Hi everyone. I know this song has appeared on here before but as far as I know it hasn't included the distinctive G / C/g intro riff that pretty much defines this song for the listener. So here it is!Chords needed
G 320003
C/G 3x2013 (see comments section!)
D xx0232
Am7 x02010
Em 022000
Am x02210
CommentsRight the intro riff. This is MUCH easier to describe than it is to do, trust me. First off, you need to form your G chord with this fingering –
3 pinky
0
0
0
2 middle
3 ring
this is a very useful fingering of the G chord for a number of reasons – not least of which is getting to Gsus4 (320013) – all you do is stick your index finger on the first fret of the B string. The Gsus4 chord is a great way to break up a G chord that you are holding onto for a long time (see David's lesson on Bob Dylan's Tangled Up in Blue for an example). However, back to this song…..
The intro riff (it also appears elsewhere in the song, see the final tab at the bottom) just involves hammering on your first and middle fingers onto the second (B) and fourth (D) strings whilst holding the G shape. The tab for this is like this –|-3--3-3-3-----|
|-0--0-0-0h1---|
|-0--0-0-0-----|
|-0--0-0-0h2---|
|-2--2---x-----|
|-3--3---3-----|
D D u D
So how do you play it? First get used to the strum pattern as without this it won't work anyway – Its Down / downupdown. When you can repeat that strum on the G, its time to work on the hammer on part. Immediately after the last downstrum, quickly take your middle finger off the A string, and then hammer on your index and middle fingers. You should hear the tone of the G chord change….and you should be able to go “hey – that's the Father and Son intro!â€. Hopefully….
NOTE – when the riff appears in the song after a D chord – its really easy from the D chord to put your pinky on the high E string 3rd fret and then “fold†your other fingers over to get to your G shape!
After that its just a case of strumming through the chords. For a strum pattern for the song, try Down (pause)downupdown all the way through. Also note that this is one song where on the last beat you can afford to hit the open strings before moving to the next chord – it sounds pretty effective.
Here you go…
FATHER AND SON- Cat Stevens
INTRO: G C/g riff x 4
G D
It's not time to make a change,
C Am7
just relax and take it easy
G Em
You're still young that's your fault
Am D
there's so much you have to know
G D
Find a girl, settle down,
C Am7
if you want to, you can marry
G Em
Look at me, I am old,
Am D
but I'm happy
G D
I was once like you are now,
C Am7
and I know that its not easy
G Em
to be calm, when you've found
Am D
something going on
G D
But take your time, think a lot,
C Am7
why think of everything you've got
G Em
For you will still be here tomorrow,
D riff x 2
but your dreams may not
G D
How can I try to explain?
C Am7
when I do he turns away again
G Em
it's always been the same,
Am D
same old story
G D
From the moment I could talk
C Am7
I was or-dered to listen
G Em D G
now there's a way and I know
D G
I have to go away
D C Riff x 2
and I know I have to go
solo over these chords
G D / C AM7 / G Em / Am D /
G D / C Am7 / G Em / D G / D C / riff x 2
G D
It's not time to make a change,
C Am7
just sit down and take it slowly
G Em
You're still young, that's your fault,
Am D
there's so much you have to go through
G D
Find a girl, settle down,
C Am7
if you want to you can marry
G Em Am
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy
D G D
All the times that I cried,
C Am7
keeping all the things I knew inside
G Em Am
It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it
D G D
If they were right, I'd agree,
C Am7
but it's them they know, not me
G Em
Now there's a way, and I know
D G
that I have to go away
D C G
I know I have to go
All the best, i haven't had much feedback from the Travis song I posted, I am not going to post any more Travis unless people give feedback - its a lot of work if not many people are going to give it a go.
Cheers
Matt
Brilliant Matt!
Love this song, good to get another one from you. I'll try this tonight I didn't realise this song had such easy chords. I like Cat's original and his duet with Ronan Keating too.
I also heard it the other day sung by the late great Johnny Cash. He must have recorded it near the end of his life and the way he did it was very emotional and heartbreaking to listen to.
