Bessie Smith Chords
Bessie Smith by Emily Jane White is a beginner-friendly guitar song played in the key of Dm. It uses the chords Dm, G, G6 and G5. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
Intro picking pattern:
Dm
|---------1-|
|---3-------|
|-----0h2---| x7
|-0---------|
|-----------|
|-----------|
Verse picking pattern:
Dm G G6 G5
|---------1---------1---------3-------3---------6-------6---------5-------5-|
|---3---------3-----------3-------3---------6-------6---------5-------5-----|
|-----0h2-------0h2---------0-------0---------0-------0---------0-------0---|
|-0---------0---------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------2-----------------5-----------------4-------|
|-----------------------3-----------------6-----------------5---------------|
Dm G G6 G5
|---------1---------1---------3-------3---------6-------6---------5-------5-|
|---3---------3-----------3-------3---------6-------6---------5-------5-----|
|-----0h2-------0h2---------0-------0---------0-------0---------0-------0---|
|-0---------0---------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------2-----------------5-----------------4-------|
|-----------------------3-----------------6-----------------5---------------|
Dm
|---------1---------1---------1---------1-|
|---3---------3---------3---------3-------| (You only play this when the
|-----0h2-------0h2-------0h2-------0h2---| sentence ends in a Dm Chord)
|-0---------0---------0---------0---------|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|
Intro: Dm (7x)
Verse:
Dm G G6 G5
I said oh oh, Bessie Smith why do you hang your head so low?
G6 G5 G6 G5 Dm
I would die in heaven, I would die in heaven just to meet your soul
Dm G G6 G5
I said oh oh, Bessie Smith why do you hang your head so low?
G6 G5 G6 G5
I would die in heaven, I would die in heaven just to meet you
Dm G G6 G5
Shot to the ego boy it's where this knife runs through
G6 G5 Dm
Three wise men call Bessie down for a dual
Dm G G6 G5
Shot to the ego boy it's where this knife runs through
G6 G5 Dm
Three wise men call Bessie down for a dual
Dm G G6 G5
I said oh oh, father lay me down
G6 G5 Dm
Down on this sunken ground
Dm G G6 G5
I said oh oh, father lay me down
G6 G5 Dm
Down on this sunken ground
Dm G G6 G5 (2x)
Dm G G6 G5
But she's got a crucifix hidin' way down in this pit, oh
Dm G G6 G5
If you wish to call her out. Call her with your bravest shout
(Then calmer strumming)
Dm G G6 G5
I said oh oh, father lay me down
G6 G5 Dm (hammer ons while strumming)
Down on this sunken ground
Dm G G6 G5
I said oh oh, father lay me down
G6 G5 Dm
Down on this sunken ground
(Back to picking)
Dm G G6 G5
I said oh oh, Bessie Smith why do you hang your head so low?
G6 G5 G6 G5
I would die in heaven, I would die in heaven,
G6 G5
I would die in heaven just to meet your soul
Outro:
Dm
|---------1---------1---3---1-|
|---3---------3---------3---3-|
|-----0h2-------0h2-----2---2-|
|-0---------0-----------0---0-|
|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|