Beginners

Fingerpicking
Guitar
taught by
Fred Sokolow

Tuning String-to-String

` ```

1st string
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th

E
B
G
D
A
E

Chords for STEALIN

BASIC FINGERPICKING PATTERN FOR STEALIN

j j
j
j j
j F

& C

0
0

3
T

0
0

3
I

1
2

Note: Stems Up means pick with fingers;

Stems Down means pick with thumb.

1
3

1
2

STEALIN
C
F
j j j j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j

b

& C

Put your arms around me like a circle round the sun,

lieve Im sinkin,

1
3

*Note: The sign means repeat the previous bar

You dont be-lieve I love you, look at the fool Ive been.

look at the hole Im in.

I wanna love you baby, like your easy rider done.

You dont be-

j j j

&

C
F
j j
j j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
b
&

Stealin,

stealin,

pretty mama doncha

0
3

1
3

tell

1
2

on

me.

Im

G
C
G
j
j
j
j j j
j
j
j
j
j
j

&

stealin

1
3

back

to

0
3

my

same old

0
3

used

to

be.

0
3

0
3

0
3

0
3

1
0

ALTERNATING BASS

j j
j
j j
j G7
j j
j F

& C

1
3

1
0

0
0

BASS RUNS
C to F

&

C to G

G to C

STEALIN
Put your arms around me like a circle round the sun,
I want to love you baby, like your easy rider done.
Chorus:
You dont believe I love you, look what a fool Ive been.
You dont believe Im sinkin, look at the hole Im in.
Stealin, stealin, pretty mama doncha tell on me.
Im stealin back to my same old used to be.
Woman I love shes so far away,
Woman I hate, I see her most every day. (Chorus)
Woman I love shes about my size,
Shes a married woman comes to see me sometimes. (Chorus)
4

1
0

STEALIN
(WITH ALTERNATING BASS)
C
F
j j j j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j

& C

The woman I love,

shes so far away.

j j
j

&

lieve Im sinkin,

You dont be-

You dont be-lieve I love you, look what a fool Ive been.

look at the hole Im in.

I see her every day.

The woman I hate,

C
F
j j
j j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
b
&

Stealin,

stealin,

0
0

pretty mama doncha

0
3

0
3

1
3

tell

on

me.

Im

G
G
j j j C
j j j
j
j
j
j
j
j

&

stealin

1
3

back to

0
3

my

same old

used

1
0

to

0
0

be.

0
3

0
3

0
3

1
0

0
0

1
0

STEALIN
(WITH BASS RUNS AND ALTERNATING BASS)

& C

C
F
j j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
b

Put your arms around me like a circle round the sun,

easy rider done.

1
3

j j
j

back

to

my

0
2

0
3

0
0

1
0

used to

on

1
2

j j
j

etc.

be.

0
0

tell

same old

pretty mama doncha

Im stealin

You dont be-lieve I love you, look what a

stealin,

C
j
j
j
j
j
b

me.

j j
&

look at the hole Im in.

Stealin,

j j
j

fool Ive been.

j j
&

You dont be-lieve Im sinkin,

j j
&

I wanna love you baby, like your

0
3

0
0

WABASH CANNONBALL
F
j j j

j j

j j j j

& C

She came down from Birmingham one cold

1
0

pulled

into

the

1
0

0
0

station,

gal

from

Minne

sota,

j j
j j

&

Shes

the

combi

1
0

0
0

nation

j j
j

Theres a

0
0

j j
j

0
0

1
0

1
2

j j
j

called the Wabash

and shes tall.

she

Lord shes long

1
0

j j

0
0

the people say:

j j j j j
&

1
0

you could hear all

As

j j
j j

&

December day,

etc.

Cannon - ball.