On the subject of Travis I understand your feelings mate. A few of my offerings don't attract much attention either, probably for very good reasons though they are no way near as complete, lesson wise, as yours. Please don't give up Mate, keep em coming.
All the best
Chris
The guitar is all right John but you'll never make a living out of it! (John Lennon's Aunt Mimi)
hiya Chris mate, hope you're well?
cheers, I won't give up. I am working on Behind Blue Eyes at the moment, look out for it, its a complicated one so its one long post!!!
cheers and all the best
Matt
I don't beleive it mate!
Behind Blue Eyes, what a song. Looking forward to your post on that one.
I learn't the basic rudiments of that song when I first started playing two years ago. One of The Who's clasics. I haven't revisited it for quite a while.
Chris
The guitar is all right John but you'll never make a living out of it! (John Lennon's Aunt Mimi)
Yeah great great song, but a complete and utter pain to explain!!
all the best
Matt
Hi Matt,
Just trying this out. That new fingering for the G chord is really unatural to me after the standard fingering I'm used to. Painful! I really have to swing my wrist right under and almost completely round the back of the neck but I can see why, for the switch to Gsus4. The only other Gsus4 fingering I know is
3 pinky
1 index
0
0
0
3 ring
which wouldn't be an easy swap from standard G on this song.
And then there's the hammer wow-wee. Currently lifting the first & middle fingers and losing it all. Still practice makes perfect. I see what you mean about easier to describe than to do. At least I can play the body of the song pretty well.
Maybe it all seems a bit hard as I'm currently going through one of those "will I ever get better phases" your supposed to get when learning guitar. Got to type this quietly, Rodders and Vic may be listening! You know, bloody barre chords etc I'll never be able to play them. Bet they heard me!
Anyway enough moaning,
Great song, well put together Matt.
All the best,
Chris
The guitar is all right John but you'll never make a living out of it! (John Lennon's Aunt Mimi)
Nice job Matt. Feels natural and sounds good to.
Chris
I found it tricky too to start with but you'll have to trust me when i say that it will get a lot easier in time. It will help if you start fingering a G this way when you play other songs, it will make it feel more natural. I find myself using this fingering more and more, sometimes by accident! As for the hammer on, the secret is not to try too hard. Try and feel that the fingers on the two E strings are "anchors" and you other fingers are quite free to move, and you'll get it in no time.
All the best
Matt
Thanks for the tip on hammering on the D and B strings. I've been playing this a while, and that hammer really adds to the chord change. There's also a little run after that change that goes like this:
|-3--3-3-3------3-----5|
|-0--0-0-0h1--1----1---|
|-0--0-0-0-------------|
|-0--0-0-0h2-----------|
|-2--2---x-------------|
|-3--3---3-------------|
D D u D
It's not that hard to do, but it took some practice (for me at least) to get it clean. Then I saw an old BBC show with Cat Stevens and those last four notes were played by a second guitar. Made me feel better about my struggle.
Blame it on the lies that killed us, blame it on the truth that ran us down.
aaaahhh well done that man!!!
I have been trying to figure out how that was played on one guitar. Most of the tabs on the net are a pile of poo when it comes to this bit of the song.
I will get my mate to play that bit !!
thanks a lot
Matt
One more little tip, when you are changing from the Am7 to the D play 1 beat preceding the D putting your pinky on the E string 3rd fret.
Great post Matt...Here's a solo I found which adds a nice touch to the song. Another tip is to slide the e on the 3rd fret down to the 5th fret on the little run on the intro. I like Nick's tip on the am7 to D.
