Chuck Berry — Memphis Chords
Memphis, By Chuck Berry, 1966 remix on Chuck Berry's Golden Hits, BMI 1966
Berry remade this one. He is known to play the same song in several different keys. I
this for rhythm only as that is all I play, as I don't have the fingers for lead.
Bass note is important to the sound and rhythm, hit it hard.
Tune a half step down.
Chords used:
B B7 E(1) A Am G#m E
(7th Fret)
eb 7 7 7 5 5 4 0
Bb 7 7 9 5 5 4 0
Gb 8 8 9 6 5 4 1
Db 9 7 9 7 7 6 2
Ab 9 9 7 7 7 6 2
Eb 7 7 7 5 5 4 0
Strum Chords with rhythm till chord change
Slide up from E to first B
B7 B (alternate rapidly between B and B7)
Long distance in formation, give me Memphis Tennessee
B7 B (alternate rapidly between B and B7)
Help me find the party trying to get in touch with me
E(1)
She could not leave her number, but I know who placed the call
B B7 A Am G#m E
'Cause my uncle took the message and he wrote it on the wall
Help me, information; get in touch with my Marie
She's the only one who'd phone me here from Memphis Tennessee
Her home is on the south side, high up on a ridge
Just A half a mile from the Mississippi Bridge
Help me, information, more than that I cannot add
Only that I miss her and all the fun we had
But we were pulled apart because her mom did not agree
And tore apart our happy home in Memphis Tennessee
Last time I saw Marie she's waving me good—bye
With hurry home drops on her cheek that trickled from her eye
Marie is only six years old Information please
Try to put me through to her in Memphis Tennessee
You can play all B's with no B7's for the first two lines if it's easier for you, but in
fourth line, the B7 is crucial.
Also on the fourth line: This is how I play it, its close to the record, but I know its
exact, it's a fast slide down from the B7 to the E, and most people won't know the
if its fast enough, sometimes I drop the A or The Am (or both) by accident, it can be
fast if your lead guitarist likes it that way, or if your band is really swinging.
Comments, codrichb@hotmail.com