----------------------------------------------------------- BIG YELLOW TAXI - Joni Mitchell ----------------------------------- from the album 'Ladies of the Canyon', 1970 Originally sent by Harlan Thompson Corrections/additions by Howard Wright (H.Wright@astro.cf.ac.uk) TUNING: E B E G# B E
(You might also need a capo on the 3rd fret - I'm not sure) All chord shapes given at the end. Intro : ------- A A6 A A6 A B B6 B B6 B E A/E E7 A/E E A/E E7 A/E E etc Verse : -------- A A6 A E A/E E7 A/E E They ... A A6 B B6 E With a .. CHORUS: ------- E5 Emaj7 Don't .. A/E E That .. A A6 B B6 E They .. E A/E E7 A/E E A/E E7 A/E E (Choo ... They ... And .. CHORUS Hey .. Give .. please CHORUS Late .. And a .. CHORUS TWICE (with only one chooo bop... at each end) They ..) They .. Chord Shapes : --------------- E A B A/E E7 A6 B6 E5 Emaj7 E --0----5----7----0---0------5----7-----0----0--------------------- B --0----5----7----0---0------5----7-----0----0--------------------- G# --0----5----7----1---3------5----7-----3----3-------------------- E --0----5----7----0---0------5----7-----0----0----------------- B --0----5----7----2---3------7----9-----5----4---------------- E --0----5----7----0---0------5----7-----0----0---------------- On the first two lines of the chorus and frequently on the verse, it is better to somewhat muffle the chords so that the rhythm can be heard but the actual notes barely heard. Also, the song can be played in regular tuning with the same chords, but I think it sounds much better this way (and this is what J.M. actually does). Also, please post if you know any J.M. songs in their actual tuning. I hear that of all her guitar songs, she only did around two of them in standard tuning!
Alternative guitar chords and tabs for Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell