THE HARDEST BUTTON TO BUTTON THE WHITE STRIPES ELEPHANT (2003) TAB BY THE WALRUS (:o(= So here goes. Two guitar parts during this song: an underlying "bass" line (Guitar 1) and some power chords that Jack appregiates during the verses and not during the choruses (Guitar 2). For reference, you can play the "bass" part two ways: tune your bottom string down to A (which is really hard to keep in tune and sounds ugly) or use a bass guitar (even though Jack doesn't, ever, or so I'm told) with normal tuning. Either way you play the same notes--the root notes of the regular chords, so most of it won't be tabbed. Now that that's settled... RIFF 1(Guitar 2 tacet) Guitar 1 A--0--0--0--0-- RIFF 2 A5 C5 x3 B5 D5 E-----------------------------|-------------------------- B-----------------------------|-------------------------- G.----2---------------5------.|-----4-------------7------ D.-------2---------------5---.|--------4-------------7--- A--0-------0-------3-------3--|--2--------2----5-------5- E-----------------------------|-------------------------- RIFF 3 A5 C5 x3 B5 A#5 E-----------------------------|-------------------------- B-----------------------------|-------------------------- G.----2---------------5------.|-----4-------------3------ D.-------2---------------5---.|--------4-------------3--- A--0-------0-------3-------3--|--2--------2----1-------1- E-----------------------------|-------------------------- RIFF 4 (NOTE: The timing is different during the chorus.) A5 C5 x3 B5 A#5 E-------------------------------|--------------------------- B-------------------------------|--------------------------- G.-2--2--2--2-------5--5--5--5-.|--4--4--4--4----3--3--3--3- D.-2--2--2--2-------5--5--5--5-.|--4--4--4--4----3--3--3--3- A--0--0--0--0-------3--3--3--3--|--2--2--2--2----1--1--1--1- E-------------------------------|--------------------------- RIFF 5 A5 C5 E------------------------------ B------------------------------ G--2--2--2--2-------5--5--5--5- D--2--2--2--2-------5--5--5--5- A--0--0--0--0-------3--3--3--3- E------------------------------ That's it. And now for the order. INTRO: Riff 1 x4 Riff 2 x2 VERSE 1: Riff 2 x1 Riff 3 x1 Riff 4 x1 CHORUS: Riff 4 x1 PRE-VERSE 2: Riff 1 x4 Riff 2 x1 VERSE 2: Riff 3 x1 Riff 4 x1 CHORUS: Riff 5 x4 Riff 4 x1 OUTRO: Riff 5 x4 End with 4 A5's: A5 E-------------- B-------------- G--2--2--2--2-- D.-2--2--2--2-- A--0--0--0--0-- E-------------- If it's a little messy blame it on fatigue...I'll come back and fix it up later. E-mail me (walrus0909@yahoo.com) with requests, suggestions, complaints, etc. Also if someone could tell me how Jack plays the Guitar 1 part let me know; it just doesn't sound quite right tuned down like that. Peace. The Walrus (:o(=