The Steel Guitar Forum

Posted: **3 Jan 2003 2:30 pm**

Could someone give me the cord progression to the old tune "Coconut Grove"? Key E if possible.

I play it all the time, just a couple of places that I am not certain of the right cord.
Thanks,
Gene Sharp

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Posted: **3 Jan 2003 3:05 pm**

http://www.jauko.nl/tot/tab/l/lovin_sp/coconut_.htm
or http://www.olga.pl/main/l/lovin_spoonful/coconut_grove.crd

Posted: **15 Jan 2003 8:59 am**

I bet Gene is referring to the Hawaiin tune rather than the Lovin' Spoonful tune (I like both).

I play the former in my Western Swing band, and we had a real fight over the right chord in one of the turnarounds- I play an augmented (with a split slant), and the rhythm and bass player were getting their panties in a wad about what the right chord should be behind the aug.

I hold that the aug is an ornament, and only the lead should play it.

I learned the tune from the old Jimmy day record. He played it on pedal, of course.

Posted: **15 Jan 2003 10:36 am**

Lynn, if you're talking about the turn between the first two A parts on Jimmy Day's version, and if memory serves, I believed he played the following:
<pre>2________3__5(6)_5(6)~~2__
3______3____5____5~~~~~2__
4____3____________________
5__3________5____5~~~~~2(5)
</pre>
The last chord is Bb7#5 or an Fb9 sub depending on how you want to look at it. If someone in the band plays a F natural, it will sound terrible. [This message was edited by Dave Birkett on 15 January 2003 at 10:37 AM.][This message was edited by Dave Birkett on 15 January 2003 at 10:37 AM.]

Posted: **16 Jan 2003 6:50 am**

Does anyone remember how the Hank Thompson verison went back in the 50's?

Posted: **16 Jan 2003 8:05 am**

The Hank Thompson version, with Bobby White on steel guitar, started in E, modulated to F, then modulated to C#, then modulated to G, then to G# where the song ends.

I recorded a version of this arrangement on my Rancho Rhythm Roundup CD, and there's a book of tablature available for this and the other tunes on the recording.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Posted: **16 Jan 2003 7:54 pm**

Dave-
That exactly the part I was referring to- thanks for the tab. Now to approximate it the ol' 8 string...

Somehow, I've never heard that Hank Thompson arrangement. Sounds intriguing.

Posted: **16 Jan 2003 8:10 pm**

I've got a fake book version, key of F. It shows a C augmented (V aug) in bar 7 leading back to the I chord in bar 8. That's between the two "A sections". So bars 7 & 8 look like this:

<pre>
/ / / / / / / /
|F Gm7 C+ | F |
</pre>

The last two bars of the "B section" look like this:
<pre>
/ / / / / / / /
|G9 | Gm7 C7 |
</pre>

composer: Harry Owens
Copyright 1938,65 Famous Music Corp

There are a lot of chords in this song. Twice I started to type them out to post them and I got frustrated with it!

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My Site - Instruction | Doug's Free Tab | Steels and Accessories

Posted: **22 Jan 2003 7:49 pm**

Thanks Herb S.

By the way, I am really enjoying the CD's and rythem tracks you sent me.

Posted: **22 Jan 2003 9:20 pm**

I believe that I've got a version of it for BIAB if you'd be interested~~

Posted: **23 Jan 2003 8:07 pm**

Hello Jim, yes I would like a version of coconut grove on BIAB. Thanks for the offer.

Posted: **27 Jan 2003 5:34 pm**

Hi Jim, if possible I wouldn't mind a copy of it on BIAB.. thanks in advance.... John