How to Play Father and Son Chord by Cat Stevens on Guitar
Father and Son is a classic folk rock song by Cat Stevens, released in 1970 as a single from his album Tea for the Tillerman. The song is about a father who tries to dissuade his son from leaving home and pursuing his dreams, while the son insists that he has to find his own way in life. The song features two distinct vocal parts, one for the father and one for the son, which are sung by Stevens in different registers.
The song is in the key of G major and uses a simple chord progression of G, D, C, and Am throughout. However, there are some variations and embellishments that make the song more interesting and expressive. In this article, we will show you how to play the basic chords, the intro riff, the solo, and some tips on how to sing the song.
Basic Chords
The basic chords for Father and Son are G, D, C, and Am. You can play them in their open positions or use a capo on the second fret and play them as F, C, Bb, and Gm. Here are the chord diagrams for both options:
[Intro] e|-------------3-----5--| B|0--0-0-1--------------| G|0--0-0-0--5-----5-----| D|0--0-0-2--------------| x3 A|----------------------| E|----------------------| [Verse 1] G D/F# C Am7 It's not time to make a change, just relax and take it easy G Em Am Am7 D You're still young, that's your fault, there's so much you have to know G D/F# C Am7 Find a girl, settle down, if you want to, you can marry G Em Am Am Am7 D Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy G D C Am7 I was once like you are now, and I know that it's not easy G Em Am Am Am7 D To be calm when you've found something going on G D C Am7 But take your time, think a lot, why think of everything you've got G Em D G C/G For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not e|-------------3-----5--| B|0--0-0-1--------------| G|0--0-0-0--5-----5-----| D|0--0-0-2--------------| x2 A|----------------------| E|----------------------| [Verse 2] G Bm C Am7 How can I try to explain? 'cause when I do he turns away again G Em Am7 D It's always been the same, same old story G Bm C Am7 From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen G Em D G Now there's a way, and I know that I have to go away D C G C/G I know I have to go e|-------------3-----5--| B|0--0-0-1--------------| G|0--0-0-0--5-----5-----| D|0--0-0-2--------------| x2 A|----------------------| E|----------------------| [Solo] G D C Am7 G Em Am7 D G D C Am7 G Em D G D C G [Verse 3] G D C Am7 It's not time to make a change, just sit down and take it slowly (Away, away, away G Em Am D You're still young, that's your fault, there's so much you have to go through (I know I have to make ...) G D C Am7 Find a girl, settle down, if you want, you can marry ( ... this decision alone ...) G Em Am Am Am7 D Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy (No ...) [Verse 4] G Bm C Am7 All the times that I've cried, keeping all the things I knew inside (Stay, stay, stay G Em Am Am Am7 D It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it (Why must you go and make ...) G Bm C Am7 If they were right, I'd agree, but it's them they know, not me ( ... this decision alone ...) G Em D G G/D Now there's a way, and I know that I have to go away D C G I know I have to go
The strumming pattern for the song is down-down-up-up-down-up, with some variations depending on the rhythm of the lyrics. You can also add some hammer-ons and pull-offs on the bass notes to create some movement and dynamics. For example, you can play the G chord as G-C/G-G-C/G-G by hammering on and pulling off the third fret of the low E string. You can also play the D chord as D-D/F#-D-D/F#-D by doing the same on the second fret of the same string.
Singing Tips
One of the challenges of singing Father and Son is switching between the father’s voice and the son’s voice. The father’s voice is lower and more calm, while the son’s voice is higher and more passionate. To sing these parts effectively, you need to adjust your vocal register, tone, and volume accordingly.
One way to do this is to use your chest voice for the father’s part and your head voice for the son’s part. Your chest voice is your natural speaking voice that resonates in your chest cavity. Your head voice is your higher singing voice that resonates in your head cavity. To switch between these voices smoothly, you need to practice using your mixed voice, which is a blend of both chest and head voices.
To practice using your mixed voice, you can start by singing a note in your chest voice and then sliding up to a higher note in your head voice. Try to make this transition as smooth as possible without any breaks or cracks in your voice. Then do the opposite by sliding down from your head voice to your chest voice. You can use a piano or a guitar to help you find the right notes.
Once you are comfortable with using your mixed voice, you can apply it to singing Father and Son. Try to sing along with Cat Stevens’ recording or a backing track and mimic his vocal style and expression. Pay attention to how he changes his register, tone, and volume depending on whether he is singing as the father or the son.
Conclusion
Father and Son is a beautiful song that showcases Cat Stevens’ songwriting and singing skills. It is also a great song to learn how to play guitar and sing at the same time. By following this article, you can learn how to play the basic chords, the intro riff, the solo, and some tips on how to sing the song. We hope you enjoy playing Father and Son by Cat Stevens on guitar!