0
0

0
3

0
0

WABASH CANNONBALL
She came down from Birmingham one cold December day,
As she pulled into the station, you could hear all the people say:
Theres a gal from Minnesota, shes long and shes tall.
Shes the combination called the Wabash Cannonball.
Chorus:
Listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar
As she glides along the southland, through hills and by the shore.
Hear the mighty rush of engines, hear the lonesome hoboes call,
Travelin through the jungles on the Wabash Cannonball.
Oh, the Eastern states are dandy so the Western people say,
From New York to Chicago, St. Louis by the way.
From the hills of Minnesota where the rippling waters fall,
No chances can be taken on the Wabash Cannonball.
Heres to Daddy Claxton, may his name forever stand,
And may he be remembered in the courts throughout our land.
When his earthly race is over and the curtain round him falls,
Well carry him on to victory on the Wabash Cannonball.

BASS RUN

&

D to G

NINE POUND HAMMER

j j
j j
j

j j
j

& C
This old

hammer

killed

Aint

kill

0
0

3
0

0
0

kill

j j
j

buddy,

gonna

Roll on,

j
j
#
&

pull

your

0
3

me.

ain't

G
j j
j j
#

&

me,

j j
j D
j

Henry.

gonna

John

# j
j
&

load

j j
j j
j

of

coal.

How

0
0

0
3

can

0
0
2

G
D
j
j j
j j
j j
jG
j
j

&

pull

when the wheel won't

3
0
2

0
3

1
0

2
2

etc.

go?

3
0

0
0

NINE POUND HAMMER

The nine pound hammer is a little too heavy, for my size, buddy for my size.
Chorus:
Roll on, buddy, doncha roll so slow. How can I roll when the wheel wont go?
This old hammer, it killed John Henry,aint gonna kill me, aint gonna kill me.
Chorus:
Roll on, buddy, pull your load of coal. How can I pull when the wheel wont go?
There aint no hammer in this tunnel that can ring like mine, that can ring like mine.
Rings like silver and it shines like gold. Rings like silver and it shines like gold.
Im goin on the mountain for to see my baby, never comin back, never comin back.
Its a long way to Harlan and a long way to Hazard to get a little brew, little home brew.

BASS RUNS

#3
& 4

G to C

D to G

10

WABASH CANNONBALL
(WITH PINCHES)

j
j

& C

Oh, the eastern

states

are

dandy

so

the

New York

Chi - cago,

people

and

St.

by

hills

of

0
3

#
&

sota

can

be

3
0

taken

on

the

11

fall,

No

Cannon

etc.

ball.

0
2

j
j

j
j

j j

0
3

the

From

waters

Wabash

way.

where the rippling

j
j

2
0

chances

Minne

the

j
j
#
&

0
0

From

Louis

2
2

say,

j j

j
j

to

eastern

D
j
# j

&

3
0

CALIFORNIA BLUES PATTERN

&

####

12

CALIFORNIA BLUES
E
j j
#### C
n j

&

I got the California

Blues

California

0
0

2
2

Blues and Im sure gonna leave you here.

2
0

I aint

2
2

blinds,

I might

2
2

the

j
j j
a n

I got the

####
j
j j

&
a

ride

# # # # j j j
n
&

and Im sure gonna leave you here.

j
j
n

got no railroad

etc.

fare.

&

E to A

E to B

n #

BASS RUNS

13

3
2

####

CALIFORNIA BLUES
(WITH BASS RUNS)
E

&

n j
j j

####

Portland,

Maine

is

just

the same as sunny

Tennes - see.

0
2

Portland,

0
0
0

Maine

2
2

0
2

hang

0
1

my

2
2

hat

0
2

place

n j j

is home sweet home to me.

old

a n j j n

# # # # j
j j j j

&

a

Any

is just the same as sunny Tennes - see.

# # # # j j j
&
n

n

j j
j
j

n #

0
1

1
0

14

2
0

CALIFORNIA BLUES
Im goin to California where they sleep out every night.
(Repeat)
Im leavin you sweet mama, cause you just dont treat me right.
Chorus:
I got the California Blues and Im sure gonna leave you here.
(Repeat)
I might ride the blinds, I aint got no railroad fare.
Let me tell you something, mama, that you dont know.
(Repeat)
Im a do-right papa, got a home everywhere I go.
Listen to me mama, sing this lonesome song.
(Repeat)
You got me worried now, but I wont be worried long.

