Contra Chord Simplification
Tomorrow, Lily and I will be leading a Kids Contra Jam at NEFFA (2pm in the Sudbury room!). We'll be playing off of Lily's tune list, but someone was asking about chords. I decided to have a go at writing out the simplest acceptable chords for each of the tunes we're planning. Each letter represents two downbeats:
All the Rage
A: 𝄆 E E A B 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆 A A B B 𝄇 x4
Lisnagun
𝄆 G G C D 𝄇 x8
Devil's Dream
𝄆 D D A E 𝄇 x8
Reign of Love
A: 𝄆 Em Em C D 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆 Em Em C C
D D C C 𝄇
June Apple
A: 𝄆 A A G G
A A G D 𝄇
B: 𝄆 A A G D 𝄇 x4
Dancing Bear
𝄆 Em Em C C
D D B B 𝄇 x4
can play B7 for B if that's easier
The Wren
A: 𝄆 Em C D D 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆 C C D D 𝄇 x4
Haaplevese
A: 𝄆 D D G A 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆 D G A A 𝄇 x4
Trip to Moscow
𝄆 Am Am C C
G G D D 𝄇 x4
Road to Boston
A: 𝄆 D D G A 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆 D D G G
D D A A 𝄇 x4
Coleman's March
A: 𝄆 D G D A
D G A A 𝄇
B: 𝄆 D D D D
G G A A 𝄇
Sandy Boys
A: 𝄆 A A A G 𝄇 x4
B: 𝄆 A A A A
G G G G 𝄇
Angeline the Baker
𝄆 D D D G
D D D A 𝄇 x4
Liza Jane
A: 𝄆 A A A D
A A E A 𝄇
B: 𝄆 A A A D
E E E A 𝄇
Mairi's Wedding
𝄆 G G C D 𝄇 x8
Cluck Old Hen
A: 𝄆 A A A G 𝄇 x8
Cripple Creek
A: 𝄆 A A D E 𝄇 x8
Bile 'Em Cabbage Down
𝄆 D G D A
D G A A 𝄇
Four of these are just "𝄆 I I IV V 𝄇": a good first guess for a major tune!
I'll have these there in person as well on handouts.
Note that normally you'd be doing different chords each time through, and they'd been more complex (more).