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The Yellow Princess
John Fahey
Text File
#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE--------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the#
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research.#
#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------#
From: jboston@delphi.com (John Boston)
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic
Subject: TAB: The Yellow Princess by John Fahey
Date: 11 Apr 1996 02:44:04 GMT
The Yellow Princess
by John Fahey
This tune is an epic of simplicity. It sounds long and
complicated but it is made of pieces that are both simple and
physically easy to play even for the inexperienced fingerpicker.
It is great fun to play; there is a well defined melody line and
a catchy loping rhythm even when played at slower tempos. And it
is in standard tuning, unlike most of Fahey's longer pieces.
You can hear Fahey's rendition of this piece on his CD's THE
YELLOW PRINCESS (Vanguard; also available as part of THE
ESSENTIAL JOHN FAHEY) and THE RETURN OF THE REPRESSED: THE JOHN
FAHEY ANTHOLOGY (Rhino). In the very amusing liner notes to THE
YELLOW PRINCESS Fahey states that the tune is based on a passage
>from "The Yellow Princess Overture" by Camille Saint-Saens before
descending into the usual Fahey surreal fantasy.
This tune was tabbed by Dave Cohen, User643309@aol.com or
dcohen@bhi.com; the file was created by his faithful transcriber,
John Boston
TW70
INTRO very beautiful, slowly repeat
----0-----------0----------0---|-------------------------------------|
-------12----------12----------|-------------------------------------|
------------13-----------------|-------------------------------------|
-----------------------14------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-0-----------------------------|-------------------------------------|
In this intro, play 3d & 4th strings with thumb
repeat
---0----------0----------0---|---------------------------------------|
------12---------12----------|---------------------------------------|
----------13-----------------|---------------------------------------|
---------------------13------|---------------------------------------|
-----------------------------|---------------------------------------|
0----------------------------|---------------------------------------|
---0----------0----------0--|-----0----------0--------------|--------|
------12---------12---------|--------12---------12----------|--------|
----------13----------------|------------13-----------------|--------|
---------------------12-----|-----------------------12/11---|--------|
----------------------------|-------------------------------|--------|
0---------------------------|--0----------------------------|--------|
repeat
-----0----------0----------0---|-------------------------------------|
--------12---------12----------|-------------------------------------|
------------13-----------------|-------------------------------------|
-----------------------11------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
--0----------------------------|-------------------------------------|
repeat
---0----------0----------0---|---------------------------------------|
------10---------10----------|---------------------------------------|
----------11-----------------|---------------------------------------|
---------------------11------|---------------------------------------|
-----------------------------|---------------------------------------|
0----------------------------|---------------------------------------|
repeat
---0----------0----------0---|---------------------------------------|
------10---------10----------|---------------------------------------|
----------11-----------------|---------------------------------------|
---------------------10------|---------------------------------------|
-----------------------------|---------------------------------------|
0----------------------------|---------------------------------------|
repeat
---0----------0---------0---|----------------------------------------|
------10---------10---------|----------------------------------------|
----------11----------------|----------------------------------------|
---------------------9------|----------------------------------------|
----------------------------|----------------------------------------|
0---------------------------|----------------------------------------|
repeat B repeat
---0--------0--------0---|-----|------0--------0--------0---|--------|
------9--------9---------|-----|---------7--------7---------|--------|
---------9---------------|-----|------------7---------------|--------|
------------------9------|-----|---------------------7------|--------|
-------------------------|-----|----------------------------|--------|
0------------------------|-----|---7------------------------|--------|
see end for alternate fingering
bend bend bend
---|---------------------------------------|--------------------------|
---|--4---5--4---5--4---5------------------|--------------------------|
---|--3---4--3---4--3---4--0h1p0h1p0h1-----|--------------------------|
---|------------------------------------2--|--------------------------|
---|---------------------------------------|--------------------------|
---|---------------------------------------|--------------------------|
PART A
pause pause E
-0-------------------------0--0--|------12---------12--------|--------|
-0-------------------------0--0--|----------9-------------9--|--------|
-1-------------------------1--0--|---------------------------|--------|
-2-------------------------2--0--|------9--------------9-----|--------|
-2---------2---------------2--0--|---------------------------|--------|
-0--0--3----------3-----0--0--0--|---0----------0------------|--------|
E7 Db+A
--10----------10-----0------|------9-------9-------------|
------9---------------------|---------6----------6-------|
----------------------------|----------------------------|
----------9--------------0--|------6----------6----------|
----------------------------|--0---------0---------------|
---0--------------0---------|----------------------------|
Db7 A
-7--------7-----0-----|------5--------5--------|----------------------|
----6-----------------|---------2-----------2--|----------------------|
----------------------|------------------------|----------------------|
-------6-----------0--|------2-----------2-----|----------------------|
-0-----------0--------|---0--------0-----------|----------------------|
----------------------|------------------------|----------------------|
A7 E
-3--------3-----0--------|---0----------------0--|--------------------|
----2--------------2--0--|--------------0--------|--------------------|
-------------------------|---------0h1-----------|--------------------|
-------2-----------2-----|------2----------2-----|--------------------|
-0-----------0-----------|-----------------------|--------------------|
-------------------------|---0-------0-----------|--------------------|
E7 Db7
----------0-----------|------4--------4--------|----------------------|
----0-----------3-----|---------0-----------0--|----------------------|
----------------------|------------------------|----------------------|
-------2-----------2--|------3-----------3-----|----------------------|
----------------------|---4--------4-----------|----------------------|
-0-----------0--------|------------------------|----------------------|
B7 (slide down from Db7) Db7 (slide up from B7)
-2--------2--------------|------4--------4--------|-------------------|
----0-----------0--------|---------0-----------0--|-------------------|
----------------------2--|------------------------|-------------------|
-------1-----------1-----|------3-----------3-----|-------------------|
-2-----------2-----------|---4--------4-----------|-------------------|
-------------------------|------------------------|-------------------|
B7 (slide down) Db7 (slide up)
2---------2--------------|------4--------4--------|-------------------|
----0-----------0--------|---------0-----------0--|-------------------|
----------------------2--|------------------------|-------------------|
-------1-----------1-----|------3-----------3-----|-------------------|
2------------2-----------|---4--------4-----------|-------------------|
-------------------------|------------------------|-------------------|
B7 (slide down) E
-2--------2-----0--------|---0----------------0--|--------------------|
----0--------------2--0--|--------------0--------|--------------------|
-------------------------|---------0h1-----------|--------------------|
-------1-----------1-----|------2----------2-----|--------------------|
-2-----------2-----------|-----------------------|--------------------|
-------------------------|---0-------0-----------|--------------------|
END PART A END INTRO
------------------|-------------------0--|---------0------------|-----|
---2-----0--------|------------0---------|---0------------0-----|-----|
---------------0--|h1-----0h1------------|-----(1)--------------|-----|
------2--------2--|----2----------2------|------2------------0--|-----|
------------------|----------------------|----------------------|-----|
0-----------0-----|-0-------0------------|0-----------0---------|-----|
PART B - Various pick patterns used - stay on 6/7 position for 12
measures
PICK 1
-----------------------|
--------------0--------|
--------0-----------0--|
-----6-----------6-----|
/7---------7-----------|
-----------------------|
PICK 2 PICK 3
------------------------|--------------------------|
---0-----------0--------|-----0-----------0--------|
---------0-----------0--|-----------0-----------0--|
------6-----------6-----|--------6-----------6-----|
7-----------7-----------|--7-----------------------|
------------------------|--------------7-----------|
marker
PICK 4 A'
----------------------------|------------------------|----------------|
-----0-------------0--------|---------------0--------|----------------|
-----------0-------------0--|--------0------------0--|----------------|
--------6-------------6-----|----/9------------9-----|----------------|
0h7-------------------------|-/10-------10-----------|----------------|
--------------0h7-----------|------------------------|----------------|
--------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------|
----0------------0--------|---------------0---------|-----------------|
----------0------------0--|--------0-------------0--|-----------------|
-------9------------9-----|---/11------------11-----|-----------------|
10-----------10-----------|/12--------12------------|-----------------|
--------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------|
roll repeat from A' 3 times
------------------------------|-----------------|---------------------|
-0-----------------0------0---|-----------------|---------------------|
-0----------0-----------------|-----------------|---------------------|
--------11------------11------|-----------------|---------------------|
-12------------12-------------|-----------------|---------------------|
------------------------------|-----------------|---------------------|
repeat or vary in this position
------------------------|--------------|------------------------------|
--------------0---------|--------------|------------------------------|
-------0-------------0--|--------------|------------------------------|
----9------------9------|--------------|------------------------------|
10--------10------------|--------------|------------------------------|