&

####

E to A

BASS RUN

15

NINE POUND HAMMER

(WITH BASS RUNS)

&

####

j
j ..

Im

goin

on the

####
&

..

2
0

never
the

comin
can
I

2
2

Roll on,

j j
j j
j
j



..

comin
back.
wheel
wont go?

back,
pull

B
j j
j E
#
#


& ##

j
j j
j j
jEj
j

2
0

never
How

when

for to
see
my
pull
your
load of

mountain
buddy,

baby,
coal.

j
j

16

0
2
0

0
2
0

..

& #c
SLOOP JOHN B.
PATTERN

j
j

2
0

3
0

JOHN B. SAILS
We come on the sloop John B., my grandfather and me.
Around Nassau town we did roam.
Drinkin all night, got into a fight.
I feel so break-up, I wanna go home.
Chorus:
So hoist up the John B. sails, see how the main sail sets,
Call for the captain ashore, let me go home.
Let me go home. I want to go home.
I feel so break-up, I wanna go home.
The first mate he got drunk, broke up the peoples trunk,
Constable had to come and take him away.
Sheriff Johnstone, please let me alone.
I feel so break-up, I wanna go home.
The poor cook he got the fits, threw away all of my grits,
Then he took and he ate up all of my corn.
Let me go home, I wanna go home,
This is the worst trip I ever been on.

17

SLOOP JOHN B.
&

##

j
j

We come on

##
&

the sloop John B.,

my

Nassau town

##
&

night,

2
0

feel

n j j

3
0

into

j j

so

3
0

0
0

wanna

go

0
0

18

fight.

j j

break - up,

j j

##
&

got

A -

Drinkin all

j j

me.

we did roam.

and

grandfather

j
j

round

j j

home.

So

2
0

3
0

STAGOLEE
Stagolee shot Billy De Lyons, what do you think of that?
Shot him down in cold blood cause he stole his Stetson hat.
Chorus:
Hes a bad man, that cruel Stagolee.
Stagolee oh Stagolee, please dont take my life.
Ive got two little kids at home and a darlin lovin wife.
What do I care about your two little kids, your darlin lovin wife?
You just stole my Stetson hat and Im bound to take your life.
Judge said, Stagolee, what you doin here?
You done shot Mr. Billy De Lyons, youre gonna die in the lectric chair.
Twelve oclock they hanged him, head reached up high.
Last thing that poor boy said, My six-shooter never lied.

19

STAGOLEE
&

##

j j
j j
j j .

j j
j
n j #

Stagolee

what

killed

3
0

that?

do you

Shot

Lyons,

De

him

down

3
0

cold

blood,

cause

he

j
##
&

in

of

think

G
j
j
j j
j j

#
& #

Billy

A
j j
j
j
j
j

n #

stole

his

Stetson

hat.

Hes a

2
2

3
0

bad

man,

3
2

D
j j
j j
j
# # 6 . c n j # j j j j j j j

& 4

that

2
0

2
0

cruel

2
0

Stagolee.

1
2

20

2
2

3
0

3
0

2
2

3
0

2
2

JAMAICA FAREWELL PATTERN

j j

### c
&

JAMAICA FAREWELL
A

### c .
.
&

Down
I

the
took

..

way
a

&

1
0

shines
brightly
Jamaica

the
a

nights
sailing

are
ship

2
0

21

gay,
and

and
the
when I

on the
mountain
I
made
a

sun
reached

###

where
trip
on

j
..

top,
stop.

But I'm

2
0

..

BASS RUNS

###

&

E to A

A to D

JAMAICA FAREWELL
(WITH BASS RUNS)

&

###

c ..

Down
Ake

the

0
0

###
&

cry
rum

out
is

1
0

you
fish

can
are

j
.

while
fine

on

their
any

heads
time

they
of

0
2

hear
nice,

22

the

ladies
and

market
salt

rice,

..

at

j
.

j
..

bear
year.

But Im

2
0

..

