(These are guitar tabs
for some of my songs as created by Franz Nicolay (Thanks Franz!!!)- I hope he doesn't mind my posting
them here. For those of you who can actually understand 'tabs' then it might be interesting. Honestly
I have never been able to make head nor tale of these things so I cannot guarantee that they are right or
wrong - but he really seems to know what he is doing. I put this page in here because people are always asking me how to play my songs on guitar
- I hope this helps... Mark)
by Franz Nicolay
Hi folks -
It's been a long time since I did one of these but my man made a compelling
argument. "Take Courage" & "Nothing Can Bring Me Down" are taken from
"Songs of Love"; not guaranteed note-for-note accurate but pretty close. I
didn't have time to get to "Last Harbour" but have included two versions of
"Mission Rock" to make up for it. I haven't notated the exact fingerpicking
patterns, except in places where there are specific melodies, but the chord
shapes are there and you can get the rest by ear easily. Rhythms obviously
are hard to represent in tab but are easy to pick up (you all basically know
the songs already anyway). Line breaks usually indicate the end of a one or
two-bar phrase.
BLUE AND GREY SHIRT (Tuning: DADF#AD)
Verse:
--------------------
--------------------
---------------5---- Repeat as nec. "I sat up all morning"
-----------0-------0
-------5------------
---5----------------
"waited"
---0----------------0---------------0----------------------------0-------------
---0------------3-------3-------2-------2-----------0-------0----0-------------
---3--------3-------------------------------3---1-------1--------1-------------
---0-------------------------------------------------------------2-------------
---3----3-------------------3-------------------3----------------3-------3-2-0-
---3---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"sit" "road" "now"
---0----0----0----
---0----0----0----
---5----5----5---- Repeat x4
---0----0----0----
---4----5----5----
---0----5----4----
2nd verse ("Where's the compassion")
Chorus
Bridge (fingerpicked):
"now on"
---0----0---1---------
--------2--------4----
---5----1--------3---- Repeat.
---5-------------0----
---4----2--------4----
----------------------
3rd verse (same as first)
end by repeating last phrase (fingerpicked) of verse.
FIREFLY (as taken off "Songs of Love")
Tuning: DADF#AD
Verse:
"Come" "sit"
---0----0---
---10---0---
---8----1--- Repeat 4x
---7----2---
--------2---
---0--------
Chorus:
"You're""baby" "you go"
---0----0---- ---0---
---0----0---- ---3---
---0----7---- Repeat 3x ---0---
---0----7---- ---0---
---0----7---- ---3---
---0----0---- -------
Verse: "Tell me why"
Chorus - end on open D (all strings open "go")
"Solo" (* = harmonics):
---*12---*7---0---0---0---0----0---0----
---*12---*7---0---0---0---0----0---0----
---*12---*7---0---7---8---10---11--12---
---*12---*7---0---7---9---11---11--12---
---*12---*7---0-------------------------
---*12---*7---0-------------------------
---*12---*7---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---
---*12---*7---0---0---0---4---0---0---0---
---*12---*7---0---7---8---3---3---5---7---
---*12---*7---0---7---9---0---4---5---7---
---*12---*7---0---------------------------
---*12---*7---0---------------------------
Repeat 1st half of solo.
---*12---*7---0---7---7---
---*12---*7---0---7---7---
---*12---*7---0---8---7---
---*12---*7---0---9---7---
---*12---*7---0---0---0---
---*12---*7---0-----------
Verse 3 ("Time to finish the prayer")
Chorus
Bridge:
"Come on" "sit""long""Hold""arms""gone"
---0-------------------0--------------
---10--------7----7----10--------3----
---8----7----8----7----8----7----0----
---7----7----9----7----7----7----0----
--------5----0----0---------5----3----
---0-------------------0--------------
Last verse ("Hey, where did you go?"):
Same as others, except occasionally substitutes:
------- -------
---9--- ---10--
---8--- (D) for ---8--- (Dsus4)
---7--- ---7---
------- -------
---0--- ---0---
CRABWALK (standard tuning)
An easy one.
