Skip to content

Carolina Low

Artist: The Decemberists
Song: Carolina Low

video

Tuning

F1058E14AB

DADGBE - Drop D

Picking pattern

options space=10 font-size=12 tabstave notation=true notes :q 0/6 0/4 0/6 3/2 0/4 2/3 | 0/6 0/4 0/6 3/2 0/4 2/3 | options space=15

Melody

options space=10 font-size=12 tabstave notation=true notes :q 0-3/4 0-2/3 | 0-3/4 0/3 0/4 | 2/4 2/4 :8 2h3p2p0/4 3/5 :q 0/4 | options space=15

Full Pattern

Here's how the melody looks within the picking pattern:

options space=10 font-size=12 tabstave notation=true notes :8 0/6 0/4 0/6 3/2 0/4 2/3 0/6 0-3/4 0-2/3 | 0/6 0/4 0/6 3/2 0/4 2/3 0/6 0-3/4 0/3 0/4 | 0/6 0/4 0/6 3/2 0/4 2/3 0/6 0-3-0/4 | 0/6 3/2 2/4 0/6 3/2 2/4 0/6 3/2 2/4 0/6 3/2 2/4 :8 2h3p2p0/4 3/5 :q 0/4 | options space=15

The intro is what is played above, twice, only the second time around it goes like this, written without the picking pattern to make it simpler:

options space=10 font-size=12 tabstave notation=true notes :8 =|: 0/6 0/4 0/6 3/2 0/4 2/3 0/6 0-3/4 0-2/3 | 0/6 0/4 0/6 3/2 0/4 2/3 0/6 0-3/4 0/3 0/4 | 0/6 0/4 0/6 3/2 0/4 2/3 0/6 0-3-0/4 | tabstave notation=true notes :8 0/6 3/2 2/4 0/6 3/2 2/4 0/6 3/2 2/4 0/6 3/2 2/4 :8 2h3p2p0/4 3/5 :q 0/4 =:| (5/6.0/2) (3/6.1/2) (0/6.3/2) options space=15

He plays the 5-3-0 on the low D during the end of the verses sometimes, too

Here's how the melody looks with the lyrics:

options space=10 font-size=12 tabstave notation=true notes :8 0/6 0/4 0/6 3/2 0/4 2/3 0/6 0-3/4 0-2/3 $I,am,a,boy$ tabstave notation=true notes :8 0/6 0/4 0/6 3/2 0/4 2/3 0/6 0-3/4 0/3 0/4 $from,the,high,country$ options space=15

Though Colin just plays the picking pattern through the bit above

options space=10 font-size=12 tabstave notation=true notes :8 0/6 0/4 0/6 3/2 0/4 2/3 0/6 0-3-0/4 $And,I,got,a,little,low$ tabstave notation=true notes :16 0/6 3/2 2/4 0/6 3/2 2/4 0/6 3/2 2/4 0/6 3/2 :8 2/4 :8 2h3p2p0/4 3/5 :q 0/4 $for,the,o,f,f,ering$ options space=15

And later there's this little flourish:

options space=10 font-size=12 tabstave notation=true notes :8 0-3/4 0-2/3 :16 3-3-3/2 options space=15

Where as the ~ just means adding a little vibrato

Lyrics

I am a boy from the high country
And I got a little low for the offering
Come down from the mountains, bow to the sea
In Carolina low, I will carry thee

Gonna take you up, gonna take you around
Oh, your poor little pant legs, all dragging down
Did you crack your lip? Did you skin your knee?
In Carolina low, I will carry thee

What is sealed with a handshake is spoiled with a kiss
Got an ugly little mouth, boy, it's come to this
I'm bound for the hilltops, gonna make it bleed
In Carolina low, I carry thee

I am a boy from the high country
And I got a little low for the offering
And I got a little low for the offering
And I got a little low for the offering