BIG BOSS MAN by Luther Dixon and Al Smith (1960) Version by Jerry Garcia - Grateful Dead This 1960 blues performed by Jimmy Reed has been covered by many including Elvis Presley and B.B King (this latter sang it on the music of Billie Jean!). The story of this famous tune is readable on Wikipedia here. The tab and audio here are about the version by Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead. Throughout the decades they have given various versions on stage that we can now see on Youtube but my favorite one remains the one they recorded on their live album Skull 'n Roses at Fillmore East on april 26 1971. It was 4 years after the band illuminated the Summer of Love in San Francisco with Jefferson Airplane. Jerry Garcia has electrified and slowed down Jimmy Reed's guitar and knits a new sound playing some sort of solo all along replying to the vocals. The intro is also interesting in that it is a duet between two guitars before the second starts the shuffling rhythm. In the stage performance the tune consists of an intro , two sung verses, three instrumental verses ( one with harmonica, one with a guitar solo and one with harmonica again) and a last sung verse. The tab shows : 1. the intro 2. the first sung verse 3. the second sung verse 4. the guitar solo verse 5. the last sung verse The two instrumental verses implying an harmonica have been omitted, since of no particular interest in a guitar tab (and especially when Jerry Garcia keeps silent in the background !). I tabbed the 2 guitars. In each verse the bars are numbered from 1 to 12 just for you to know where you are. In my profile I joined the MP3 in which I play the 2 guitars and the bass LEGEND : h : hammer-on p : pull-off / : slide-up \ : slide-down ^^ : let ring X! : don't let ring (n): optional >>>: strum quickly XbY : bend at the X fret until it sounds like Y ( X < Y ) XrY : release at the Y fret from the X sound ( X > Y : you start from the bended position ) Xb : bend moderalety n_ : linger on this note (rough way of noting rhythm !) XtY : trill between X and Y (with ^^^^^) Vo : vibrato INTRO Lead guitar E+----------------------4------------4------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+-----------------2/4_---4!---2/4------4!--+---2_------------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+---0_------------------------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+-----------------------------0h2---0------+---0_------------------------------------+ A+--------------------------------------2---+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Lead guitar E+---------------------4----------4---------+--0---------2----------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----2-----------------------------------+ G+---------------2/4_-----4!---4-----4!-----+---------2--------0h1--------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+---------------0h2--0h2-----0h2-0---------+-----0-------------2_--------------------+ A+-----------------------------------2------+--2----2-0-------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+----------4-0----------------------------+ Lead guitar ^^^^^ E+---------------4---------0----------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+----------------------------2-------------+------2--0--2----------------------------+ G+----------2/4-----4-----------------------+------2--0--2---------0t1----------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+----------------------2_-----------------+ A+---------0----1--2--5_--------------------+-----0-----------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+--------4--0-----------------------------+ Lead guitar E+------------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+ G+-------------------2_---------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+ A+----------0--1--2-------------------------+ E+-------0----------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+ D+-------------------1_---------------------+ A+----------0--1--2-------------------------+ E+-------0----------------------------------+ 1st VERSE Lead guitar 1 ^^ 2 E+------------------------------------------+------------0----------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+---2-------------------------------------+ G+-----------------------0h1------0h1-------+---2----0h1------------------------------+ D+----------------------------2-------2-----+-----2-----------------------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+-------------2--2--4--4---2--2--4(4)4-----+------2--2--4--4-----2--2--4(4)4---------+ E+-------------0--0--0--0---0--0--0---0-----+------0--0--0--0-----0--0--0---0---------+ Big boss man_ Can't you hear me Lead guitar 3 ^^ 4 E+-----------------------4-----0-------2----+--------0--0-0------0_-------------------+ B+-------------------------------2----------+--------3--3-3------3_-------------------+ G+------------------2/4----4--------2-------+---0h1--1--1-1---------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+-------------2--2--4--4---2--2--4(4)4-----+------2--2--4--4-----2--2--4(4)4---------+ E+-------------0--0--0--0---0--0--0---0-----+------0--0--0--0-----0--0--0---0---------+ when I call Lead guitar 5 ^^ 6 E+------------------------------------------+-------5---------------------------------+ B+------------------7---5------------7------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------7---5h6---5h6----7------+---5h6-----------------------------------+ D+--------------------------------7-----7---+-----------------------------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------2--2--4--4--5--5--4(4)4-------+---(2)2(2)2--4--4--5--5--4(4)4-----------+ A+------------0--0--0--0--0--0--0---0-------+------0---0--0--0--0--0--0---0-----------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Big boss man_ Can't you hear me Lead guitar ^^ 7 ^^^^ ^^ 8 E+-----------------------------4------2-----+--------------------0-0-0---2------------+ B+------------------------------------------+--------------------3-3-3---0------------+ G+-------------------2/4_--------4--2--2----+--0t1---------------1-1-1---2------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+-------------2--2--4--4---2--2--4(4)4-----+------2--2--4--4-----2--2--4(4)4---------+ E+-------------0--0--0--0---0--0--0---0-----+------0--0--0--0-----0--0--0---0---------+ when I call Lead guitar 9 ^^ 10 