A7 D7 G Av
"Can't" "rolling"
----0----2---- ----3----0----
----2----1---- ----3----2----
----0----2---- Repeat as necessary, then: ----0----2---- Repeat 3x
----2----0---- ----0----2----
----0--------- ----2----0----
-------------- ----3---------
Chorus:
A D G
"C'mon do crabwalk"
----0----2----3----
----2----3----3----
----2----2----0----
----2----0----0----
----0---------2----
--------------3----
GARY'S SONG (standard tuning)
Verse:
"Gary""spring"
----0----0----0----0----
----0----2----3----2----
----1----0----0----0----
----2----2----2----2----
----2----0----0----0----
----0-------------------
Chorus:
"drink""drown" "shame" "Gary"
----3----0---- ----0(or5)---0----
----3----0---- ----5--------0----
----0----1---- Repeat.----6--------1----
----0----2---- ----5--------2----
----2----2---- ----0--------2----
----3----0---- -------------0----
Bridge:
"Gary" "wore" "welcome"
----7----10----5----
----8----8-----5----
----7----7-----6---- Repeat, hit open E on "breed"
----9----9-----5----
----7----7----------
--------------------
NO EASY WAY DOWN
I'll write out the chords first; then a quick'n'easy guitar
arrangement...piano players be aware that all maj7s are played with an
added 9; the turnaround riff is played with both hands doubled in
octaves, and the minor 7ths never have extensions. Also any time there
is a D to E, Bruce adds a D# passing tone in the bass line.
Intro:
Amaj9 F#-7 E (repeat)
Verse:
Amaj9 F#-7 D (maj7 optional) E
Turnaround riff: E F# A F# A
Amaj9 F#-7 D
C#-7 D C#-7 D
F#-7 E D A/C# B-7 E riff
Bridge:
Simply alternate Amaj9 and Gmaj9, end on E ("home")
Outro:
F#maj7 Bmaj7
Now, for guitarists: (just chord shapes, not in order)
Amaj7 F#-7 E D
----0--------2----0----2 ---5---
----2--------2----0----3 ---7 (or5)
----1--------2----1----2 or ---7---
----2--------2----2----0 ---7---
----0--------4----2----- ---5---
-------------2----0----- -------
C#-7 A/C#
----0---- ----4---- ------- -------
----2---- ----5---- ---5--- ---2---
----1---- or ----4---- ---6--- or ---2---
----2---- ----6---- ---7--- ---2---
--------- ----4---- ---4--- ---4---
--------- --------- ------- -------
B-7 Riff:
---2--- --------------------
---3--- --------------------
---2--- --------------------
---4--- --------------------
---2--- ----------0-----0---
------- ----0--2-----2------
The maj7s in the bridge and outro can be played a few different ways -
the Amaj7 can be the open chord as above, of course, and I like to play the
Gmaj7 (and the Amaj7 occasionally) in this form, with my thumb on the
low
E:
Gmaj7
---------
----3----
----4---- Play at 5th fret for Amaj7, 2nd fret for F#maj7
----4----
---------
----3----
Some people can't make their thumb do that, though, so either use:
----3----
----3----
----4---- At 5th fret for Amaj7, 2nd fret for F#maj7
----4----
---------
---------
Or the shape I would definitely use for the Bmaj7:
----2----
----4----
----3---- At 9th fret for F#maj7, 10th for Gmaj7 (avoid
----4---- these if possible tho, they sound out of place)
----2----
---------
I BROKE MY PROMISE
Verse:
---7------- --------------
---7---9--- ---7------7---
---7---8--- x2 ---7------7--- x2
---7---7--- ---9------7---
---9------- ---9------9---
----------- --------------
"I broke" "wouldn't..another"
Chorus:
---0---0--- ---0---7---
---0---0--- ---0---7---
---0---7--- or ---5---7---
---5---7--- ---5---7---
---5---7--- ---5---7---
---5---0--- ---0---0---
"glad..back"
Bridge:
---0---0---
---0---0---
---0---0--- x4
---5---4---
---5---4---
---5---4---
"Blue..sky"
---0-------0------0------0-----0---------0-----0---
---0-------0------0------0-----0---------0-----0---
---0-------0------0------0-----0---------0-----0---
---2-------4------2------4-----5---------4-----7---
---2-------4------2------4-----5---------4-----7---
---0-------2------2------4-----5---------4-----7---
"there's..light..dazzle..eyes..someone..loves..only.."