Solo:
-------|----12--------|--------------12----------|---------------------|------
-12-13-|-15----15--12-|-15-15--15-15-------------|-12-------12---13-12-|------
-------|--------------|----------------12--12h14-|----12h14------------|------
-------|--------------|--------------------------|---------------------|------
-------|--------------|--------------------------|---------------------|------
-------|--------------|--------------------------|---------------------|------
--------------------------------------|--------------------|-------0--------|-
---------------------------------0--1-|-3---0--1--3---0--1-|-3-3-3----------|-
-14--12----12---11h12p11--------------|--------------------|---------0--0-2-|-
--------14----------------14-12-------|--------------------|----------------|-
--------------------------------------|--------------------|----------------|-
--------------------------------------|--------------------|----------------|-
-----------------|--------------------|--------------------3---3--3--3-|------
-------------1---|------------------0-|-3--3--1--1-p-0----3---3--3--3-|------
--4---0-2-4----4-|-4--2--0-----0------|--------------------0---0--0--0-|------
-----------------|-----------0--------|--------------------0---0--0--0-|------
-----------------|--------------------|--------------------2---2--2--2-|------
-----------------|--------------------|--------------------3---3--3--3-|------
-----------3---5----3--3--3--3-|-----------3---5------------------------------
-1------------------3--3--3--3-|-1--------------------------------------------
-0---4-/-5---5------0--0--0--0-|-0---4-/-5---5--------------------------------
-2------------------0--0--0--0-|-2--------------------------------------------
-3------------------2--2--2--2-|-3--------------------------------------------
--------------------3--3--3--3-|----------------------------------------------
Hope you don't mind Maritimer, but I took the liberty to straighten up your tab a bit. I didn't change anything, just formatted it to make it easier to follow.
-------|----12--------|--------------12----------|---------------------|-----
-12-13-|-15----15--12-|-15-15--15-15-------------|-12-------12---13-12-|-----
-------|--------------|----------------12--12h14-|----12h14------------|-----
-------|--------------|--------------------------|---------------------|-----
-------|--------------|--------------------------|---------------------|-----
-------|--------------|--------------------------|---------------------|-----
--------------------------------------|--------------------|-------0-------|-
---------------------------------0--1-|-3---0--1--3---0--1-|-3-3-3---------|-
-14--12----12---11h12p11--------------|--------------------|---------0--0-2|-
--------14----------------14-12-------|--------------------|---------------|-
--------------------------------------|--------------------|---------------|-
--------------------------------------|--------------------|---------------|-
-----------------|--------------------|--------------------3---3--3--3-|-----
-------------1---|------------------0-|-3--3--1--1-p-0----3---3--3--3-|-----
--4---0-2-4----4-|-4--2--0-----0------|--------------------0---0--0--0-|-----
-----------------|-----------0--------|--------------------0---0--0--0-|-----
-----------------|--------------------|--------------------2---2--2--2-|-----
-----------------|--------------------|--------------------3---3--3--3-|-----
-----------3---5----3--3--3--3-|-----------3---5-----------------------------
-1------------------3--3--3--3-|-1-------------------------------------------
-0---4-/-5---5------0--0--0--0-|-0---4-/-5---5-------------------------------
-2------------------0--0--0--0-|-2-------------------------------------------
-3------------------2--2--2--2-|-3-------------------------------------------
--------------------3--3--3--3-|---------------------------------------------
Blame it on the lies that killed us, blame it on the truth that ran us down.
Hello, first of all my compliments to always the exhaustive Mattguitar's explanations. Reagrding the strummin to my ears the pattern is very similar to Wild world's one so I played it with a bb ddu for each chord, muting the two bass notes
Matteo
Glad this thread got bumped ... 'tis one of my favourite songs and one I tried learning during my first failed attempt at guitar nearly 15 years ago.
Just trying it tonight I've been slowly improving with the intro riff - though I do need to improve the crispness of the hammer-on.
I do have a couple of questions though:
1. And please forgive my lack of theoretical knowledge on this point, but given that Stevens sings some of the verses in a different key (I think that's the correct term - well in any case, an octave higher than the other verses) to characterize the son's vs the Father's lines, are these parts therefore played in a different key on the guitar?
2. With respect to the solo provided by Maritimer (and formatted by Slydog :)), would one normally play the notes around the 12th-15th frets using a barre at the 12th? I suppose this is personal preference, but my lack of finger dexterity seemed to prevent me from achieving success when trying to play it without a barre ... not that I had success with the barre either but that could be improved if I knew that was the generally accepted way of performing the solo.
Anyhoo, thanks Matt for a great lesson! 8)
From little things big things grow - Paul Kelly
