The Heart Of Life by John Mayer
Tabbed by: Janne Virtanen, Finland, janne_virtanen_@hotmail.com
Tuning: half-step down
Okay, so this is an acoustic(/normal) version of a great song, The Heart Of Life,
based on an acoustic performance of John Mayer that can be seen in youtube.com
Other tabs here are quite Ok, but there were few parts that didn't quite
please me, and finally I decided to tab one myself. Hopefully this will come
out good, as it is my first one. Hope that you accept my vision of it and
maybe use it in your own playing..! :)
John uses only his THUMB and INDEX finger!
So don't hassle with your middle finger in this one...
So this is modified, not an album version. You can play the extra stuff as you like,
but in the video they are played exactly like this (in verse, chorus, interlude).
The biggest changes are in the chorus part of the song. Hope you find those refreshing!
I have added the strumming pattern in some places where the song has changed
a bit so that it'd be easier to catch up. d=down u=up
Chords that are used:
D Bm F#m G D* A
e|-x----x---x---x---x---x--|
B|-10---7---2---3---3---2--|
G|-11---7---2---4---2---2--|
D|-12---9---4---5---0---2--|
A|-x----x---x---x---x---0--|
E|-10---7---2---3---2---x--|
*I'm 100% sure that in D chord the D string is played "open"
so it's NOT e|--x--| like in every other tab in here.. Watch the video!
B|--3--|
G|--2--|
D|-[4]-|
A|--x--|
E|--2--|
So let's begin with the INTRO. A bit different than in the other tabs (or album)..
u d u u d u d u d u d u u d u d u d
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--10-------10-------10-------12-------7-------7-------7-------10-----|
G|-------11-------11-------11-------11------7-------7-------7-------7--|
D|--------------12--------------------------------9--------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--10---X---10---X---10---X---10---X---7---X---7---X---7---X---7---X--|
u d u u d u d u u d u d u u d u d u u d
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--2-------2-------3-------3-------3-------3-------2-------2------|
G|------2-------2-------4-------4-------2-------2-------2-------2--| Slide back up
D|------------4---------------5---------------0---------------2----|
A|--------------------------------------------------0---X---0---X--|
E|--2---X---2---X---3---X---3---X---2---X---2---X------------------|
The second time there are a couple of fills. No hammer ons!
Play with the index finger.
u d u u d u d u d u d u u d u d u d
e|-----------------------------9----10--------------------------7------|
B|--10-------10-------10---12-----------7-------7-----------7-------10-|
G|-------11-------11------------------------7-------7---9--------------|
D|--------------12--------------------------------9--------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--10---X---10---X---10---X---10---X---7---X---7---X---7---X---7---X--|
|this section's a bit different|
than usual
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--2-------2-------3-------3-------3-------3-------2-------2------|
G|------2-------2-------4-------4-------2-------2-------2-------2--|
D|------------4---------------5---------------0---------------2----|
A|--------------------------------------------------0---X---0---X--|
E|--2---X---2---X---3---X---3---X---2---X---2---X------------------|
VERSE 1
just stick with your thumb and index finger
with lyrics to help you with the timing.
No fills yet... Play the basics only...
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--10-------10-------10-------12-------7-------7-------7-------10-----|
G|-------11-------11-------11-------11------7-------7-------7-------7--|
D|--------------12--------------------------------9--------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--10---X---10---X---10---X---10---X---7---X---7---X---7---X---7---X--|
-I hate to see you cry lying there in
-There's things you need to hear so turn off your
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--2-------2-------3-------3-------3-------3-------2-------2------|
G|------2-------2-------4-------4-------2-------2-------2-------2--|
D|------------4---------------5---------------0---------------2----|
A|--------------------------------------------------0---X---0---X--|
E|--2---X---2---X---3---X---3---X---2---X---2---X------------------|
that po.. si.. ..tion.
tears and li.. ..sten.
CHORUS || This is what I see & hear him do
So here's the part which John plays differently than in other tabs that are found here..
Don't go up to the tenth fret on the lower E string, just go down to fifth fret on the A string...
