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Big Time Nashville Star by Shakey Graves
Big Time Nashville Star
The other tab for this song is excellent for the guitar licks, but the chords aren't on point.
There are two possible intros (and outro) for this song. The album version is a cappella but works with
these chords underneath:
C#m E
You might wander far,
B A
Be a big time Nashville star.
C#m E
Still it never hurts,
B B/A B/G# B/F# E
Even when you do your worst.
The other intro is what he plays solo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEw9ofXnpGE):
A C#m E
You might wander far,
B A# A
Be a big time Nashville star.
C#m D
Still it never hurts,
B B/A B/G# B/F# E
Even when you do your worst.
and continue...
E F#m
Well I'm a wheel that's always turning, oh.
F#m E
Oh I always start out where I end.
E F#m
And me, I'm like a fire that's always burning.
B B/A B/G# G/F#
But oh how time flies
B B/A B/G# G/F# A
Right by the way side.
A C#m E
You might wander far,
B A
Be a big time Nashville star.
C#m D
Still it never hurts,
B B/A B/G# G/F# E
Even when you do your worst.
E F#m
I never was one to beg or borrow.
F#m E
Yeah I am just trying to get a rise.
E F#m
And we would always trade our safe for sorrow.
F#m E
Well, I guess we're just a sign of the times.
B B/A B/G# G/F#
But oh how life goes
B B/A B/G# G/F# A
Right out the win -- dows.
A C#m E
You might kiss me sweet
B A
or call my name out while you cheat.
C#m D
Still it never hurts
B B/A B/G# G/F# A
Even when you do your worst.
A C#m E
Bow but never kneel
B A
Now by the time that I can't steal
C#m D
Still it never hurts
B B/A B/G# B/F#
Even when you do
B B/A B/G# B/F# E
Oh even when you do your worst.
Outro is same as intro
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version 2
Most of the song is played in out-right chords with embellishments, standard for most Shakey Graves songs.
For the purposes of this tab I'll first include the embellishments featured prominently between the opening
chorus and first verse, followed by the chords. The rhythm is somewhat consistent, though Shakey will switch
it up during different sections, depending on what version you watch or hear - but for the most part he plays
a classic country rhythm hitting the low E bass note, playing the chord twice, then doing the same with the
bass note on the D string. He/they open with a chorus, which you can play with or without chords, followed by
what is essentially the intro. During the intro Shakey plays the following lines of lead based on the E major
chord that he is playing for rhythm:
Tuning: Standard
E
e|--0-------------------------------------------------0----------------------|
B|--0-------------------------------------------------0----------------------|
G|--1-------------------------------------------------1----------------------|
D|--2-------------------------------------------------2----------------------|
A|--2------------0h2p0--------------------------------2----------------------|
E|--0----0h2p0----------2p0---------------------------0----------------------|
E
FOLLOWED BY
e|----------------------------------------------------0----------------------|
B|------------------------2h3p2p0--2p0----------------0----------------------|
G|--2h3p2p0--2p0-----------------------2p0------------1----------------------|
D|----------------2p0---------------------------------2----------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------2----------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------0----------------------|
E
AND
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------2h3p2p0--------------------------------------------|
G|--2h3p2p0--2p0-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------2p0---------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------3p0-3p0------------------------------------|
Each of these is played very quickly and timing can be determined pretty easily from
listening to the recording.
The chords are as follows:
CHORUS (the last line starts on Bm and features a walk-down in the Bass note)
A C#m E
You might wander far
B A# A
Be a Big Time Nashville Star
A C#m A
Still it never hurts
Bm A* G#* F#* E*
Even when you do your worst *(Play the Bm, open on high E; then play with open A string, then fret 4
on 6th string [G#], then fret 2 on 6th string [F#], then end on E chord)
Each chord in the last line should look like:
Bm A/Bm G#/Bm F#/Bm E
e|--0--------0----------0---------0------0-----------------------------------|
B|--3--------3----------3---------3------0-----------------------------------|
G|--4--------4----------4---------4------1-----------------------------------|
D|--4--------4----------4---------4------2-----------------------------------|
A|--2--------0----------0---------0------2-----------------------------------|
E|--x--------x----------4---------2------0-----------------------------------|
This walk-down will also appear in the verses.
VERSE
E F#m
Well I'm a wheel that's always turning, oh
F#m E
Well I always start out where I end
E F#m
And me, I'm like a fire that's always burning
Bm A G# F#
But oh, how, time, flies
Bm A G# F# (Same walk-down from chorus)
Right by the wayside
REPEAT (Choruses change lyrics as well)
| / slide up
| \ slide down
| h hammer-on
| p pull-off
| b Bend
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