Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the classic Johnny Cash classic: Folsom Prison Blues.
Folsom Prison Blues
Folsom Prison Blues is a song by American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. Written in 1953, it was first recorded in 1955 for his debut studio album Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar! (1957), appearing as the album's eleventh track. Borrowing liberally from Gordon Jenkins' 1953 song, "Crescent City Blues", the song combines elements from two popular folk styles, the train song and the prison song, both of which Cash continued to use for the rest of his career. It was one of Cash's signature songs. Additionally, this recording was included on the compilation album All Aboard the Blue Train (1962). In June 2014, Rolling Stone ranked it No. 51 on its list of the 100 greatest country songs of all time.
Cash performed the song live to a crowd of inmates at Folsom State Prison in 1968 for his live album At Folsom Prison (1968), released through Columbia Records. This version became a No. 1 hit on the country music charts and reached No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the same year. This version also won the Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, at the 11th Annual Grammy Awards in 1969. WikipediA :
Folsom Prison Blues is in the The Daily Ukulele
— 365 Songs for Better Living book.
Strum a different song every day with easy arrangements of 365 of your favorite songs in one big songbook! The Daily Ukulele features ukulele arrangements with melody, lyrics and uke chord grids and are in ukulele-friendly keys that are particularly suited for groups of one to one hundred to play and sing.
Harmonic Analysis (HA)
A Harmonic Analysis (RMA/HA) and its worksheet are intended to show the function of the chords, the harmonic principles used, the keys and tonalities the song explores. And, can be used for scale selections and chord and scale substitutions.
A Harmonic Analysis Worksheet is NOT intended to be a leadsheet
and minimal leadsheet information such repeats, fines, D.S., D.C., codas have been used in preparing the worksheets.
1st, 2nd Ending, Turnbacks …
The worksheets will show 1st, 2nd Ending, Turnbacks, etc. You should start to recognize that 1st endings typically always return to an previous or 
section. With a 2nd ending, a transition to different section, a 
or chorus. Harmonic Principles are used for these repeats and transitions.
If these 1st, 2nd Ending, Turnbacks are not indicated then a Turnback chord(s) will be indicated in parentheses.
Reference Key
This is the key of the source leadsheet.
- Folsom Prison Blues is in 4/4 time and the Key of G .
Harmonic Principles Used:
Chords
Theses and many other chords where covered in the Learn A Chord A Day series of lessons.
Starting Melody Note and 1st Interval
INTERVALS: Root=note that begins a scale of the starting key; C is C, D is D, Am is a, Em is E, etc... m=minor; M=Major; P=Perfect; D=Diminished; A=Augmented. • ↑ is up/ascending; ↓ is down/descending;
Harmonic Analysis (HA) Worksheet
Scale Selection
Once a Harmonic Analysis has been completed then scale selections can be made. These scale selections can be either vertical and horizontal choices.
Checkout LESSONSeries : Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection or download the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection book.
Performance Notes
Be sure to checkout a video to pickup the licks from the recording. They are all based on the chord, the chord tones.
Links & Resources
End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!
Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.
Related Lessons
Related Lessons for Folsom Prison Blues
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Related Lesson Series
Related Lessons Series for Folsom Prison Blues
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Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection
Updated: 27 Feb 2023
Harmonic Analysis is the process used to determine the harmonic function of chords within a chord progression or song. A chord progression is defined as a sequence of chords, each chord has a root and is a particular chord type. The relationship of a chord's to a scale determines its function within that scale's tonality.
Related Books & Charts
Related Books for Folsom Prison Blues
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Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution
Updated: 10 Jun 2021
Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.
The Daily Ukulele
Updated: 05 May 2022
Strum a different song every day with easy arrangements of 365 of your favorite songs in one big songbook! The Daily Ukulele features ukulele arrangements with melody, lyrics and uke chord grids and are in ukulele-friendly keys that are particularly suited for groups of one to one hundred to play and sing.
