Between the Bars
by Elliot Smith
on the "Good Will Hunting" soundtrack
Tabbed by Bruno
This song seems like it's done a whole step down or I don't know how he
does the bass line otherwise. Putting a bass guitar in would be
stupid. It's simpler and it sounds a lot nicer solo voice and guitar.
This is my insight on it:
chords: I KNOW that these are right but i'm not sure about some of the
names for them with question marks near them.
Am7(high octave type), F, C, C/B, Fm/G# ???, G, Am7/F# ???
*warning- you must be a GOOD guitarist to play this song correctly*
I'm not going to tab out an F, C, or G chord, because if you don't know
them, you shouldn't be playing this song, let alone guitar.
The bass line (picking) is fairly obvious except in chorus, which I've
shown further down. For the verse, just pick the obvious bass string in
the chord with your thumb. If you don't know what it is, then LISTEN TO
THE SONG.
Am7 (high octave type)
_________________________________________
1 | | | | 1 |
2 | | 2 3 | |
3 | | | | | 4
4 | | | | | |
5 | | | | | |
C/B
_________________________________________
1 | | | | 1 |
2 | 3 2 | | |
3 | | | | | |
4 | | | | | |
5 | | | | | |
Fm/G# ???
________x_______x________________________
1 | | | 1 1 1
2 | | | | | |
3 | | | | | |
4 4 | | | | |
5 | | | | | |
Am7/F#
_________________________________________
1 | | | | 1 |
2 t | 2 3 | |
3 | | | | | 4
4 | | | | | |
5 | | | | | |
t= thumb (if you cant do it that way, drop the 7 and do it another way)
Here's the meat:
Verse 1
Am7
Drink up baby
F
stay up all night
C C/B
the things you could do, you won't but you might
Am7
the potential you'll be
F
but you'll never see
C E F
the promises you'll only make
Am7
drink up with me now
F
and forget all about
C C/B
the pressure of days, do what I say
Am7
and I'll make you ok
F
and drive them away
C E F
the image is stuck in your head
Chorus:
Here's the bass climb during the Am chord- I'm making this REALLY
specific so it should be easy to get... this is the way I do it so your
guitar fretboard size and hands may cause you to have to alter it a
little... but I hope it helps.
b= the bass string you should pluck
step 1
________b________________________________
1 | | | | 1 |
2 | | | 2 | |
3 | | | | | |
4 | | | | | |
5 | | | | | |
step 2
________b________________________________
1 | | | | 1 |
2 | 3 | 2 | |
3 | | | | | |
4 | | | | | |
5 | | | | | |
step 3
________b________________________________
1 | | | | 1 |
2 | | | 2 | |
3 | 3 | | | |
4 | | | | | |
5 | | | | | |
step 4
________________b________________________
1 | | | | 1 |
2 | | | 2 | |
3 | | | | | |
4 | | | | | |
5 | | | | | |
step 5
________________b________________________
1 | | | | 1 |
2 | | 3 2 | |
3 | | | | | |
4 | | | | | |
5 | | | | | |
**As I've said many times before, if you don't have big hands that
enable you to hold down the second fret with your thumb you may have to
drop the 7 on the Am so that you can hold the second fret down with a
finger. OR you could just NOT do the bass climb... but that would make
the song sound really lame...and it's not...so please don't do it.**
However, if you're REALLY slick, then try sliding your third finger from
the second fret to the third very quickly and then get it in position
for the F chord. It flows nice and I think that's what Elliot Smith
actually does.
You start the chorus plucking obvious bass strings loudly and then start
playing the bass climb I transcribed above by the first Am chord. After
you finish that then you have to play those chords with the weird
finger/thumb stretches and after that (on the third Am) you play the
bass climb again. I guarantee that this WILL take some practice.
F G Am
people you've been before
Fm/G# G Am7/F#
that you don't want around anymore
F G Am
that push and shove and won't bend to your will
F Fm
I'll keep them still
Am7
drink up baby
F
look at the stars
C C/B
I'll kiss you again between the bars
Am7
where I'm seeing you there
F
with your hands in the air
C E F
waiting to finally be caught
Am7
drink up one more time
F
and I'll make you mine
C C/B
keep you apart, deep in my heart
Am7
separate from the rest
F
where I like you the best
C E F
and keep the things you forgot
Now just repeat the chorus. End on the Fm chord and just fade with it.
*the ONLY way to learn this song well is to play along with it when
you're first learning*
Anyways, I hoped this tab helped you... I like this song and and enjoy
playing it because it is something you can do on your own. If you have
any GOOD corrections to this song, a rookie Juan Gonzalez card,
sarcastic comments, blatant insults, crappy forwarded jokes, or just
need somebody to talk to, e-mail me at: [email protected] or you can
check out my band's site (Goldfish in the Toilet) and e-mail my friend
about the song if you don't like my attitude.