------------------------|--------------|------------------------------|
another 12 measures variations of this position
-----------------|--------------------------|
-------------0---|--------------------------|
----------0------|--------------------------|
-------6---------|--------------------------|
----7------------|--------------------------|
-----------------|--------------------------|
repeat
-------------------------|--------|-----------------------------------|
---------0-----------0---|--------|-----------------------------------|
---0-----------0---------|--------|-----------------------------------|
------0-----------0------|--------|-----------------------------------|
5-----------5------------|--------|-----------------------------------|
-------------------------|--------|-----------------------------------|
repeat
-------------------------|--------|--------------------------|--------|
---------0-----------0---|--------|-----------0-----------0--|--------|
---0-----------0---------|--------|-----0-----------0--------|--------|
------0-----------0------|--------|--------0-----------0-----|--------|
2-----------2------------|--------|--2-----------0-----------|--------|
-------------------------|--------|--------------------------|--------|
-----------------------|------------------------|---------------------|
---------0----------0--|---------------------0--|---------------------|
---0----------0--------|----0-----0----0--------|---------------------|
------0----------0-----|-------0----------0-----|---------------------|
2---------/5-----------|/7---------\5-----------|---------------------|
-----------------------|------------------------|---------------------|
-------------------------|--------------------------|-----------------|
----------0-----------0--|-----------0-----------0--|-----------------|
----0-----------0--------|-----0-----------0--------|-----------------|
-------0-----------0-----|--------0-----------0-----|-----------------|
\2-----------0-----------|--------------0-----------|-----------------|
-------------------------|--3-----------------------|-----------------|
------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------|
----------0----------0--|----------0-----------0--|-------------------|
----0----------0--------|----0-----------0--------|-------------------|
-------0----------0-----|-------0-----------0-----|-------------------|
/2---------/5-----------|/7---------/10-----------|-------------------|
------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------|
------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------|
----------0----------0--|-----------0----------0--|-------------------|
----0----------0--------|-----0----------0--------|-------------------|
-------0----------0-----|--------0----------0-----|-------------------|
\7---------\5-----------|--2---------/5-----------|-------------------|
------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------|
------------------------|--------------------------|------------------|
---------0-----------0--|-----------0-----------0--|------------------|
---0-----------0--------|-----0-----------0--------|------------------|
------0-----------0-----|--------0-----------0-----|------------------|
5-----------5-----------|--5-----------5-----------|------------------|
------------------------|--------------------------|------------------|
marker X
-------------------------|--------------------------|-----------------|
----------0-----------0--|-----------0-----------0--|-----------------|
----0-----------0--------|-----0-----------0--------|-----------------|
-------0-----------0-----|--------0-----------0-----|-----------------|
-6-----------6-----------|--6-----------6-----------|-----------------|
-------------------------|--------------------------|-----------------|
this pattern or variations
as in part B repeat from X
---------------------|------------------------|-----------|-----------|
------------0--------|--------------0---------|-----------|-----------|
------0-----------0--|--------0-----------0---|-----------|-----------|
---6-----------6-----|-----6-----------6------|-----------|-----------|
7--------------------|--7---------------------|-----------|-----------|
---------7-----------|-----------7------------|-----------|-----------|
transition to part C
------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------|
---------0-----------0--|------------0-----------0--|-----------------|
---0-----------0--------|------0-----------0--------|-----------------|
------0-----------0-----|---------0-----------0-----|-----------------|
6-----------6-----------|---5-----------5-----------|-----------------|
------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------|
------------------------|
---------0-----------0--|
---0-----------0--------|
------0-----------0-----|
2-----------0-----------|
------------------------|
PART C
G
-------3---------3--------|------------------|
----------0------------0--|------------------|
--------------------------|------------------|
-------0------------0-----|------------------|
--------------------------|------------------|
---3----------3-----------|------------------|
marker
C'
3---------------|--0-----3-----------0--------|-----------------------|
0---------3-----|--------------3-----------0--|-----------------------|
----------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------|
----0--------0--|-----------0-----------0-----|-----------------------|
----------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------|
3------3--------|-----3-----------3-----------|-----------------------|
---------------------0--|-----3-----------0--------|------------------|
---3-----------3--------|-----------3-----------0--|------------------|
