One of the ways you can start embellishing melodies is by varying the pickups to lines of the melody. In “Worried Man Blues” the vocal pickup is just one word/note: “it.” In this video, Lauren shows you how you can start varying the pickup rhythmically and melodically.
“Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” Key of A |
“Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” Key of A, Part 1: Melody and Chord Progression |
“Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms” is a traditional song that was first recorded by Buster Carter and Preston Young in 1931. It has been recorded by numerous people since and has become a jam session favorite. There are great versions by Flatt and Scruggs, Buck Owens, and Doc Watson, among others.
Ain’t gonna work for the railroad
Ain’t gonna work on the farm,
Gonna lay around the shack till the mail train comes back and I’ll
Roll in my sweet baby’s arms.
In this first video, you’ll learn the melody and chord progression. Remember that in the key of A the I chord is A (AC#E), the IV chord is D (DF#A), and the V chord is E (EG#B). Unlike “Worried Man Blues” and “Long Journey Home,” the melody of “Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms” doesn’t have a melodic pickup. It starts right on the downbeat, on the third note of the scale.
“Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms” Key of A, Notation PDF Download (Available to subscribers) |