What are the chords in......

steve s · June 17th, 2003, 11:27 AM

Sorry...a bit off topic maybe......but I'm trying to play it on a Tele!!!

What are the chords in "Jesus Just Left Chicago", ZZ Top? And is that song in standard tuning?? Sounds like G I think!

They sound simple, you know just a strum and then a variation strum of the same chord, and then there's the second chord and variation one step up I presume.

Anyone? I think I played it once years ago, but can't get em back now!
Thanks
steve

steve s · June 17th, 2003, 11:30 AM

Sorry, I meant A, I think it's in the key of A.

sean001 · June 17th, 2003, 12:06 PM

That song is in Keef tuning. It is basically G with the two finger hammer on move that Keef uses. Best I can offer from work right now but I can tell you for sure that the song is open G. Same holds true for most of those ZZ Top songs you can't quite figure out. LaGrange and Tush both come to mind. Both are open G songs

steve s · June 17th, 2003, 12:18 PM

thanks Sean, I know the ones you mean......I have not tried that yet, but I'll go home tonight and tune it to G and give it a go. You sure LaGrange is in open G, I thought it was standard tuning in A?! For some reason I'm getting back inot ZZ Top lately, they got a great sound.

DocBluz · June 17th, 2003, 12:35 PM

Billy Gibbons rarely if ever used an open tuning in that time period most all of his stuff even slide play was in standard tuning. Jesus just left Chicago is in G the move Sean is refering to is a sus4 move where you play a normal G chord but then sus the 4 chord tone by playing the F tone on your D string and the C or 4 tone on your B string. When the song actually move to the 4 chord you fret it in an A position in the 5th fret then hammer on the D and B string at the 6th fret for the B and the 7th for the D that'll get you a sus4 sound in that position. Then it moves to an A major or a 2 chord and then back to the C or 4 chord and then back to the 1 chord or G. Thats all folks!

DocBluz · June 17th, 2003, 12:38 PM

oops I meant the E tone on your D string at the 2nd fret my bad its too early for me!! By the way LaGrange is in A, Tush is in G, lemme know if you got any other questions or go to www.lowpft.com thats the ZZ fan site and it has lots of ZZ Tab as well as news and other tid bits of info.

sean001 · June 17th, 2003, 12:44 PM

It is possible there is a capo or something. I wouldn't bet my life but I would be a 6 pack that all three are open G. You can get a similar effect (and this is how I have seen lots of guys do it wrong) where, say for LaGrange you just comp on the 1rst position A and then slide up to C and then D. Same thing sort of with Tush. You hit the low G note and the do a one finger bar of the D and G string at then 5th fret and then again at the third fret BUT...the only way to get that John Lee Hooker drone of the lower strings is to be in open G. Plus once you get to that slide solo it is way easier in open G.

For Jesus Left Chicago, you could play A and then hammer the B at the third fret and the D at the 4th fret but you don't get the same ring of the open strings as you would when playing in open G. Open G can really be your friend.

Disclaimer - If I am not %100 on this, remember I am at work pulling this from my head with no guitar in front of me. Should be right though.

sean001 · June 17th, 2003, 12:49 PM

looks like we have conflicting opinions. I hate when that happens. I guess I am gonna have to go to DocBluz suggested website and see what there is to see. I could be wrong and man I hate to be wrong. I always thought Billy G was one of main proponents of the open G tuning. I am gonna have to check all this tonight and weigh in again...so much for internet experts

TheGoodTexan · June 17th, 2003, 01:43 PM

But I've seen The Rev enough times that I should have figured it out by now. He rarely used open G...even for most of the slide stuff. He played one guitar for almost the entire concert here in Nashville a few weeks ago. Only put on the Les Paul for "Just Got Paid" and one other song.

Jesus Just Left Chicago is definitely in standard tuning...believe it or not, he does the drone note in standard tuning!

