Does anybody play john hartford's up on the hill

[JBone]

I just started messing around with the mandolin and would love to be able to work this one out. #Does anyone know the basic chord structure.

Thanks in advance!

[Adam Tracksler]

I recall its in G. Pretty much just open G (0-0-3-2) and open D (2-0-0-2). During the doodoodoo part it moves chromatically up the neck in the open G position (0-0-3-2), (0-0-4-3), etc...up to D (0-0-8-9)..

[JBone]

Thanks atracksler! I'll try messing around with it. It sounds like more going on than just a couple of chords, but I suppose it might be just some slight variations and strumming technique.

Thanks again.

[fAtHanD]

JBone,

I asked this same question a little while back. Here is the answer I got from cafe member wayfaringstranger.

"The lick that he's playing is a pair of double stops based on 2-finger open-D chord shape. Here's the move:

Left Hand:

1) Plant your pinkie on the 7th fret of the G string. It's not going to move, but rather will sit there playing droning a "D" note.
2) Now, using your index and middle fingers on the "D" string, alternate between the 2nd fret, 4th fret, and open "D" string.

Right hand:
1) This part is easy: you're just strumming on the "G," "D," and "A" strings while your left hand moves.

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That's the D chord lick. Now for the rest of the song:

1) G chord he seems to be making with the 4th fret of the G string and the 5th fret of the D string.
1.5) D chord is based on the D lick above. Listen to it, you'll get it.
2) A chord alternates between 2 shapes. One is exactly the same as the "G" shape above, only slid up two frets (6th fret G string, 7th fret D string). The other one is 2nd fret D string, 6th fret G string. I don't have the recording in front of me, but he probably does that classic BG lick where you hammer on from the 4th fret to the 6th fret of the G string.
3) And, finally, while they're singing the "do-do-de-do" part, you're ascending the G string chromatically, one fret at a time, from the open string to the 5th fret; while this is happending, your right hand is playing *fast* tremolo.

Later in the song, he shifts to plain old open D and G chords. Probably plays the G2-D2-A4-E5 A chord, too, but I forget. Start with these tips, and give it a close listen to pick up the nuances.

Hope that helps. Good luck with it."