We Shall Overcome: Fingerstyle Guitar, key of G

We Shall Overcome
Spiritual hymn, protest song, Civil Rights anthem

This is my fingerstyle guitar arrangement of We Shall Overcome. This is in the key of G, which is not as singable as the key of C. However, for purposes of a fingerstyle arrangement, the key of G allows for a wider octave range on the guitar fretboard.

For example, for the measures with G and Em chords, the low G and E notes on the 6th string can be used. Also, in the last two measures (17-18), a reprise of the opening two measures appears an octave higher, and uses the first two strings between the frets 8 – 13. Thus the key of G allows for this wider note range along the length of the fretboard, and has a much fuller sound. In the last measure, the G chord triad at fret 12 is a harmonic, so that it continues to ring as you play the low G note to end piece.