Cruel Sisterby Pentangle

Cruel Sister is the title tune from Pentangle's fourth album, released in 1970. It is a traditional English Ballad with the usual jealousy, murder and supernatural themes. There are dozens of renditions of the story, also known as The Two Sisters, but Pentangle's is one of the best known.

Their arrangement featured Jacqui McShee's haunting vocals over John's fingerpicking guitar accompaniment, as well as an overdubbed sitar part.

This lesson breaks down Renbourn's picking, which is fairly straightforward through the verse, but gets more involved in a short refrain, as well as an occasional instrumental interlude.