Gardening at Night - R.E.M.

**jasona** · Dec-21-2008, 12:29pm

So, while my mandolin is away at the luthier's I thought I would try and put together a nice chord melody arrangement for this great tune.

Chords are D C G Em F#m and A7.

So far it seems to fall in place in first position, except I could use a good suggestion for an A7 shape. Other arrangements are of course welcome.

**EdHanrahan** · Dec-21-2008, 1:02pm

Don't know if this fits, but what the heck. I've seen so many clunky-feeling A7's that I gotta comment...

With 2 fingers, it's the easiest A7 I've found, but may scare some because it's not "1st position". And I've never seen it written up (ok, someone is sure to jump on me for THAT comment!). Here ya go!

E - open (E = fifth)
A - open (A = root)
D - fret-5 (G = flat 7th)
G - fret-6 (C# = third)

Suggest using 1st & 2nd fingers. A change from A major to A7 becomes super-easy by starting with third finger on D-string fret-7, doubling the root on the A strings.

Hope this helps! - Ed

**jasona** · Dec-21-2008, 1:07pm

Thanks Ed. That might work well with where I've the other chords falling.

**mrmando** · Dec-21-2008, 1:27pm

Love the sound of the 6500 A7. Other possibilities are 0245 (probably too weird) and 2243.

**jasona** · Dec-21-2008, 9:39pm

So, at 1:10 is Peter Buck simply playing an arpeggio on the dominant chord?

**lyric_girl** · Dec-22-2008, 1:57pm

Just had to say that I haven't been here much lately and I come back and see somebody figuring out one of my fave songs by my fave band. Kewl.

**Michael Cameron** · Dec-23-2008, 5:14pm

RE:A7

9,11,10,x is one I use for comping/Dawgness. About nosebleed territory for me...2243 also jazzy.

While the subject is A chords,
Open-sounding Am:? Not sure of the nomenclature.
9,10,0,0 Nice chord on Nancy's "Sage Fields" or wherever;it's sort of a haunting ring I like with open G,C, and D chords.

My apologies,I not familiar with the REM song.
And I'm in Georgia!