Folsom Prison revisited

[DanTheBluesMan]

Rather than dig up a three and a half year old thread, I'd thought I'd start a new one. The original thread was about what key 'Folsom Prison Blues' was in'.

The general consensus was 'whatever you can sing it in'. Well, I did a little youtubing tonight. And the man himself, I observed him playing and singing in no less than three different keys. F, E and G. I guess it just depended on how his voice was at the moment. I saw more videos of E than F, and one in G.

Just for shits and giggles, I dug out a capo that I knew I had somewhere. Clamped it on the first fret and went to town, shot a man, just to watch him die.

I think that's the first time I ever actually used a capo, in a song.

[bonefish]

paraphrasing juniorspecial in the original thread "folsom in E? Mules can't sing that low!" Actually, we do it in E, but i have to pop up to get the last phrase of each verse.

i used to think capos were cheating...that was before i started playing country.

[rudutch]

we always played it in 'E' - but we are idiots (collectively)

[DanTheBluesMan]

i used to think capos were cheating...that was before i started playing country.

I always thought the same thing, too. I was messing around last night, and was spooking myself at how 'countryish' the leads were sounding, when I incorporated the open strings in the licks. One thing I liked, that it forced me out of the visual patterns, and to open my ears and find the spots that work, something that I admit I've been very lazy about.

Next, open tunings AND capos. Ahhh, somebody stop me, I'm outta control.

[Wilko]

The original recording is F, and we always did it in G.

Now I'm playing with a woman so we do it in C!

Ruins the "lonesome whistle" solo...

[Wilko]

It sounds right when you play it in F. Also keeps you from going over the top on the solo without the open string madness that happens when you play it in E.

I love that answer. The only other thing that can tame a guitarist like "Bb" or "F" is sheet music!

[DanTheBluesMan]

It sounds right when you play it in F. Also keeps you from going over the top on the solo without the open string madness that happens when you play it in E.

not when you use a capo, it doesn't

[DanTheBluesMan]

I love that answer. The only other thing that can tame a guitarist like "Bb" or "F" is sheet music!

funny you should mention that, I've been really getting into those keys lately. Hasn't been taming my spewage much at all.

Good keys to know when you want to jam with horns.

[photoweborama]

The city of Folsom does not have to separate their garbage from their recyclables. The Inmates separate it for them....