There could be "ghost notes", but I can't hear them so good that I could be
sure... (in parenthesis)
Also the G-based notes are played differently (maybe a bit more difficult at first)...
u (d) u d u (d) u d u d u u d u u d u u d
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------5---7-------5---------------3-------3-------3------|
G|--6-------7----------(5)------7---4---4-------4-------4-------4--|(notes in parenthesis
D|-----(7)------------------------------------5-------5-------5----| optional)
A|------------------5---X---5---X----------------------------------|
E|--5---X---5---X-------------------3---X---3---X---3---X---3---X--|
-Pain throws
-your
-heart to the ground
-Love turns
-the whole thing around
u d u u d u d u u d
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------5---7-------5---------------3---------------3------|
G|--6-------7----------(5)------7---4---4-------4---2---2-------2--|
D|-----(7)------------------------------------5---------------0----|
A|------------------5---X---5---X----------------------------------|
E|--5---X---5---X-------------------3---X---3---X---2---X---2---X--|
Though it won't
-all go the way it should but
-I
u d u u d u d u u d u d u u d
e|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------3---------------3-------2-------2-------10-------10-------10~~-|
G|-4---4-------4---2---2-------2-------2-------2--------11-------11-------|
D|-----------5---------------0---------------2-----------------12---------|
A|---------------------------------0---X---0---X--------------------------|
E|-3---X---3---X---2---X---2---X-------------------10---X---10---X---10~~-|
know the heart of life is good
INTERLUDE 1 || just once.
slide,
but still
hit down
u d u u d u d |u d | u d u u d u d u d
e|------------------------------9-/-10--------------------------9---7--|
B|--10-------10-------10---12-----------7-------7-------7---10---------|
G|-------11-------11------------------------7-------7------------------|
D|-------------12---------------------------------9--------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--10---X---10---X---10---X---10---X---7---X---7---X---7---X---7---X--|
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--2-------2-------3-------3-------3-------3-------2-------2------|
G|------2-------2-------4-------4-------2-------2-------2-------2--| Slide back up
D|------------4---------------5---------------0---------------2----|
A|--------------------------------------------------0---X---0---X--|
E|--2---X---2---X---3---X---3---X---2---X---2---X------------------|
VERSE 2
No fills...
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--10-------10-------10-------12-------7-------7-------7-------10-----|
G|-------11-------11-------11-------11------7-------7-------7-------7--|
D|--------------12--------------------------------9--------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--10---X---10---X---10---X---10---X---7---X---7---X---7---X---7---X--|
You know it's nothing new bad news
-nev-er
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--2-------2-------3-------3-------3-------3-------2-------2------|
G|------2-------2-------4-------4-------2-------2-------2-------2--|
D|------------4---------------5---------------0---------------2----|
A|--------------------------------------------------0---X---0---X--|
E|--2---X---2---X---3---X---3---X---2---X---2---X------------------|
had good ti.. ..ming
u d u d
e|--------------------------------------------------------------9---7--|
B|--10-------10-------10-------12-------7-----7---------7---10---------|
G|-------11-------11-------11-------11------7-------7------------------|
D|--------------12--------------------------------9--------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--10---X---10---X---10---X---10---X---7---X---7---X---7---X---7---X--|
Then circle of your will de-fend
-friends -the
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--2-------2-------3-------3-------3-------3-------2-------2------|
G|------2-------2-------4-------4-------2-------2-------2-------2--|
D|------------4---------------5---------------0---------------2----|
A|--------------------------------------------------0---X---0---X--|
E|--2---X---2---X---3---X---3---X---2---X---2---X------------------|
Sil.. ..ver li.. ..ning
CHORUS 2
u (d) u d u (d) u d u d u u d u u d u u d
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------5---7-------5---------------3-------3-------3------|
G|--6-------7----------(5)------7---4---4-------4-------4-------4--|
D|-----(7)------------------------------------5-------5-------5----|
A|------------------5---X---5---X----------------------------------|
E|--5---X---5---X-------------------3---X---3---X---3---X---3---X--|
-Pain throws
-your
-heart to the ground
-Love turns
-the whole thing around
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------5---7-------5---------------3---------------3------|
G|--6-------7----------(5)------7---4---4-------4---2---2-------2--|
D|-----(7)------------------------------------5---------------0----|
A|------------------5---X---5---X----------------------------------|
E|--5---X---5---X-------------------3---X---3---X---2---X---2---X--|
Though it won't
-all go the way it should but
-I
e|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------3---------------3-------2-------2-------10-----10---------10~~-|
G|-4---4-------4---2---2-------2-------2-------2--------11-------11-------|
D|-----------5---------------0---------------2----------------12----------|
A|---------------------------------0---X---0---X--------------------------|
E|-3---X---3---X---2---X---2---x-------------------10---X---10---X---10~~-|
know the heart of life is good
SOLO/INTERLUDE 2 || again a bit different than usual, but still beautiful..
you can play it normally if you want. (Check out interlude no. 1)
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--10-------10-------10-------10-------7-------7-------10------7------|
G|-------11-------11-------11-------11------7-------7-------7-------7--|
D|--------------12--------------------------------9--------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--10---X---10---X---10---X---10---X---7---X---7---X---7---X---7---X--|
Oooh... ...Ooooh...