If you haven't seen their special with Brooks & Dunn...it's pretty cool. In the middle, Billy, Dusty, Kix, and Ronnie all sit down with acoustics, and Billy's playing a resonator in open G. They do a few old blues standards (Dust My Broom, etc.) then someone in the audience shouts out "La Grange". Billy comments that he's never tried to play it in that tuning, but he gives it a shot. They struggle through one verse and start laughing, and move on to something else.

steve s · June 17th, 2003, 02:55 PM

Yea, I thought it was standard, but I just can't get it figured out yet. I will though. Gonna check out that site mentioned above, in the mean time anybody seen any (correct) tab of Jesus JLC or any other cool ZZ songs?
I'm determined to get that one down.
and what show was that with B&D? I'd love to see that!
Steve

TheGoodTexan · June 17th, 2003, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve s

and what show was that with B&D? I'd love to see that!

I think it was recorded at The Gibson Bluegrass Cafe at Opry Mills here in Nashville (not certain about that). Looked like a fairly small crowd (less than 1000).

I'm not sure when it was filmed, but it aired several times back in the fall on CMT. Not sure if copies are available anywhere.

Cheesecaster · June 17th, 2003, 04:51 PM

I seen ZZ in 94 on Antenna tour. Billy plays mainly standard tuning.
All his slide work was standard.
I did notice during
the end of Waiting for the bus Billy slipped his hand up and detuned the open A string to an open g.
Going into Jesus .
He can then play that little turnaround lick easy.

open A string tuned down a step to G

-----3-----3-------3-------3------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------3----3-2-----2-1------------------------------------------------------------
--0---------------------------3p0----repeat----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheesecaster · June 17th, 2003, 05:09 PM

I think Billy used these chords on Jesus when I seen them live.
Remember open A is down to open G rest is standard

-3---------3----------3-----------3-----------------------------------------------------------
-0---------1----------0-----------1-----------5--------6-----------5---------6---------------
-0---------0----------0-----------0-----------5--------5-----------5---------5---------------
-0---------2----------0-----------2-----------5--------7-----------5---------7---------------
-0--0-0----0---0-0-0--0-----0-0--0---0-0-0-- 5--5-5---5---5-5-5--5---5-5---5----------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

x-----x-------------------3---3-----3------3-----------
2-----5-------------------------------------------------
2-----5------------0------------------------------------
2-----5---------------------3---3-2----2-1-------------
2-----5------3h4-----0------------------------3p-0----
x-----x-------------------------------------------------

Have Mercy!

steve s · June 17th, 2003, 05:23 PM

there ye go......that's the ticket!!!

Cheesecaster · June 17th, 2003, 06:08 PM

Let us know how that works Steve. It should sound real close.

steve s · June 17th, 2003, 09:21 PM

It sounds very close if not exact....lest with my hands!
Thanks so much for the info. One major factor with the turnaround is plucking wiht fingers the 1st AND 3rd strings together or almost together. I ain't got it down perfect yet, but I will. There's so much to be learned from the Rev I tell ya. he has some chops don't he?
thanks again,
Steve

Cheesecaster · June 17th, 2003, 09:36 PM

Steve, glad i could help a bit. The turnaround is on the 1st(E) and 4th(D) strings.
Yes plucking is a must , but thats what Tele's are for lol!

Billy uses the same pattern in La Grange only in key of A. Right after the first solo.
Standard tuning.

----5----5--5--5---5---5---5---5----5---------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------2---2------------2----
-5----5---5---4--4---4---3---3---3---------2---2------------2----
--------------------------------------------0---0-----3h4-- -0----- repeat
--------------------------------------------------------------------

steve s · June 18th, 2003, 12:21 PM

Right, but I think that adding that open G string (no pun intended) in there adds to the effect......not on every beat but I think only on the first one or two and maybe at the end. I got the LaGrange one down already....been doing that one awhile now. I keep going back to the Rev for many rootsy licks and progressions that I had forgotten about.....at least in that style! Fun stuff. I did find the tab to that and many other ZZ song at the site mentioned above. Nice reading there too.

Steve

steve s · June 18th, 2003, 12:21 PM

Right, but I think that adding that open G string (no pun intended) in there adds to the effect......not on every beat but I think only on the first one or two and maybe at the end. I got the LaGrange one down already....been doing that one awhile now. I keep going back to the Rev for many rootsy licks and progressions that I had forgotten about.....at least in that style! Fun stuff. I did find the tab to that and many other ZZ song at the site mentioned above. Nice reading there too.