Solo over Chorus changes.
GRATITUDE WALKS
Obviously this one isn't "guaranteed the way Mark plays it" but I've
tried to approximate the piano parts - for those keyboardists out there the
bridge changes are A dim, Gdim/A, G dim, Fdim, Em/G, Fm7, Edim, F#dim, Db+/E,
C+/E, Bb+/E, E.
Intro:
------------12--------------
---------0--------------14--
------0---------------------
--11--------11---11-----11--
---------0------------------
------0--------------0------
Verse (fingerpick sim.)
--0-----2--- --0--
--4-----0--- --0--
--0-----0--- x4 --2--
--0-----0--- --2--
--0-----2--- --2--
--0--------- -----
"won't..something""sign sat up all night afraid"
Pre-chs
--5-------2------0---
--5-------0------0---
--5-------0------3--- Rpt.
--5-------0------4---
--5-------2------4---
--5--------------4---
"shines..oasis..leads"
Chorus:
--5---0----5---3----5---0----2---
--5---0----5---3----5---0----2---
--5---3----5---3----5---0----2---
--5---4----5---3----5---3----2---
--5---4----5---3----5---4----2---
--5---4----5---3----5---4----2---
"grat.walks" etc. "6th st."
Bridge:
----------------------3--5--6--8--10--
-------------------7--3--5--6--8--9---
--9--7--7--5--3----5--2--4--6--7--9---
--7--5--5--3-------5------------------
--7-----5-----------------------------
--7-----5----------5--------3---------
-------------- --11--10--8--------
--4--3--1----- --12--11--9--11----
--3--2--0--2-- **or** --11--10--8--10----
--3--2--0--2-- -------------(0)---
-------------- -------------------
--2--2--2--2-- -------------------
...depending on whether you want the exact melody or bass note in the
augmented passage.
--6-----8-------------0-----------------0--------
--6-----8----------------0-----------------0-----
--6-----8-------1--0--------0-----1--0--------0--
--6-----8----------------0-----------------0-----
--6-----8-------------0-----------------0--------
--6-----8----0-----------------0-----------------
"take a #" "big" "lament"
Pre-Chs
Chorus
last chord:
-----
-----
--9--
--7--
-----
--9--
WHY WON'T YOU STAY
The maj7th in the verse is a stretch & can be omitted if necessary. It
sounds good though, and it's on the record, if you can get it.
Intro:
--------------------------5--
-----------9-----------------
-----5--------------5--------
--------7-----7--------7-----
-----------------------------
--5--------------5-----------
Verse:
-----------7-----------------------
--------5-----5--------------9-----
-----7-----------7-----5--------5--
--7-----------------------7--------
-----------------------------------
--------------------5--------------
"Will this night ful-fill"
Pre-chs
--------0------------2------------0-----------2------
------0---0--------0---0--------0---0-------0---0----
----0-------0----0-------0----0-------0---0-------0--
-----------------------------------------------------
--5------------4------------2-----------4------------
-----------------------------------------------------
"your eyes....little things..as they...fall"
--------0------------2------------0-----------2------
------0---0--------0---0--------0---0-------0---0----
----0-------0----0-------0----0-------0---0-------0--
-----------------------------------------------------
--5------------4------------2-----------0------------
-----------------------------------------------------
"checking.....you're so....kissing you..you don't feel it"
Verse ("why'd you do this")
Pre-chs (2nd phrase):
--------0------------2------------0-----------2------
------0---0--------0---0--------0---0-------0---0----
----0-------0----0-------0----0-------0---0-------0--
-----------------------------------------------------
--5------------4------------2-----------0------------
-----------------------------------------------------
"is to watch..sleep"
Verse:
--7--------------------
--7-----------9--------
--7-----5--------5----- x2 ("passed..girl")
--7--------7--------7--
--7--------------------
--0---5----------------
"she..cloud"
-----------7--------------------------
--------------7--------------9--------
-----7-----------7-----5--------5----- x2
--------9-----------------7--------7--
--------------------------------------
--7-----------------5-----------------
"some things.......life"
Pre-chorus ("names & our faces")
Chorus
-----------7--------------------------
--------------7--------------9--------
-----7-----------7-----5--------5-----
--------9-----------------7--------7--
--------------------------------------
--7-----------------5-----------------
"why won't you stay"
Instrumental:
--------0-----------2-----------2----------2-------
------0---0-------0---0----------------------------
----0-------0---0-------0---0-----0-----0-----0----
------------------------------2-----2-----2-----2--
--5-----------2-----------0-----------0------------
---------------------------------------------------
"In memory of a little girl": over Chorus changes
Last Chorus:
-----------7--------------------------
--------------7--------------9--------
-----7-----------7-----5--------5-----
--------9-----------------7--------7--
--------------------------------------
--7-----------------5-----------------
"why won't you stay"
--2-----------------
--0-----------------
--0-------------5--- Rpt. both lines
--2-------------5---
----------------5---
--2---------4---5---
"why won't you stay"
Coda:
--------------------------------------
--7------7-----------------------4----
-------7----8--7--7-----5--------0----
-----7---------------5-----5--4--0----
---------------------------------4----
--7---------------5-------------(0)---
NOTHING CAN BRING ME DOWN
Tuning: DADF#AD
All fingerpicked unless otherwise indicated.
Verse (x4)
D-----------2--------------- ---4----2---
A---2---4---4--------------- ---0----0---
F#-------------------------- ---0----0---
D-----------------------0--- ---4----2---
A---2---2---2---0---2------- ---0----0---
D--------------------------- ------------
"I""face"fall" "well""groove"
Chorus:
---0----0---- ------------------
---0----0---- ------------------
---7----5---- x3 ---3----1----0----
---7----5---- ---4----2----0----
---7----0---- ------------------
---0----5---- ---0----0----0----
"what""around" "bring me down"
Verse
Chorus, then one bar of this Bm:
-----
--2--
--0--
--0--
--2--
-----
Bridge: (most of these melodies are filled out by "ghosted" notes from
the first chord or open strings)
----------------------
----------------------
--7--8-----------5---- Repeat once.
--7----(7)---------7--
----------(0)---------
--7----------(7)------
-------------------
-------------------
--5--6-------6--4-- Repeat once.
--5----5-----------
-------------------
--5-------5--------
--------------------
--------------------
--7--8--7--5-------- Repeat once.
--7-----------7--4--
--------------------
--7-----------------
------------------------------------
-----------5------------3--5--------
--5--6--6-----5--6---5--------5--3--
--5------------------5--------------
------------------------------------
--5------------------3--------------
-----------------------0--
--------------------------
--2--3--2--3--3--2--3-----
--2-----------------------
--------------------------
--2-----------------------
Verse, etc.
TAKE COURAGE
Tuning: DADF#AD
Verse: (first two notes in each chord are hammer-ons)
------------------ -------------------
------------------ ---------0---------
--------0--------- -------------------
--0--2-----2------ ---4--5-----5--4---
------------------ -------------------
--0-----------0--- ---5---------------
Chorus:
----------------------------------------
--9------------7------7----4---5----4---
--7------------7------8----5-----5--5---
----------------------------------------
--7------------7------7-----------------
--7------------7------7----5--------5---
"courage, take courage"
---------------------------------------------2---
--9----7-----7----5-----------------0--------0---
--7----7-----8----3--5--7--------0-----------0---
-------------7----5-----5--------2-----2--4--2---
--7----7-----7-------------------4-----------2---
--7----7-----7----5-----5--------4-----------0---
"used"forit" "every morning"
To top.
Coda, after last chorus:
-----------------------------------
----------5------------------------
-----0----5---5---7--------0-------
-----2----5-------5--------2-------
-----4----5----------------4-------
-----4----5-------5--------4-------
"morning" "every morning"
---------------------------
--------5----4-------------
--5-----5----5------0------
--5-----5----0------2------
--5-----5-----------4------
--5-----5----5------4------
"now i know""just""warning"
MISSION ROCK RESORT (as per Brownies 1995)
Tuning: DADF#AD
Verse:
--0--- --0--0--
--0--- --0--0--
--3--- --7--8--
--0--- --0--0--
--5--- --9--9--
--5--- --9--9--
Prechorus:
------0-----------
--9---5-------7---
--8---7-------7--- Repeat.
--9---7-------7---
--------------0---
--9---0-----------
"our talk is useless"
Chorus:
--0----------0----
--0----------0----
--7----------3----
--0----------0----
--9----------5----
--9----------5----
"nothing changes"
Bridge:
-------------------------------
--7---7---7----7---7---8---7---
--8---8---8----8---8---8---8---
--9---10--8----9---10--8---8---
--0---0---0----0---0---0---0---
--0---0--------0---0-----------
---------------------------
--7---7---7----7---7---7---
--8---8---8----8---8---7---
--9---10--8----9---10--7---
--0---0---0----0---0-------
--0---0--------0---0---0--
That's the version most faithful to the way Mark plays it solo. Here's
the first version I did, trying to cop it from "60 Watt" in open G, before
I realized that he used open D. I prefer the bridge on this one, and Mark
solo doesn't do the nice stepwise descending bass on "nothing changes"
that's on the album.
MISSION ROCK (alt. vers.)
Tuning: DGDGBD
Verse:
-------------------
--6---6----1---2---
--6---6----0---0---
--6---8----4---4---
--0--------4---4---
-------------------
Prechorus:
--0--------------
--7---7------2---
--6---0------0---
--5---7------2---
--6---7------2---
-----------------
"our talk is useless"
Chorus:
--0----------0---
--3------2---0---
--0------0---0---
--4------2---0---
--4------2---0---
-------------0---
"nothing changes"
Bridge:
----------------
---3---3---3----
---0---0---0----
---4---4---3----
---4---5---3----
----------------
EX-GIRLFRIEND (standard tuning)
Verse:
Am9 Cmaj7 Fmaj9 Cmaj7/G
----0----0----0----0----0----0----0----0
----0----0----0----0----1----0----1----0
----5----0----5----0----0----0----0----0 Repeat first four chords.
----7----2----7----2----3----2----3----2
----0----3----0----3----3----3----3----3
------------------------1----3----1----3
2nd verse: Am9 Cmaj7 Am9 Cmaj7 Am9 Cmaj7 Fmaj9 ("work your way")
"Bad habits": Am9 Cmaj7/G Fmaj9, repeat
Bridge: Cmaj7 G Fmaj9 Am9 ("all lit up") Cmaj7/G Fmaj9
Last verse: Am9 Cmaj7, repeat.
WESTERN SKY (DGDGBD)
In which I alternate between four chords, the first two of which
are probably what ME plays, the other two convenient enough. I'm
not gonna write out all the places they switch; you all know the song
well enough, but here's an example:
"Time" "away" "I'm not "think" "by"
gonna"
--------------- ----0-----0----------
----0----0----- ----5-----7-----0----
----0----0----- Repeat 4x ----0-----0-----0---- Repeat once for
----5----7----- ----5-----7-----5---- "anything good will
----5----7----- ----5-----7-----5---- fall"
----5----7----- ----------------5----
KATHLEEN (standard tuning)
delicately fingerpicked...