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--2-------2-------3-------3-------3-------3-------2-------2------|
G|------2-------2-------4-------4-------2-------2-------2-------2--|
D|------------4---------------5---------------0---------------2----|
A|--------------------------------------------------0---X---0---X--|
E|--2---X---2---X---3---X---3---X---2---X---2---X------------------|
Oooh...
e|------------------------------------------------------9---7----------|
B|--10-------10-------10-------12-------7-------7---------------10--7--|
G|-------11-------11-------11-------11------7-------7------------------|
D|--------------12--------------------------------9--------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--10---X---10---X---10---X---10---X---7---X---7---X---7---X---7---X--|
Oooh...
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--2-------2-------3-------3-------3-------3-------2-------2------|
G|------2-------2-------4-------4-------2-------2-------2-------2--|
D|------------4---------------5---------------0---------------2----|
A|--------------------------------------------------0---X---0---X--|
E|--2---X---2---X---3---X---3---X---2---X---2---X------------------|
The last CHORUS || Only a little different* than the previous ones..
*
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------7-------5---------------3-------3-------3------|
G|--6-------7---6------(5)------7---4---4-------4-------4-------4--|
D|-----(7)------------------------------------5-------5-------5----|
A|------------------5---X---5---X----------------------------------|
E|--5---X---5---X-------------------3---X---3---X---3---X---3---X--|
Pain throws
-your
-heart to the ground
Love turns
-the whole thing
a- round
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------7-------5---------------3---------------3------|
G|--6-------7---6------(5)------7---4---4-------4---2---2-------2--|
D|-----(7)------------------------------------5---------------0----|
A|------------------5---X---5---X----------------------------------|
E|--5---X---5---X-------------------3---X---3---X---2---X---2---X--|
Fear is a friend that
-you misun.. ..derstood
e|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------3---------------3---------------3---------------3------|
G|-4---4-------4---2---2-------2---4---4-------4---2---2-------2--|
D|-----------5---------------0---------------5---------------0----|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-3---X---3---X---2---X---2---x---3---X---3---X---2---X---2---X--|
but I know the
heart of my life is good. Of my...
OUTRO
The ending goes like this, with the G played 'open' but try to be gentle with the hit,
so it doesn't flow over the other notes played.
Hold your middle finger on D string, and use your index and ring fingers on B string,
while Sliding up and down on the neck. Slide will give a nice flowing touch.
e|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-2-------2-------3-------3-------5-------5-------7-------7------|
G|-----0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0--|
D|-----------2---------------4---------------5---------------7----|
A|-0---x---0---X---0---X---0---X---0---X---0---X---0---X---0---X--|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|
..life is good...
e|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-8-------8-------10------10------12------12------14------14-----|
G|-----0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0--|
D|-----------9---------------11--------------12--------------14---|
A|-0---X---0---X---0---X---0---X---0---X---0---X---0---X---0---X--|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|
Oh, oh my life is good...
e|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-12------12------10------10------8-------8-------7-------7------|
G|-----0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0--|
D|-----------12--------------11--------------9---------------7----|
A|-0---X---0---X---0---X---0---X---0---X---0---X---0---X---0---X--|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|
Of my life is good...
| slow down a bit |
e|----------------------------------------X-----------------------|
B|-5-------5-------3--------3------------2~~----------------------|
G|-----0-------0-------0----------0-----0~~-----------------------|
D|-----------5-----------------4-------2~~------------------------|
A|-0---X---0---X---0---X----0-----X---0~~-------------------------|
E|------------------------------------X---------------------------|
Of my life...
So that's it! If the outro doesn't please you, You can play the intro part as
outro a couple of times and fade it out in the end, it sounds good too!
When John plays with his strat, the outro rises even higher, like on Where the
Light is he goes up to 15th fret.. But as I said this is played with the acoustic guitar.
I hope this helps you out and brings some new ideas! It's been a hell of a job...
