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For Guitarists

Big Ben

Tabs by Stuart Matthews & Miguel A. Dominguez

Stuart says: Play this one relaxed. It's a fingerstyle song, so nothing is really wrong if you miss
a couple of notes. The intro is lovely, very subtle, with little arpeggios that suggest the melodies
which Roddy will sing later. The intro and licks are tabbed at the bottom of the page. Have fun ...

Miguel says: The verse is a transition from D to D5(+) to D6 to D7 always over the 2nd, 3rd and 4th
strings (as bass line, just move one finger). On the chorus the transition is from
D to Cdim to Em to Em7 to A/D. This D works as bass line to the new verse.
Playing like this you will get the original Roddy's touch! Good luck again!

Standard tuning
(tabs for licks and intro at bottom of chart)
    
Intro
A ------- Asus4 ---- A ------- Asus4
x0222x    x0023x     x0222x    x0023x

D6 ------ D6 ------ A ----
xx043x    xx043x    x0222x  


Verse 1:
A ---------------------------
x0222x
On Sunday nothing opens late,

-------------------------------- A6/9
                                 x022x2
the clock across the river chimes -----

A ----------------------------------
x0222x
It towers above the bridge, we cross

----------------------------
We're bound for better times

D----------------------------- D5+ --
xx023x                         xx033x 
We join the flow that's headed west and start

D------------------------ D5+ and Lick 2
xx023x                    xx033x 
Letting go of what's kept us apart


Verse 2:
A ---------------------
x0222x                                              
Arriving at forgiveness

--------------------------- Lick 1
Free to face the wintertime ------

A7-----------------------------------
x0505x
Where memories rise out of the dark

--------------------------
And play and shadows climb

D-------------------------- D5(+) -----------------
xx023x                      xx033x 
While we de-cide what still applies and what can go

D6-------------------------------- D7 -----------
xx043x                             xx053x
Clouds curl across the sky and the wind moans low


Chorus 1:
------- Gmaj7 -------------------------
        3x4432            
And I'm free to find some understanding

Gm --------------- C9 --------------
xx533x             x3233x          
What used to be my world's expanding

D ------------------- Cdim ---
xx0232                xx1212
I see the city in her eyes,
                            
-------------------
The river's rushing

------- Em --------Em7 ---- A/D---
        0220xx     x200xx   x42220
And the lights --- have --- changed


Verse 3:
A -------------------------------------- Lick 1
x0222x                                         
And I suppose it's just my jealous streak

A7-------------------------------------------
x0505x
Draws out a word and makes it last all week

D-------------------------- D5(+) -------
xx023x                      xx033x 
And turns and shapes it all into a noose

D6------------------------------ D5(+) ---
xx043x                           xx033x
'Cause I can't bear to have the ends left loose


Verse 4:
A ---------------------------------- Lick 1
00222x                          
But at my best, I do believe in love ------

A7--------------------------------
x0505x
I can't conceive of only sky above

D--------------------- D5(+) ----------
xx0232                 xx0332 
Seems to me we get to choose this stuff

D6-----------------------------
xx0432                          
Let's pick the path that's true,

---------- D7 ----------
           xx0530
Though the road is rough


Chorus 2:
--------- Gmaj7 -----------------------------
          3x4432             
And we'll be up where the stars are streaming

Gm7 ------------------------ C9 ----------------
x2333x                       x3233x
Glittering trails across the sky, still gleaming

D ---------------- Cdim -------------
xx0232             xx1212                                              
The city shivering below, all lit up 

--------------- Em -------- Em7 ------- A ----
                x220xx      x200xx      xx222x
Dreaming of the spring's -- soothing -- hand


Verse 5:
A ------------------------------------------
00222x                                   
Don't scratch the surface for the sake of it

---------------------------------------
Just because you know the ache will fit

D--------------------------- D5(+) ----------
xx0232                       xx0332 
The hole inside this soft and soo-thing thing

D6----------------------------- D7 --------------
xx0432                          xx053x
Where the soul is worn away and love still stings


Chorus 3:
-------- Gmaj7 ---------------------------------
         3xx432            
Like the wind that leaves the trees all standing

Gm7 ------------------ C9 ---------------
xx3333                 x32333 
Shy and naked as their leaves are landing

D ----------------------------- Cdim
xx0232                          xx1212                                      
Who knows where, carried on the air --

-----------------
Life lends a hand

----------- Em ---- Em7------- A 
            0220xx  x200xx     x0222x
And then it all --- starts --- again  

---

Guitar tab below
------------------------

/ = slide
(h) = hammer

Intro

---- A ------------- Asus4 
E|---------------------|
B|---2-0-2-0-2-(h) 3-3-|
G|---2-0-2-0-2-------2-|
D|---2-0-2-----------0-|
A|-0-----------------0-|
E|---------------------|

       A ----------- Asus4
E|----------------------|
B|-----2-0-2-0-2-(h)-3--|
G|-----2-0-2-0-2-----2--|
D|-----2-0-2---------2--|
A|---0------------------|
E|-0--------------------|

           D6          
E|---------------------|
B|---------3-----------|
G|-----2-/-4-4-4-4-4-2-|
D|---0-----0-----------|
A|-0-------------------|
E|---------------------|

           D6          
E|---------------------|
B|---------3-----------|
G|-----2-/-4-4-4-4-4-2-|
D|---0-----0-----------|
A|-0-------------------|
E|---------------------|

               A
E|---------------|
B|-------------2-|
G|-----------0-2-|
D|-0-(h)-2-4---2-|
A|-------------0-|
E|---------------|


Lick 1 (A to A7)
E|------------|
B|-2-/-3-/-5--|
G|------------|
D|-2-/-4-/-5--|
A|------------|
E|------------|


Lick 2 (D5+ to A)
E|---------------|
B|-------------2-|
G|-----------0---|
D|-0-(h)-2-4---2-|
A|-------------0-|
E|---------------|


***

  



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