How to Play "Old Black Rum" by Great Big Sea

The only recording I have of this is off of the "Great Big DVD", and in that version, the guitar is tuned down a whole step. So, the strings are D,G,C,F,A,d. If you're not playing along with anything, don't worry about de-tuning your guitar becuaes the intervals are the same and it'll still sound good, just higher.

first half is me just playing through it so you can get an idea of how the guitar sounds by itself. the second half is a close up of my hand so you can get the chord changes. Heres a rough breakdown of how the chords go:
note: the chords fall on the word they're in front of here, rather than right before them. i hope that makes sense...so for example, the first G is played at the same time you say the word "sixteen", and the C would be at the same time as the word "price", etc.




I drank (G) sixteen doubles for the (C) price of (G) one
(C) Trying to find the courage to (A7) talk to (D) one
I asked (e-)her for (D over F#, which is a D+ while playing 2nd fret on the low E)a dance (G)
Not a (e-) second (D+ over F#) glance (G)
My night had (A7) just begun (D)....

Well I (G) drink to the father and the (C) holy (G)ghost
(C) I'm kneeling at the (G) alter of my (A7) nightly (D) post
So I'll (e-) raise (D+ over F#) a glass (G), not the (e-) first (D+ over F#) nor last (G)
Come join me (D) in this (G) toast

[Chorus:]

Because the (D) old black rum's got a (G) hold on me
Like a (G) dog wrapped (C) round my (D) leg
And the (D) old black rum's got a (G) hold on me
Will I (G) live for a (D) nother (G) day?
(C) Hey, Will I (G) live for a (D) nother (G) day?



thats the idea for the whole song. follw the same pattern for the rest of the verses. for the e-, D+ over F#, G part, its a bit quick and they don't all fall right on the words. give that part a listen a couple of times to catch the rhythm.

feel free to post questions or comments!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• old
• black
• rum
• great
• big
• sea
• dave
• hawley
• house
• rules
• how
• to
• play

[TheFartmaster3000]

Hey buddy, thanks so much. I was wondering if you could do another video on how to play a song by the great big sea, I love their work.

Much Appreciated

A young guitarist

[CaptainJackDaniels]

@TheFartmaster3000 glad it helped! what song did you have in mind?

[hacman2005]

thanks man ive been trying to forever now :P

[CaptainJackDaniels]

my pleasure. I actually forgot about this video...it probably would have been more useful if i actaully explained in the video what i was doing, rather than leaving it all in the description, but oh well. I'm glad it helped!

[Serlewsh]

whered you learn the strum pattern..cuz im havin a bit of a time copying what ur doin there..then again im a bit of an amateur

[rick83120]

nevermind, just expanded the video description, lol.

[rick83120]

You should mention your guitar it tuned down a full step. The song is in F maj.