---------0--------------|--------------------------|------------------|
------0-----------0-----|--------0-----------0-----|------------------|
------------------------|--------------------------|------------------|
3-----------3-----------|--3-----------3-----------|------------------|
---------------0--|-----3-----------0--------|------------------------|
---------3--------|-----------3-----------0--|------------------------|
------------------|--------------------------|------------------------|
---0--------0-----|--------0-----------0-----|------------------------|
------------------|--------------------------|------------------------|
3-----3-----------|--3-----------3-----------|------------------------|
D
------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------|
---3-----------0--------|------------------0--------|-----------------|
---------0-----------2--|------0-----2-----------0--|-----------------|
------0-----------0-----|---------0-----------0-----|-----------------|
------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------|
3-----------3-----------|---2-----------2-----------|-----------------|
repeat from C' roll
------|------------|------------------|-----------------|-------------|
------|------------|------------0-----|--0-----3-----0--|-------------|
------|------------|------------0--0--|-----------------|-------------|
----0-|------------|-----0------0-----|-----0-----0-----|-------------|
------|------------|------------------|-----------------|-------------|
3-----|------------|--3-----3---------|--3-----3--------|-------------|
E G
-0-----------0--------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
----------0--------0--|--------------3-----0--|-----------------------|
-------1--------------|---------(0)-----------|-----------------------|
----2-----------2-----|------0----------0-----|-----------------------|
----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
-0--------0-----------|---3----------3--------|-----------------------|
E G roll
-0-----------0--------|-------------------------|---------------------|
----------0--------0--|---3------0-----3--------|---------------------|
-------1--------------|---0------------------0--|---------------------|
----2-----------2-----|-------0-----------0-----|---------------------|
----------------------|-------------------------|---------------------|
-0--------0-----------|---3---------3-----------|---------------------|
E bend G roll
-0-------3-----0--------|-------------------|-----------------0--|----|
---------------------0--|---3---0--3--------|-----3--------3-----|----|
(1)---------------------|---0------------0--|-----------0--------|----|
----2-------------2-----|-------0-----0-----|--------0--------0--|----|
------------------------|-------------------|--------------------|----|
-0----------0-----------|---3------3--------|--3-----------3-----|----|
roll
-3--------3----------|--3-----3--------|--0-----0--------|------------|
-0-----0--------(0)--|-----0--------0--|-----3-----------|------------|
---------------------|-----------------|--------------0--|------------|
----0--------0-------|-----0-----0-----|-----0-----0-----|------------|
---------------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------|
-3--------3----------|--3-----3--------|--3-----3--------|------------|
---------------|--0--------------------|-------------------|----------|
3--0--3-----0--|--------3-----0-----2--|-------------0-----|----------|
---------------|-----------------------|--------0h2--------|----------|
---0-----0-----|-----0-----------0-----|-----0----------0--|----------|
---------------|-----------------------|-------------------|----------|
3-----3--------|--3--------3-----------|--2-------2--------|----------|
end C' repeat from C'
---3--------3---------|--3------------------|--3--------3--------|----|
------0------------0--|---------------------|--------0--------0--|----|
0---------------------|---------------------|--------------------|----|
---0-----------0------|-----0---------------|-----0--------0-----|----|
----------------------|---------------------|--------------------|----|
3--------3------------|--3------------------|--3--------3--------|----|
4 bars variations
in this position
-----------------|-----3--------3--------|----------------------------|
-----------0-----|--------0----------0---|----------------------------|
--------0--------|-----------------------|----------------------------|
-----6-----------|-----0-----------0-----|----------------------------|
/-7--------------|-----------------------|----------------------------|
--------------7--|\-3--------3-----------|----------------------------|
repeat part B ad lib,
slowing tempo
3--------3------------|-----------------------------------------|----|
---0-----------0------|-----------------------------------------|----|
----------------------|-----------------------------------------|----|
------0-----------0---|-----------------------------------------|----|
----------------------|-----------------------------------------|----|
3-----------3---------|-----------------------------------------|----|
repeat part A E END
----------------------|--------------0---||
----------------------|--------------0---||
----------------------|--------------1---||
----------------------|--------------2---||
----------------------|--------------2---||
----------------------|-----------0--0---||
alternate fingering for intro
------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------4h5--4h5--4h5-----------------------------|
------------------4----4----4-------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------0----0----0-------------------------------|
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