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Editorβs notes
In this lesson Iβll teach you how to play βAngel Flightβ by Radney Foster. This song uses the chords of E-A-B-C#m, but is unconventional in the voicing used for each chord. Specifically, weβll be leaving the thinnest two strings open at all times. This not only makes it sound a bit more interesting, but also makes it far easier to playβ¦ which is nice! Iβll teach you these chords, explain the intro riff (with tabs), and talk about strumming pattern. I Thanks very much to Patreon supporter Dennis for this request.
Lyrics with chords
INTRO
E β|ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββ0β0β0β|βββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββ0β0β0ββ|β
B β|ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββ0β0β0β|βββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββ0β0β0ββ|β
G β|ββββββ1βββββββ1βββββββ1βββββ4β4β4β|βββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββ2β2β2ββ|β
D β|ββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββ4β4β4β|βββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββ2β2β2ββ|β
A β|ββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββ2β2β2β|β0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0β0β0β0ββ|β
E β|ββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|β
E B A
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
v v v v v v v ^ v ^ v v v v v v v ^ v ^
VERSE
E C#m
All I ever wanted to do was fly
A E
Leave this world and live in the--- sky
E C#m
I left the C130 out of Fort Worth town
A E
I go up some days I don't wanna come--- down
CHORUS
A C#m
Well, I fly that plane... called the Angel Flight
A E
Come on brother you're with me tonight
A C#m
Between heaven and earth you're never alone
A B E
On the Angel Flight... come on brother I'm taking you home [play intro x1 on "home"]
VERSE
E C#m
I love my family and I love this land
A E
But tonight this flight's for another---- man
E C#m
We do what we do because we heard the call
A E
Some gave a little, but he gave it all
CHORUS
A C#m
Well, I fly that plane... called the Angel Flight
A E
Come on brother you're with me tonight
A C#m
Between heaven and earth you're never alone
A B E
On the Angel Flight... come on brother I'm taking you home
A B C#m
Come on brother I'm taking you home [start instrumental on C#m]
INSTRUMENTAL
C#m / A /
C#m / A B
VERSE
[let chords ring]
E C#m
Well, the cockpit's quiet and the stars are bright
A E
Feels kinda like church in here tonight
E C#m
It don't matter where we touch down
A E
On the Angel Flight its sacred ground
CHORUS
A C#m
Well, I fly that plane... called the Angel Flight
A E
Gotta hero riding with us tonight
A C#m
Between heaven and earth... you're never alone
A B E
On the Angel Flight... come on brother I'm taking you home
A B C#m
Come on brother I'm taking you home
A B E
Come on brother I'm taking you home [play intro 2x, end with E chord]
Chords, played normally
Usually, when you see these 4 chords, this is how theyβre played. You can use these voicings if you please (but read on).
E βββ0βββ0βββxβββ4ββββ
B βββ0βββ2βββ4βββ5ββββ
G βββ1βββ2βββ4βββ6ββββ
D βββ2βββ2βββ4βββ6ββββ
A βββ2βββ0βββ2βββ4ββββ
E βββ0ββββββββββββββββ
E A B C#m
Chords, with open B and E strings
This is what heβs playing in the intro, and it sounds like throughout the song! This makes things way easier, and adds a bit of distinction to the sound of the song.
E βββ0ββββββ0ββββββ0βββββ0ββββ
B βββ0ββββββ0ββββββ0βββββ0ββββ
G βββ1ββββββ2ββββββ4βββββ6ββββ
D βββ2ββββββ2ββββββ4βββββ6ββββ <-- keep left ring finger on this string
A βββ2ββββββ0ββββββ2βββββ4ββββ for all 4 of these chords!
E βββ0ββββββββββββββββββββββββ
E Asus2 Bsus4 C#m
Intro riff (normal)
E β|ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββ0β0β0β|βββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββ0β0β0ββ|β
B β|ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββ0β0β0β|βββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββ0β0β0ββ|β
G β|ββββββ1βββββββ1βββββββ1βββββ4β4β4β|βββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββ2β2β2ββ|β
D β|ββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββ4β4β4β|βββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββ2β2β2ββ|β
A β|ββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββ2β2β2β|β0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0β0β0β0ββ|β
E β|ββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|β
E B A
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
v v v v v v v ^ v ^ v v v v v v v ^ v ^
Intro riff (variation)
E β|ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββ0β0β0β|βββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββ0β0β0ββ|β
B β|ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββ0β0β0β|βββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββ0β0β0ββ|β
G β|ββββββ9βββββββ9βββββββ9βββββ8β8β8β|βββββ6βββββββ6βββββββ6βββββ6β6β6ββ|β
D β|ββββββ9βββββββ9βββββββ9βββββ9β9β9β|β7βββ7βββ7βββ7βββ7βββ7βββ7β7β7β7ββ|β
A β|ββββββ7βββββββ7βββββββ7βββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|β
E β|ββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|β
E B A
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
v v v v v v v ^ v ^ v v v v v v v ^ v ^
Strumming
The main strumming pattern is very straightforward βΒ youβll do all downstrums, on the quarter notes (1 2 3 4). Youβll want to accent (emphasize) the 2 and 4 counts, while on the 1 and 3 counts you can get away with only playing the 1-2 thickest strings of that chord. This creates a nice amount of space within the song β you donβt want this one to come off as hectic.
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + D = down strum
D D D D U = up strum
> > > = accented strum
If you can manage it, add an up-down-up in the final few counts of every other measure β as shown below.
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + D = down strum
D D D D D D D U D U U = up strum
> > > > > = accented strum
Chord progression cheat sheet
Verse:
| E . . . | E . | C#m . . . | C#m . . . |
| A . . . | A . | E . . . | E . . . |
...play twice
Chorus:
| A . . . | A . . . | C#m . . . | C#m . . . |
| A . . . | A . | E . . . | E . . . |
| A . . . | A . . . | C#m . . . | C#m . . . |
| A . . . | A . . . | B . | E //
...start intro chords on final E
Good luck!
I hope this helped. Remember to check out my video lesson for additional context & explanation.
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