Steve

June 17th, 2003, 11:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
steve s Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 413	What are the chords in...... Sorry...a bit off topic maybe......but I'm trying to play it on a Tele!!! What are the chords in "Jesus Just Left Chicago", ZZ Top? And is that song in standard tuning?? Sounds like G I think! They sound simple, you know just a strum and then a variation strum of the same chord, and then there's the second chord and variation one step up I presume. Anyone? I think I played it once years ago, but can't get em back now! Thanks steve

June 17th, 2003, 12:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
sean001 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gilberts, Illinois Posts: 308	Open G That song is in Keef tuning. It is basically G with the two finger hammer on move that Keef uses. Best I can offer from work right now but I can tell you for sure that the song is open G. Same holds true for most of those ZZ Top songs you can't quite figure out. LaGrange and Tush both come to mind. Both are open G songs __________________ The more you drink, the less I stink...

June 17th, 2003, 12:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
DocBluz TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Fort Worth TX Posts: 14	ZZness Billy Gibbons rarely if ever used an open tuning in that time period most all of his stuff even slide play was in standard tuning. Jesus just left Chicago is in G the move Sean is refering to is a sus4 move where you play a normal G chord but then sus the 4 chord tone by playing the F tone on your D string and the C or 4 tone on your B string. When the song actually move to the 4 chord you fret it in an A position in the 5th fret then hammer on the D and B string at the 6th fret for the B and the 7th for the D that'll get you a sus4 sound in that position. Then it moves to an A major or a 2 chord and then back to the C or 4 chord and then back to the 1 chord or G. Thats all folks! __________________ Thats Just My Opinion

June 17th, 2003, 12:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
DocBluz TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Fort Worth TX Posts: 14	oops I meant the E tone on your D string at the 2nd fret my bad its too early for me!! By the way LaGrange is in A, Tush is in G, lemme know if you got any other questions or go to www.lowpft.com thats the ZZ fan site and it has lots of ZZ Tab as well as news and other tid bits of info. __________________ Thats Just My Opinion

June 17th, 2003, 12:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
sean001 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gilberts, Illinois Posts: 308	well.... It is possible there is a capo or something. I wouldn't bet my life but I would be a 6 pack that all three are open G. You can get a similar effect (and this is how I have seen lots of guys do it wrong) where, say for LaGrange you just comp on the 1rst position A and then slide up to C and then D. Same thing sort of with Tush. You hit the low G note and the do a one finger bar of the D and G string at then 5th fret and then again at the third fret BUT...the only way to get that John Lee Hooker drone of the lower strings is to be in open G. Plus once you get to that slide solo it is way easier in open G. For Jesus Left Chicago, you could play A and then hammer the B at the third fret and the D at the 4th fret but you don't get the same ring of the open strings as you would when playing in open G. Open G can really be your friend. Disclaimer - If I am not %100 on this, remember I am at work pulling this from my head with no guitar in front of me. Should be right though. __________________ The more you drink, the less I stink...

June 17th, 2003, 11:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
steve s Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 413	Sorry, I meant A, I think it's in the key of A.

June 17th, 2003, 12:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
steve s Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 413	thanks Sean, I know the ones you mean......I have not tried that yet, but I'll go home tonight and tune it to G and give it a go. You sure LaGrange is in open G, I thought it was standard tuning in A?! For some reason I'm getting back inot ZZ Top lately, they got a great sound.

June 17th, 2003, 12:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
sean001 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gilberts, Illinois Posts: 308	huh looks like we have conflicting opinions. I hate when that happens. I guess I am gonna have to go to DocBluz suggested website and see what there is to see. I could be wrong and man I hate to be wrong. I always thought Billy G was one of main proponents of the open G tuning. I am gonna have to check all this tonight and weigh in again...so much for internet experts __________________ The more you drink, the less I stink...

June 17th, 2003, 01:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
TheGoodTexan Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Nashville, TN Age: 36 Posts: 5,194 18 Photos	Not 100% sure.... But I've seen The Rev enough times that I should have figured it out by now. He rarely used open G...even for most of the slide stuff. He played one guitar for almost the entire concert here in Nashville a few weeks ago. Only put on the Les Paul for "Just Got Paid" and one other song. Jesus Just Left Chicago is definitely in standard tuning...believe it or not, he does the drone note in standard tuning! If you haven't seen their special with Brooks & Dunn...it's pretty cool. In the middle, Billy, Dusty, Kix, and Ronnie all sit down with acoustics, and Billy's playing a resonator in open G. They do a few old blues standards (Dust My Broom, etc.) then someone in the audience shouts out "La Grange". Billy comments that he's never tried to play it in that tuning, but he gives it a shot. They struggle through one verse and start laughing, and move on to something else.

