When watching a TV compilation of Johnny Cash performances from the '60's
& other performances from singer /guitarists from that 50's 60's period 
(inc. Elvis)
I've often noticed a heavy use of (what looks like) some sort of B7 at the 
1st position
on just the lower strings ..higher tend to be held left open.
Seems to be 6th string held at 2 , 5th at 1st, 4th at 2nd ..
counting up that's  F# , A# , E  then (mostly) open higher strings...
In the '68 Elvis TV special
I seem to remember he seem to be holding this most of the time he holds a 
guitar.
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")  mouse

"Trimble Bracegirdle"  wrote in message 
news:48544d98$1_1@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...
> When watching a TV compilation of Johnny Cash performances from the '60's
> & other performances from singer /guitarists from that 50's 60's period 
> (inc. Elvis)
> I've often noticed a heavy use of (what looks like) some sort of B7 at the 
> 1st position
> on just the lower strings ..higher tend to be held left open.
> Seems to be 6th string held at 2 , 5th at 1st, 4th at 2nd ..
> counting up that's  F# , A# , E  then (mostly) open higher strings...
> In the '68 Elvis TV special
> I seem to remember he seem to be holding this most of the time he holds a 
> guitar.
> (\__/)
> (='.'=)
> (")_(")  mouse


Isn't that just B7?

Chris

On Sun, 15 Jun 2008 02:07:04 +0100, "christofire"
 wrote:

>
>"Trimble Bracegirdle"  wrote in message 
>news:48544d98$1_1@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...
>> When watching a TV compilation of Johnny Cash performances from the '60's
>> & other performances from singer /guitarists from that 50's 60's period 
>> (inc. Elvis)
>> I've often noticed a heavy use of (what looks like) some sort of B7 at the 
>> 1st position
>> on just the lower strings ..higher tend to be held left open.
>> Seems to be 6th string held at 2 , 5th at 1st, 4th at 2nd ..
>> counting up that's  F# , A# , E  then (mostly) open higher strings...
>> In the '68 Elvis TV special
>> I seem to remember he seem to be holding this most of the time he holds a 
>> guitar.
>> (\__/)
>> (='.'=)
>> (")_(")  mouse
>
>
>Isn't that just B7?
>
The A# which you could view as Bb would stop it being a B chord.

It's an F#79no 5th) if you disregard the higher strings.

I think maybe what was seen was a B7 - x2120x.

It could also be easily mistaken for an E.

Steve.

On Sun, 15 Jun 2008 02:16:46 +0100, SteveShark
<steveATguitarsDOTpowernetDOTcoDOTuk> wrote:


>It's an F#79no 5th) if you disregard the higher strings.

Oops ...blahdy SHIFT key.

That should be F#7(no 5th)...

Steve.

"SteveShark" <steveATguitarsDOTpowernetDOTcoDOTuk> wrote in message 
news:fou95412s2ftmfm4oj6mk0llmvv698u7a6@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 15 Jun 2008 02:16:46 +0100, SteveShark
> <steveATguitarsDOTpowernetDOTcoDOTuk> wrote:
>
>
>>It's an F#79no 5th) if you disregard the higher strings.
>
> Oops ...blahdy SHIFT key.
>
> That should be F#7(no 5th)...
>
> Steve.


Of course, I was one string out (!) thinking x2120x instead of 212xxx.

Chris

Trimble Bracegirdle wrote:
> When watching a TV compilation of Johnny Cash performances from the '60's
> & other performances from singer /guitarists from that 50's 60's period 
> (inc. Elvis)
> I've often noticed a heavy use of (what looks like) some sort of B7 at the 
> 1st position
> on just the lower strings ..higher tend to be held left open.
> Seems to be 6th string held at 2 , 5th at 1st, 4th at 2nd ..
> counting up that's  F# , A# , E  then (mostly) open higher strings...
> In the '68 Elvis TV special
> I seem to remember he seem to be holding this most of the time he holds a 
> guitar.
> (\__/)
> (='.'=)
> (")_(")  mouse

Others have already answered.

If that was the "Best Of The [USA] Johnny Cash Show 1969-1971" shown on 
BBC4 a couple of weeks ago, I don't think Elvis was in it. Conway Twitty 
(doing his best to look like Elvis) was there though. So was Marty 
Robbins. And Merle Haggard (doing Jimmie Rodgers). And Chet Atkins. It 
was a great period for country music.

I noticed on singer/acoustic player (Charley Pride) being a bit vague 
with the chords of the rhythm part, he modulated with the band from F 
into F# (IIRC), but he was sometimes a little "approximate" with the 
fingering - which wasn't as important as it sounds because he was only 
following through with his right hand part of the time. But you could 
hear the guitar when he played it. And I can forgive him almost anything 
because his songs were so ggod.

The bassists and lead guitarists (especially the lead player with the 
Fendr Jaguar) looked either bored to tears or nervous as a petrified rabbit.

I still enjoyed it - especially Chet's medley.

Comments from elsewhere (wicked alt.guitar ) :

Yes I think your right with the "...only playing the 6-5-4 strings for an
F#7..."
The top 4 strings now become an E min ..or E Maj. if the 3rd is held string
G#.
which seems to sort of work as I try it out..
.but then any note / Chord combination can be made to 'sort of work'

I only notice this on early Rock / Country / Blues TV video ...50's ..60's
The Elvis Show I referred to is the famous '68 Elvis one hour TV special.

""As a fingerpicking acoustic guitarist I use that "212" on the 4, 5 and 6
string occasionally, often with a "2" on the 2nd string. It is a moveable
chord, and the remaining strings are not played. In the "212" position it is
an F#7, I sometimes use 767x7x as a B7 and 545x5x as A7, eg in "Bourgeois
blues" in E.""
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")  mouse (Hmmm, but whats there tuning ?)