Nick Drake – Cello Song (Intro Tab)

CelloSongRedux


MP3

I’m currently down with a bit of a cold. So please forgive any disgusting sniffs and snuffs that might be audible on that MP3. And you don’t want to be tackling this one in a weakened state because it is seriously tricky.

The first section is trickiest. There’s a quick succession of notes on the same string so you’ll have to use your index and middle fingers for the picking. For bars 3 – 8 it’s one finger per string. And for the main body of the song it’s a Travis-picking pattern with the thumb covering the G and C strings, the index on the E string and the middle on the A string.

I’m off back to bed *sniffle snuffle*

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19 Comments

  1. mictoboy September 17th, 2009 10:28 pm

    bloody hell!

  2. J-Hob September 17th, 2009 10:35 pm

    Man, that’s seriously tricky! I’m not even going to attempt, but will pass your way maximum kudos for working out such a great version – it sounds fantastic on the uke!

  3. jerika September 18th, 2009 12:59 am

    I finally found the time in between studies to get down This Charming Man and then you post this one. You’ve posted some of my favorite artists lately. Thanks.

  4. Woodshed September 18th, 2009 4:45 pm

    mictoboy: !!!

    John: Thanks.

    jerika: Nick Drake is one of my faves too. Just a shame his stuff is so bloody difficult to play on the uke.

  5. David March 6th, 2010 4:38 pm

    Ooh… this is classed as “nightmare” and I can play it! (but then, I learned to play back when I thought six-strings-better.) However, some of the other “nightmare” tabs truly are and my fingers hurt.

    A little query while I’m here: are you intending on letting folk upload to Uker Tab with the new look? I’ve done a little arrangement of Clothes of Sand by ND.

    (PS The new look really is good! I like the font… which is it?)

  6. Woodshed March 7th, 2010 10:37 am

    David: Yep, I’m hoping to make it easier for people to post on Uker Tabs. The font is Paper Johnny.

  7. Niall August 28th, 2010 10:48 am

    Dear Woodshed, Thanks for your fantastic website, I’ve been playing the uke for about a year and have pretty much learned all I know from your site. I’ve almost mastered the intro for this Nick Drake song. What chords do you play for the main body of the song? Keep up the good work! Niall.

  8. Darco November 13th, 2010 3:55 am

    Chemistry essay or learning this – I know which I’d rather be doing!

    Impressive stuff, Woodshed.

  9. Woodshed November 13th, 2010 10:53 am

    Niall: Thanks for the kind words.

    Darco: What did chemistry ever do for anyone?

  10. Nate July 5th, 2011 1:22 am

    I got it down in a half hour :D
    But I have no clue how you got this written out…your the man

  11. funnyman September 2nd, 2011 10:10 am

    I play the cello and i think that i won’t attempt to play this, however, I pay harder peices on the cello.
    yes it is definitely a NIGHTMARE!

  12. Woodshed September 2nd, 2011 11:15 am

    funnyman: It was certainly a nightmare for me!

  13. adiz March 16th, 2014 7:15 pm

    amazing!!thanx man!!

  14. adiz March 16th, 2014 7:18 pm

    and if you can upload some more of nick drake’s song that would be awesome!!

  15. Woodshed March 17th, 2014 7:08 am

    adiz: Thanks! I’m a big fan of Nick Drake so it’s always a possibility.

  16. tbone September 11th, 2014 2:22 am

    I’m confused. It looks like you have an extra beat at the end of the first two measures? In other words, it sounds like you are playing the 2/0 part twice, but it appears thrice in the notation. I’m impaired?

  17. Woodshed September 11th, 2014 11:47 am

    tbone: I think all the beats are right. But I’m not playing the C-string second fret. But I am playing the g-string open. I’ve changed the tab to reflect that.

  18. koolkat132 November 6th, 2017 9:44 pm

    Is your uke tuned differently? I noticed that the recording sounds deeper than mine! Great tabs, though!

  19. Woodshed November 9th, 2017 10:56 am

    koolkat132: No, it’s just standard tuning. But I’m using a tenor. So it might sound fuller than if it’s played on a concert or soprano.

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