CADENCE AND CASCADE (King Crimson)

Written by McDonald/Sinfield in the key of E in 4/4 time
Released on the album: In The Wake Of Poseidon (1970)
Fingerstyle version for single acoustic guitar
In The Wake OF Poseidon on Wikipedia | Lyrics

 Greg Lake Version

thumb: x             Hammer on: h             Bend up: V                   Play or don't: ()
index: a             Pull off: p              Bend down: Λ                 Break: b
dirty: b             Slide up: /              Fret but don't pick: !       Downward stroke: ↑
ring: c              Slide down: \            Staccato: :                  Upward stroke: ↓
pinky: d             Arpeggio: ~~~            Mute: m

To stabilize your picking hand, put your ring (thumb) on the e-string (E-string) in the red marked part
Red colored exclamation marks offer additional fretting information
Click on < X > to do the switcheroo

chord image legend: x = fretted and played
                    o = fretted but not played
INTRO

    E                                            F#m7/E
e--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------0------------0------0-----------|------------2a-----------2a------2a----------/---|  x - x - ab
g------------1a-------1a-----1a-----1a-------|------------2a-------2a------2a------2a------/---|  x - a - b - a - b - a - x
D---!----------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------/---|  x - x - ab
A-------2b--------2b--------------------2b---|-------4c--------4c----------------------4c------|  x - a - b - a - b - a - x
E---0----------------------------------------|---0---------------------------------------------|
             1/4   <------ 6/16  ------->                    1/4   <------- 6/16  -------->
                                                 <----------------------- 4/6 barrés ----------

    G#m/E                                             F#m7/E
e-------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------4a-----------4a------4a----------\---|------------2a-------5a:-----4c:--\--2c---|  x - x - ab
g------------4a-------4a------4a------4a------\---|------------2a-------6b:--\--4b:--\--2b---|  x - a - b - a - b - a - x
D---!-----------------------------------------\---|------------------------------------------|  x - x - ab
A-------6c--------6c----------------------6c------|-------4c--------0------------------------|  x - ab - ab - ab
E---0---------------------------------------------|---0--------------------------------------|
             1/4   <------- 6/16  -------->                       1/4
 --------------------------------------------------------------->

1ST VERSE part one

||:

1... Cadence ans cascade ... kept a ...
2... cool in the shade ... while his ...
    E                                            F#m7/E
e--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------0------------0------0-----------|------------2a-----------2a------2a----------/---|  x - x - ab
g------------1a-------1a-----1a-----1a-------|------------2a-------2a------2a------2a------/---|  x - a - b - a - b - a - x
D---!----------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------/---|  x - x - ab
A-------2b--------2b--------------------2b---|-------4c--------4c----------------------4c------|  x - a - b - a - b - a - x
E---0----------------------------------------|---0---------------------------------------------|
             1/4   <------ 6/16  ------->                    1/4   <------- 6/16  -------->
                                                 <----------------------- 4/6 barrés ----------
1... man ... named Jade ...
2... audience played ...
    G#m/E                                             F#m7/E
e-------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------4a-----------4a------4a----------\---|------------2a-----2a-------------|  x - x - ab
g------------4a-------4a------4a------4a------\---|------------2a----------2a--------|  x - a - b - a - b - a - x
D---!-----------------------------------------\---|-----------------------------2a---|  x - x - ab
A-------6c--------6c----------------------6c------|-------4c-------------------------|  b - a - x
E---0---------------------------------------------|---0------------------------------|
             1/4   <------- 6/16  -------->                       3/8
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------->

:||

1ST VERSE part two

... Purred, whispered, "Spend us too ...
    E                      G#m                          A          E
e--------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|  picking pattern:
b-----------------0-----------------------4a---/---|---↑5a----0-----------5b-------|  x - x - x - ab (2x)
g-----------------1a----------------------4a---/---|---↑6b~~~~~~~~~-------4a---\---|  a~~~ b - x - xab
D------------2c----------------------6d--------/---|---↑7d~~~~~~~~~-------6c---\---|
A-------2b------------!/---------6c------------/---|---↑7c~~~~~~~~~----------------|
E---0----------------------4a------------------/---|---↑5a~~~~~~~~~0---------------|
                                                        1/4         1/4      3/8
                           <----------- full barrés ---------->

