G B D# F# B D# The Mordaunt Confi guration

To simulate what Mordaunt Levien’s 1825 tuning and capo confi guration would sound like on a modern 6-string , you need 3 partial capos, and an unusual tuning. I have recently become very captivated by this, in spite of the clumsy appearance of all the capos on the guitar (see photo) I am arranging some Beatles songs and somewhat complex pop melodies that suggest themselves. As I explore the fi ngerings and scales. It is well worth the effort and when you start to explore it you begin to understand why Levien built specifi cally for this. It makes you wonder if Levien and Light used the word “harp” to describe TUNING their instruments because this confi guration allows some very harp-like G B D# F# B D# playing styles. The chords and scales sound best when heavily arpeggiated, and this is a fi ngerpicker’s dream tuning. If you work at it, you can fi nd a OPEN STRINGS lot of harp-like melodic runs where the notes cascade from string to string G D F A C E instead of the stiffer sound of formal scales. You fi rst need to use a partial capo to simulate the staggered nut which leaves the low string 1 fret longer than the others. I recommend tuning to G B D# F# B D# which will sound a C chord with the capo on the fi rst fret and allow you to play and think in C major. This is an unusual (the common one we see used today is C G C G C E) and it represents the bottom 6 strings of the 7-string Levien guitar. When you strum the “open strings” without the extra triangle of capos you get a C chord: G C E G C E. When you put on the other 2 capos, you end up with a sort of a “harp chord” that is every note of the C scale but the 7th: G D F A C E This would be an open B tuning, except that the low string is not capoed, so it needs top be tuned a half step sharp above the low F# that would normally be the 5th of that chord. (Pretty confusing already, huh?) You might even want to tune everything down 1 or even 2 more frets to try this tuning. The low E string could break if tuned to G, as could the A string tuned up to B. This is quite hard to do with standard string gauges and with modern A Shubb Drop E (c8b), a Third partial capo tools, but with an offset regular capo to clamp fret 1, a Third Hand and a notched Shubb Hand on fret 2, and an Esus capo with a notch cut in it for fret 3 you can Esus forming the Mordaunt get the gist of this amazing confi guration. No doubt with the Levien con guration. guitar you could easily reach over and around the capoed strings, and a number of chords shown here in the diagrams are not really possible with the capos. I have included about half of my library of This is an excerpt from the first edition of Mordaunt Levien chords here, with the standard Capo Voodoo- Book 8: tuning equivalent next to them. This is about as “The BIG BOOK of Partial Capos” far from “normal” as I have ventured, and you’ll by Harvey Reid notice how many simple fingerings will map to (©2020 / published by Woodpecker Multimedia) “spaghetti chords” in standard tuning. These truly are some new and special chords, and only 2 of them (#26 & #59) are playable in standard tuning. 0 3 2 3 1 1 Some Chords in the Mordaunt Capo Configuration p.1 # # # TUNING: GMordaunt B D F 3 B D Tuning: G B D# F# B D# Capo: 0 3 2 3 1 1 Bbadd9 A7 Am ��� � � � � � ���� �� � � � � 1 � � 2 � � 3 � � �� �� �� �� � � 5 5 � 5 � � 5 � � 5 5 � 7 7 7 7 � 7 7

9 9 9 9� 9� � 9 � �

12 12 12 12 12 12

x DFBb CF x DFBb CF C# EGAEE C# EGA EE E ACACE E ACACE x 35125 x 35125 3 5 7b 155 357b 155 5 1 3b 1 3b 5 513b 1 3b 5 Am Am7 Am7 � ��� �� � � ��� � � ���� � � � � � 4 � 5 � 6 � � �� �� � �� �

5 5 5 � 5 � 5 5 �� 7 7 7 7 �� 7 7

9 � 9 � 9 9 9 � 9 � � � � �

12 12 12 12 12 12

x ACECE x ACECE G EACCE G EACCE G ACACE G ACACE x 1 3b 5 3b 5 x13b 5 3b 5 7b 513b 3b 5 7b 513b 3b 5 7b 1 3b 1 3b 5 7b 1 3b 1 3b 5 Amadd9µ C6 C6 ���� �� � ���� � � ���� � � � � 7 � � 8 � � 9 � � �� �� �� � � � 5 5 5�� 5 � 5 � 5 �

7 7 7 7 � 7 7 � � � 9� 9 � 9 9 9 9 �

12 12 12 12 12 12

E AB ACE EABACE C EGACE C EGACE G EGACE G EGACE 5 1213b 5 51213b 5 1 35613 135613 5 35613 535613 C7/11 Cadd9µ Cm � � ��� � � ��� � � � 10 � 11 � 12 � �� � �� �� � �� � � �� ��� � 5 � 5 5 5 5� 5 �� � � 7 7 � 7 7 � 7 7 � � � 9 9 9 � 9 9 9 ��

12 12 12 12 12 12

G EFBb CE GEFBb CE G GCDCE GGCDCE C Eb GCEb G C Eb GCEb G 5 347b 13 5347b 13 5 51213 551213 1 3b 513b 5 1 3b 513b 5 Some Chords in the Mordaunt Capo Configuration p.2 Mordaunt# 3# # TUNING:Tuning: G B D# F# G B D#B D F B DCapo: 0 3 2 3 1 1 D9 D9 Dadd9 � ��� � � � ��� � � � � � � � 25 26 � 27 28 � 29 30 13 � 14 � � 15 � � � �� �� ��

5 5 5 5 � 5 5 � � 7 � 7 �� 7 7 7 7 � 9 9 � 9 9 9 9 � � � � � � � 12 12 12 � 12 12 12

x F# A D C E x F# A D C E F# D D F# C E F# D D F# C E F# DDAAE F# D D A A E x 3517b 2 x 3517b 2 3 1137b 2 31137b 2 3 11552 311552 Dm6 Dm9 Dmadd9 ��� � � ��� � �� � � � � � � � � 31 32 33 34 35 36 16 � 17 � 18 � � �� � �� �� � 5 � 5 � � 5 5 5 5 � ��� � 7 7 7 7 7 7

9 9 9 9 9 9 � � � � � �� � 12 12 12 12 12 12

x DFBFA x DFB FA x ADFCE x ADF CE F DDAAE F DDA AE x 1 3b 6 3b 5 x13b 6 3b 5 x 513b 7b 2 x513b 7b 2 3b 11552 3b 11552 Dmadd9 Dmadd9 Fm �� � � � � �� � � � � ��� � � 3719 � 38 � 3920 � 40 4121 � 42 �� �� ��

5 5 � 5 5 � 5� � 5 � � � � � � � 7 7 � 7 7 7 7 �� 9 9 9 9 9 9 � �� �� 12 12 12 12 12 12

x DAAFE x DAAFE x DDFAE x DDF AE C F Ab CCx CFAb CCx x 1553b 2 x 1553b 2 x 113b 52 x113b 52 5 1 3b 55x 513b 55x Fmaj6 Fmaj7 Fmaj7/G ��� � � ���� � � � ��� � � � � � � 22 23 24 43 � 44 45 � 46 � 47 � 48 �� �� �� �

5 5 5 5 5 5 � ��� 7 7 � 7 7 7 7 � � � 9 � 9 9 � 9 9 9 �� � �� �

12 12 12 12 12 12

F ACDCE F ACDCE F ACACE F ACACE G F ACCE G F ACCE 1 35657 135657 1 35357 135357 2 13557 213557

597 Some Chords in the Mordaunt Capo Configuration p.3 Mordaunt# 3# # TUNING:Tuning: G B D# F# G B D# B D F BCapo: D 0 3 2 3 1 1 Fmaj9 G G � � � � �� ������� � 49 50� 51 52 53 54 � 25 � � 26 � 27 � � �� ��� � � � �� � � � � � 5 5 5 � 5 �� 5 5 �

7 7 7 7 7 7 � � 9 � 9 9 9 9 9 �� �

12 12 12 12 12 12

F ACAGE F AC AGE G DGBDG GDGB DG G DFACE GDFACE 1 35327 135327 1 51351 151351 1 5 7b 246 157b 246 G6/11 G6/9/11 G7 ��� ��� � � ���� � � � � � � 5528 � 56 5729 � 58 � 5930 � 60 �� � � �� � �� � �

5 5 � � 5 5 5 5 � 7 7 7 7 7 7 � � � � ���� � 9 9 9 9 � 9 9 � �

12 12 12 12 12 12

G DFCCE GDFCCE G AB ACE G AB ACE G GFDGB GGFDGB 1 5 7b 446 157b 446 1 23246 123246 1 1 7b 513 117b 513 Gadd11 Gadd9 Gm11 �� � �� � �� � � � � 6131 � 62 6332 � 64 � 6533 � � 66 �� � ��� � � � �� � � � � �� 5 5 � 5 5 �� 5 5 ��

7 7 � � 7 7 7 7 �� � 9 9 � 9 9 9 9

12 12 12 12 12 12

G DBDCB GDB D CB G DGADG GDGADG G DGBb CF GDGBb CF 1 53543 153543 1 51251 151251 1 513b 4 7b 1513b 4 7b Gm6 Gm6/11 Gm6/7 �� � � �� ��� � �� � � � 6734 � 68 6935 � 70 7136 � 72 �� � �� � �� �

5 5 � 5 5 � 5 5 � � � 7 � 7 � 7 � 7 � 7 � 7 � �� � � � � � � 9 9 9 9 9 9

12 12 12 12 12 12

G D Bb DGE GDBb D GE G D Bb DCE GDBb DCE G D Bb DFE GDBb D FE 1 5 3b 516 153b 516 1 5 3b 546 153b 546 1 5 3b 5 7b 6 153b 5 7b 6

598 599 Some Chords in the Mordaunt Capo Configuration p.4 Mordaunt# 3# # Tuning:TUNING:G B D# F# G B D# B D F B Capo:D 0 3 2 3 1 1 Gm6/7 Gm6/9 Gm9 � � � �� � � � � 73 74 75 76 77 78 37 � 38 � � 39 � �� � �� � �� �

5 5 5 5 � 5 5 � � � � � ��� � 7 � 7 � 7 � 7 7 � 7 � � � � � � � � 9 9 9 9 9 9 � �

12 12 12 12 12 12

G G Bb DFE GGBb D FE G D Bb AFE GDBb AFE G G Bb DFA GGBb D FA 1 1 3b 5 7b 6 113b 5 7b 6 1 5 3b 2 7b 6 153b 2 7b 6 1 1 3b 5 7b 2 113b 5 7b 2 C Cm C � ��� � � ��� � � ��� � � � � 7940 � 80 8141 � 82 8342 � 84 �� � �� � �� � � �� 5 � 5 �� 5 5 �� 5 5 � � � 7 7 � 7 7 7 7 � 9 9 9 9 9 � 9 � � ��

12 12 12 12 12 12

G EGCC E G EGC CE G Eb GCC x G Eb GC Cx G GCECE GGC ECE 5 35113 535113 5 3b 511x 5 3b 511x 5 51313 551313 C C C ��� � � � � � � 4385 � 86 8744 � 88 8945 � 90 �� �� � �� � � � � � 5�� 5 �� 5 5 5 � � 5 ��� � � 7 7 � 7 7 7 7 � � � � 9 9 9 � � 9 � 9 9 � ��

12 12 12 12 12 12

C EGCC E C EGC CE G GC ECC GGC E CC G EGCEG G EGC EG 1 35113 135113 5 51311 551311 5 35135 535135 C6 Cadd9 C ���� � � �� ��� � � � � 4691 � 92 � 9347 � 94 9548 � 96 �� �� � ��

5 5 5 5 � 5 5

7 7 7 7 7 7 � � � � � 9� � 9 9 � � 9 � 9� � 9 � �� � � � ��

12 12 12 12 12 12

E GCACE EGCACE G DC EGC G D C E GC E GCECE EGCECE 3 51613 351613 5 21351 521351 3 51313 351313

599 Some Chords in the Mordaunt Capo Configuration p.5 Mordaunt# 3 # # TUNING:Tuning: G B D# F# G B D# B D F BCapo: D 0 3 2 3 1 1 C6/7 C7 C7 � ���� � � ��� � � � � 97 98 � 99 100 � 101 102 49 � � 50 � 51 � �� � �� � �� �

5 5 5 5 5 5

7 � 7 7 � 7 7 7 � � � � � 9 9 9 9 � 9 � 9 � � � � � �� � � 12 12 12 12 12 12

G G Bb ACE GGBb ACE G G Bb ECE GGBb ECE G GC EBb E GGC EBb E 5 5 7b 613 557b 613 5 5 7b 313 557b 313 5 5137b 3 55137b 3 C7 C7 C7 � ��� � � � � � ��� � � � � 103 104 105 106 107 108 52 � 53 � 54 � �� � � �� � � �� � �� �� 5 � 5 � 5 � � 5 � � 5 5

7 7 � 7 7 � 7 7

9 9 9 9 9 � 9 � � � � 12 12 12 12 12 12

G EGBb CE G EGBb CE G EGBb EE G EGBb EE G Bb CECE G Bb CECE 5 357b 13 5357b 13 5 357b 33 5357b 33 5 7b 1313 5 7b 1313 Cmaj7 Cmaj7 C6 � ��� � � ��� � � ��� � � � � � 109 55 � 110 111 56 � 112 11357 � 114 �� � �� � �� � � � 5 5 � 5 � � 5 � 5 5 � 7 7 7 7 � 7 7 �� 9 9 � 9 9 9 � 9 � � � � �

12 12 12 12 12 12

G GBCC E GGBC CE G EGBC E G EGB CE G ACECE G ACECE 5 57113 557113 5 35713 535713 5 61313 561313 D Eb Dm � � � ���

115 58 � � 116 � � 11759 � 118 11960 � 120 � ��� ��� � �� � � � �� � � ������ � 5 5�� 5 5 � 5 5 � � � ��� � 7 7 7 7 7� 7

9 9 9 9 9 9 �

12 12 12 12 12 12

A D F# A D F# A D F# A D F# G Eb G Bb Eb G G Eb G Bb Eb G D DFAFA DDFAFA 5 13513 513513 3 13513 313513 1 1 3b 5 3b 5 113b 5 3b 5

600 601 Some Chords in the Mordaunt Capo Configuration p.6 Mordaunt# 3 # # Tuning:TUNING:G B D# F# G B D# B D F BCapo: D 0 3 2 3 1 1 D7 D7 D9 �� �� � � � � ��� � 121 122 � 123 124 � 125 126 � 61 � � � 62 � 63 � ��� � �� �� � 5 5 � 5 5 � � 5 5 � � � � 7 7 7� 7 �� 7� 7 �� � � 9 9 9 9 9 9 � �

12 12 12 12 12 12

x D F# A C F# x D F# A C F# D DADCA DDADCA D DADCE DDADCE x 1357b 3 x 1357b 3 1 1517b 5 11517b 5 1 1517b 2 11517b 2 Dm Dm D9 � �� � ���� � 127 128 129 130 131 132 � 64 � 65 � 66 � � �� �� � ��

5 5 � � 5 5 � � 5 5 � � ��� � ��� � � 7� 7 �� 7� 7 � 7� 7 � � � 9 9 9 9 9 9 � � �

12 12 12 12 12 12

D DADFA DDADFA D DFDFA DDFD FA D DAACE DDAACE 1 1513b 5 11513b 5 1 1 3b 1 3b 5 113b 1 3b 5 1 1557b 2 11557b 2 D9 Dm7 Dm7 ��� � �� ��� � � � � 13367 � 134 13568 � 136 13769 � 138 �� �� � ��

5 5 5 5 � � 5 5 � � � � � ����� � 7�� 7 �� 7� 7 7� 7 � � 9 9 � 9 9 9 9 � � �

12 12 12 12 12 12

D F# A D C E D F# A D C E D DFCCE DDFCCE D DACFA DDACFA 1 3517b 2 13517b 2 1 1 3b 7b 7b 2 113b 7b 7b 2 1 157b 3b 5 1157b 3b 5 Dm9 A7 D7 ��� � � � � ���� � � 13970 � 140 � 14171 � 142 � 14372 � 144 � �� � �� � ��

5 5 � 5 � � 5 � � 5 5 � � � � � 7� 7 7 7 �� 7�� 7 �

9 9 9 9 9 9 � � �

12 12 12 12 12 12

D DFAFE DDFAFE G EAAEA GEAAEA D F# A A C x DF#AACx 1 1 3b 5 3b 2 113b 5 3b 2 7b 51151 7b 51151 1 3557b x 13557b x

601