JAMAICA FAREWELL
Down the way where the nights are gay,
and the sun shines brightly on the mountain top,
I took a trip on a sailing ship
and when I reached Jamaica I made a stop.
Chorus:
But Im sad to say Im on my way,
Wont be back for many a day.
My heart is down, my head is turning around,
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town.
Sounds of laughter everywhere
and the dancing girls sway to and fro.
I must admit my heart is there
though Ive been from Maine to Mexico.
Down at the market you can hear
ladies cry out while on their heads they bear
Ake rice, salt fish are nice,
and the rum is fine any time of year.

23

ST. JAMES INFIRMARY

It was down in old Joes barroom on the corner by the square.
The drinks were served as usual and the usual crowd was there.
On my left stood big Joe McKennedy, his eyes were bloodshot red.
He took a look at the crowd around him, these are the words he said.
I went down to St. James Infirmary, I saw my baby there.
Stretched out on a long white table, so still, so cold, so fair.
Let her go, let her go, God bless her, wherever she may be.
She may search this wide world over, never find another man like me.
When I die, please bury me in my hightop Stetson hat.
Put a $20 gold piece on my watchchain so the boysll know I died standing pat.
And now that youve heard my story, Ill take another shot of booze.
If anyone should happen to ask you, Ive got the gamblers blues.

Am

Dm

24

ST. JAMES INFIRMARY

Am

E
j

& c ..

On my

right
go,

stood Big Joe Mc - Kennedy,

let her go,
God bless

0
1

..

Dm
j Am
j
j
j
j
j
j

0
1

0
3
0

0
3

E
j

&

red.
be.

He

0
1

0
1

took
She

a
may

0
3

0
3

0
1

0
1

0
1
0

1
1
3

1
1

words
man

he
like

0
3

0
3

3
0

she

0
1

bloodshot
may

1
3
0

1
3
0

E
Am
j
j

j j
j

look at
search

0
1

the
this

bar
wide

0
1

0
3

a - round
world
over,

0
3

said.
me.

0
1
0

0
1
0

25

Let

her

0
3

0
3
0

him,

0
1

E
Am
E
j
j
j

j ..

&

another

were

0
1

very
find

eyes
wherever

Am

0
1

Am

his
her,

..

these
are
the
shell
never

0
1
0

0
1
0

0
1
0

CARELESS LOVE
&

####

j .

n j j .

&

####

night

and the

night

cried

#### n
&

last

night

j .

and the

n j .

be

j .

cried

last

26

j .

j .

night

and

the

3
0

fore.

0
0

night

0
2

j j .

last

fore.

cried

j .

j .

####
&

be

j .

####
&

j .

night

be

####
&

night,

.
j

then

cry

no

Gonna

j n .

j .

cry

to

0
0

n j .

0
0

etc.

more.

0
2

2
2

fore.

0
2

j .

CARELESS LOVE
Love, oh love, oh careless love, (3 times)
See what love has done to me.
Sorrow, sorrow to my heart, (3 times)
When me and my love had to part.
Cried last night and the night before, (3 times)
Gonna cry tonight, then cry no more.

27

3
0

HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN

There is a house in New Orleans that they call the Rising Sun.
Its been the ruin of many a poor girl and Lord I know Im one.
My mother was a tailor, she sewed those new blue jeans,
My father was a gambler, down in New Orleans.
The only thing a gambler needs is a suitcase and a trunk,
And the only time hes satisfied is when hes on a drunk.
Go tell my baby sister not to do like I have done,
But to shun that house in New Orleans they call the Rising Sun.
Im goin back to New Orleans, my race is nearly run,
Goin back to spend the rest of my life beneath that Rising Sun.

WALTZ PATTERN
Am

& 68
.

0
T

28

HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN

Am

# N

&

.
.
.

There

is

house

Am

in

New

Orleans

that they

# #
&

.
.
.
.
call

the

Rising

Am

Sun,

and

its

#
N

&

.
.

.
been

the

ruin

of

Am

many

poor

boy,

Am

and

&
#

#

.
.

.
.
God,

2
0

know

Im one.

