{"id":4024,"date":"2023-01-25T22:06:10","date_gmt":"2023-01-26T04:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplymandolin.com\/flekd\/?p=4024"},"modified":"2023-02-02T18:39:10","modified_gmt":"2023-02-03T00:39:10","slug":"shady-grove","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplymandolin.com\/flekd\/shady-grove\/","title":{"rendered":"Shady Grove"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\"Doc

Doc Watson (from album cover)<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Shady Grove<\/strong> is a well known ballad with origins in the Appalachian mountains. More specifically, eastern Kentucky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s often described as a love song (or a \u201ccourting song\u201d), and that seems to be the general theme for every version I\u2019ve heard. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the lyrics often change a bit as they\u2019re passed along<\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/em>. This is common with a lot of traditional folk songs. Owing to that, I think Shady Grove must have over a hundred different verses!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newsletter<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A Popular Tune<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Shady Grove<\/strong> has been recorded by a lot of great artists; Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unquestionably though, I\u2019d have to say my “all time favourite version<\/strong>” was done by Jerry Garcia and David Grisman.<\/strong> I\u2019ve always been a fan of both. I love Garcia\u2019s raspy voice and acoustic guitar, and Grisman.., well he can pretty much make the mandolin do anything he wants. (Although, for Shady Grove, I’ve been told he’s playing a mandola.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, I hope you’re not expecting a foot stomping, high-octane bluegrass version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chords<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just a couple of chords used here – Dm and C Major<\/strong>. Here’s a couple of simple, two finger shapes you can try. But, as always, experiment with whatever you like.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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A couple of simple chord shapes – Dm and C.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Tune<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Shady Grove is a Dorian tune,<\/strong> and therefore tends to have a bit of a minor feel.
This version is in D Dorian<\/strong>. As a result, there are no sharps or flats<\/strong>. Additionally, you may also find this tune in A Dorian or E (or whatever}.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verse and chorus both have the same chord progression<\/strong> which makes for a short break. So, I\u2019ve just played it through three times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have a listen to Shady Grove for mandolin… (Just ignore the furnace fan in the first several measures)<\/p>\n\n\n\n