Chords

[Markelberry]

I been playin this tune awhile and dont play the chords correctly,Im tuned af# dd aa da which I guess is dm open? Anyhoo part of ity I just stum the open strings,I need help!

[Markelberry]

Sorry for the spellin.

[ShaneJ]

It's D major open. If you barre the 5th fret, you'll be playing a G. Barre the 7th fret for an A - and even the 12th for another D an octave higher, of course. Get Up John tuning makes for the easiest chop chord you'll ever play. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[evanreilly]

I have played around with the tuning, using it for other D tunes. Interesting; try it. I have even played with a slide in that open tuning. YMMV.
As far as the chords for 'Get Up John', I hear it as only being the I & V chords, or the D and A.

[Markelberry]

thanks I really need to work on theory

[phizban]

The song is in D mixolydian (i.e. C naturals). The chords are naturally D and A5 (Am/Asus4 stuff can probably spice stuff up...) and if you are playing the Ricky Skaggs version, the bridge at one point goes to C. In fact, if you arrange this song with a band, experiment around with going to a droned C in the c part (I think) of the tune. It gets a pretty cool effect. Listen to Ricky Skaggs perform the song, (I believe the live recording he has does it), you'll get what I'm talking about.