Song For Sharon - Joni Mitchell ------------------------------- from the album: Hejira Transcribed by Howard Wright hakwright (at) gmail (dot) com Tuning ------ Note names: Eb Bb Db F Ab Bb Joni notation: Eb 73432 I've written out the intro in full, then two of the main picking patterns used throughout the song. For the bulk of the song, I've just written the basic chord changes and indicated where the two picking patterns are applied. Notation: ---------- / - indicates a slide h - indicates a hammer on. Intro: ------- Most of the notes in the intro are eighth notes. I've left longer gaps between the numbers to indicate where the notes are held for longer. Count the slurred notes (the 4/5 slide and 4h5 hammer on) as one eighth note. If in doubt - have a listen to the original. Bb-------------------------0---------------------------------------- Ab------------------------------------------------------------------ F-----------------0---0--7-----12-----0------1-0----1-0------------- Db----4/5-4---4h5--------7-----12-----0---0--2-0----2-0------0------ Bb----------0-------0-------------------0------------------0-------- Eb--0------------------------0-------------------------------------- Bb------------0--------------------------------0------------------- Ab----------2-0--------------------------------0------------------- F-------2-----0------1-0----1-0----1-3-----3-----0----------------- Db----------------0--2-0----2-0----2-4---4-------0----------------- Bb----0---0-----0----------------------5-----5---------0----------- Eb--0-------------------------------------------------------------- Bb---------0---------------0-------------------------------------- Ab---------2-0-------------2-------------------------------------- F------2-----0---------2-----0------------------------------------ Db-----2---------0-----2-----0------------------------------------ Bb---0---------0-----0-------------------------------------------- Eb-0-----0---------0-----0---------------------------------------- The 1st pattern (below) gives you the basic picking pattern for all the parts using chords barred at the 7th/4th/3rd frets. The first chord (on the top strings) is actually on the last upbeat of the previous bar; the strum on the lower strings (2nd chord) is the first downbeat. After the first four strums, the rhythm uses just quarter and eighth notes, the last note sustains on till the end of the bar. If you listen to the original track you should get the idea. Pattern1: ---------- Bb--7------------7-------7----------------------------------------------- Ab--7------------7-------7----------------------------------------------- F---7------------7-----9---9-----7--------------------------------------- Db--7-7----------7-----9---9---7----------------------------------------- Bb----7-----7--------7-------7------------------------------------------- Eb----7-----7--------7--------------------------------------------------- Just use the same picking pattern (or you can vary it slightly) for the chords at the 5th and 3rd frets. The other main pattern in the verse is the bit played down at the 2nd fret: Pattern2: ---------- Bb------0-----0--------------------------------------------------- Ab------2-----0----------2---0------------------------------------ F-------2-----0----------2---0------------------------------------ Db------2-----2---0------2---0------------------------------------ Bb----0----------------0------------------------------------------ Eb--0----------------0-------------------------------------------- Verse: ------- So, the structure of the verse goes: (use pattern 1) (use pattern 2) Bb---7------7-----7-------0---0---0---0----------------------------------- Ab---7------7-----7-------2---0---2---0----------------------------------- F----7------9-----7-------2---0---2---0----------------------------------- Db---7------9-----7-------2---2---2---0----------------------------------- Bb---7------7-----7-------0---0---0---0----------------------------------- Eb---7------7-----7-------0---0---0---0----------------------------------- I went to .... ... mandolin (use pattern 1) (use pattern 2) Bb--5-----5----5-------0---0---0---0----------------------------------- Ab--5-----5----5-------2---0---2---0----------------------------------- F---5-----7----5-------2---0---2---0----------------------------------- Db--5-----7----5-------2---2---2---0----------------------------------- Bb--5-----5----5-------0---0---0---0----------------------------------- Eb--5-----5----5-------0---0---0---0----------------------------------- ... saw the long .... store-front manekin .... ( use pattern 1 ................) (pattern 2) Bb---3----3----3----3-----5---5---5------0---0---0---0--------------------- Ab---3----3----3----3-----5---5---5------2---0---2---0--------------------- F----3----5----3----5-----5---7---5------2---0---2---0--------------------- Db---3----5----3----5-----5---7---5------2---2---2---0--------------------- Bb---3----3----3----3-----5---5---5------0---0---0---0--------------------- Eb---3----3----3----3-----5---5---5------0---0---0---0--------------------- ... big boat ... some girl's ... crazy Now repeat the first half of the intro, and then on to another verse.