Anybody know how to play the Janis Joplin version of summertime??

[jake5]

Hey guys, just started playing w/ this awesome female singer...and we wanna do summertime. I can't quite get it by ear. Anyone know the chord progression or got a tab they can post or email me?? can't really seem to find anything on the net. thanks guys.

jake

 

[JonR]

This is the verse sequence (from the version found on youtube):

|Gm Gm/F# |Gm/F Gm/E |C7  -  |F7  -  |
|Gm Gm/F# |Gm/F Gm/E |C7  -  |F7  -  |
|Cm   -   |Cm   -    |Cm  -  |Cm  -  |
|D7   -   |Eb7   -   |D7  -  |D7  -  |
|Gm Gm/F# |Gm/F Gm/E |C7  -  |F7  -  |
|Gm Gm/F# |Gm/F Gm/E |C7  -  |F7  -  |
|Bb   -   |Gm   -    |Cm  -  |D7  -  |
|Gm   -   |F7   -    |Bb  -  |D7  -  |

The intro is the last 4 bars repeated 4 times.

IMO, not the greatest chord sequence for this song (of which there are MANY versions), but there ya go.
(The slash chords show the bass run-down, btw - no need to try playing those bass notes chords on guitar, just use a plain Gm chord.)

 

[townsend]

I don't know of a free tab, but you can buy the tab (have to buy "Best of Janis Joplin" book):

http://www.halleonard.com/item_deta...er=search&type=product&keywords=janis+joplin+


I don't have it, so I can't vouchsafe for the accuracy, but usually these Hal Leonard products are pretty good. I'm sure you can get it for 20% or so off somewhere (try www.guitarconnection.com and/or search).

 

[JonR]

FWIW--the descending bassline can be played with the Cm chords too, ie:

Cm, CmM7, Cm7, Cm6

Very true. In fact it's more standard on the iv chord than on the tonic.
As I said, there are many better versions (IMHO) of the Summertime sequence than the one Joplin's band uses. They should be all over the web (if the OP is interested).

(Nothing wrong with Joplin's vocal of course. I just think she would have been better served by different chords.)

 

[gennation]

Man, I love Janis' version of this song. This is the version I grew up on, so hearing the standard was a bit different for me.

 

[Raymund]

Email sent. :RoCkIn

 

[steven.rogers]

If you're still looking there's a pretty good powertab of it.

 

[jake5]

bump...anyone else got any input here. i'm basically just looking for all the chord changes.