------4h5p4-0---0-- G#--x--7---7---x----0--0-----------------0---- E---x--7---7---x----0--0-----------------0---- California I'm coming home Dulc: E---3---3--0---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- B---3---3--2---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- G#--3---3--0---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- Gtr: B---5---5--4---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- G#--5---5--0---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- E---5---5--0---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- VERSE 2: --------- (Same chords as verse 1) I met a redneck on a Grecian isle Who did the goat dance very well He gave me back my smile But he kept my camera to sell Oh the rogue, the red red rogue He cooked good omelettes and stews And I might have stayed on with him there But my heart cried out for you CHORUS: -------- California Oh California I'm coming home Oh make me feel good rock and roll band I'm your biggest fan California I'm coming home Dulc: E----------0----3---3--0---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- B--2h3p2-0---0--3---3--2---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- G#---------0----3---3--0---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- Gtr: B--4h5p4-0---0--5---5--4---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- G#---------0----5---5--0---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- E----------0----5---5--0---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- Oh it gets so MIDDLE 8: --------- (Chords just indicated once - use same strumming pattern as before) Dulc: E------8-----------3--------------------- B------8-----------3--------------------- G#-----8-----------3--------------------- Gtr: B------14----------5----------------------- G#-----14----------5----------------------- E------14----------5----------------------- lo - nely, when you're walking Dulc: E----7------------------------------4---- B----7------------------------------4---- G#---7------------------------------4---- Gtr: B----12-----------------------------7------ G#---12-----------------------------7------ E----12-----------------------------7------ And the streets are full of strangers Dulc: E---4-------------8---------3--------------- B---4-------------8---------3--------------- G#--4-------------8---------3--------------- Gtr: B---7-------------14--------5---------------- G#--7-------------14--------5----------------- E---7-------------14--------5----------------- All the news of home you read Dulc: E-----------1-----------6-------------4--- B-----------1-----------6-------------4--- G#----------1-----------6-------------4--- Gtr: B-----------2-----------10------------7----- G#----------2-----------10------------7----- E-----------2-----------10------------7----- just give you the blues, just give you the blues Dulc: E--3---x--3---3-3---3--0---4---4-0-0--x--0-0--x--0-0--x--0-0--x- B--3---x--3---3-3---3----0---4---0-0--x--0-0--x--0-0--x--0-0--x- G#-3---x--3---3-3---3--0---4---4-0-0--x--0-0--x--0-0--x--0-0--x- Gtr: B--5---x--5---5-5---5----0---7---0-0--x--0-0--x--0-0--x--0-0--x- G#-5---x--5---5-5---5--0---7---7-0-0--x--0-0--x--0-0--x--0-0--x- E--5---x--5---5-5---5--0---7---7-0-0--x--0-0--x--0-0--x--0-0--x- VERSE 3: --------- (Same chords as verse 1) So I bought me a ticket I caught a plane to Spain Went to a party down a red dirt road There were lots of pretty people there Reading Rolling Stone reading Vogue They said how long can you hang around I said a week maybe two Just until my skin turns brown And then I'm going home CHORUS: -------- To California California I'm coming home Oh, will you take me as I am Strung out on another man California I'm coming home Dulc: E----------0----3---3--0---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- B--2h3p2-0---0--3---3--2---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- G#---------0----3---3--0---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- Gtr: B--4h5p4-0---0--5---5--4---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- G#---------0----5---5--0---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- E----------0----5---5--0---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x---0-0---x-- Oh it gets so Outtro: ------- (Use same strumming pattern as before) Dulc: E------8-------3--------------------- B------8-------3--------------------- G#-----8-------3--------------------- Gtr: B------14------5----------------------- G#-----14------5----------------------- E------14------5----------------------- lonely, when you're walking Dulc: E----7------------------------------4---- B----7------------------------------4---- G#---7------------------------------4---- Gtr: B----12-----------------------------7------ G#---12-----------------------------7------ E----12-----------------------------7------ And the streets are full of strangers Dulc: E---4-----------8---------3--------------- B---4-----------8---------3--------------- G#--4-----------8---------3--------------- Gtr: B---7-----------14--------5---------------- G#--7-----------14--------5----------------- E---7-----------14--------5----------------- All the news of home you read Dulc: E---------------7------------------4----- B---------------7------------------4----- G#--------------7------------------4----- Gtr: B---------------12-----------------7------- G#--------------12-----------------7------- E---------------12-----------------7------- More about the war and the bloody changes Dulc: E---8-------------------3---------------- B---8-------------------3---------------- G#--8-------------------3---------------- Gtr: B---14------------------5------------------ G#--14------------------5------------------ E---14------------------5------------------ Oh, will you take me as I am Dulc: E---3-----------------7----------4-------- B---3-----------------7----------4-------- G#--3-----------------7----------4-------- Gtr: B---5-----------------12---------7---------- G#--5-----------------12---------7---------- E---5-----------------12---------7---------- Will you take me as I am, will ya Dulc: E---4------------------------8----------- B---4------------------------8----------- G#--4------------------------8----------- Gtr: B---7------------------------14------------ G#--7------------------------14------------ E---7------------------------14------------ Will you take me as I am Dulc: E---3-----------------7------------4------ B---3-----------------7------------4------ G#--3-----------------7------------4------ Gtr: B---5-----------------12-----------7-------- G#--5-----------------12-----------7-------- E---5-----------------12-----------7-------- Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm, mmm mmm mmm mmm Dulc: E---4------------8------3----------------- B---4------------8------3----------------- G#--4------------8------3----------------- Gtr: B---7------------14-----5------------------- G#--7------------14-----5------------------- E---7------------14-----5------------------- Take me as I am ...... Dulc: E----7-----4--------8---------3-------7----------4---- B----7-----4--------8---------3-------7----------4---- G#---7-----4--------8---------3-------7----------4---- Gtr: B---12-----7--------14--------5-------12---------7---- G#--12-----7--------14--------5-------12---------7---- E---12-----7--------14--------5-------12---------7----