The Bells Of Rhymney

From: RS*
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 1995 10:34:52 -0500

This is how I play the song.  After listening to it since 1965, it was a
revelation to me (once I started to try to pick it up) how much the
down to D too really puts a floor under the song!  The tab, of course,
is not perfect.  Corrections, additions, etc. always sought and welcome.
Peace.

Rick
*
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                            THE BELLS OF RHYMNEY
                        (Idris Davies & Pete Seeger)

- one guitar and bass drop low E to D (necessary)
- one 12-string (you know what brand) guitar would be great

opening riff:

(verse 1):
    D                            G   D/F#     E   D(w/opening riff)
Oh what will you give me say the sad bells of Rhymney
                                     C     Em       A
Is there hope for the future say the brown bells of Merthyr
     D                          C     Em       A
Who made the mine owner say the black bells of Rhonda
     D                           G    D/F#     E   D(w/opening riff)
And who killed the miner say the grim bells of Blaina

(opening riff)

(verse 2):
    D                        G     D/F#   E   D(w/opening riff)
Put vandals in court say the bells  of    Newport
                          Bm            C     Em       A
All will be well if if if if if say the green bells of Cardiff
       D               Bm          G               E
Why so worried sisters why say the silver bells of Wye
     D                            G   D/F#     E   D(w/opening riff)
And what will you give me say the sad bells of Rhymney

(break; also see note):
/   D   /   D   /   D   /   D   /   G   /   Em  / Edim7 / Edim7 /

(opening riff)

(repeat first verse)

(end):
                          | opening riff |
G   /   D   /  E   /  E  / D / D / D / D /
oh.....oh.....oh..........oh.............
                          | opening riff |
G   /   D   /  A   /  A  / D / D / D / D /
oh.....oh.....oh..........oh.............

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note on break:

If someone wants to post accurate tab for the break, please do.  Meanwhile,
what I do is improvise a bit around this.  Most of it is strummed~~~~~~~~.
I think Pete Seeger would approve of (any) liberties I've taken; I hope
Roger McGuinn would, too.
   D                 D                 D                D

  G                Em                Edim7              Edim7

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some chords for the dropped-D guitar:
      D      G       E      D/F#  Edim7     Em      C       A       Bm