Song : How To Save A Life
Artist : The Fray
---------
TAB Date: 04.07.2007
By : Matthew Lynam
Contact : wallgod[ampersand]hotmail[period]com
NOTES : All chords and fret positions are relative to CAPO 3rd fret. The rhythm guitar chords
are written out for the sake of simplicity, regardless of the fact that most of this
song is constructed of piano, bass, lead guitar, and drums.
LEGEND :
{ } = half mute (note is played then muted immediately)
< > = heavy emphasis (the most recognizable note)
[ ] = medium emphasis (typically the 2nd most audible note)
( ) = light emphasis (a note only heard from reverb or echo)
« » = harmonic (finger lightly touching string directly above fretbar)
huf = hold until fade (usually a single note on the piano or guitar)
x = string mute & = short pause
/ = slide up a = half pause
\ = slide down z = full pause
^ = bend h = hammer-on
r = release bend p = pull-off
~ = hold ring v = vibrato
* = heavy damping d = drum note
% = fade in ; = fade out
TUNING :
1} E up 1½ steps (3 semitones) -> G
2} B up 1½ steps (3 semitones) -> D
3} G up 1½ steps (3 semitones) -> Bb
4} D up 1½ steps (3 semitones) -> F
5} A up 1½ steps (3 semitones) -> C
6} E up 1½ steps (3 semitones) -> G
<-:: begin ::->
{Piano 1}:
<-- medium reverb -->
M1 M2 M3 M4 = measure number
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & = timing count
d d d d = bass drum tap
1: G +-3---------------|-5---------------|-7---------------|-2-------5-------+
2: D |---3---3---3&~~~-|---3---3&--3---3-|-----0-------0---|--(3)--3---3---3-|
3: Bb |-0---4---0~~-----|-----4-------4---|-0-7---7&~-7---7-|-----4---4---4---|
4: F |-----------------|-4---------------|-----------------|-4---------------|
5: C |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
6: G +-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------+
{Verse One}:
<-- only piano accompanying -->
Step [G] [M1] one, you say we [D/F#] [M2] need to talk
He [Em7] [M3] walks, you say "Sit [D] [M4] down, it's [D/F#] just a [G] [M1] talk"
He smiles [D/F#] [M2] politely back at you [Em7] [M3]
You stare [D] [M4] politely [D/F#] right on through
<-- drums start .:..:.:..: -->
[G] [M1] [G huf] Some sort of [D/F#] [M2] window to your [Em7] [M3] right
As he goes [D] [M4] left and [D/F#] you stay [G] [M1] right
[G huf] Between the [D/F#] [M2] lines of fear and [Em7] [M3] blame
You begin to [D] [M4] wonder [D/F#] [%R1] why you came
{Chorus Piano}:
<-- piano, bass, lead guitar, drums -->
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
1: G +---7-------7-----|-5---7---5---7---|-----7-------7---|-5---7---5---10---+
2: D |-------8---------|-----------------|---8-----8-------|------------------|
3: Bb |-----7---7---7---|---7---7---7---7-|-7-----7---7---7-|---7---7---7----7-|
4: F |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|
5: C |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|
6: G +-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------+
1: G +---7-------7---|-5---7---5---7---|-----7-------7---|-5---7---5---2-3--+
2: D |-------8-------|-----------------|---8-----8-------|------------------|
3: Bb |-----7---7---7-|---7---7---7---7-|-7-----7---7---7-|---7---7---7------|
4: F |---------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|
5: C |---------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|
6: G +---------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------+
{Chorus R1}:
<-- octaves, full sustain -->
1&2&3&4& 1&2&3&4& 1&2&3&4& 1&2&3&4& = timing count
1: G +----------|----------|----------|----------+
2: D |-%5~~~~~~~|-/7~~~~~~~|-/8~~~~~~~|-8~~~~~~~~|
3: Bb |----------|----------|----------|----------| Play
4: F |-%2~~~~~~~|-/4~~~~~~~|-/5~~~~~~~|-5~~~~~~~~| 2x
5: C |----------|----------|----------|----------|
6: G +----------|----------|----------|----------+
<-- Repeat: {Piano 1} -->
{Chorus R2}
<-- medium sustain -->
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & = timing count
1: G +-----------------+
2: D |-----------------|
3: Bb |-----------------|
4: F |-4/5\4---4\2~~~;-|
5: C |-------5---------|
6: G +-----------------+
{Chorus}:
[C] Where did I go [D] wrong
I lost a [Em] friend
Somewhere alone [G] [R2] in the [D/F#] bitterness
And [C] I could have stayed [D] up with you all [Em] night
Had I known [G] how to [D/F#] save a [G] life
{Chorus Outro}:
<-- medium reverb -->
1: G +-0---------------------+
2: D |---3-1-0-1&-0-0&-------|
3: Bb |-----------------0&----|
4: F |--------------------0&-|
5: C |-----------------------|
6: G +-----------------------+
{Verse Two}:
[G] Let him know that [D/F#] you know best
Cause [Em7] after all, you [D] do know [D/F#] best
[G] Try to slip past [D/F#] his defense
[Em7] Without granting [D] innocense [D/F#]
[G] Lay down a [D/F#] list of what is [Em] wrong
The things you [D] told him [D/F#] all along
[G] Pray to God he [D/F#] hears you
And I [Em7] pray to God he [D/F#] hears you
<-- Repeat: {Chorus} including associated bells and whistles, then {Chorus Outro} -->
{Verse Three}:
<-- bass, drums, piano -->
As [G] he begins to [D/F#] raise his voice
You [Em7] lower yours
And [D/F#] grant him one last [G] choice
Drive until you [D/F#] lose the road
Or [Em7] break with the ones who [D/F#] follow
[G] He will do [D/F#] one of two things
[Em7] He will admit to [D/F#] everything
[G] Or he'll say [PAM] he's just [D/F#] not the same
And [Em7] you'll begin to [D/F#] wonder why you came
{Piano Alternate Measures}:
<-- Referred to as [PAM] in Verse Three and Interlude -->
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & = timing count
1: G +---10-10-10----8-7---|-10-10-10-10----------+
2: D |------------10-----8-|-------------10-8-7---|
3: Bb |---------------------|----------------------|
4: F |---------------------|----------------------|
5: C |---------------------|----------------------|
6: G +---------------------|----------------------+
<-- Repeat: {Chorus} 2x with bells & whistles, then {Piano 1} w/ {Piano Alternate Measures} -->
{Interlude}:
<-- just {Piano 1} with [PAM] -->
[G] [D/F#] [G]
[D/F#] How to save a [G] life [PAM] [D/F#] [G]
[D/F#] How to save a life
<-- Repeat: {Chorus} 2x with bells & whistles -->
{Song Outro}:
<-- Just piano and drums throughout song outro -->
<-- Repeat {Chorus Outro} and {Piano 1} simultaneously -->
[G] [D/F#] [G]
[D/F#] How to save a [G] life [PAM] [D/F#] [G]
<-- Repeat {Chorus Outro} and {Piano Alternate Measures} simultaneously -->
[D/F#] How to save a [G] life [D/F#] [G]
[D/F#] How to save a [G] life
<-- Repeat {Piano 1} -->
<-:: end ::->
