{title: Shady Grove}
{artist: Traditional (Appalachian)}
{key: Em}
{tempo: 110}
{difficulty: intermediate}
{tags: duet,traditional,appalachian,modal,public-domain}
{video: youtube:Ayk_qQw0XZg}
{credit: Jerry Garcia & David Grisman - 'Shady Grove' (from Shady Grove, Acoustic Disc, 1996). Traditional Appalachian (PD composition).}

{c: An Appalachian tune dating to the 1800s. Modal — uses Dorian or Aeolian depending on who's playing. Hundreds of verses exist; mix and match the ones below.}
{c: Mandolin and fiddle territory. Guitar plays the role of the rhythm engine.}
{c: Public domain — sing it however you like.}

{start_of_chorus}
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]little love
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]darlin'
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]little love
I'm [Em]going back to [D]Harlan [Em]
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[Em]Cheeks as red as a [D]bloomin' rose
[Em]Eyes of the deepest [D]brown
[Em]You are the darling [D]of my heart
[Em]Stay till the sun goes [D]down [Em]
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]little love
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]darlin'
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]little love
I'm [Em]going back to [D]Harlan [Em]
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[Em]Wish I had a [D]banjo string
[Em]Made of golden [D]twine
[Em]Every tune I'd [D]play on it
Was [Em]"I wish that girl was [D]mine" [Em]
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]little love
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]darlin'
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]little love
I'm [Em]going back to [D]Harlan [Em]
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[Em]Wish I had a [D]big fine horse
[Em]Corn to feed him [D]on
[Em]Pretty little girl [D]stay at home
[Em]Feed him while I'm [D]gone [Em]
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]little love
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]darlin'
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]little love
I'm [Em]going back to [D]Harlan [Em]
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[Em]Went to see my [D]Shady Grove
[Em]She was standing in the [D]door
[Em]Shoes and stockings [D]in her hand
[Em]Little bare feet on the [D]floor [Em]
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]little love
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]darlin'
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]little love
I'm [Em]going back to [D]Harlan [Em]
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[Em]A kiss from pretty little [D]Shady Grove
Is [Em]sweet as brandy [D]wine
[Em]Ain't no girl in this [D]whole wide world
[Em]Pretty as that gal of [D]mine [Em]
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]little love
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]darlin'
[Em]Shady Grove, my [D]little love
I'm [Em]going back to [D]Harlan [Em]
{end_of_chorus}

{c: ===== STRUMMING / PICKING =====}
{c: Two chord vamp — Em and D, that's it. Some players use Em and Dm for a darker minor sound.}
{c: For folk-rock feel: steady boom-chuck.}
{c: For Appalachian feel: Travis-style fingerpicking. Thumb on bass strings, fingers on treble.}
{c: Capo 2 or 4 changes the key without changing the shapes.}

{c: ===== INSTRUMENT ROLES =====}
{c: Fiddle: this is fiddle music. Saw the melody — A part on the verse, B part on the chorus.}
{c: Mandolin: chop on 2 and 4, then trade off with fiddle for melody breaks.}
{c: Guitar: rhythm. Stay out of the way of the melody instruments.}
{c: Concertina: drone E underneath everything. Modal magic.}

{c: ===== DUET ARRANGEMENT =====}
{c: This is a flirty song — the M voice typically sings it as the suitor.}
{c: For M/F duet: trade verses, blend on choruses with a high harmony (5th above) on "Shady Grove."}
{c: Or: one voice does verses, the other plays melody on fiddle/mando, both sing chorus.}

{c: ===== WHY THIS SONG =====}
{c: It's a session staple. Walk into any Appalachian or old-time jam and Shady Grove will get called. Two chords. Modal. Endless verses. Perfect for jamming with a fiddler partner.}