All I Want - Joni Mitchell --------------------------------- From the album `Blue' Transcribed by Howard Wright hakwright (at) gmail (dot) com The dominant feature of this song is the dulcimer, so this is what I have transcribed here. Since most people don't have a dulcimer to try out, I've also written out the dulcimer part for guitar tablature, though the guitar tuning and chord shapes are exactly the same as those played on the dulcimer on the original track. The dulcimer tablature is labelled "Dulc" and the equivalent guitar tablature is labelled "Gtr". Please note: the dulcimer tablature is displayed with the lowest string at the top, and the melody string at the bottom, as this is the usual way to write dulcimer tablature (thanks for the info Steve!). The guitar tablature is displayed in the usual way, with the lowest string at the bottom. Tuning ------ The dulcimer has three strings (one 'string' is actually a pair of strings) and the tuning for this song is : F# 14 0 (in Joni notation) This means tune the lowest string to F#, then tune the next string 14 semitones (a ninth) above the F#, and tune the top (double) string to the middle string. This means you end up with the notes F# G# G#. On a guitar you have six strings, so you can try a few methods to get the authentic dulcimer sound. *** 1 *** Remove the low E and D strings, then retune the A to an F#, and tune the G, B and top E strings to a unison G#. *** 2 *** If you don't want the hassle of removing strings, you can tune the G, B and top E to G# then use either the D or A strings as the bass dulcimer string - tune it down to F#. If you are prepared to remove the strings as in (1) the song will be a little easier to play - you can strum away and hit all strings when you play. If you try (2) you have to try not to play the low E and A/D string when you strum the chords. However, it's not too hard to get it to work this way. Setting up the guitar like this means you have three strings tuned to G#. You can use one as the drone string (which is never fretted) and fret the other two, or use two drone strings and fret the third string. I think it sounds better when you fret two of the G# strings, and leave just one as the drone string, like this: Gtr: G#---9--7--9------------- G#---9--7--9--etc-------- G#---0--0--0------------- F#---7--5--7------------- The alternative (fret just one of the G# strings and have two drones) is slightly easier to play, but doesn't sound as good. To make it simpler to type out, I'll just write the tablature with two G# strings - one drone and one melody string. You can make your own choice whether you use two drone strings or two melody strings. (If you're lucky enough to own a dulcimer, you don't have to worry about all of this!). I've written separate lines for the dulcimer tablature and guitar equivalent. Make sure you're playing the line marked "Gtr" if you're using a guitar and the line marked "Dulc" if you're playing a dulcimer. Because the two instruments are fretted differently (e.g guitar fret 2 is equivalent to dulcimer fret 1) you will get some very odd chords if you play the "Dulc" tablature on the guitar! OK, on to the chord shapes for the song. I'll just write out the basic changes - i.e I won't write out all the multiple strums of each chord. The basic strumming pattern is an 8th note up-and-down pattern, with accents and hand mutes used to give the rhythm some life. Listen to the record to get the full picture. Intro: -------- In between the main strums, mute the top and bottom strings and continue to strum the drone string in a regular 8th-note rhythm. Gtr: G#---5--4-5----10----16----5--4-5----10----16----------- G#---0--0-0----0-----0-----0--0-0----0-----0------------ F#---5--4-5----10----16----5--4-5----10----16----------- Dulc: F#---3--2-3----6-----9-----3--2-3----6-----9------------ G#---0--0-0----0-----0-----0--0-0----0-----0------------ G#---3--2-3----6-----9-----3--2-3----6-----9------------ Gtr: G#--9--7--9--12--10--4----9--7--9--14--12--4------------ G#--0--0--0--0---0---0----0--0--0--0---0---0------------ F#--7--5--7--10--9---2----7--5--7--12--10--2------------ Dulc: F#--4--3--4--6---5---1----4--3--4--7---6---1------------ G#--0--0--0--0---0---0----0--0--0--0---0---0------------ G#--5--4--5--7---6---2----5--4--5--8---7---2------------ OK, I know what you're thinking ... a couple of those chord shapes sound "funny" ? The reason for this is that the dulcimer is not fretted chromatically, so has a limited number of notes it can play. If you play this (as I do) on the guitar, you have the freedom to play all chromatic notes, and can choose to alter one or two shapes to make them sound "right". (If you play dulcimer, you don't have this option). This is pretty bold stuff, changing Joni's chords !!! In fact, the reason the dulcimer chords don't sound too odd on the original is because of the guitar part played by James Taylor - it adds some extra bass notes and smooths out some of the dulcimer harmonies. So, if you're willing to risk Joni's wrath, you might want to change the Gtr: --12-- --12-- --0--- shape to --0--- --10-- --11-- for example. Just don't tell her that I suggested it! I'll write the rest of the song with the dulcimer chords played by Joni. If you prefer to use the above chord, just substitute it in the right places. I've written the first few words that go with each pair of lines of tablature just to make it clear which part of the song it is. Verse: ------- "I am on a lonely road and I am travelling, travelling ..." Gtr: G#--9--7--9--12--10--4--5-------7--5--7--10--9---------- G#--0--0--0--0---0---0--0-------0--0--0--0---0---------- F#--7--5--7--10--9---2--4-------5--4--5--9---7---------- Dulc: F#--4--3--4--6---5---1--2-------3--2--3--5---4---------- G#--0--0--0--0---0---0--0-------0--0--0--0---0---------- G#--5--4--5--7---6---2--3-------4--3--4--6---5---------- "Oh I hate you some, I hate you some, I love you some ..." Gtr: G#--9--7--9--12--10--4--5-------7--5--7--10--9---------- G#--0--0--0--0---0---0--0-------0--0--0--0---0---------- F#--7--5--7--10--9---2--4-------5--4--5--9---7---------- Dulc: F#--4--3--4--6---5---1--2-------3--2--3--5---4---------- G#--0--0--0--0---0---0--0-------0--0--0--0---0---------- G#--5--4--5--7---6---2--3-------4--3--4--6---5---------- "I wanna be strong, I wanna laugh along ..." Gtr: G#--9--7--5----4----5----4----5----4----5----9---------- G#--0--0--0----0----0----0----0----0----0----0---------- F#--7--5--4----2----4----2----4----2----4----7---------- Dulc: F#--4--3--2----1----2----1----2----1----2----4---------- G#--0--0--0----0----0----0----0----0----0----0---------- G#--5--4--3----2----3----2----3----2----3----5---------- "Do you wanna dance with me baby ..." Gtr: G#---7--5--4-----5--7-----5------4----5----7---------- G#---0--0--0-----0--0-----0------0----0----0---------- F#---5--4--2-----4--5-----4------2----4----5---------- Dulc: F#---3--2--1-----2--3-----2------1----2----3---------- G#---0--0--0-----0--0-----0------0----0----0---------- G#---4--3--2-----3--4-----3------2----3----4---------- That's about it - the rest is just repeats. Hope you like it! Howard