The Tragically Hip - Ahead by a Century
=======================================
Tabbed by Owen Tosh
mailfortytwo@gmail.com
http://42.servehttp.com
This song is easy to strum along to - the one tough part is the intro, which is
throughout the song. Read my notes on the fingerings if you find it difficult. If
rather
learn it, just play D and E (see the simple tab below to know when to play them).
Legend:
V = downbeat
^ = upbeat
EADGBe
A = X02220
A2 = 002200 (Asus2 or Esus4)
Cadd9 = X32030 (or Cadd2)
D = X00232
D2 = X00230 (Dsus2)
D* = X00235 (an alternate of D)
E = 022100
E4 = 002100 (Eadd4 or Amaj7sus2)
E4* = 002X00 (an alternate of Eadd4)
G/B = X20033
The Intro
=========
The simple melody, broken down (with the simple chords):
D E
V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^
e |-2-----------0-------5-------2-|-----5-------------------------|
B |-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
G |-------------------------------|-----------------1---2---1-----|
D |-------------------------------|-------------2---------------2-|
A |-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
E |-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
But if you want to strum and play the melody, you'll need the chords. When you strum,
harder on the area where the melody is carried (i.e. on the higher strings during the D
and on the middle ones during the E4 and A2 stuff) and it'll come through.
D D2 D* D D* E4* E4 A2 E4 E4*
V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^
e |-2-----------0-------5-------2-|-----5-------0---0---0---0---0-|
B |-3-----------3-------3-------3-|-----3-------0---0---0---0---0-|
G |-2-----------2-------2-------2-|-----2-----------1---2---1-----|
D |-0-----------0-------0-------0-|-----0-------2---2---2---2---2-|
A |-0-----------0-------0-------0-|-----0-------0---0---0---0---0-|
E |-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
The trick to the D part is the fingering. When playing the first D, use your index
to bar the G, B, and e strings on the 2nd fret, and your middle finger on the B string on
3rd fret. This way, you can lift your index finger off the E string to play the D2, and
your pinky finger over to the 5th fret to reach the D* chord.
The Song
========
Intro x4 (see above notes)
D
First thing we'd climb a tree
D
And maybe then we'd talk
D
Or sit silently
D Cadd9
And listen to our thoughts
D
Illusions of some day
Cadd9
Casting a golden light
D
No dress rehearsal
This is our life
Intro x2
D Cadd9
And that's when the hornet stung me
D
And I had a feverish dream
Cadd9
With revenge and doubt
D
Tonight we smoke them out
A
You are ahead by a century
G/B
You are ahead by a century
A G/B
You are ahead by a century
Intro x4
D
Stare in the morning shroud
D
And then the day began
D
I tilted your cloud
D Cadd9
You tilted my hand
D
Rain falls in real time
Cadd9
Rain fell through the night
D
No dress rehearsals
This is our life
D
D Cadd9
But that's when the hornet stung me
D
And I had a serious dream
Cadd9
With revenge and doubt
D
Tonight we smoke them out
A
You are ahead by a century
G/B
You are ahead by a century
A G/B
You are ahead by a century
A
You are ahead by a century
G/B
You are ahead by a century
A G/B
You are ahead by a century
D
And disappointing you's getting me down
Intro x6
Other Notes
===========
During the verses, feel free to play around with a D2 during the long D part.
The strumming pattern of the verses goes something like this:
Beat: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Emphasis: * * * * * *
Rhythm: 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 1 2
Hope this makes sense. Enjoy learning an awesome song!
