Jackson Browne - These Days

BAMBAM · #1 07-16-2009, 02:48 AM

I have been trying to work out the technique of how Jackson plays "These Days" on the live acoustic version see You tube its the one were he introduces it as a song he wrote when aged 16.

What I can't understand is the bass run he uses. On the video it lookes like EBEGC, to me the sounds don't match the actual notes he is visually playing, either I am getting the notes wrong or he might be playing in a different tuning.

Any help would be appreciated, anyway check it out out it's a great song

Regards

GibsonGuy · #2 07-16-2009, 05:38 AM

C - B - A - G - F

BAMBAM · #3 07-16-2009, 06:47 AM

thanks, I agree with the notes but that's not what his fingers are doing if it is standard tuning so is he using a different tuning?

mmmaak · #4 07-16-2009, 09:23 AM

I made a quick tab of the intro about a year ago, at the request of someone on this forum:

http://www.box.net/shared/ulloi8n69r

I doubt it's 100% accurate since I never really double-checked it, but it could be helpful as a guide. I also think there's an official pdf tab floating around somewhere

Allen Shadd · #5 07-16-2009, 01:28 PM

I was familiar with the video, but I just checked again. The C-B-A-G-F definitely matches his finger positions, standard tunings. I just played it along with him to be sure.

A great song. Also, if you haven't heard it, Glen Campbell recently released a version as well on his latest cd. I actually like his better than the JB original, which is rare for me to like a cover better. It is also on youtube atThese Days

ray · #6 07-16-2009, 02:10 PM

C-B-A-G-F, as others have stated.

On the McAlister-Smeckalister... JB is a class act... with a killer taste in guitars.

Roy visited the recent PNW gathering in Chehalis... Several players with McA's there.

valleyguy · #7 07-16-2009, 05:18 PM

Here's a copy of a tab from Acoustic Guitar magazine from a few years back./ It's pretty true to the way he plays it.

Great song, enjoy.

BAMBAM · #8 07-17-2009, 01:57 AM

[QUOTE=Pistolero;1903034]I was familiar with the video, but I just checked again. The C-B-A-G-F definitely matches his finger positions, standard tunings. I just played it along with him to be sure.

A great song. Also, if you haven't heard it, Glen Campbell recently released a version as well on his latest cd. I actually like his better than the JB original, which is rare for me to like a cover better. It is also on youtube atThese Days[Thanks and yes I have heard the Glen Campbell version and really like it. In case you didn't know this has different lyrics as Jackson wrote the song for Nico (Velvet Underground) /QUOTE]

BAMBAM · #9 07-17-2009, 01:59 AM

[QUOTE=valleyguy;1903178]Here's a copy of a tab from Acoustic Guitar magazine from a few years back./ It's pretty true to the way he plays it.

Great song, enjoy.[Thanks for the TAB I will try and master it!]

bc guy · #10 07-18-2009, 04:40 PM

I've been practicing fingerstyle about a year now,I love this song,I've tried playing the tab version posted http://www.box.net/shared/nex1b15e02
and can't seem to get it to sound like Jackson Browne's youtube fingerstyle version.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPk11...ture=rec-fresh

Has any tried it and got the same sound?

#11 07-18-2009, 07:36 PM

I have, and it was one of those you need (at least for me) to play very slowly at first, then bring it up to speed a bit at a time to match JB's. It's not complex, just a different fingering pattern for me than I was accustomed to.

GibsonGuy · #12 07-20-2009, 01:17 PM

Try this......
1. Start with a C chord
2. slide the "C" note in the bass down to B (remove the finger fron the E
3. Play an Am (A in the bass)
4. Keep the Am fingering and finger the G in the bass with your pinky.
5. Full Barred F chord.

This gives you the C - B - A - G - F bass run and the fill chords for the song.

blews · #13 07-21-2009, 01:04 PM

One of my favorite songs to play and I learned the version that was in Acoustic Guitar linked above which is really darn close to his Live Solo Acoustic album........for those of you who like Jackson Browne - check out his second Solo Acoustic Live Album - it's killer........

Speaking of the second album - anyone have the tab to "Never Stop"?

DHM1951 · #14 07-28-2009, 02:26 PM

I learned the version from the "For Everyman" album...that version is in F, with the capo at the fifth fret, altho I play it in C to fit my vocal range..using the fifth fret capo adds a sparkle you dont seem to get playing lower on the neck.

"These Days" was actually one of those songs I originally learned without benefit of easy access to any of the recorded versions...so naturally I had it all screwed up...Ive been working on arranging it for my band and consequently I went back and learned it correctly...or at least more correctly.

The chords over last few lines of the verse vary from the "Acoustic Guitar" version...on the "For Everyman version he plays a G-G#dim7-Am walkup after the "do" in "thing that I forgot to do" and then an Am-G-F...walk down over the next line....I think those chords add a little tension and movement that is missing from the published transcriptions...

Don Miller
Anchorage AK

blews · #15 07-29-2009, 09:21 AM

Hey Don - thanks for the help - will try that - do you have it tabbed out?