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Ringo Starr - Photograph.

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(@vic-lewis-vl)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 10264
Topic starter  

Photograph - Ringo Starr

This is one of those songs which can be as easy or as hard as you want to make it.
If you just want the rhythm chords, fine - those are pretty simple. There is a way,
however, of including the lead melodic guitar line into the chords which isn't that
difficult, just a few variations on an E-shaped barre chord - but you will need to
get that pinky in good working order, it's going to have to do a lot of work!

Don't worry if you're not that great on barre chords - I'll deal with the original
version first, then I'll show you an easier way to play the rhythm chords using our
old friend, the capo. Before I got to be pretty decent at barre chords, it's not an
exaggeration to say the capo was my VERY best friend - but more of that later.

Let's start with the rhythm guitar chords. The intro's just a B chord, with those
afore-mentioned variations chucked in. You CAN just strum the B chord for the entire
intro, if you've got a second guitarist handy who can play the melody; otherwise,
you could play it like this.....
B B5 B B7sus4 B7 B
E |-7-7-7---------------------7--------------|
B |-7-7-7---------7-7------7--7--------------|
G |-8-8-8---------8-9------8--8--------------|
D |-9-9-9---------9-7------7--9--------------|
A |-9-9-9--9-9-9--9-9------9--9--------------|
E |-7-7-7--7-7-7--7-7------7--7--------------|

B B5 B B7sus4 B7 B
E |-7-7-7---------------------7--------------|
B |-7-7-7---------7-7------7--7--------------|
G |-8-8-8---------8-9------8--8--------------|
D |-9-9-9---------9-7------7--9--------------|
A |-9-9-9--9-9-9--9-9------9--9--------------|
E |-7-7-7--7-7-7--7-7------7--7--------------|

(This next section we'll also use as "Fill #1" during the verses.....)
B B5 B B7sus4 B7 Badd13 Bm7 B7
E |-7-7-7--------------------------------7---|
B |-7-7-7---------7-7------7--9------10--7---|
G |-8-8-8---------8-9------8--8------8---8---|
D |-9-9-9---------9-7------7--7------7---7---|
A |-9-9-9--9-9-9--9-9------9--9------9---9---|
E |-7-7-7--7-7-7--7-7------7--7------7---7---|

Then into the verses......

(E)Every time I see your face,
It re(A)minds me of the (E)places we used to (B, or use fill #1)go,
But (E)all I've got is a photograph,
And I (A)realize you're not (E)coming back any (B, or use fill #1)more,

(G#)I thought I'd make it,
The (C#m)day you went away.
(G#)But I can't make it,
'Til you come (C#m)home again to (B, or use fill#1)stay.

I (E)can't get used to living here,
While my (A)heart is broke, my (E)tears are cried for (B, or use fill#1)you,
I (E)want you here to have and hold,
As the (A)years go by, and (E)we grow old and (B, or use fill#1)grey,

There's a saxophone solo here; rhythm chords are exactly as they are for the
verses, E A and B, with the fills.

(G#)Now you're expecting me,
To (C#m)live without you,
(G#)But that's not something,
That I'm (C#m)looking forward (B, or use fill#1)to,

I (E)can't get used to living here,
While my (A)heart is broke, my (E)tears are cried for you,(B, or use fill#1)
I (E)want you here to have and hold,
As the (A)years go by, and (E)we grow old and (B)grey....

repeat intro here, then repeat this verse....

(E)Every time I see your face,
It re(A)minds me of the (E)places we used to (B, or use fill #1)go,
But (E)all I've got is a photograph,
And I (A)realize you're not coming back any (B, or use fill #1)more,

....twice, fading out on the third run-through.

