Topic: Paula Cole

I am vexed. I have spent 3 days trying figure out the guitar part (chords) to I Am So Ordinary. Tried standard and alternative tunings, capo everywhere -- even ran it through Music Mentor (which is often wrong). Can't get a handle on it. Certainly not an ordinary song. Anybody?

Re: Paula Cole

Is it a song of a woman named Paula Cole? I only found lyrics, but there is a Paula Cole singing I am so ordinary, on youtube.
If you are experienced, try to play along with the song, but as I read you probably did this. I don't know the song, neither the singer, but I will try to find more.
That's a promess

[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color]   AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]

Re: Paula Cole

I tried to play along, it took me 20 seconds, and I think she starts using F#, followed by the E chord. I didn't continue, but I hope this helps already. Look on youtube, run the song, and try first to find the matching chords, and if you have them, well there you go.

[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color]   AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]

Re: Paula Cole

The bad news is that you find Cole Paula, but not with that song

[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color]   AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]

Re: Paula Cole

Thanks gitaarddophil. I have the song on the CD. I have also searched YouTube looking for a live version. I think it's in B. The problem is I can't find a consistent pattern that makes sense. That's why I'm wondering if it's an open tuning with a capo.  For the intro I have: E - Eadd9 - E - F#sus4 - G#m - F# - F#sus4 - E (that's the first 8 measures, I think).  Then: F#sus4 - G#m - Aadd9 . Anyway once the vocals begin, there are tons of sus4ths and add9s. Then there other parts where I don't even know what to call the chords, maybe B/F# or E/G# to F#sus4. There has to be an easier way to play this song. I'm not smart enough to figure it out.  When I was a teenager, I always ran into this same problem with Joni Mitchell songs. I would play (or try to play what I was hearing, but it never sounded just right. Then I learned that she (almost always) uses alternative tunings and then capos. Once I learned what type of tuning she was using and  what fret she'd put the capo on, the song were a breeze. Same thing with David Crosby and a lot of Indigo Girls songs (except, they usually only use alternative tuning on one guitar while the other plays in standard tuning - just gives the songs a fuller feeling).
If she had a live video, I could watch the guitar player and figure it out. I have only seen Paula Cole live once and she was Peter Gabriel's backup singer on that tour - so no luck there.
But thanks for trying. That was very kind of you. I was hoping that someone might know for sure.

Re: Paula Cole

I learned this sometime ago -but no longer have the CD...   will see what I can do.