2
0

29

1
0

SCARBOROUGH FAIR
Am

3 j
& 4
.
Are

you

going

to Scar

Sage,

rose - mary

and

me

to

j
&
.
once

Re -

one who lives

there.

Am

thyme.

She

j j
.

Am

member

j # j j
.
.

j
&

Parsley,

Fair?

j
&

j
.

borough

Am

j
.

was

Am

true love of

j
.

2
0

30

etc.

mine.

SCARBOROUGH FAIR
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Remember me to one who lives there.
She once was a true love of mine.
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt,
Parsley, sage
Without any seam or fine needlework,
then shell be a true love of mine,
Tell her to wash it in yonder well
Where water neer sprung nor drop of rain fell,
and then shell be
Tell her to dry it on yonder thorn
Which never bore blossom since Adam was born,
and then shell be
O will you find me an acre of land
Between the sea foam and the salt sea land,
and then shell be

WALTZ PATTERN
C

j
& 43 .

0
1

0
1

3
T

R
M

31

R
M

STREETS OF LAREDO
C

3
& 4 . j .

.
.
As

walked

0
1

0
1

out

in

the

1
0

1
0

streets

La

0
1

0
1

Dm

redo,

of

1
0

as

1
0

j
& . . . j
.
I

walked

0
1

0
1

out

in

La

1
3

1
3

redo

one

0
1

0
1

day,

1
0

1
0

& .

.
.
spied

0
1

cow

0
1

- puncher

all

1
0

1
0

wrapped

0
1

white

0
1

linen,

Am

in

Dm

all

1
0

1
0

j j j

&

.
.

.
.
wrapped

2
0

in

white

0
1

0
1

linen

as

1
3

1
3

cold

0
3

32

as

the

1
0

1
0

etc.

clay.

0
3

0
1

0
1

STREETS OF LAREDO
As I walked out in the streets of Laredo,
As I walked out in Laredo one day,
I spied a cowpuncher all wrapped in white linen,
Wrapped in white linen as cold as the clay.
I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy,
These words he did say as he saw me ride by.
Come sit down beside me and hear my sad story,
Im shot in the breast and I surely must die.
It was once in the saddle I used to go dashing,
Once in the saddle I used to go gay.
First to the dram-house and then to the card house,
Got shot in the breast and Im dying today.
Get six jolly cowboys to carry my coffin,
Six pretty maidens to bear up my pall.
Put bunches of roses all over my coffin,
Roses to deaden the clods as they fall.
Beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly,
Play the death march as you carry me on.
Take me out to the graveyard and throw the sod oer me,
For Im a young cowboy and I know Ive done wrong.

TUMBLEWEEDS PATTERN
G

&

3
0

3
T

3
0

3
I

R
M

33

R
M

TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS
C

j
& c ..

down,
See them
tumbling
Cares of the day are be - hind,

..

0
1

0
1

pledging their love

nowhere to
go

2
0

to the ground.
but Ill find

2
0

.
#

& .

Lonely but free

Ill be found,
just where the trail will wind,

0
1

0
1

drifting along with the tumbling

3
0

D BRIDGE

3
0

2
1

2
1

{ tumbleweeds.
tumbleweeds.

3
0

3
0

..

N
#

&

know

when

2
1

night

2
1

is

gone,

that

3
0

3
0

new

&
Ill

keep

0
3

0
1

rolling

0
1

0
0

a - (etc.)
(like the first 8 bars)

34

day

0
2

is

born at

0
0

0
2

dawn.

2
1

2
1

TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS
See them tumbling down,
pledging their love to the ground.
Lonely but free Ill be found,
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds.
Cares of the past are behind,
nowhere to go but Ill find
Just where the trail will wind,
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds.
I know when night is gone,
that a new day is born at dawn.
Ill keep rolling along.
Deep in my heart is a song.
Here on the range I belong,
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds.

35

NINE POUND HAMMER

&

####

E On The Beat

0
2

j .

2
0

j
.

2
2

2
0

Syncopated Melody

####
&

#### .

&

####
&

etc.

0
0

0
2

0
2

2
0

36

0
1

0
2

1
0

2
0