June 17th, 2003, 02:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
steve s Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 413	Yea, I thought it was standard, but I just can't get it figured out yet. I will though. Gonna check out that site mentioned above, in the mean time anybody seen any (correct) tab of Jesus JLC or any other cool ZZ songs? I'm determined to get that one down. and what show was that with B&D? I'd love to see that! Steve

June 17th, 2003, 04:51 PM	#12 (permalink)
Cheesecaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 259	I seen ZZ in 94 on Antenna tour. Billy plays mainly standard tuning. All his slide work was standard. I did notice during the end of Waiting for the bus Billy slipped his hand up and detuned the open A string to an open g. Going into Jesus . He can then play that little turnaround lick easy. open A string tuned down a step to G -----3-----3-------3-------3------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------3----3-2-----2-1------------------------------------------------------------ --0---------------------------3p0----repeat---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

June 17th, 2003, 05:09 PM	#13 (permalink)
Cheesecaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 259	I think Billy used these chords on Jesus when I seen them live. Remember open A is down to open G rest is standard -3---------3----------3-----------3----------------------------------------------------------- -0---------1----------0-----------1-----------5--------6-----------5---------6--------------- -0---------0----------0-----------0-----------5--------5-----------5---------5--------------- -0---------2----------0-----------2-----------5--------7-----------5---------7--------------- -0--0-0----0---0-0-0--0-----0-0--0---0-0-0-- 5--5-5---5---5-5-5--5---5-5---5---------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ x-----x-------------------3---3-----3------3----------- 2-----5------------------------------------------------- 2-----5------------0------------------------------------ 2-----5---------------------3---3-2----2-1------------- 2-----5------3h4-----0------------------------3p-0---- x-----x------------------------------------------------- Have Mercy!

June 17th, 2003, 05:23 PM	#14 (permalink)
steve s Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 413	there ye go......that's the ticket!!!

June 17th, 2003, 06:08 PM	#15 (permalink)
Cheesecaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 259	Let us know how that works Steve. It should sound real close.

June 17th, 2003, 09:21 PM	#16 (permalink)
steve s Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 413	It sounds very close if not exact....lest with my hands! Thanks so much for the info. One major factor with the turnaround is plucking wiht fingers the 1st AND 3rd strings together or almost together. I ain't got it down perfect yet, but I will. There's so much to be learned from the Rev I tell ya. he has some chops don't he? thanks again, Steve

June 17th, 2003, 09:36 PM	#17 (permalink)
Cheesecaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 259	Steve, glad i could help a bit. The turnaround is on the 1st(E) and 4th(D) strings. Yes plucking is a must , but thats what Tele's are for lol! Billy uses the same pattern in La Grange only in key of A. Right after the first solo. Standard tuning. ----5----5--5--5---5---5---5---5----5--------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------2---2------------2---- -5----5---5---4--4---4---3---3---3---------2---2------------2---- --------------------------------------------0---0-----3h4-- -0----- repeat --------------------------------------------------------------------

June 18th, 2003, 12:21 PM	#18 (permalink)
steve s Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 413	Right, but I think that adding that open G string (no pun intended) in there adds to the effect......not on every beat but I think only on the first one or two and maybe at the end. I got the LaGrange one down already....been doing that one awhile now. I keep going back to the Rev for many rootsy licks and progressions that I had forgotten about.....at least in that style! Fun stuff. I did find the tab to that and many other ZZ song at the site mentioned above. Nice reading there too. Steve

June 18th, 2003, 12:21 PM	#19 (permalink)
steve s Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 413	Right, but I think that adding that open G string (no pun intended) in there adds to the effect......not on every beat but I think only on the first one or two and maybe at the end. I got the LaGrange one down already....been doing that one awhile now. I keep going back to the Rev for many rootsy licks and progressions that I had forgotten about.....at least in that style! Fun stuff. I did find the tab to that and many other ZZ song at the site mentioned above. Nice reading there too. Steve