Dust My Broom

By Elmore James

Elmore James’ re-working of the Robert Johnson classic was his signature tune, and it is one of the most
recorded blues songs ever. Besides the Homesick James and Albert King versions included, there are covers by
Z. Z. Top, Canned Heat, Fleetwood Mac, Ike and Tina Turner and countless others. Elmore James’ version
features his famous 12th fret opening hook, as well as his boogie backup lick and classic turnaround (see the
ELECTRIC BLUES GUITAR TECHNIQUE section).
Homesick James’ playing (from a ’66 live recording) was similar to that of his cousin, but more relaxed, and he
was tuned very low! Where Elmore soloed mostly at the 12th fret, “Homesick” barred the IV and V chords, in a
“down home” bottleneck style. Albert King naturally eschewed the bottleneck and made the song his own,
executing some of his trademark string-bending licks (mostly played in the second blues pattern).
Open D tuning:
1 =D 4 =D
2 =A 5 =A
3 =F 6 =D 3
Moderate shuffle ( = ) = 100
D

3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
w/slide

12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 0 0 12 0
T 12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12 15
12 15
15
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12 15
12 15
15
12 12
A 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
B

D
G
3 3
3
3 3 3

12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 0 12
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 15 15
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 15 12 12 12
5 5 5 0 0 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
5 5 7 7 5 5 7 5 5 7 7 5 5 7
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

A G D A

1. I’m get tin’ up

3 3 3
3

no slide 3 3 3
7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
7 5 7 0 0
7 7 9 9 7 7 9 5 5 7 7 5 5 7 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 0
7 7 7 7 7 7 7 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Copyright © 1951 (Renewed) Arc Music Corporation

International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved

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 D G D

3
soon in the morn ing, I be lieve I’ll dust my broom.
2.,3.,4., See Additional Verses

3 3 3 3
w/slide

12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 15 15
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 15
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

3
I’m get tin’ up soon in the morn ing, I be lieve I’ll dust my

12
12

D A

3
broom. I’ve quit the best gal I’m lov in’,

3 3 3 3

12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 15 15
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 15 12
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

1.,2.,3.
G D A

3
3
now my friends can get my room. I’m gon na
3
3 3

no slide
3 3 3
0 0 3 0 2 0 0 0
0 0 0 0

3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 0

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 4. Solo
A D G D

3 3
w/slide

0 0 0
0 0 10 12
11 12 10 11 11 12 1
10 12 12 10 12 12
2 2 0 0 2
12 0 0 0 0 0

3 G D 3
3

0 0 0
10 12 0
0 10 11 11 12 11 12 1
10 12 12 10 12 12
12 2 2 0 0 2 2
0 0 0 0 0 0 0

A G D
3 3
3

3
w/slide
no slide
0 0 0 2 0 0 11 12
0 12 12 12 12 12 10 10 12 2 2 0 11 12
0 12 11 11 12 11 12
12 11 12 12 0 11 12
0 0 2 2 0 12 3 2 1 0 11 12
0 0 0 0 0

Additional Verses:
2. I’m gonna write a letter, telephone every town I know. (twice)
If I don’t find her in Mississippi, she’s over in Westminster I know.
3. And I don’t want no woman want every downtown man she meets. (twice)
No, I don’t want no woman want every downtown man she meets.
Means she a no-good dirty . . . they shouldn’t allow her on the street.
4. I believe, I believe my time ain’t long. (twice)
I’m gonna leave my baby and break up my happy home.

HOMESICK JAMES SOLOS

Open C tuning:
1 =C 4 =C
2 =G 5 =G
3 =E 6 =C 3
Moderate shuffle ( = ) = 128
C
3

3 3 3 3 3 3 3

12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
T 12
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
A 12 12 12
B
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 F C

3 3

5 5 5 0 12 12 12
5 5 12 12
5 5 12 12
5 12 12 12

G F C

3 3

7 0 5 5 12
7 5 12
7 5 12
12 0
0 0 2

2nd Solo
C

15 15
T 12
15
15
15
15 12
12
12
15 15
12 12
A 12 12 12 12 12 0
B 0

F C
3 3

3 3 3 3

15 15 15 15 15 15 5 5 5 0 5 5 5 5 5 12 12 12 12 12 12
15 15 15 15 15 15 5 5 5 0 5 5 5 5 5 5 12 12 12 12 12 12
15 15 15 15 15 15 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 12 12 12 12 12 12
5 5 5
5

G F C

3
3 3

12 12 12 7 7 7 7 5 5 7 11 12 0
12 12 12 0 7 7 7 7 7 5 11 12 0
12 12 12 7 7 7 7 7 5 12 11 12
12 12 0
12 0 2 2 0 0 2
12

ALBERT KING SOLOS

3
Moderate shuffle ( = ) = 105
D7 G7 D7

3
2nd pat. full full full full 1 1/2 full full full

15 15 15 15 13 14 15 15 13
T 15
A
B
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 G7 D7

3 3 3 3 3
3
(full) full full full 1/2

13 13 13 10 13 13 13 15 13 14 14 14
15 15 13 15 15 15 15
14

A7 G7

1/2 full full full full

14 13 15 15 13 13 13 15 13 13 15 13 13 10 13 10
13 13 15
14

D7 A7 D7 G7

3
3 2nd pat.
1st pat. 3 full full full full 1/2

10 10 15 15 13 13 13 13 10 13
7 10 10
12 10 11
12 12
12 12

D7 G7

3 3 3
3
full full full full full full

13 17 15 15 15 13 13 13 10 13 13 13 15 13
15 15 13 15 15

D7 A7

1/2 full full

14 14 14 13 15 15 13 13 13 15 13
15 13 15 15 13 15 15
14 14

G7 D7 N.C. D7

Rubato

3 3
3
1st pat.
1/2 full full

13 15 17 13 15 13
15 15 13 10
12 12 10
12 14 13 10 12 10 10
12 12 12
10

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