Monday, March 23, 2009

How to play Skeleton Bones

Skeleton Bones is a frequently requested song from my new album The Medicine. So finally I got around to posting a chart (or something like it). I will have a more legit looking chart in the near future. 

I use a capo on the second fret and I play mostly "G" and "C" shaped chords on the 12th fret to make the song in "E". The rhythm comes form the way I hammer on my index finger on the top chords from an open string. This gives it the twang. The C#m can be a little tricky for this technique but if I can do it anyone can. 

I've also posted a couple of examples of chords so you can see the voicing. I don't put the voicing on the chart because I usually don't want the whole band playing the extra notes my guitar makes or it comes across a little Jazzy sounding. So I just didn't the voicing in. However if you play "G" and "C" shaped chord on the 12th fret but leave the other strings open you will attain the desired effect. For the other chords like the "A" and "B" on the chorus I have posted some diagrams for you to see how I play them as they are not common but not difficult to play.

Also since I've noticed people singing and posting the wrong words. I've included the real lyrics to the song for your pleasure.

Skeleton Bones

Peel back our ribs again
And stand inside of our chest
We just want to love you
We just want to love you yeah

Peel back the veil a time
Let us see you with our naked eyes
We just want to love you
We just want to love you yeah

Skeleton bones stand at the sound
Of eternity on
The lips of the found
Grave stones roll
to the rhythm of the sound of you
Skeleton bones stand at the sound
Of eternity on
The lips of the found
Yeah so separate those doors
Let the sun of resurrection in

Oh let us
Adore the son of glory
Dressed in love
Open up your gates
Before him
Crown him
Stand him up

We want your blood to flow inside our body and
We want your wind inside our lungs
We just want to love you
We just want to love you yeah
We want your blood to flow inside our body and
We want your wind inside our lungs
We just want to love you
We just want to love you yeah

Skeleton bones stand at the sound
Of eternity on
The lips of the found
Grave stones roll
To the rhythm of the sound of you
Skeleton bones stand at the sound
Of eternity on
The lips of the found
yeah so separate those doors
And let the sun of resurrection in

Oh let us
Adore the son of glory
Dressed in love
Open up your gates
Before him
Crown him
Stand him up

Everything that breaths
Everything that breaths
Everything that breaths










13 comments:

  1. love the blogg!!!!!
    just wanna say "your a great song writer, love the passion"!!!!
    (i like some)
    keepon
    crankin'um
    crank'um
    seeyanevah

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  2. so that c# minor what string is your middle finger on?

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  3. My middle finger is actually not on any string. It just looks like it in the picture. The purpose of voicing the chord that way is to allow my index finger to continue the hammer-on.

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  4. JMM,
    thanks for the lyrics and diagrams. I love the chord voicings in this song, helps me expand my chord vocab quite a bit just by playing with variations of those you've shown here.

    I look forward to hearing the new verse you've written maybe sometime.
    Take care and God bless,
    Jason watson, KY

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  5. how 'bout you do the same for 'death in His grave'---you know since Easter is coming up???

    Kindra

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  6. JMM, what model is your Gibson hollow body (ES 339?) It has got some killer tone and i've been looking for a nice hollow body. I've really been looking into the 339 and i wasn't sure if that is what you played or not. Thanks

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  7. I saw you in Wilmington, NC last weekend and am a huge fan of this song and all of your other music as well. You sang this one song that we loved and have been looking for. The only words I can remember are: Open up you doors, you everlasting doors...repeated several times. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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  8. Seriously would love to see "Death in His Grave". One of my favorite worship songs.

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  9. Blaine, I figured out death in his grave if you are still interested?

    http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/j/john_mark_mcmillan/death_in_his_grave_crd.htm

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  10. Hi there, John. I really love "Skeleton Bones" - thank you for sharing it with us here so we can catch your technique! I'm not sure if folks ask you this much but I've wondered why the lyrics 'stand Him up'? Since the first time I heard it I have had this unfortunate mental image of 1 Samuel 5:3. I totally know that is not what you mean. Can you help me out? (yes, I am one of /those/ lyric people - I take things way too litterally) Thank you!

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  11. Bat'Arieh, I think that you're right to point out this line. Many of JMM's songs seem to be less about meaning than vivid imagery. I don't mean this in a negative way; this is just how I see his music. These songs can be very inspirational and moving, but you may not find a clear thesis in many of them. "Skeleton Bones" is a great example of how a colorful, catchy and beautifully constructed song can still lack a consistent and clear message.

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