... we only serve for you" ...
    E                      G#m                          Asus2/A  
e--------------------------------------------------|----------------------|  picking pattern:
b-----------------0-----------------------4a-------|---↑0-----------2b----|  x - x - x - ab (2x)
g-----------------1a----------------------4a-------|---↑4a----6c----------|  a~~~ a - b
D------------2c----------------------6d--------/---|---↑7d----------------|
A-------2b------------!/--------6c-----------------|---↑0-----------------|
E---0----------------------4a----------------------|----------------------|
                                                        1/4          5/8
                           <- full barré -->
INTERLUDE

    A
e----------------------------------------------------------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------5a-------------5a-------------5a--------/---!----\---!----|  x - a - b - x - a - b - x - a - b
g-------6b-------------6b-------------6b-------------/---8b:--\---6b---|  ab - ab
D-----------------7c---------------------------------/---9c:--\---7c---|
A---0----------------------------0-------------------------------------|
E----------------------------------------------------------------------|  < x >
                                           1/4
    <--------------- 8/16 -------------->

    E                  G#m                        E                   A
e---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------5b------------------4a-----------|------------!0------------------5a-----|  x - x - ab - x (3x)
g------------4a------------------4a-----------|------------7d------------------6b-----|  x - x - ab
D-------6c------------------6d----------------|-------6b------------------7c----------|
A-----------------7d------------------6c--/---|-----------------7c----0---------------|
E---0------------------4a---------------------|---0-----------------------------------|
                       <- full barré -->                                       1/4

    A
e------------------------------------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------5a-------------5a------------5a-----|  x - a - b (3x)
g-------6b-------------6b------------6b----------|
D-----------------7c-----------------------------|
A---0----------------------------0---------------|
E------------------------------------------------|
    <--------------- 8/16 -------------->   1/2

2ND VERSE part one

||:

1... Sliding mystified ... on the ...
2... stared pale-eyed ... as his ...
    E                                           F#m
e----------------------0------------------|-----------------------2a-----------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------------0-----0----------------|-------------------2a-----2a--------------------|  x - x - x-a-b - c-b-a - x - x (2x)
g---------------1a---------1a-------------|----------------2a-----------2a-----------------|
D------------2c-----------------2c--------|-------------4d-------------------4d--------/---|
A-------2b---------------------------2b---|--------4c-----------------------------4c---/---|
E---0-------------------------------------|---2a-------------------------------------------|  info
             <--- 2/8 Triplets --->                           <---- 2/8 Triplets ---->

1... wine ... of the tide ...
2... veil ... fell aside ...
    G#m                                                 F#m
e-----------------------4a-----------------------|-----------------------2a-------------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------------4a-----4a--------------------|-------------------2a-----2a----------------|  x - x - x-a-b - c-b-a - x - x (2x)
g----------------4a-----------4a-----------------|----------------2a-----------2a-------------|
D-------------6d-------------------6d--------\---|-------------4d-------------------4d--------|
A--------6c-----------------------------6c---\---|--------4c-----------------------------4c---|
E---4a-------------------------------------------|---2a---------------------------------------|
              <---- 2/8 Triplets ---->                               <---- 2/8 Triplets ---->
:||

2ND VERSE part two

... Sad paper courtesan ...
    E                      G#m                         Asus2        A
e-----------------0-----------------------4a-------|----------------0-----|  picking pattern:
b-----------------0-----------------------4a-------|---↑0-----2d----------|  x - x - x - abc (2x)
g-----------------1a----------------------4a-------|---↑2c----------------|  a~~~ b - c
D------------2c----------------------6d------------|---↑2b----------------|
A-------2b------------!/--------6c-----------------|---↑0-----------------|
E---0----------------------4a----------------------|----------------------|  info
                                                        1/4          5/8
                           <- full barré -->

