Silver City Bound - Leadbelly - Acoustic 12-string guitar

Huddie Ledbetter, aka Leadbelly, was probably the most famous black folksinger in American history. His songs, such as 'Goodnight Irene' and 'Midnight Special' have become an indelible part of American culture, and his music helped lay the foundations for blues, modern folk music and rock 'n' roll.

According to his biography 'The Live and Legend of Leadbelly - by Charles Wolfe and Kip Lornell', Huddie first met Blind Lemon Jefferson in Dallas when Lemon was still in his teens. "Hime and me was buddies,'' Huddie told. "Used to play all up and around Dallas-Fort Worth. In them times we'd get on that Interurban line that runs from Waco to Dallas. We get out two guitars; we just ride... anything. We didn't have to pay no money in them times. We get on the train, the driver takes us up anywhere we want to go. The conductor say : boys you sit down and play some music".

Some places they performed at were more memorable than others. One was the rough suburb of Silver City, which they could reach by bus. "There's a lot of pretty girls out there, and that's what we were looking for. We like for women to be around, cause when women's around, that brings men and men and that brings money." He later celebrated Silver City in one of his songs called "Silver City Bound" - in which he sang "me and Blind Lemon fonna ride on down."

I adapted the guitar arrangement to my style but you can find tab for Leadbelly's version in the book "Lead Belly, no stranger to the blues" by Harry Lewman. Harry Lewman also teaches this song in his dvd about Leadbelly, available at the Stefan Grossman Guitarworkshop.

Paul Geremia also plays and excellent version of this song.
I'm playing in C position; the guitar is tuned down 4 steps (to C)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• acoustic
• guitar
• blues
• 12-string
• twelve
• string
• leadbelly
• blind
• lemon
• jefferson
• fingerpicking
• fingerstyle
• silver
• city
• daddystovepipe

[Adefesio94]

did Leadbelly used a Bajo Sexto in his songs?

[daddystovepipe]

@Adefesio94

not that I know of - he played 12-sring and 6-string guitars

[catherineyronwode]

Wait. This is driving me crazy. You've put something in there -- a Ma Rainey song...? Cripes. This is gonna drive me nuts. it's similar to Hattie Hudson's "Doggone My Good Luck Soul" (her answer to Lemon Jefferson's "Doggone My Bad Luck Soul" -- but the more relaxed tempo -- "Lord, Lord i wonder, what am i to do?" Dang -- i'm not gonna remember it -- but you've warped the Leadbelly song into this, in my mind at least. AHA! "Dream Blues" by Ma Rainey! With a mandolin, no less. CHECK IT OUT!

[daddystovepipe]

Indeed, checked out "Dream Blues" by Ma Rainey and the melody is the same. Borrowing melodies was not uncommon in those days.

The accompaniment is done by the Pruitt twins (guitar and banjo according the liner notes - the zingy-zangy sound of the mandolin is missing).

Check out Lottie Kimbrough's recordings with the Pruitt twins - very innovative guitarplaying - they replaced the G-string with a thin one tuned an ocatve higher - weird sound.

[junglecruiser]

Ya nailed it again, Daddy. BTW, where'd you bag that hat? I've got one just like it!

Nepalese, I think.

[daddystovepipe]

Bought the hat at the Feathered Pipe Ranch in Montana, about 10 years ago. The owners of the ranch went to India a lot so it's from there for sure.

[9lontoonieful1]

Fantastic!

[mherbert]

NO Lead Belly NO Beatles- I didnt make that up George Harrison did! Go to the indiegogo site & look up leadbellyfilm

[coltreas]

My kind of music. I also play this kind of 12-string. You remind me a little of Dave Ray

You're really fantastic Thanks for the great video!!

[BillBrown101]

I recently started a facebook page for 12 strings, would welcome input if interested.

On facebook search " 12 string guitar fans "

Cheers

[shoekstra1419]

nice! now there is true talent

[TNTIV]

i know...but when the first thing u see is the head of a 12 string guitar it looks crazy

[jdmaniac820]

its a 12 string guitar. its the same as a 6 string guitar but paired with extra strings to give it a different sound

[TNTIV]

whoa the head of the guitar is what got me!