Joanna Newsom – Peach, Plum, Pear
June 7, 2007
[youtube sV1a6UBdrPk]
Joanna Newsom – Peach, Plum, Pear (Chords)
All this talk of freak folk has put me in the mood for some Joanna Newsom. The harp is my second favourite instrument. In fact, if my parents had been immensely rich you’d be reading a harp blog right now. Come to think about it, if my parents were that rich you’d be looking at a blank page while I drove around Monaco wearing a money suit and munching on golden eagle eggs.
This tune is in the uke unfriendly key of C#m so I had a hard time working out the best way to play it. It is (just about) possible to play in standard uke C-tuning using these chords:
You can tune down half a step (to F#BD#G#) and use the following chords (I’ve left the names as they are in standard tuning to try and cut down confusion to a minimum). You could, of course, just play these shapes in standard tuning if you aren’t playing along with the record.
But my favourite, and the only in the pdf, is to use the D-tuning (aDF#B) and these chord shapes:
These shapes allow the top string to ring open through the chords creating a pivot note. It’s also these reason I chose this shape for C#m rather than just barring across the second fret.
Oh, Joanna Newsom is GREAT! :D
She certainly is. Have you heard the Ys Street Band EP? It’s fantastic.
That chord progression sounds very nice, and I just need to capo 2. When my hipster friends hear I play Joanna Newsom on the ukulele, they will freak out. Now I’m all inspired to try Bridges and Balloons a la the Decemberists.
Oh, I had forgotten about the Decemberists’ cover. It’s a great version. And I’ll have to work out Shankill Butchers at some point.
Wow I did not realize this could translate so well (okay it’s not my wildest dreams of playing it on the uke, but it’s damn fine and I love this song). You guys should give Final Fantasy’s cover of it a try, if you can’t find it send me a mail patchh@gmail.com. Excited to see that Shankhill Butchers, Woodshed.
wow!
i think the chords are brilliant!
but i think her voice is awful
i can’t understand what she is saying
I love this song!!!
thanks you sooo much.
You’re welcome, Nadia.
right key? i don’t play uke but the chords at the top are half a step from the youtube version of joanna playing above it. shes playing Cm7, G#add9, etc….
Luke: The chords are for the studio version. The video was the only one I could find at the time. I should probably change it.
Uber excited to learn to play this one… I don’t know how to approach the fingering though.
Suggestions?
Thank you!
Emily: The numbers under the chord diagrams indicate the fingerings (although it looks like I messed up the F#sus4 in C tuning).
Joanna Newsom is awesome! She is incredibly cute and talented. My ex has an autograph..
Well, I think the chords are perfect for playing the song. i’ve gone through it twice and have it pretty much down.
I play it with the usual (low G) C tuning on my tenor, and WOW!!! what a beauty!
I also play picking the a string each chord then slowly running across all strings 3 times per chord except the last 2 which get one strum through on the first then 2 on the secdond. makes it sound more “harp-ish” as in the vid above. (which i love. don’t change it!)
i think this is very well done, the open string makes it really ring out and gives a very rhythmic tone at the top.
good job!
SeattlePono: Glad you like it. I’ll give that a try.
golden eagle eggs haha! great song cheers!
anyone have tips on the strumming pattern please?
that’d be great, thanks
I love her so much she’s so unique no one else like her, you did a great job with the chords I learned this on harp by just watching her in this video and I just learned it on uke today! awesome job man!
Mollie: Thanks very much. I love the harp. It has to be my favourite instrument to listen to.