Am Em
E------5-----------------------5-----------
B------0-----------------------0-----------
G------5-----------------------4-----------
D------5-----------------------5-----------
A------0-----------------------------------
E------------------------------0-----------
WILD SEA (DGDGBD)
I know from watching him that he plays this riff higher on the
neck - I kinda prefer this way though - at least 'til I figure out what
he's doing.
Basic riff:
------0---------------------0----
------0----0------0----0----1----
------0---2sl4----2----0----0----
------0----0------0----0----2----
------0---------------------2----
------0--------------------------
Can be embellished in many ways...I won't write out my particular ones
unless someone wants 'em.
Don't have the bridge; instead, I usually play this (one chord per
bar):
----0----0----0----0----0----0----0----0----0 --0--
----0----1----3----5----1----3----5----7----0 --12-
----0----0----0----0----0----0----0----0----0 or --0-- at the end.
----0----2----4----5----2----4----5----7----0 --12-
----0----2----4----5----2----4----5----7----0 --12-
----0---------------------------------------0 --0--
Far be it for me to try 'n' improve it tho.
JOHNNY MATHIS' FEET (DGDGBD)
You'll recognize the chord shapes.
Verse:
"laid" "songs"
"Johnny" "feet"
----0----0----0--------------0----0----0------------------------------
----0----1----0--------------0----1----0------------------------------
----7----0----0----0----0----7----0----0----0----0----0---------0----0
----7----2----0----4----2----7----2----0----4----2----4---------4----2
----0----2----0----4----2----0----2----0----4----2----4----5----4----2
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chorus:
"wave" "-crusted" "yougotta" "silk"
"glittering""disappear"
----0----0----0----0----0----0----
----5----0----7----5----0----7----
----0----0----0----0----0----0----
----5----0----7----5----0----7----
----5----0----7----5----0----7----
----------------------------------
CHANEL NO. 5 ("Songs of Love" version)
Tuning: DADF#AD
Intro:
----------------5---0-----------------------0---------------0---
--------------------0---0-----------2---4-------4---2---0---4---
-------5------------1---0-------3---------------------------5---
---5--------4-------0---0---2-------------------------------4---
----------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------
Repeat twice, under first two lines of verse.
"bills" "paid"
"Might""effort" "around"
---0----0----0----0-------------
---0----0----0----0-------------
---5----7----0----0----0----0--- Repeat.
---5----7----0----4----2----0---
---5----7----5----4----2----0---
-------------0----4-------------
Chorus:
"She's""walk""on"
---0----0----0----0----0----
---0----0----0----0----0----
---0----5----0----0----0---- Repeat all 3x, then on last line:
---4----5----4----2----4----
---4----5----4----2----4----
---4---(5)------------------
"headlights" line:
---0---0---5---6---7---
---0---0---5---7---7---
---0---5---5---7---7---
---4---5---5---0---7---
---4---5---0---7---0---
---4-------------------
2nd Verse:
"All""people""little"
---0----0----0----
---0----0----4----
---5----7----5---- Repeat.
---5----7----4----
---5----7---------
------------------
"All""wanted""lost" "smile"
---0----0----0----0----0----0---
---0----0----0----0----0----0---
---5----7----0----0----0----0--- Repeat.
---5----7----0----0----2----0---
---5----7----5----4----2----0---
--------------------------------
Bridge:
"Yeah""never""mind" "beating"
---0----0----0---- ---0---
---10---9----0---- ---10--
---8----8----7---- Repeat 4x. Last line ends on: ---8---
---7----7----7---- ---7---
-------------7---- -------
---0----0--------- -------
Chorus. End on:
"Show" "tonight"
---0----0----0---0---6---
---0----0----0---7---7---
---0----7----0---7---7---
---5----7----5---7-------
---5----7----5-------7---
---5---------------------
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