From: dave@RAY.MET.FSU.EDU (Dave Faciane)
Newsgroups: rec.music.beatles
Subject: Guitar: Demo version of SFF
Date: 18 Aug 92 04:05:04 GMT



The various demo versions of the Beatles' songs that have surfaced
in recent times are a guilty pleasure of mine-- when I have the time
to sit down with the old axe and run through them. Some of these are
much simpler in this ancestral form and are therefore easy to learn
and play.

Here are the chords for Lennon's demo version of "Strawberry Fields
Forever" as heard on "The Lost Lennon Tapes" radio show and the bootlegs
"Document Vol. 3", "Backtrack 3", and "Recording Sessions 2". 

I am posting this here because: (a) it's easier to play in this key than 
in the key of the released version, (b) it sounds good on an acoustic (c) 
it's too esoteric for alt.guitar.tab, which many r.m.b readers probably 
don't have access to anyway.

For those who haven't heard it, the demo version has a more wistful
feel than the heavy psychedelic sound of the released version. Lennon plays 
acoustic guitar in the key of Db. Put a capo on the first fret and play the 
chord shapes as given here (as if in the key of C) to get the sound of
the demo. Or, if you like, just play it in the key of C without the capo.

I prefer to play most of the chords as barre chords because that is
how I think he played them, since there is a lot of obvious
sliding between chords going on. It almost sounds as though he's
playing higher up on the neck using barred C and Em chord shapes, but
I tried this and it doesn't quite sound the same. He's also strumming
close to the bridge, so on my Strat I use the neck pickup and some
chorus effects and it sounds nice.

The first verse of the released version had, at this early stage,
(IMO) probably not been written; the demo version opens with what
is the second verse of the released version, as given below. Lennon
adds a G (high E string, 3rd fret) to the C chord on the "Let me take
you down..." segments. He also slides up to the G chord from the C at
the beginning of the verses. And even if you've never heard the demo 
version, you will doubtless intuitively pick up the characteristic
even-handed strumming.

Chords used (names are for key of C, capo sharpens all chords):

   C        F       Gm       Gm7     Bm      A7       
c  ------  ------   ------   ------  ------  ------   
1  ....x.  x....x   ......   ......  ......  ......   
2  ..x...  ...x..   ......   ......  xx...x  ..x.x.   
3  .x....  .xx...   x..xxx   x.xxxx  ....x.  ......   
4  ......  ......   ......   ......  ..xx..  ......   
                    .xx...   .x....


    G       Am       Am7
c  ------  ------   ------ 
1  ......  ....x.   ....x.
2  ......  ..xx..   ..x...  
3  X...xx  ......   ......
4  ...x..  ......   ......
5  .xx...

---
NOTE: I am using X's here to indicate fingering rather than muted
strings.

Here then are the complete lyrics (as in the demo version) and chords:
----

STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER (demo, last of several in key of Db)
-------------------------

Intro: strums 6 beats on C chord
=====

1st verse:
=========
G         Bm      F
No one I think is in my tree
Am        Am7             F 
I mean it must be high or low
             G                   C                Am     F
That is, you can't you know tune in, but it's all right
F          G                  F      C
That is, I think it's not too bad 

2nd verse:
=========

G      Bm             F         
Always know sometimes think it's me
Am             Am7             F
But you know I know and it's a dream
         G                C                 Am     F
I mean I think I know, ah yes, but it's all wrong
F          G          F      C
That is, I think I disagree

Chorus:
======

C (adds G on high E string)             Gm                    Gm7
Let me take you down cause I'm going to strawberry fields.
A7
Nothing is real
    F              A7        **
And nothing to get hung about
F                       C 
Strawberry fields forever 

(**repeat 1st verse first time, go to coda second time)
	
**coda:
====
F                       C      Am
Strawberry fields forever
F                       C      Am
Strawberry fields forever
F             G            F      C
Strawberry fields forever

-----

David Faciane        | "I was just singing it in the toilet so I think
dave@ray.met.fsu.edu |  I should get it --Lennon, Abbey Road, 1965