... they found him just a man ...
    E                      G#m                          A          E
e-----------------0-----------------------4a-------|------------------------------|  picking pattern:
b-----------------0-----------------------4a---/---|---↑5a----0----------5b-------|  x - x - x - abc (2x)
g-----------------1a----------------------4a---/---|---↑6b~~~~~~~~~------4a-------|  a~~~ b - x - abc
D------------2c----------------------6d--------/---|---↑7d~~~~~~~~~------6c-------|
A-------2b------------!/-------6c--------------/---|---↑7c~~~~~~~~~---------------|
E---0----------------------4a------------------/---|---------------0--------------|
                                                        1/4         1/4     3/8
                           <---------- full barrés ----------->
3RD VERSE part one

I still haven't made up my mind how to play the 3RD VERSE
Pick and/or strumm as you think best (Ad libitum)

... Caravan Hotel ... where the sequin spell ... fell ... custom of the ... game ...
      Amaj7/E      Am7            Bm7/E          A
e-----0------|-----0--------|-----0--------|-----0-----|
b-----5b-----|-----5b---\---|-----3b---\---|-----2b----|
g----!6d-----|-----5a---\---|----!4d---\---|-----2a----|
D----!6c-----|-----5a---\---|----!4c---\---|-----2a----|
A-----0------|-----0--------|-----0--------|-----0-----|
E-----0------|-----0--------|-----0--------|-----0-----|

3RD VERSE part two

... Cadence oiled in love ...
Amaj7

... licked his velvet gloved ...
Am7

... hand ... cascade kissed his ...
Bm/A

... name ...
A

    A
e------------------------------------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------5a-------------5a------------5a-----|  x - a - b (3x)
g-------6b-------------6b------------6b----------|
D-----------------7c-----------------------------|
A---0----------------------------0---------------|
E------------------------------------------------|
    <--------------- 8/16 -------------->   1/2

OUTRO

... Cadence ans cascade ...
    E                                            F#m7/E
e--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------0------------0----------0-------|------------2a-----------2a----------2a------/---|  x - x - xab
g------------1a-------1a---------1a----------|------------2a-------2a----------2a----------/---|  x - a - b - x - a - b - x
D------------2c--------------2c--------------|------------2a---------------2a--------------/---|  x - x - xab
A-------2b--------2b--------------------2b---|-------4c--------4c----------------------4c--/---|  x - a - b - x - a - b - x
E---0----------------------------------------|---0---------------------------------------------|
             1/4   <------- 6/16 ------->                    1/4   <-------- 6/16 -------->
                                                 <----------------------- 4/6 barrés ----------

    G#m/E                                             F#m7/E
e-------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------4a-----------4a----------4a------\---|------------2a-----2a-------------|  x - x - xab
g------------4a-------4a----------4a----------\---|------------2a----------2a--------|  x - a - b - x - a - b - x
D------------6d---------------6d--------------\---|------------2a---------------2a---|  x - x - xab
A-------6c--------6c----------------------6c--\---|-------4c-------------------------|  b - a - x
E---0---------------------------------------------|---0------------------------------|
             1/4   <-------- 6/16 -------->                       3/8
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------->

    E
e----------------------0---------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------------0-----0-------------------|  x - x - x-a-b - c-b-a - x - x
g---------------1a---------1a----------------|
D------------2c------------------------------|
A-------2b-----------------------------------|
E---0----------------------------2b-----4d---|  repeat tab 1x
             <--- 2/8 Triplets --->

e----------------------0------------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------------0-----0----------------------|  x - x - x-a-b - c-b-a - x
g---------------1a---------1a-------------------|
D------------2c---------------------------------|
A-------2b--------------------------------------|
E---0----------------------------2b---/---!4b---|
             <--- 2/8 Triplets --->

Finish the song with an open E on the E-string and let ring,
or finish it with a similar little phrase as played in the intro:

e----------9c:------7a:--\---5a:----------------|------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------------------------------9d---------|----(let ring)----|  x - ac - ac - ac
g----------9b:--\---8b:--\---5b:-----9d---------|----(let ring)----|  xabc - x
D------------------------------------9d---------|----(let ring)----|
A------------------------------------------7a---|----(let ring)----|
E---0--------------------------------0----------|----(let ring)----|  ritardando
                                     1/4    1/4