At last year's JamFest, I asked around to see if anyone knew the lyrics to Spooky. Nobody did. I was bummed, because it's a fun song to jam on. So, I've looked up the lyrics and I'll bringing printed copies with me. It's a built around an interesting variant of a three chord minor progression and a distinctive rhythm.

The guitar chords and voicings are a little unusual, but actually quite easy

• Em7 - preferably the 7th fret bar form

• A13 - preferably the 5th fret voicing shown at top here here
  (but I prefer to just mute the high E string rather than fretting it to a high A).

• Bb diminished 7.- preferably the in the 7th fret position of the form shown at top here
  (though the easier form on the 5th fret -- or 8th, or 2nd, because diminished chords are cool that way! -- is just fine).

The melody is also simple and easy to improvise around, with lots of opportunities to bend notes.

So... anyone want to plan on going up with me to do the vocals on this or jam on the instrumentals? Let me know and perhaps we can talk about another song or two.

1. Chuck Dean01/12/2009 11:10:58 PM
Homepage: http://www.lotussmb.com

Rich,

I'm not able to make it to the 'Sphere this year but I did find a copy of Spooky in an old song book.

I'd be glad to scan the pages and email it to you... not sure about copyright legality ... but it's an old out of print book probably one of the first guitar music books I bought back when I was in 6th grade.

2. Chris Whisonant01/13/2009 10:34:33 AM
Homepage: http://www.bleedyellow.com/blogs/lotusnut

Rich, I'm not familiar with the song but it sounds cool. Know anywhere I can listen to a sample of it on YouTube or anything?

3. Danny Lawrence01/13/2009 11:59:51 AM

@chris here is a youtube of Dusty Springfield's renditio of it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvNf0zJz2iA&feature=related
the video isn't much, but it is a good rendition of the song.

4. Richard Schwartz01/13/2009 10:55:27 PM
Homepage: http://www.poweroftheschwartz.com

I do love Dusty Springfield, but here's the Atlanta Rhythm Section version of Spooky:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut8aKMDG24E

And here's the original by the Classics IV:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0pEYEL83b8

5. Chris Whisonant01/13/2009 11:04:00 PM
Homepage: http://www.bleedyellow.com/blogs/lotusnut

Thanks Rich! Will have to check those out tomorrow sometime... :)

6. Chris Whisonant01/14/2009 12:07:12 PM
Homepage: http://www.bleedyellow.com/blogs/lotusnut

Ok, I've heard that song before - just didn't know what it was called!