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"CHAIN OF FOOLS" - Aretha Franklin
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Aretha Franklin released the song in 1967. Written by: Don Covay
... also covered by other artists including the Committments
Tabbed by: Travis_Morgan E-mail: GuitarGuru@RockandRollMusicSchool.com
Tuning: Standard
Difficulty: Easy
I've added the lyrics, performance tips, a chord variation in the TAB version,
as well as tips on playing this song in other keys so this version gives you
more than one way to play the rhythm!
Below are TWO different ways of looking at the music for this song, one is TAB and
below that are the lyrics of the song with the CHORDS written above the words. So,
you can use whichever version you prefer.
* Song notes: Pretty much the entire song can be played with an A minor barre
chord! In the example below you can see two versions:
Rhythm Figure 1a alternates between the bottom half of the A minor barre chord
and then the higher strings - back and forth between Low and High strings.
Rhythm Figure 2a is a very simple A Minor triad you can play with one finger!
* There's only one musical section to learn guitar for: the Verse and Chorus
and simply MUTE or REST during the 'A Capella' song section. The Intro is
an A minor chord strummed
INTRO: A Minor chord - let each string sustain until the drums hit, then MUTE
e|--------------5--------------------------------------------------------x-----|
B|--------------5------SUSTAIN-------------------------------------------x-----|
G|-----------5-----------------------------------------------------------x-----|
D|---------7-------------------------------------------------------------x-----|
A|-------7---------------------------------------------------------------x-----|
E|-----5-----------------------------------------------------------------x-----|
A Minor
Rhythm Figure 1a: A Minor barre chord
LOW HIGH HIGH LOW LOW HIGH LOW HIGH
e|-----------5-------------5-------------------5---------------5----------|
B|-----------5-------------5-------------------5---------------5----------|
G|-----------5------x------5-------------------5---------------5----------|
D|----7-------------x------------7------7--------------7------------------|
A|----7-------------x------------7------7--------------7------------------|
E|----5-------------x------------5------5--------------5------------------|
A Minor mute A Minor A Minor REPEAT
Rhythm Figure 1b: A Minor7 barre chord (a common variation, interchangeable w/ Am)
LOW HIGH HIGH LOW LOW HIGH LOW HIGH
e|-----------5-------------5-------------------5---------------5----------|
B|-----------5-------------5-------------------5---------------5----------|
G|-----------5------x------5-------------------5---------------5----------|
D|----5-------------x------------5------5--------------5------------------|
A|----7-------------x------------7------7--------------7------------------|
E|----5-------------x------------5------5--------------5------------------|
A Minor mute A Minor A Minor REPEAT
Rhythm Figure 2a: (Single finger technique) A Minor Triad
mute mute mute mute
e|-----------5-------------5-------------------5---------------5-------------|
B|-----------5-------------5-------------------5---------------5-------------|
G|-----------5-------------5-------------------5---------------5-------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A Minor A Minor A Minor A Minor REPEAT
Rhythm Figure 2b: (Single finger technique) A Minor7 across four strings
mute mute mute mute
e|-----------5-------------5-------------------5---------------5-------------|
B|-----------5-------------5-------------------5---------------5-------------|
G|-----------5-------------5-------------------5---------------5-------------|
D|-----------5-------------5-------------------5---------------5-------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A Minor A Minor A Minor A Minor REPEAT
* Timing is everything so try to really listen to the drums and lock into that groove!
Palm muting the strings to dampen them between chord strums is the technique
that really helps this rhythm sound tight!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Here are the lyrics for the song with chords written above the words as a guide!
******************* This version is in the Key of A Minor ********************
If you'd like to play it in another popular key - C then you can simply put a
capo on the 3rd fret and play the exact same way as this version but it will
sound three half-steps higher than this version.
INTRO: A minor chord strummed one string at a time, letting the strings ring out
until the drums hit at which point you mute the guitar strings so there's silence.
Am Am
Chain, chain, chain Chain, chain, chain
Am Am
Chain, chain, chain Chain, chain, chain
Am Am
Chain, chain, chain Chain, chain, chain
Am
Chain of fools
Am
For five long years
Am
I thought you were my man
Am
But I found out, yeah
Am
I'm just a link in your chain
Am
You got me where you want me
Am
I ain't nothing but your fool
Am
You treated me mean
Am
oh you treated me cruel
Am Am
Chain, chain, chain, Chain, chain, chain
Am
Chain of fools
Am
Every chain
Am
has got a weak link
Am
I might be weak child
Am
but I'll give you strength
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Breakdown - Vocals only, all instruments REST or MUTE for this section!
You tell me to leave you alone oop, oop, oop, oop
My father said, Come on home oop, oop, oop, oop
My doctor said, Take it easy oop, oop, oop, oop
Oh, but your lovin? is much too strong oop, oop, oop, oop
Am
I'm added to your (GUITAR, BASS, DRUMS come back in now...!)
Am Am
Chain, chain, chain Chain, chain, chain
Am Am
Chain, chain, chain Chain, chain, chain
Am Am
Chain, chain, chain Chain, chain, chain
Am
Chain of fools
Am
One of these mornings,
Am
the chain is gonna break
* (Optional place in the song to have a prolonged music "break" !!) *
Am
But up until then
Am
I'm gonna take all I can take (Oh yeah)
----------------------------------------
Am Am
Chain, chain, chain Chain, chain, chain
Am Am
Chain, chain, chain Chain, chain, chain
Am Am
Chain, chain, chain Chain, chain, chain
Am
Chain of fools
Am Am
Chain, chain, chain
Am Am
Chain, chain, chain
Am Am
Chain, chain, chain
Am
Chain of fools
Being a team player: The guitar is just one piece of the musical puzzle, so this
song calls for a simple guitar part that works in the context of a larger band
including horns. This song is a great example of "Less is More!" and
"playing for the song". It's not about showing off on guitar, it's about how
well you can play along with the drums and be a solid rhythm player!
Have FUN and enjoy playing this tune on either acoustic or electric guitar!
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| / slide up
| \ slide down
| h hammer-on
| p pull-off
| ~ vibrato
| + harmonic
| x Mute note
| b Bend
| pb Pre-bend
| br Bend release
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Thanks for checking out this song TAB. I strive to make helpful, accurate TABS!
Thanks to Ultimate-Guitar.com !!
We are proud to be a part of this big beautiful guitar community!
~ Travis_Morgan
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