Song Help Request They're Red Hot - Robert Johnson

ohmless · Jul 16, 2014

I found chords to this ragtime-blues song that I really like and want to learn. I am an intermediate player with over half a year experience playing and am looking for suggestions for a strum for this(thinking of using fan triplets like Formby if that is what he uses?). I also haven't seen much for covers on yotube either if anyone can point to any vids that are remarkable I would appreciate that also. thanks

Camsuke · Jul 16, 2014

James Clem is a member here at UU;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHMIpuHTAWM
http://ukulelehunt.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/redhot.pdf

Camsuke · Jul 16, 2014

This version by Hal is great;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj5sIz5Gr-U

Sven-Uke · Jul 16, 2014

Camsuke said:
James Clem is a member here at UU;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHMIpuHTAWM
http://ukulelehunt.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/redhot.pdf

I wish he would have included that amazing intro on the pdf

Camsuke · Jul 16, 2014

For the intro, you can use, C/// D7/ G/7 C/ A/ D7/ G7/

ohmless · Jul 16, 2014

thanks for the leads on inspiring recitations and for the pdf.

ichadwick · Jul 22, 2014

No videos, but I play it:

C-A7-Dm7-G7
C-A7-Dm7-G7
C-C7-F-G#7
C-A7-Dm7-G7

Canada Jim · Oct 23, 2014

I would use:

C C B Bb / A A A7 A7 / D7 D7 G7 G7 / C C G7 G7 /

C C B Bb / A A A7 A7 / D7 D7 D7 D7 / G7 G7 G7 G7/

C C C C / C7 C7 C7 C7 / F F F F / Cdim Cdim Cdim Cdim/ (I usually play the first two Cdim chords 2323 and the second two as 5656.

C C B Bb / A A A7 A7 / D7 D7 G7 G7 / C C G7 G7 / or C C B Bb / A A A7 A7 / D7 D7 G7 G7 / C C A7 A7 / D7 D7 G7 G7 / C C G7 G7 /

You can also use this progression for Pink Anderson's Bring It On Home, Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant, John Hartford's Boogie and a bunch of other tunes.
If you substitute this third line: C C D7 D7 / G7 G7 G7 G7 / C C D7 D7 / G7 G7 G7 G7 / you could play the old tune Jada
I'm not sure the name of the chord...I could probably figure it out, but it's late at night and I'm tired...but the third G7, the one in bold italics, could be played 0210.

If you want an intro, you could go D7 D7 G7 G7 / C C A7 A7 / D7 D7 G7 G7 / C C G7 G7 /

CeeJay · Oct 23, 2014

Jim Yates said:
I would use:

C C B Bb / A A A7 A7 / D7 D7 G7 G7 / C C G7 G7 /

C C B Bb / A A A7 A7 / D7 D7 D7 D7 / G7 G7 G7 G7/

C C C C / C7 C7 C7 C7 / F F F F / Cdim Cdim Cdim Cdim/ (I usually play the first two Cdim chords 2323 and the second two as 5656.

C C B Bb / A A A7 A7 / D7 D7 G7 G7 / C C G7 G7 / or C C B Bb / A A A7 A7 / D7 D7 G7 G7 / C C A7 A7 / D7 D7 G7 G7 / C C G7 G7 /

You can also use this progression for Pink Anderson's Bring It On Home, Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant, John Hartford's Boogie and a bunch of other tunes.
If you substitute this third line: C C D7 D7 / G7 G7 G7 G7 / C C D7 D7 / G7 G7 G7 G7 / you could play the old tune Jada
I'm not sure the name of the chord...I could probably figure it out, but it's late at night and I'm tired...but the third G7, the one in bold italics, could be played 0210.

If you want an intro, you could go D7 D7 G7 G7 / C C A7 A7 / D7 D7 G7 G7 / C C G7 G7 /

That is close to the Robert Johnson Songbook Complete...which is a good reference source.
One difference is on the second time through of "Hot Tamales , and they're red hot" and subsequent pairings of first two lines per verse the
B becomes a B7 and the Bb is only played on the very first run through......However ..my understanding of Robert Johnson is that he never played anything exactly the same and sometimes sped up his ballads and slowed down his uptempo blues songs....so ......

The other main difference is that the C Dim that Jim uses is given as an Fm ..but that is going back to what I wrote above ,mix them up....it is a long song and you now have alternative progressions....Have at it ...

Canada Jim · Nov 13, 2014

I just tried it with Fm in place of Cdim and it works fine too. I just like sliding the dim chord up 3 frets.

CeeJay · Nov 13, 2014

Jim Yates said:
I just tried it with Fm in place of Cdim and it works fine too. I just like sliding the dim chord up 3 frets.

Ain't music wonderful when it's flexible...?

Pukulele Pete · Nov 13, 2014

Wow , this is just what I've been looking for. I needed something new to learn and this is just great. Any more suggestions for songs in this style would be awesome. Thanks again .

KamakOzzie · Nov 13, 2014

Here is another version to check out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7Zf_qHuQ_4#t=22

Bill

Camsuke · Nov 13, 2014

"Shimmy Like My Sister Kate" is a beauty. Here's Sanfordandsong playing his version.

Hippie Dribble · Nov 23, 2014

We used C-A7-D7-G7 in the verses and C-C7-F-Fm in the bridging parts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRmsg3bRwUc&feature=player_detailpage

Song Help Request They're Red Hot - Robert Johnson

ohmless

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