What Can I Do?
By Eleven, from the album Avantgardedog(2000)
Tabbed by IamInTheSea
Tuning: All strings one step down (DGDFAD)
[Chord symbols are presented as fingered on a detuned guitar, but of course sound 1 whole step lower.]
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Verse 1
E Bm A
See you crawl through the day
E Bm A (passing chord low G bent slightly then quickly A to E)
See you blocking your way
E Bm A
See you draining your fountain
E Bm A
See you run from the mountain
PreChorus
E Bm A Am
Try to open the door but what can I do?
E Bm A Am
Try to clear where you stand but what can I do?
E Bm A Am
Try to hold up the mirror but what can I do?
F#7 C
You've been there before
G Fmaj7b5 E
Your destiny called what can I do for you?
F# G Fmaj7b5 E
what can I do for you?
^ h p p ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ h p p sl
D|----8-10-8-7----------------------------|
A|-------------9--------------------------|
F|----------------9-7---------------------|
C|--------------------10-9-10-9-7-6-------|
G|----------------------------------------|
D|0~~~~~~~~~------------------------------|
Chorus
E Bm Bbm#5 Am6
Why hide your fear in your heart?
E Bm Bbm#5 Am6
Why hold my tear in your cup?
E Bm Bbm#5 Am6 G6 F#m6 E
Don't slap my hand away cause then what can I do?
u u u p ^ ^ ^ ^
D|--------------------------------------|
A|--------4--0--------------------------|
F|-----0--------0-----------------------|
C|-----------------1--------------------|
G|---2----------------2-----------------|
D|-----------------------3--------------|
E Bm A
Whoa oh oh
E Bm A
Whoa oh oh
Verse 2
E Bm A
I see you building a maze
GTR 2 - Distorted w Octave Pedal:
u u u
D|---14(15)-14(15)(14)--12--------------|
A|--------------------------------------|
F|--------------------------\9~~--------|
C|--------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------\7~~--------|
D|--------------------------------------|
E Bm A (passing chord low G bent slightly then quickly A to E)
I see you walk in a daze
GTR 2 - Distorted w Octave Pedal:
u u u
D|---14(15)-14(15)(14)--12--------------|
A|--------------------------------------|
F|--------------------------12~~--------|
C|--------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
E Bm A (passing chord low G bent slightly then quickly A to E)
I hear you shout when you're quiet
GTR 2 - Distorted w Octave Pedal:
u u u
D|---14(15)-14(15)(14)--12--------------|
A|--------------------------------------|
F|--------------------------12~~--------|
C|--------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
E Bm A (passing chord low G bent slightly then quickly A to E)
I see it all when you hide it
GTR 2 - Distorted w Octave Pedal:
u u u
D|---14(15)-14(15)(14)--12--------------|
A|--------------------------------------|
F|--------------------------12~~--------|
C|--------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
Pre Chorus 2
E Bm A Am
Try to open the door but what can I do?
GTR 2 - Distorted wChorus(Let Ring Throughout):
D|---12------12------10-----10------9------9------8------8------------|
A|-------12------12-----12------12-----10-----10-----10-----10--------|
F|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
C|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
E Bm A Am
Try to clear where you stand but what can I do?
GTR 2 - Distorted wChorus(Let Ring Throughout):
D|---12------12------10-----10------9------9------8------8------------|
A|-------12------12-----12------12-----10-----10-----10-----10--------|
F|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
C|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
E Bm A Am
Try to hold up the mirror but what can I do?
GTR 2 - Distorted wChorus(Let Ring Throughout):
D|---12------12------10-----10------9------9------8------8------------|
A|-------12------12-----12------12-----10-----10-----10-----10--------|
F|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
C|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
F#7 C
You've been there before
GTR 2 - Distorted wChorus(Let Ring Throughout):
D|----9------9------9-------9-----------------------------------------|
A|-------11-----11-----11------11---13------13--------13------13------|
F|--------------------------------------12-------12-------12------12--|
C|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
G Fmaj7b5 E
Your destiny called what can I do for you?
GTR 2 - Distorted wChorus(Let Ring Throughout):
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---12------12-----12------12-------10--12---9-----------------------|
F|-------12------12-----12------12------------------------------------|
C|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
^ h p p ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ h p p sl
D|----8-10-8-7----------------------------|
A|-------------9--------------------------|
F|----------------9-7---------------------|
C|--------------------10-9-10-9-7-6-------|
G|----------------------------------------|
D|0~~~~~~~~~------------------------------|
Acoustic Break -
E Bm Bbm#5 Am6
Whoa oh oh oh
E Bm Bbm#5 <>
Whoa oh oh Ohhhhhhh
Chorus (3x and fade)
E Bm Bbm#5 Am6
Why hide your fear in your heart?
E Bm Bbm#5 Am6
Why hold my tear in your cup?
E Bm Bbm#5 Am6 G6 F#m6 E
Don't slap my hand away cause then what can I do?
u u u p ^ ^ ^ ^
D|--------------------------------------|
A|--------4--0--------------------------|
F|-----0--------0-----------------------|
C|-----------------1--------------------|
G|---2----------------2-----------------|
D|-----------------------3--------------|
Notes: Remember that Alain primarily plays without a pick. A few of these licks seem much easier with just
fingers. In particular the figure (with the open strings)at the end of the cycle (just above). The GTR 2
parts may be played as octaves a la Wes Montgomery with just the thumb in a brushing down stroke.
This allows you to bend both notes in a manner that Alain displays in other guitar features and seems
to be one of the elements of his unique style.
The simple open chord voicings in the descending progression at the end of the chorus are intended
to be used with a guitar tone with a healthy amount of amp gain. Adding additional notes on the
upper strings could muddy the quality of each chord. The keyboards are handling most of the
upper harmonic color in the recording leaving the guitar to provide the guts of the harmony.
Chord Voicings:
E Bm A Am F#7 C G Fmaj7b5 F# Bbm#5 Am6 G6 F#m6
D|---0---2------0---2------3-----0------2------------------------------------|
A|---0---3--2---1---2---5--3-----0------2------------------------------------|
F|---1---4--2---2---3---5--4-----2------3-----6-----5----4----2--------------|
C|---2---4--2---2---2---5--5-----3------4-----4-----4----2----1--------------|
G|---2---1--0---0---4---3--5-----3------4------------------------------------|
D|---0--------------2------3-----1------2-----6-----5----3----2--------------|
