Description
Notes From John
Tab only, 4/4, with “Capo 5” printed. The chord names are shapes relative to the capo. The tempo starts at BPM = 117, marked “gradually speed up”, and the chart prints new tempos as the song goes: 126 at the 1:36 bridge, 139 at 1:55, 141 “hold at this tempo” for the 2:15 solo, 128 “slower, gradually speed up” at the 3:09 interlude, 145 at the 3:52 chorus, and 76 on the last chord. A swing mark is printed before 1:55 and again late in the interlude, with a straight-eighths mark at the start of the interlude. The intro is quarter-note down strums on G, C(add9) and D(sus4), marked mp with a cresc., and the same figure carries into the first verse at mf. The 1:13 verse moves to a dotted rhythm over G, C(add9)/G and D(sus4), with down and up strokes marked at the start. The 1:36 bridge strums Dm, G, Cmaj7 and C with strokes marked, then eighths on A and a stop on D. From 1:55, marked f, the part is mostly steady eighths on G, C(add9), D, Em, Am7 and D7, with rolled G chords at the chorus entries and down-up eighths in triplet groupings on D7 going into the solo. The 2:52 verse is quarter-note strums over G, F, C/E and Cm/E♭. The interlude rests, then brings back the intro figure at mp with a cresc. The 3:52 chorus is eighths at f on G, C and C6. The outro slows with rit. marks through G, Em7, Am7 and a held D(add9sus4), and ends on a rolled G at mp.
For the player
This is the strum part for the E Street Band’s 1975 C.W. Post performance. Put the capo on the 5th fret before you start. Ride the downbeat: the intro and the 2:52 verse are quarter-note strums, so land the chord changes on the beat. Play the eighths at f from 1:55, roll the G chords where the chart marks them, and follow the printed tempo changes rather than a click. At BPM = 117 the job is the feel.
Strum Guitar Sheet Music for “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” by Bruce Springsteen.