E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+---------------------------4-----4--------+---2_------------------2/4-2-0-----------+ D+---------------------------4-----4--------+---2_---------------------------2p0h2----+ A+-----------------------------5h6----------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+-------------9--9-------------------------+---7--7----------------------------------+ A+-------------9--9-11-11-12-12-11-11-------+---7--7--9--9-10-10--9--9----------------+ E+-------------7--7--7--7--7--7--7----7-----+---5--5--5--5--5--5--5-------5-----------+ You ain't so big You're just tall that's just Lead guitar 11 12 E+---------------4-----0------2-------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+-----------------------2------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+----------2/4----4--------2---------------+--0h1------------2_----------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------0--1-2------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-------0---------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+---------------2-----2-------2--------2---+-----------------1_----------------------+ A+------------------5----5--4-----4--3----3-+----2_-----0--1--2_----------------------+ E+-----------0------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ about all 2nd VERSE Lead guitar 1 2 E+---------------------------------------0^^+-----------------------------------------+ B+-----------------2------------2-----------+-------2-----------------/3--3--2--------+ G+-----------------2-0h1--0h1---2----0h1----+-------2-0h1-------------/4--4--2--------+ D+----0-1-2!------------------2---2---------+-----------------------2-----------------+ A+--2---------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+-------------2--2--4--4---2--2--4(4)4-----+------2--2--4--4-----2--2--4(4)4---------+ E+-------------0--0--0--0---0--0--0---0-----+------0--0--0--0-----0--0--0---0---------+ You got me working boss man working around the clock Lead guitar 3 ^^^^ 4 E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+-----------------------2---------2-2------+-----------------------------------------+ G+-----------------------2-0h1-----2-2------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------------------------2-----------+------0t2--------------------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+-------------2--2--4--4---2--2--4(4)4-----+------2--2--4--4-----2--2--4(4)4---------+ E+-------------0--0--0--0---0--0--0---0-----+------0--0--0--0-----0--0--0---0---------+ I want a little whisky You sure won't let me stop Lead guitar 5 Vo 6 E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----5---5--5----------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----4b5----5r4--2-----2--2-2------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------2--2-2------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------2--2--4--4--5--5--4(4)4-------+---(2)2(2)2--4--4--5--5--4(4)4-----------+ A+------------0--0--0--0--0--0--0---0-------+------0---0--0--0--0--0--0---0-----------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Big boss man Can't you hear me Lead guitar 7 8 E+-------------------------4-----0------2---+-----------0--0--0-----------------------+ B+---------------------------------2--------+-----------3--3--3-----------------------+ G+--------------------2/4----4--------2-----+---0h1-----1--1--1-----------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+-------------2--2--4--4---2--2--4(4)4-----+------2--2--4--4-----2--2--4(4)4---------+ E+-------------0--0--0--0---0--0--0---0-----+------0--0--0--0-----0--0--0---0---------+ when I call Lead guitar ^^ ^^ 9 10 E+----------------7----------7--------------+--------5--------------------------------+ B+--------------------9--7------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------/8------9--7h8----------------+---5h6------------2/4\2--0---------------+ D+------------------------------------------+----------------------------2p0h2--------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+-------------9--9-------------------------+---7--7----------------------------------+ A+-------------9--9-11-11-12-12-11-11-------+---7--7--9--9-10-10--9--9----------------+ E+-------------7--7--7--7--7--7--7----7-----+---5--5--5--5--5--5--5-------5-----------+ you ain't so big You're just tall that's just Lead guitar 11 12 E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+----------12----12-12----12---------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+----------11b13----13r11-13r11-11-9_------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-------9h11-9----9_----------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+--------------11-------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+---------------2-----2-------2--------2---+-----------------1_----------------------+ A+------------------5----5--4-----4--3----3-+----2_-----0--1--2_----------------------+ E+-----------0------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ about all 3rd VERSE (SOLO) Lead guitar Vo 1 Vo 2 E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+-------------12---------------------------+------12--10-----9---------12----12-9----+ G+--------9)---13r11---9--------------------+------13--12r11--9------9--11b13-11-9----+ D+--(9-11-----------------------------------+--------------------9h11--------------11-+ A+--------------------------/9---7----------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+-------------2--2--4--4---2--2--4(4)4-----+------2--2--4--4-----2--2--4(4)4---------+ E+-------------0--0--0--0---0--0--0---0-----+------0--0--0--0-----0--0--0---0---------+ Lead guitar Vo 3 4 E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+--------------------9--12----12-9---------+--12----12-9------9------7--7------------+ G+--------------------9--11b13-11-9---------+--11b13-11-9------9------7--7------------+ D+-------------9-9h11---------------11------+--------------11-------------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+-------------2--2--4--4---2--2--4(4)4-----+------2--2--4--4-----2--2--4(4)4---------+ E+-------------0--0--0--0---0--0--0---0-----+------0--0--0--0-----0--0--0---0---------+ Lead guitar 5 6 E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+--------------------11--------------------+--------------12----------12----12-------+ G+-----------------9--11--------------------+------------9!13r11-9-----11b13-13r11--9-+ D+------------9h11--------------------------+-----7!