Gordon Lightfoot – Early Morning Rain

Learn how to play Gordon Lightfoot – Early Morning Rain note-for-note on guitar.
Difficulty level: Easy
Barre chords: No
Thumb over chords: No
Playing Style: Strummed. Originally played on a 12-string but taught here on a 6-string.
Tuning: Drop D
The complete file contains a lesson video, a performance play thru video, full tabs, chords and lyrics. You’ll receive an link by email to download the lesson which will download as a zip file of 154 Mb containing all the lesson content.
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You’ll receive at least two videos per song, one lesson and one performance-standard play-through. You’ll receive the chords/lyrics and guitar tabs as PDF files.
The videos are mp4 format and should play on PC’s, Macs and most mobile devices.
They will download as Zip files. If you don’t have a Zip program on your PC you’ll need to install one to open the file.
If you want to download to an iPad or iPhone you’ll need an app to do so, please read here to know more about it.
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chris says
Early Mornin’ Rain
I was a teenager when I got his first LP. Still have it. This is a great instruction set Jerry. Many thanks. My guitar is a (Canadian) Norman 12-string and I am dusting it off, and your lesson has helped greatly in bringing it back to life! Darn good cover voice too.
Lightfoot himself seems to change up the lyrics sometimes.
However, referring to your PDF, some who covered early on sang it as “Where the pavement never grows”. On his LP I hear it as “with a pain that ever grows” which seems better poetically connected to the preceding “I miss my loved ones so”. I’ve heard that line as “Where the cold wind a-blows”, which is nice too, likely created by a cover artist.
“She’ll be going down at last”. Original flavor is more like: “Well she’s rollin’ down/now at last,” ie taking off in my interpretation.
I’ve heard both “silver bird” and “silver wing”.
Also in your PDF, “There the mornin’ rain don’t fall” more likely is “Where the mornin’ rain don’t fall”, seems to me.
BBC 1969
https://youtu.be/ZFJ5Bj_put0
Jake Mohr says
Found you on YouTube, I appreciate how well you broken this all down. You definitely know what your doing. Thanks for the lesson. Jake in Mississippi, about 60 miles from the “Crossroads”
Bruce McNaughton says
Bar none, the best lesson format I’ve ever encountered, especially the original voiceover on your playthru. Cool that you cover John Fahey. Any chance of some Leo Kottke? …my all-time guitar hero :)
Bruce
jerry smith says
thanks for the lesson…
Terry says
OK you win by far one of the best I have seen Hands down can’t wait to look at the rest of the songs you have
Terry
Lai hean chai says
I have received your email with the link but I cannot download. Please help.
I really enjoy your teaching.
Tom Calvert says
Hello Jerry,You are “Manner from Heaven”-A last .you explain it all SO well,I’m hooked onto your website Tom in Cumbria Uk
Rozzi Bazzani says
Jerry just found you on the net. The clarity of your lessons is the best. Lots of material on your list that I want to work through, see you again soon. I am in Melbourne Australia.