The Allman Brothers Band - Melissa

      

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 I haven't picked out the tab for the lead for Melissa but here is the chord
 progression as close as I can get to what Greg Allman plays. The F#m7 and
 Emaj7 are a pretty good stretch until you get used to playing them, but they
 get easier. Note the two forms of C#m. The first form is played throughout
 except in the line 'Pick up your gear and gypsy roll on' in the chorus.
 
 Melissa
 
 Allman Bro's
 
 E F#m7 Emaj7 A Bm11 C#m B D C C#m2 
           

 E|---------------------------------------------2--------------4------------|
 B|-----------2------4------2-----3-------5-----4---------1----5------------|
 G|---1-------2------4------2-----4-------6-----4--------------6------------|
 D|---2-------4------6------2-----4-------6-----4---------2----6------------|
 A|---2-------4------6------------5-------7-----2---------3----4------------|
 E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 

 
 Intro - E, F#m7, Emaj7,F#m7
 
 Verse1
 
   E       F#m7             Emaj7  F#m7 
 Crossroads seem to come and go, yeah
  E                             F#m7 
 The gypsy flies from coast to coast
   A      Bm11       C#m Bm11 
 Knowing many loving arms
  E       F#m7           Emaj7 A 
 bearing sorrow, having fun
  C                          B 
 but back home he'll always run
            E    F#m7 Emaj7 
 To sweet Melissa
 
 Verse2
 Same chord progression as verse 1.
 
 Freight train, each car looks the same
 All the same
 and no one knows the gypsy's name
 no one hears his lonely sigh
 there are no blankets where he lies
 and in deepest dreams the gypsy flies
 to sweet Melissa
 
 Chorus
 
 E                      
 Again the morning comes
 D                    
 again he's on the run
 A                               
 sunbeam shining through his hair
 B                           
 appearing not to have a care
 C#m (second version) A
 pick up your gear and gypsy roll on
 B      
 roll on
 
 Verse 3 (same as 1 & 2 until end)
 Crossroads, will you ever let him go, No, no, no
 or will you hide the dead man ghost
 or will he lie beneath the plain
 or will his spirit float away
 but I know that he won't stay
 E F#m7,
 without Melissa
 C                         B  
 Yes I know that he won't stay
  F#m7
 without Melissa
  Emaj7           F#m7    
 No, no he just won't stay
 
 repeat and fade (E, F#m7, Emaj7,F#m7)
 
 Andy King
 
 I have some preferences on the playing of the _chords_ in 'Melissa' that
 differ a bit from his, which I think you'll find easier to play (and maybe
 even sound better):
 
 (excuse the lack of rhythm & timing, but I think you can figure it out)

 e--0----0----0----0--/--0----0----0----0----0----0----0----0----0----0--|
 B--0----0----0----0--/--0----0----2----3----5----0----0----0----0----0--|
 G--1----2----4----2--/--1----2----2----4----6----6----1----2----4----6--|
 D--2----4----6----4--/--2----4----2----4----6----7----2----4----6----7--|
 A--2----4----6----4--/--2----4----0----2----4----7----2----4----6----7--|
 E--0----0----0----0--/--0----0----x----x----x----5----0----0----0----5--|
 

 
 (still the mornin' comes...)

 e--0----0---/---0----2----0----x----0----0----x------0----0--|
 B--0----0---/---0----3----2----4----5----0----4------0----0--|
 G--0----2---/---1----2----2----4----6----6----4-(or)-8----2--| (back to
 D--2----2---/---2----0----2----4----6----7----4------9----2--| start)
 A--3----2---/---2---------0----2----4----7----2------9----2--|
 E--3----0---/---0---------x----x----x----5-----------7----0--|
 

 
 This song is REALLY meant for a 12-string -- with all that open-string
 resonance, it really rings!
 
 Hope this gives you more of what you're looking for!
 
 J Smith
 Sunnyvale, CA
 
 
 MELISSA- Allman Brothers
 
 TUINING: E B E G# B E
 
 E F#m G#m F#m E F#m G#m F#m 
         
   E       F#m              G#m   F#m 
 Crossroads seem to come and go, yeah
  E                             F#m 
 The gypsy flies from coast to coast
   A      Bm         C#m  Bm 
 Knowing many, loving none
  E       F#m            G#m F#m 
 Bearing sorrow, having fun
 C B (n.c.)
 But back home he'll always run
            E     F#m G#m  F#m 
 To sweet Melissa   mmmm
 
 Freight train, each car looks the same, all the same
 And no one knows the gypsy's name
 No one hears his lonely sigh
 There are no blankets where he lies
 Lord, in deepest dreams the gypsy flies
 To sweet Melissa, mmmmm
 
 BRIDGE:
 E                      
 Again the morning comes
 D                    
 Again he's on the run
 A                               
 Sunbeam shining through his hair
 B                           
 Appearing not to have a care
 C#m A B (n.c.)
 Pick up your gear and gypsy roll on, roll on
 
 Crossroads, will you ever let him go, no, no, no
 Or will you hide the dead man ghost
 Or will he lie beneath the plain
 Or will his spirit float away
 But I know that he won't stay
           E    F#m 
 Without Melissa
 
 C                         B             E    F#m 
 Yes I know that he won't stay without Melissa
  G#m            F#m      
 No, no he just won't stay
 
 E F#m G#m F#m (repeat and fade)
 
 CHORDS:
   E F#m G#m A B Bm C#m C D 
 E 0  2  4 5 7 7  9 8 10
 B 0 2 4 5 7 7 9 8 10
 G# 0 1 3 5 7 6 8 8 10
 E 0 2 4 5 7 7 9 8 10
 B 0 x x 5 7 x x 8 10
 E 0 2 4 5 7 7 9 8 10
 
 NOTE: This song may or may not be in this tuning, I'm not sure. But I
 think it's easier and more fun playing it this way than in standard.