Reel d'Issoudun

[adgefan]

I've been learning the Quebecois tune Reel d'Issoudun after hearing John Hartford playing it. The melody is fairly simple, but I was wondering about the back up. I play just A and E chords but I think they're more going on...on one recording of the tune John is showing the tune to Chris Thile who mentions something about "major sevenths"...I'm not educated enough in music theory to know if he talking about the melody or the chords.

Does anybody play this tune and if so what chords do you use for back-up?

Thanks!

[sjusk]

I´ve been listening to it and strumming along, and I don´t get more than A and E. The E chord may change into E7 before going back home to A, but again, that could be a question of taste and how one likes it.

I am far from an expert in music theory, and there must be hundreds - or thousands! - on board the Cafe who would know more about this.
But my ears tell me that it´s basically A and E.

Just my 2 pennies.

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Søren

[withak]

I think A & E also. Maybe not whole chords in spots though, just the fifths or something. I wouldn't play any sevenths unless you are really sure what you are doing.

[adgefan]

Thanks for the advice.

John Hartford's versions of this tune have a certain melancholy feeling that I thought could have been produced by using something other than the "normal" A and E chords. As you both say though, the A and E seem to fit just fine. The "sadness" might just be the effect of certain notes in the melody, I guess.