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Folsom Prison Blues
Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the classic Johnny Cash classic: Folsom Prison Blues.
Folsom Prison Blues
Released:
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. (wikiwand) ·
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.
Chords
Theses and many other chords are covered in the Learn A Chord A Day series of lessons.
C Tuning Chords
Starting Melody Note and 1st Interval
C Tuning, Low or High G
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)
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 roadmap information such repeats, fines, D.S., D.C., codas have been used in preparing the worksheets to somewhat mirror the leadsheet in the Daily Ukulele book..
Sections, Verse, Chorus, 1st, 2nd Ending, turnbacks …
The worksheets will show 1st, 2nd Ending, turnbacks, etc. as in indicated the Yellow Book
. You should start to recognize that 1st endings typically always return to a previous or 
verse or section. With a 2nd ending, a transition to a different section, a 
or chorus. Harmonic Principles are used for these repeats and transitions.
If turnbacks chord are not indication for the these 1st, 2nd Ending will indicate recommended chord(s) in parentheses or as an alternate harmony in Red . Typically the last measures or turnbacks will be a chord that resolves to and harmonically leads you to the next section or turning you back to the same section.
Reference Key
This is the key of the source leadsheet.
- Folsom Prison Blues is in 4/4 time and the Key of G . Original in F, Capo guitar at fret (1) and using open position E A B7 chord for the F Bb C7 chords in the Key of F, Tempo: 111.
Harmonic Principles Used:
Harmonic Analysis (HA) Worksheet
Visit the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection series of lessons for information on creating a Harmonic Analysis Worksheet
Nashville Number System (NNS)
Nashville Numbering System always uses four bars/measures per line, no bar lines, and default is each number of the number of beats per bar/measure based on the time signature. If multiple chords in same bar then they are underlined. It can be as simple as convert the Roman Numerals above to Arabic number.
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. And, really only needed if you are going to take a solo or embellish the melody with added notes.
Scale Abbreviation Legend
Traditional Scales:
Maj: Major (Ionian),
Dim: Diminished,
WT: Whole Tone,
Har Min: Harmonic Minor,
Contemporary Scales:
Minor Pent: Minor Pentatonic,
Pent: Major Pentatonic,
Blues,
Scale/Mode Names:
Ion: Ionian (Major),
Dor: Dorian (Minor),
Phrygian: Phrygian,
Lyd: Lydian,
Mix: Mixolydian (Dominant),
Aeol: Aeolian (Natural Minor),
Loc: Locrian
Checkout LESSONSeries : Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection or download the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection book. And the QuickStart Series of Scale and Arpeggio books.
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.
Intro in G
This is the classic guitar intro (simple version) for Folsom Prison Blues for The Daily Ukulele (Yellow book) for a Low G, C Tuning.
C Tuning, Low G
- Johnny Cash — I Walk The Line (LIVE) • Here Johnny talks about how he got that
Snare Drum
sound without a drummer the the Tennessee Three where only the Tennessee Two.
To get this on a Ukulele, I weave a dollar bill between the strings right in front of the bridge. And, it gets that classic snare
sound. If you borrowing from a friend I'd go for a twenty or so.
Links & Resources
- (wikiwand) Folsom Prison Blues
- Johnny Cash — I Walk The Line (LIVE) • Here Johnny talks about how he got that
Snare Drum
sound without a drummer.
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End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!
Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.
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Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection
Updated: 09 Jun 2023
Harmonic Analysis (HA), also known as the study of chord relationships, is the method used to identify the harmonic role of chords within a chord progression or song. A chord progression refers to a sequence of chords, with each chord having a root note and belonging to a specific chord type. The function of a chord within a particular scale's tonality is determined by its relationship to that scale.
Related Books & Charts
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Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution
Updated: 08 Jun 2024
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: 16 Feb 2024
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.
A Selection of Books & Reference Charts that are recommended for creating a solid foundation with your chosen instrument and music in general.
Checkout the Books for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.
Reference Charts
Key Signatures — Circle of Fourths and Fifths – ANSI A & A4 sizes
A handy reference chart of all 15 major and relative minor key signatures. US Letter 8.5 x 11 sized (ANSI-A), A4
Checkout the Books for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.