-/11_---------11-9----------------+ A+------------------------0-7h9--7----------+------7----------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-9/10------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------2--2--4--4--5--5--4(4)4-------+---(2)2(2)2--4--4--5--5--4(4)4-----------+ A+------------0--0--0--0--0--0--0---0-------+------0---0--0--0--0--0--0---0-----------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Lead guitar ^^ 7 8 E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+-------------12_---12-10--9--/12----------+------------9-9-9------------12----------+ G+-------------13_---13-11--9--/13----------+----11--9---9-9-9----11p9----11b13-------+ D+------------------------------------------+----11--9-----------------9--------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+-------------2--2--4--4---2--2--4(4)4-----+------2--2--4--4-----2--2--4(4)4---------+ E+-------------0--0--0--0---0--0--0---0-----+------0--0--0--0-----0--0--0---0---------+ Lead guitar Vo 9 10 E+------------------------------------------+---------------12!-----------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-12------------------------13b14-12------+ G+-------------11_--------------------9-----+-13r11-9-11-9!----11b12-11---------------+ D+-------------------11p9----9--9h11--------+-----------------------------------------+ A+------------------------11----------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+-------------9--9-------------------------+---7--7----------------------------------+ A+-------------9--9-11-11-12-12-11-11-------+---7--7--9--9-10-10--9--9----------------+ E+-------------7--7--7--7--7--7--7----7-----+---5--5--5--5--5--5--5-------5-----------+ Lead guitar 11 12 E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+----12--------12---------------12---------+-----------------------------------------+ G+----13r11-9_--11b13-11-9-------13r11------+-----------------------------------------+ D+-------------------------11-9-------------+--9h11-9------9-9h11-9-------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+---------11-9----------11-9-7\-----------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+---------------2-----2-------2--------2---+-----------------1_----------------------+ A+------------------5----5--4-----4--3----3-+----2_-----0--1--2_----------------------+ E+-----------0------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ 4th VERSE Lead guitar ^^ 1 ^^ 2 E+-------------------------0----------------+----------0------------------------------+ B+-------------------2-----------2----------+----2----------2-------------------------+ G+-------------------2-0h1-------2-0h1------+----2-0h1------2-0h1---------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+-------------2--2--4--4---2--2--4(4)4-----+------2--2--4--4-----2--2--4(4)4---------+ E+-------------0--0--0--0---0--0--0---0-----+------0--0--0--0-----0--0--0---0---------+ I'm gonna find me a boss man one who's gonna treat me right Lead guitar ^^ 3 ^^^^ 4 E+-------------------------0----------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+-------------------2-------------2-2------+-----------------------------------------+ G+-------------------2-0h1---------2-2------+---0t2-----------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+-------------2--2--4--4---2--2--4(4)4-----+------2--2--4--4-----2--2--4(4)4---------+ E+-------------0--0--0--0---0--0--0---0-----+------0--0--0--0-----0--0--0---0---------+ I work hard in the daytime sure get stoned at night Lead guitar 5 ^^ 6 E+------------------------------------------+-----------4-----------------------------+ B+------------------------4r3-2-------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+----------------2-2--2--------------------+------2/4--------------------------------+ D+----------------2-2--2--------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------2--2--4--4--5--5--4(4)4-------+---(2)2(2)2--4--4--5--5--4(4)4-----------+ A+------------0--0--0--0--0--0--0---0-------+------0---0--0--0--0--0--0---0-----------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Big boss man Can't you hear me Lead guitar 7 8 E+--------------------5-4--0-------0--------+----0--0--0------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+----3--3--3------------------------------+ G+----------------------------0h1-----------+----1--1--1------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+-------------2--2--4--4---2--2--4(4)4-----+------2--2--4--4-----2--2--4(4)4---------+ E+-------------0--0--0--0---0--0--0---0-----+------0--0--0--0-----0--0--0---0---------+ when I call Lead guitar 9 10 E+--------------7_------------------7---3_--+---------------------------0--3----------+ B+----------------------------9-------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+-----------/8---------------9--7h8--------+-----------------------------------------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ B+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ G+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ D+-------------9--9-------------------------+---7--7----------------------------------+ A+-------------9--9-11-11-12-12-11-11-------+---7--7--9--9-10-10--9--9----------------+ E+-------------7--7--7--7--7--7--7----7-----+---5--5--5--5--5--5--5-------5-----------+ you ain't so big you're just tall , that's just Lead guitar 11 12 E+---------5--0_------4----0-----2----------+-----------2--3--4----------0_-----------+ B+---------------------------2-2------------+----------------------------3_-----------+ G+----------------2/4---4------2------------+--0h1------2--3--4----------1_-----------+ D+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ A+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ E+------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Rhythm guitar E+------------------------------------------+----------------------------0_-----------+ B+------------------------------------------+----------------------------3_-----------+ G+------------------------------------------+----------------------------1_-----------+ D+---------------2-----2-------2--------2---+-----------------1_---------2_-----------+ A+------------------5----5--4-----4--3----3-+----2_-----0--1--2_---------2_-----------+ E+-----------0------------------------------+----------------------------0_-----------+ about all