Folsom Prison Blues

[granite]

Hey All,

I go to a country jam once in a while and have been wanting to work out Folsom Prison. I am a new to the instrument world and thought this would be a simple song for me to learn and to solo that other folks at the jam would also be familiar with. The song appears to be in the key of E, however when I play along with the Johnny Cash version (studio) it does not seem to mesh well. I was able to pull up a couple of youtube versions on mandolin and musicians appear to be playing in E. I may be missing something simple here, but to me it sounds like Cash plays in a key other then E. Any suggestions?

Todd

[Jim Ferguson]

Hi Todd.......I play FPB in key of G here is the chord progression: G........G7.........C......G...........D.........G
I like this progression........easy to play & easy to sing to....:-)
Peace,
Jim

[albeham]

why do you go to jail?

[Paul Merlo]

Folsom Prison Blues is generally played in E by rock bands and most other people too...

I tried playing along w/ the album (live) version one time and got confused with the tuning too, until I capo'd my geetar at the 1st fret. At least I'm pretty sure that's what the case is. I've got an old GuitarWorld Acoustic issue w/ that song in it. I'll try to follow up w/ this tonight when I get home from work. (I'll have to double check the rules for posting copyright materials too)

Paul

[rockies]

If I remember correctly (?? as I'm 72 years of age) the original recording when I learned it about 1956 or so was in F but slightly sharp. Remember in those days there were no electronic tuners and when a band recorded if there was no piano on the recording most just tuned to the guitar or whatever was close to pitch. Most BG jams usually do it in G as the average singer can't sing in Johns key without sounding grovelly (is that a word?)
Dave

[Paul Merlo]

Here's the simple chord and capo info I was talking about, it's from the album Murder. From GuitarWorld Acoustic issue #55. It's also got the whole song tabbed out for guitar. Interesting note on that, it mentions that the tape speed was slowed slightly on the recording, lowering the pitch about a 1/4 step. The guitar parts are still written in E, but w/ a capo at fret 2 (not 1 as previously mentioned).

P

[granite]

Thanks for the great info. Not being a guitar player, I have a question about the capo and chord shapes. When they call for an E chord with a capo, for example, are they asking you to play an E chord shape, but with the capo it actually becomes an F#? In other words, what notes are actually being played?

Todd

[CES]

Granite,

If you capo at 2, you're moving up a whole step...E to F, G to A (one of the most common in BG), etc. So, to play with a guitar capo'd at 2 you'd need to write out the chord progression above and move everything up a whole step...E--->F, E7--->F7, etc. I have a Classic Country book at home that uses the same progression, but can't remember if it suggests a capo or not...now I'm intrigued and will have to pull out some Cash when I get home tonight :).

My theory is weak, so I hope I'm not misleading you, but I've been trying to make myself do this conversion (with the aid of a "Play Guitar in Any Key" book, a mando theory book, and/or one of the Keyser Capo inserts that grids out what key/chords you're using if you take a song in G and capo to wherever) on guitar songs I learn so that I can more easily play along with others with mando without the aid of a Capo. I have no moral objection to using capos on mandolin (as some do), but just don't feel like I get optimum tone when I use one...plus all the tuning problems are amplified, etc...

Anyway, good luck. If moving up a whole step doesn't match the recording, try going only a 1/2 step (which would be like a guitar capo at 1) and see what happens...great song, btw. Boy Named Sue and I Hardly Ever Sing Beer Drinking Songs are a couple of others that are fun and pretty easy to keep up with...

[GVD]

....When they call for an E chord with a capo, for example, are they asking you to play an E chord shape, but with the capo it actually becomes an F#? In other words, what notes are actually being played?

Todd

Yes you would be playing in F#.


Granite,

If you capo at 2, you're moving up a whole step...E to F, G to A (one of the most common in BG), etc. So, to play with a guitar capo'd at 2 you'd need to write out the chord progression above and move everything up a whole step...E--->F, E7--->F7, etc.

My theory is weak, so I hope I'm not misleading you, ...

Well since the last I checked there's only a half step from E to F and a capo on the second fret is a whole step (in other words F#) then yes I'd say your answer is misleading.

[swampstomper]

Generally the fret count starts at 0 (the nut, or a "0 fret" on some mandos) as the open string, so capo at 2 would be up a whole tone.

I think what may have happened on the original recording was (1) tune down a bit, about 1/4 step (probably just by ear to get the right looseness of the strings), (2) capo to 2nd fret. This would put it somewhere between F and F#. But definitely Luther's guitar licks are pure open E fingering.

It's not really a mando tune for me, it lopes along and most mandos don't sustain a note so long, and a tremelo sounds pretty weird in this context. But I am sure Niles can do something interesting with it!

[CES]

Yes you would be playing in F#.



Well since the last I checked there's only a half step from E to F and a capo on the second fret is a whole step (in other words F#) then yes I'd say your answer is misleading.

You are correct, sir...apologies, and why I shouldn't try to multitask :redface:

[journeybear]

If you want to really wow them, learn the intro/outro riff. In E, that's BBB D D B G# | E. If you can bend strings, that G# is better played as a G bent upwards. The other riff to learn is the start of the instrumental. That goes G-G# B D B D B | G-G# B D B D twice. That G-G# is best played as a slur or hammer-on, unless you can bend it. The rest of the instrumental from the original is pretty rhythmic - Luther just kind of played the A and E chords, then played the intro riff over the B chord.

If I am throwing too much at you, just read along while you listen to the song. It is really straightforward.