Ain't No Grave Tabs

[LadyMortician]

So does anybody have the tabs for Ain't No Grave (Gonna Hold My Body Down) or at least where I can find them? My Mama loves that song and I would like to learn it so I can try to play it for her.

[JEStanek]

Welcome to the Cafe.

Well, the guitar chords for Jonny Cash's arrangement are here. You could start from those.

Jamie

[LadyMortician]

I don't know chords, and I really don't know how to take guitar chords and make them into mandolin chords. Tabs are the only thing I know how to work with, besides just watching someone play it out to begin with.

[John Gardinsky]

If you can read a tab you will be able to figure out how to decipher chord diagrams with some trial and error and maybe some google. Chords are an extremely important component of our favorite little eight stringed instrument. Any chording instrument can be used to back up a vocal or instrumental melody (adding a harmonic structure to the tune). There is no mandolin in the Johnny Cash version but you can hear the guitars playing chords and when they switch from one chord to another. You can learn the corresponding chords for the mandolin and strum along and sing if you wish. According to the link Jamie provided you will need a Dm (D minor) chord along with some others. If that indeed is correct(my mando isn't handy) then try an open Dm chord: 2-0-0-1. Fret the second fret of the G string with your middle finger, leave the middle two strings open and fret the first fret of the high E string. Strum all the strings. If you search around this site you can find all sorts of chord charts and diagrams. Spend time practicing the chords, they will open pathways to follow.