https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/lucky-man-easy-fingerpicked-version/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:58:06 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/lucky-man-easy-fingerpicked-version/#post-197164 Mon, 04 Sep 2006 19:26:53 +0000 Here is my take on the 1971 Emerson Lake and Palmer number written by Greg Lake. Synthesizers not included.

I play it with a 1&2&3&4& rhythm, alternating bass pluck on the 1st and 3rd beat, with the G,B, E strings picked in between by the index, middle and ring finger respectively. For example, while fingering a G chord:

1 pluck E string with thumb
& pick G string with index
2 pick B string with middle
& pick E string with ring
3 pluck A string with thumb
& pick G string with index
4 pick B string with middle
& pick E string with ring


quote]

Hi mate thanks for your version. If can tell one thing, the rhythm you suggested is not the original one since the song is played by Elp in 3/4 (or 6/8 not sure), in any case definitely not 4/4!

I play it with a simple

t, i, m, a, m, i for each chord (six notes of one eight per measure), or if i strum it

D/du/du accenting first downstrum to emulate the waltz-feel


Cheers

Matteo

p.s. check a few months ago Wes Iman posting about this song]]> Easy Songs matteo https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/lucky-man-easy-fingerpicked-version/#post-197164 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/lucky-man-easy-fingerpicked-version/#post-194664 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:09:02 +0000
I am a quite rudimentary picker, so you should be able to tackle it with a little practice.]]> Easy Songs Dave T https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/lucky-man-easy-fingerpicked-version/#post-194664 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/lucky-man-easy-fingerpicked-version/#post-194661 Mon, 21 Aug 2006 23:39:23 +0000
I've forgotten a lot of ELP's music. So much so that I don't even have any of their recordings at the moment. (Should be ashamed of myself) So, I went onto Itunes and found a live and studio version of this song, great song it is too.

So I'm having a go at this now. Can't say fingerpicking is easy at the moment., but at least I can strum a passable version.

Thanks again Dave and welcome to this forum

Chris]]> Easy Songs dogsbody https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/lucky-man-easy-fingerpicked-version/#post-194661 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/lucky-man-easy-fingerpicked-version/#post-19820 Sun, 20 Aug 2006 00:18:24 +0000

For an Intro play G and D twice
Alternate G and D chords down through the verses, G on the first word of each line, D on the last word of each line.
Chorus is Am, Em, D, D

The lyrics:


He had white horses
And ladies by the score
All dressed in satin
And waiting by the door

Oooh, what a lucky man he was(2x)

White lace and feathers
They made up his bed
A gold covered mattress
On which he was laid

Oooh, what a lucky man he was(2x)

He went to fight wars
For his country and his king
Of his honor and his glory
The people would sing

Oooh, what a lucky man he was(2x)

A bullet had found him
His blood ran as he cried
No money could save him
So he laid down and he died


Oooh, what a lucky man he was(2x)


It was pointed out to me (thanks) I was playing this with a 4/4 pattern as opposed to the 3/4 it was written in.

I now play it with this easy pattern, counting 1 2 & 3 &

1 Bass pluck
2 Index finger on G string
& Middle finger on B string
3 Ring finger on E string
& Middle finger on B string.]]> Easy Songs Dave T https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/lucky-man-easy-fingerpicked-version/#post-19820