Alannah Myles - Black Velvet

Guitar - With capo

Intro

Dm (8x)

Verse 1 - 0:22

Dm
Mississippi in the middle of a dry spell;
Dm
Jimmy Rodgers on the Victrola up high.
Dm
Mama's dancin' baby on her shoulders,
Dm
The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky.
A                               G
The boy could soon know how to move everything;
F                   C
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for.

Chorus - 0:54

Gm                     C
Black Velvet in that little boy's smile.
Gm                         Eb   Bb
Black velvet in with that slow southern style.
Gm                      C
A new religion that'll bring you to your knees,
Bb      A              Dm
Black velvet, if you please.

Verse 2 - 1:23

Dm
Up in Memphis the music's like a heat wave,
Dm
White lightnin', bound to drive you wild.
Dm
Mama's baby's in the heart of every school girl,
Dm
Love me tender leaves 'em cryin' in the aisles.
A                         G
The way he moved it was a sin so sweet and true,
F                   C
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for.

Chorus

Gm                     C
Black Velvet in that little boy's smile.
Gm                         Eb   Bb
Black velvet in with that slow southern style.
Gm                      C
A new religion that'll bring you to your knees,
Bb      A              Dm
Black velvet, if you please.

Bridge

Gm                   A                        Dm
Every word of every song that he sang was for you.
Gm                 Eb                   Bb
In a flash he was gone, it happened so soon.
A               Dm 
What could you dooooooooooo?

Solo

Dm (8x)

Chorus

Gm                     C
Black Velvet in that little boy's smile.
Gm                         Eb   Bb
Black velvet in with that slow southern style.
Gm                      C
A new religion that'll bring you to your knees,
Bb      A              Dm
Black velvet, if you please.

Chorus

Gm                     C
Black Velvet in that little boy's smile.
Gm                         Eb   Bb
Black velvet in with that slow southern style.
Gm                      C
A new religion that'll bring you to your knees,
Bb      A              Dm
Black velvet, if you please.

Outtro

Dm (8x)

Notes

• Capo: I
• Key: D » D#
• The song is actually quite ingenious, which gave cause to several different transcriptions. I'm following Ultimate Guitar's Version 2
• The original song is performed with a drop D-tuning: D A D G B E, so unless you change your tuning, it won't be really possible to play along with the recording
• This song sounds a lot better using barred chords, so that you can use the low e-string for strumming. The the charts below
• The transition from E♭ to B♭ is probably easiest when using a shifted F for B♭. Otherwise, you have to move 6 frets on the fretboard.

Barred Dm-chord: Am-chord shifted 5 frets

Barred A-chord: F-chord shifted over 4 frets

Barred G-chord: F-chord shifted 2 frets

Barred A as C: Shift 3 frets

Gm: Alt-J - Taro

E♭ = D♯: Triggerfinger - I Follow Rivers

B♭=A♯: Vaak gemakkelijker: Een doorgeschoven F

Guitar - Without capo

Intro

D#m (8x)

Verse 1 - 0:22

D#m
Mississippi in the middle of a dry spell;
D#m
Jimmy Rodgers on the Victrola up high.
D#m
Mama's dancin' baby on her shoulders,
D#m
The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky.
A#                              G#
The boy could soon know how to move everything;
F#                  C#
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for.

Chorus - 0:54

G#m                    C#
Black Velvet in that little boy's smile.
G#m                        E    B 
Black velvet in with that slow southern style.
G#m                     C#
A new religion that'll bring you to your knees,
B       A#             D#m
Black velvet, if you please.

Verse 2 - 1:23

D#m
Up in Memphis the music's like a heat wave,
D#m
White lightnin', bound to drive you wild.
D#m
Mama's baby's in the heart of every school girl,
D#m
Love me tender leaves 'em cryin' in the aisles.
A#                        G#
The way he moved it was a sin so sweet and true,
F#                  C#
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for.

Chorus

G#m                    C#
Black Velvet in that little boy's smile.
G#m                        E    B 
Black velvet in with that slow southern style.
G#m                     C#
A new religion that'll bring you to your knees,
B       A#             D#m
Black velvet, if you please.

Bridge

G#m                  A#                       D#m
Every word of every song that he sang was for you.
G#m                E                    B 
In a flash he was gone, it happened so soon.
A#              D#m 
What could you dooooooooooo?

Solo

D#m (8x)

Chorus

G#m                    C#
Black Velvet in that little boy's smile.
G#m                        E    B 
Black velvet in with that slow southern style.
G#m                     C#
A new religion that'll bring you to your knees,
B       A#             D#m
Black velvet, if you please.

Chorus

G#m                    C#
Black Velvet in that little boy's smile.
G#m                        E    B 
Black velvet in with that slow southern style.
G#m                     C#
A new religion that'll bring you to your knees,
B       A#             D#m
Black velvet, if you please.

Outtro

D#m (8x)

Sources

• https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/a/alannah_myles/black_velvet_ver2_crd.htm
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT4d1LQy4es
• http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=3056 - This song is about Elvis Presley, with numerous references to Elvis and his live. Nevertheless, the performing artist and the producers of this song, are all from Canada

Tab Pro versions Ultimate Guitar

Most come up with the same notes for bass guitar, including the 503-loop at the beginning:

* Version 1: 3,5x8    3 Channels including bass: D# G# C# F# (=semitone drop)
* Version 2: 4,5x19   4 Channels
* Version 3: 4,5x4    8 Channels including bass: D# G# C# F#
* Version 4: 4,5x7    5 Channels, EADGBE (not accurate)
* Version 5: --       6 Channels including bass: D# G# C# F#- Looks really good