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

||:

    E                                            F#m7/E
1... Cadence ans cascade ... kept a ...
2... cool in the shade ... while his ...
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
1... man ... named Jade ...
2... audience played ...
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------------------------------|  < x >
             1/4   <------- 6/16  -------->                       3/8
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------->

:||

    E                      G#m                          A          E
... Purred, whispered, "Spend us too ...
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------------------/---|---------------0---------------|
                                                        1/4         1/4      3/8
                           <------------- full barrés ------------->

    E                      G#m                         Asus2  A
... we only serve for you" ...
e-------------------------------------------------|-----------------0-----|  picking pattern:
b-----------------0-----------------------4a-------|---↑0-----2d----------|  x - x - x - ab (2x)
g-----------------1a----------------------4a-------|---↑2c----------------|  a~~~ b - c
D------------2c-------!/-------------6d------------|---↑2b----------------|
A-------2b------------!/--------6c-----------------|---↑0-----------------|
E---0----------------------4a----------------------|----------------------|  < x >
                                                        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 - x - a - b - x - a - b
g-------6b-------------6b------------6b----------|
D-----------------7c-----------------------------|
A---0----------------------------0---------------|
E------------------------------------------------|
    <--------------- 8/16 -------------->   1/2

2ND VERSE

Use the same tab as in the 1st verse or put some variety into it, such as ...

||:

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

    G#m                                                 F#m
1... wine ... of the tide ...
2... veil ... fell aside ...
e-------------------------4a------------------------|-------------------------2a--------------------|  picking pattern:
b---------------------4a------4a--------------------|---------------------2a------2a----------------|  x - x - x - a - b - [x]c - b - a - x - x (2x)
g-----------------4a--------------4a----------------|-----------------2a--------------2a------------|
D-------------6d----------------------6d--------\---|-------------4d----------------------4d--------|
A--------6c--------------------------------6c---\---|--------4c--------------------------------4c---|
E---4a-------------------(0)------------------------|---2a--------------------(0)-------------------|
              <------ 2/8 Triplets ------>                              <------ 2/8 Triplets ------>
:||

Use the same chord progression as in the 1st verse or change progression
It works either way

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

    E                      G#m                          A          E
... they found him just a man ...
e-----------------0-----------------------4a-------|-------------------------------|  picking pattern:
b-----------------0-----------------------4a---/---|---↑5a----0-----------5b-------|  x - x - x - bc (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 ------------->

INTERMEZZO

I still haven't made up my mind how to play this part
Pick and/or strumm it as you think best

... 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-----|

Play the same sequence as above or try the one below

Amaj7
... Cadence oiled in love ...

Am7
... licked his velvet gloved ...

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

A
... name ...

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

OUTRO

    E                                            F#m7/E
... Cadence ans cascade ...
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-----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
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------->

    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----------------------------------------|  < x >
E---0------------------------------2b--------4d---|  repeat tab 2x
             <---- 2/8 Triplets ---->

Finish the song with an open E on the E-string