OK - that's the orginal key dealt with. How about an easier version? Well,
like I said before, the capo is your best friend in a song like this. I
started transposing the song - and got as far as raising the pitch three
semitones. That makes the E chord into G, A into C, B into D, G# into B, and
C#m into a nice user-friendly E. Not too bad, apart from the B chord, eh? And
if you're not too good on barres, you could substitute a B7 chord...x21020.
The only problem with that key is that you'd have to put a capo on at the 10th
fret to play those chords (G, Em, C D and B) and be in the original key to play
along with the CD.

For a capoed version, so's you can play in the original key, the best I could
come up with for the rhythm chords was this.....

Capo, 4th fret.

Intro - a G chord.

(C)Every time I see your face,
It re(F)minds me of the (C)places we used to (G)go,
But (C)all I've got is a photograph,
And I (F)realize you're not (C)coming back any (G)more,

(E)I thought I'd make it,
The (Am)day you went away.
(E)But I can't make it,
'Til you come (Am)home again to (G)stay.

I (C)can't get used to living here,
While my (F)heart is broke, my (C)tears are cried for (G)you,
I (C)want you here to have and hold,
As the (F)years go by, and (C)we grow old and (G)grey,

repeat intro - the G chord.....

then the solo, then

(E)Now you're expecting me,
To (Am)live without you,
(E)But that's not something,
That I'm (Am)looking forward (G)to,

I (C)can't get used to living here,
While my (F)heart is broke, my (C)tears are cried for (G)you,
I (C)want you here to have and hold,
As the (F)years go by, and (C)we grow old and (G)grey,

repeat intro here, then repeat this verse....

(C)Every time I see your face,
It re(F)minds me of the (C)places we used to (G)go,
But (C)all I've got is a photograph,
And I (F)realize you're not (C)coming back any (G)more,

....twice, fading out on the third run-through.

And that's pretty much it; any questions, fire away!

:D :D :D

Vic

"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)


   
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(@dan-t)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 5044
 

Ah...now this is music! :D

One suggestion Vic, fill # 1 sounded like it was missing something when I played along to the recording. Could it be more like this?

E |-7-7-7---------------------------7----|
B |-7-7-7---------7--7---7--9---10--7----|
G |-8-8-8---------8--9--11--8---8---8----|
D |-9-9-9---------9--7---7--7---7---7----|
A |-9-9-9--9-9-9--9--9---9--9---9---9----|
E |-7-7-7--7-7-7--7--7---7--7---7---7----|

Thanks for this one! 8)

Dan

"The only way I know that guarantees no mistakes is not to play and that's simply not an option". David Hodge


   
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(@vic-lewis-vl)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 10264
Topic starter  

I see what you're getting at Dan, and yes, it works fine if you can stretch your pinky that far (the 11th fret on the G string) - but that particular note's covered at the 7th fret on the G string, and it's less of a stretch for the beginners and those not too fond of barre chords. Your way does sound a little better/fuller, because you're actually doubling the important melody note. I'll try and get it down if I can.

I've actually started using this as a warm-up exercise; I've found it to be a good exercise for my pinky, since that's the finger that's doing most of the work. Possibly it might sound even better as partial chords, or just a few (or even a couple of!) strings played at a time, like in David's lessons - but I'm not in that league, so I've just kind of muddled through it as best as I can.

I've actually played this song for a while - but with just un-embellished rhythm chords. It was Shady Harrison who wanted to learn the song - which got me wondering if there was some way of incorporating the melody into the chords. Like I said, David does it all the time....so this song actually got me thinking outside of my usual mind-set.

:D :D :D

Vic

"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)


   
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(@dan-t)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 5044
 

I'm really impressed with the way you incorporated the melody line along with the chords Vic. I wouldn't have thought about that. Neat trick I'll have to try in my own playing. 8)

Dan

"The only way I know that guarantees no mistakes is not to play and that's simply not an option". David Hodge


   
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(@cheesehead54)
Trusted Member
Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 37
 

Thanks for both versions. I think this could be a good campfire song. It seems like most would know it. When I do campfire songs I like them as easy as I can make them. I can enjoy myself more if I don't think as much. Great tune.


   
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