This Place - Joni Mitchell --------------------------- From the Album "Shine" Transcribed by Howard Wright Guitar tuning: --------------- low to high: Bb F D F Bb C Joni notation: Bb 7 9 3 5 2 Notes ------ This song is pretty simple in terms of chords: there are only 6 different ones used. That means it's easy to play the basic chord changes, but it's harder to get the Joni nuances right to make the song work. The basic chords used in the song are: Bbadd9 = 0 12 12 0 0 0 Ebadd9 = 555555 Gadd9 = 999999 Fadd9 = 777777 Cadd9 = 222222 Csus4 = 2232xx As with so many Joni guitar songs, open strings are used in certain places to "blur the edges" of the chord changes. Using the open strings in this way gives the fretting hand a little time to move into place for the next chord, and the sustained sound of the open strings gives harmonic continuity between chords. The main use of these open string "passing chords" is shown in the chord sequence given below. Another detail worth focussing on is, for each chord, to listen to whether all the strings are used. Listen to the original to try and hear whether just the lower or middle strings are strummed, or whether all strings are used for each chord. The other crucial element to this song is Joni's tried-and-tested "percussive acoustic shuffle" technique. As with similar songs (Cherokee Louise, Crazy Cries of Love) the basic rhythm used in the picking hand is a triplet shuffle (1-2-3, 2-2-3, 3-2-3, 4-2-3) but the way the thumb and fingers play alternate strokes in this pattern (on bass and middle/treble strings) gives a more complex two against three feel. This can take time to get comfortable with, so practice, and stick to the basic triplet/shuffle feel to start with. Intro: ------- NB notes played as harmonics are enclosed in angle brackets e.g. <12> = harmonic at 12th fret The intro uses the basic sequence of chords used for all the verses, with a chord of 12th fret harmonics used to start the song. I've written brief open string chords/notes in brackets, where these are used as short "passing chords" between the main chord changes. x <12> <12> <12> <12> x 0 12 12 0 0 0 Bbadd9 Bbadd9 (xx0xxx) 555555 (x000xx) Ebadd9 0 12 12 0 0 0 Bbadd9 (xx0xxx) 555555 (x000xx) Ebadd9 0 12 12 0 0 0 999999 Bbadd9 Gadd9 555555 777777 Ebadd9 Fadd9 0 12 12 0 0 0 Bbadd9 Here's the same intro sequence written out in (slightly simplified) tablature: Percussive tabs/slaps of the strings are shown using "x". C-------------------------------------------5----------------- Bb--<12>------------0-----------------------5----------5------ F---<12>------------0---------5----------5--5----------5--0--- D---<12>--------12---------0--5---x------5-------x-----5--0--- F---<12>---12---12------x-----5---x------5-------x-----5--0--- Bb-------0----0---------x-----5------5--------------x--------- C------------------------------------------------------------- Bb------------0----------------------------------------------- F-------------0---------5----------5--5---------5--0---------- D---------12---------0--5---x------5--5----x----5--0---------- F----12---12------x-----5---x------5--5----x----5--0---------- Bb-0----0---------x-----5------5---------5---x---------------- C-----------0------------------------5-----------7------------ Bb----------0----9-----------5-------5---7-------7---7-------- F-----------0----9---x---9---5-------5---7-------7---7-------- D-----------12---9---x---9---5---5---5---7---7---7---7-------- F------12---12---9---x---9---5---5-------7---7---------------- Bb---0----0--------9---9-------5---5-------7---7---7---------- C---------------0-------------0-------------0-------------0--- Bb--------------0-------------0-------------0-------------0--- F---------------0-------------0-------------0-------------0--- D----------12------------12------------12------------12------- F-----12------------12------------12------------12------------ Bb--0----0----0---0----0----0---0----0----0---0----0----0----- The picking pattern used at the end here for the final Bbadd9 chord is worth practising as it's used pretty consistently at the end of each verse. Keep the triplet 1-2-3, 2-2-3, 3-2-3, 4-2-3 pattern in mind, and try to get the alternating thumb strokes (on the bass string) and finger strokes (on the other strings) working so that they pattern sounds smooth and comfortable. Verse 1 -------- (Use the basic chord sequence as above for all the verses) Sparkle on the ocean Eagle at the top of a tree Those crazy crows always making a commotion This land is home to me. Verse 2 -------- I was talking to my neighbor He said, "When I get to heaven, if it's not like this, I'll just hop a cloud and I'm coming right back down here Back to this heavenly bliss." Middle 8: ---------- 555555 Ebadd9 You see those lovely hills They won't be there for long They're gonna tear 'em down 0 12 12 0 0 0 x <12> <12> <12> <12> x Bbadd9 And sell them to California 222222 2232xx 222222 Cadd9 Csus4 Cadd9 Here come the toxic spills 2232xx 222222 Csus4 Cadd9 Miners poking all around When this place looks like a moonscape 777777 Fadd9 Don't say I didn't warn ya... Verse 3 -------- Money, money, money... Money makes the trees come down It makes mountains into molehills Big money kicks the wide wide world around. Verse 4 -------- Black bear in the orchard At night he's in my garbage cans He's getting so bold but no one wants to shoot him He's got a right to roam this land. Middle 8 (instrumental) ------------------------ (Same chords as first middle 8) Verse 5 -------- I feel like Geronimo I used to be as trusting as Cochise But the white eyes lies He's out of whack with nature And look how far his weapons reach! Verse 6 -------- Spirit of the water Give us all the courage and the grace To make genius of this tragedy unfolding The genius to save this place. Outro ------ (Same chord sequence as intro/verses) Ends on repeat of the Bbadd9 chord (0 12 12 0 0 0) using the repeated picking pattern below: C---------------0-------------0-------------0-------------0--- Bb--------------0-------------0-------------0-------------0--- F---------------0-------------0-------------0-------------0--- D----------12------------12------------12------------12------- F-----12------------12------------12------------12------------ Bb--0----0----0---0----0----0---0----0----0---0----0----0-----