MOONCHILD (King Crimson)
Written by McDonald/Sinfield/Fripp//Lake/Giles in the key of Am in 4/4 time
Released on the album: In The Court of the Crimson King (1969)
Fingerstyle version for single acoustic guitar
Moonchild on Wikipedia | Lyrics
Greg Lake Demo
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
The 1st part is based on an Am chord with a descending bass line (A - G - F# - F)
This fingerstyle version slightly differs from the original acoustic guitar part
To stabilize your picking hand, put your ring on the e-string in the red marked part
chord image legend:x = fretted and playedo = fretted but not playedINTROAmAm7Am6Fmaj7/A
e---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| picking pattern:
b--------------5a--------------5a-------|--------------5d------------------5d-------| x - a - b - c (4x)
g----------5a--------------5a-----------|----------5d------------------5d-----------|
D------7c--------------5a-----------\---|------4a-----------\------3a-----------/---|
A---0---------------0-------------------|---0-------------------0-------------------|
E---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
<--------------------------------- 4/6 barrés ----------------------------------
original tab
... Call her ...
AmAm7Am6Fmaj7/A
e---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| picking pattern:
b--------------5a--------------5a-------|--------------5d------------------5d-------| x - a - b - c (4x)
g----------5a--------------5a-----------|----------5d------------------5d-----------|
D------7c--------------5a-----------\---|------4a-----------\------3a-----------/---|
A---0---------------0-------------------|---0-------------------0-------------------|
E---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------- 4/6 barrés ----------------------------------
1ST VERSE
1... moonchild ...
2... dancing in the shallows of a river ... lonely ...
3... moonchild ...
AmAm7Am6Fmaj7/A
e---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| picking pattern:
b--------------5a--------------5a-------|--------------5d------------------5d-------| x - a - b - c (4x)
g----------5a--------------5a-----------|----------5d------------------5d-----------|
D------7c--------------5a-----------\---|------4a-----------\------3a-----------/---|
A---0---------------0-------------------|---0-------------------0-------------------|
E---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| repeat tab 2x
------------------------------------- 4/6 barrés ----------------------------------
... dreaming in the shadow of the willow ...
AmAm7Am6Fmaj7/A
e---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------| picking pattern:
b--------------5a--------------5a-------|--------------5d------------------5d---| x - a - b - c (3x)
g----------5a--------------5a-----------|----------5d------------------5d-------| x - x - a - b
D------7c--------------5a-----------\---|------4a-----------\------3a-----------|
A---0---------------0-------------------|---0-------------------0---------------|
E---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
------------------------------------- 4/6 barrés -------------------------->
... talking to the trees of the cobweb strange ...
Dm7Em7AmG/AAm
e------1a----------------------3c---|---5a:------------------------------| picking pattern:
b----------1a--------------3b-------|---5a:-------8b:-------5a-----------| x - c - b - a - x - a - b - c
g--------------2b------4d-----------|---5a:---/---7a:---\---5a-----------| xabc (3x)
D---0---------------2a--------------|-------------9c:---\---7c-----------|
A-----------------------------------|---0:--------0:--------0------------|
E-----------------------------------|------------------------------------| info¼¼½
... sleeping on the steps of a fountain ...
Dm7EmAm
e--------------1a--------------0---|-------------------0---------------| picking pattern:
b----------1a---------------0------|--------------1a------1a-----------| x - a - b - c (2x)
g------2b---------------0----------|----------2c--------------2c-------| x - x - a - b - (x)c - b - a - x
D---0---------------2b-------------|------2b----------------------2b---|
A----------------------------------|---0--------------(0)--------------|
E----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
... waving silver wands to the night-birds song ...
Dm7Em7AmG/AAm
e------1a----------------------3c---|---5a:------------------------------| picking pattern:
b----------1a--------------3b-------|---5a:-------8b:-------5a-----------| x - c - b - a - x - a - b - c
g--------------2b------4d-----------|---5a:---/---7a:---\---5a-----------| xabc (3x)
D---0---------------2a--------------|-------------9c:---\---7c-----------|
A-----------------------------------|---0:--------0:--------0------------|
E-----------------------------------|------------------------------------|
¼¼½
... waiting for the sun on the mountain ...
Dm7EmAm
e--------------1a--------------0---|-------------------0-------------| picking pattern:
b----------1a---------------0------|--------------1b-----------------| x - a - b - c (2x)
g------2b----------------0---------|----------2d---------------------| x - x - a - b - c
D---0---------------2b-------------|------2c------------------/------|
A----------------------------------|---0-----------------------------|
E----------------------------------|---------------------------------|
½INTERLUDE (same tab as intro)
AmAm7Am6Fmaj7/A
e---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| picking pattern:
b--------------5a--------------5a-------|--------------5d------------------5d-------| x - a - b - c (4x)
g----------5a--------------5a-----------|----------5d------------------5d-----------|
D------7c--------------5a-----------\---|------4a-----------\------3a-----------/---|
A---0---------------0-------------------|---0-------------------0-------------------|
E---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
<--------------------------------- 4/6 barrés ----------------------------------
... She's a ...
AmAm7Am6Fmaj7/A
e---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| picking pattern:
b--------------5a--------------5a-------|--------------5d------------------5d-------| x - a - b - c (4x)
g----------5a--------------5a-----------|----------5d------------------5d-----------|
D------7c--------------5a-----------\---|------4a-----------\------3a-----------/---|
A---0---------------0-------------------|---0-------------------0-------------------|
E---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------- 4/6 barrés ----------------------------------
2ND VERSE (same tab as 1st verse)
... moonchild ...
... gathering the flowers in a garden ... lovely ...
... moonchild ...
... drifting on the echoes of the hours ...
... sailing on the wind in a milk white gown ...
... dropping circle stones on a sun dial ...
... playing hide and seek with the ghosts of dawn ...
... waiting for a smile from a sun child ...
OUTROAmAm7Am6Fmaj7/A
e---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| picking pattern:
b--------------5a--------------5a-------|--------------5d------------------5d-------| x - a - b - c (4x)
g----------5a--------------5a-----------|----------5d------------------5d-----------|
D------7c--------------5a-----------\---|------4a-----------\------3a-----------/---|
A---0---------------0-------------------|---0-------------------0-------------------|
E---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| repeat tab 1x
<--------------------------------- 4/6 barrés ----------------------------------
AmAm7Am6Fmaj7/A
e---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| picking pattern:
b--------------5a--------------5a-------|--------------5d------------------5d-------| x - a - b - c (4x)
g----------5a--------------5a-----------|----------5d------------------5d-----------|
D------7c--------------5a-----------\---|------4a-----------\------3a-----------\---|
A---0---------------0-------------------|---0-------------------0-------------------|
E---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| ritardando
------------------------------------- 4/6 barrés ----------------------------------
Finish the song with a strummed Am chord on the 2nd fret [002a5d5d5d]