Guitar and Piano Transcriptions

Overture - Cotton Avenue

Guitar tablature transcribed by Marian Russell

Tuning: CGCFAC  (other transcriptions in this same tuning)
"Joni" Tuning: C75543
Tuning pattern: x75543  (others in this same pattern)

Author Notes:

This is the most difficult Joni Mitchell song I have ever tried to transcribe
and to play without any kind of backup. I spent months of listening to the
recording and trying various tunings until I decided upon this one. I think
what makes tuning determination so difficult for this song is the fact that
there is at least one other guitar in a completely different tuning filling out
the Overture in places.

Ken Slarty believes that Jim Leahy's tuning of C75435 is the correct one;
however, with only one guitar, the harmonics at minute 2:02 (on the CD counter)
cannot be achieved with Jim's tuning, but they can be achieved with mine.
Since I don't have anyone to play the other guitar, I have created a tab in the
tuning of C75543 which I feel captures reasonably accurately for one guitar
what is happening musically in the recording with two (and posibly even more)
guitars. I feel this transcription in C75543 captures some important musical
elements that are lost when the tuning of C75435 is used.

I recently (at London Jonifest 2000) had the good fortune to play this with the
talented bass player, Chris Marshall, who flawlessly reproduced Jaco Pastorius'
bass line. The bass really rounded out and completed the sound.

This transcription is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the song.
You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research.
Copyrighted material contained in transcriptions is used in accordance with 'Fair Use'.

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