TAB by Song : 24401
Tab List Area
1 Pages 1 Results
Son Of Sam by Elliott Smith
Son Of Sam
--INTRO (to make it easier, I’ll show the chords we’ll be playing first, and then I’ll
the actual tab...)
Here are base chords that we’ll be playing...rest your fingers here and I’ll show
below:
|--0---0---0-------------------1---0--|
|--5---5---5---7---7---0---1---1---0--|
|--5---5---0---4---4---0---2---2---1--|
|--------------4---4---0---0---3---2--|
|------------------------------3---2--|
|--5---4---5---5---4---3---2---1---0--|
OK, here’s the tab for the intro:
|-----0----3---5---5---3------0------0----------------0----3---5--5/9---8----|
|------------5-----------5---------5-----5---4p3-------------5---------------|
|-----5-----5----5------5-----5-----5-----5-----5-----0-----0----0-----------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------0--|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------0------|
|--5-----5-----5-----5-----4-----4-----4-----------5-----5-----5-------------|
|--------------------------------------------------0--------------------|
|----------7-----------7-----------7-------5---0-------3-------3--------|
|------4-----4-----4-----4-----4-----4------h7-0-------------------2h4--|
|----4------4----4------4----4------4----4-------0-------0---0-------0--|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--5-----5-----5-----5-----4-----4-----4-------3-----3-----3-----3------|
|-----0----0-0------0---------1----1-1----0----0--0--|
|-----1----1-1---1h3---3-1----1----1-1----0----0--0--|
|-----2------2----------------2------2----1-------1--|
|-----0------0-----0----0-----3------3----2-------2--|
|-----------------------------3------3----2-------2--|
|--2-----2-----2-----2-----1-----1-----0-----0-------|
--VERSE 1
|-----0----0-0----0----0-0----2----2-2----2----2-2----0----0-0----0----0-0--|
|-----2----2-2----2----2-2----3----3-3----3----3-3----3----3-3----3----3-3--|
|-----2------2----2------2----5------5----5------5----5------5----5------5--|
|-----2------2----2------2----2------2----2------2----4------4----4------4--|
|--0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----5-----5-----5-----5------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----1----1-1----1----1-1----0----0-0----0----0-0--|
|-----1----1-1----1----1-1----0----0-0----0----0-0--|
|-----2------2----2------2----1------1----1------1--|
|-----3------3----3------3----2------2----2------2--|
|-----3------3----3------3----2------2----2------2--|
|--1-----1-----1-----1-----0-----0-----0-----0------|
--CHORUS 1 X 2
|-----0----0-0----0----0-0----1----1-1----0----0-0----0----0-0----1----1-1--|
|-----1----1-1----0----0-0----1----1-1----1----1-1----0----0-0----1----1-1--|
|-----2------2----2------2----2------2----0------0----2------2----2------2--|
|-----2------2----1------1----3------3----2------2----1------1----3------3--|
|--0-----0-----2-----2--------3------3----3------3----------------3------3--|
|--------------------------1-----1-----3-----3-----2-----2-----1-----1------|
--VERSE 2 INTRO
|-----0----3---5---5---3------0------0---0-0--------|
|------------5-----------5---------5-----0-0-4/3-1--|
|----/5-----5----5------5-----5-----5------1--------|
|------------------------------------------2--------|
|------------------------------------------2--------|
|--5-----5-----5-----5-----4-----4-----0------------|
--VERSE 2
|-----0----0-0----0----0-0----2----2-2----2----2-2----0----0-0----0----0-0--|
|-----2----2-2----2----2-2----3----3-3----3----3-3----3----3-3----3----3-3--|
|-----2------2----2------2----5------5----5------5----5------5----5------5--|
|-----2------2----2------2----2------2----2------2----4------4----4------4--|
|--0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----5-----5-----5-----5------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----1----1-1----1----1-1----0----0-0----0----0-0--|
|-----1----1-1----1----1-1----0----0-0----0----0-0--|
|-----2------2----2------2----1------1----1------1--|
|-----3------3----3------3----2------2----2------2--|
|-----3------3----3------3----2------2----2------2--|
|--1-----1-----1-----1-----0-----0-----0-----0------|
--CHORUS 2 X 2
|-----0----0-0----0----0-0----1----1-1----0----0-0----0----0-0----1----1-1--|
|-----1----1-1----0----0-0----1----1-1----1----1-1----0----0-0----1----1-1--|
|-----2------2----2------2----2------2----0------0----2------2----2------2--|
|-----2------2----1------1----3------3----2------2----1------1----3------3--|
|--0-----0-----2-----2--------3------3----3------3----------------3------3--|
|--------------------------1-----1-----3-----3-----2-----2-----1-----1------|
--BRIDGE
|--0-0-0-0-x-x-0-0-0-0-x-x-0-0-x-x----------------------------------------------|
|--2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-x-x--/10-10-10-10-x-x-10-10-10-10-x-x-10-10-x-x--|
|--2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-x-x--/10-10-10-10-x-x-10-10-10-10-x-x-10-10-x-x--|
|--2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-x-x--/10-10-10-10-x-x-10-10-10-10-x-x-10-10-x-x--|
|--0-0-0-0-x-x-0-0-0-0-x-x-0-0-x-x--/8--8--8--8--x-x-8--8--8--8--x-x-8--8--x-x--|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-/8-8-8-8-x-x-8-8-8-8-x-x-8-8-x-x--/10-10-10-10-x-x-11-11-11-11-x-x-11-11-x-x--|
|-/7-7-7-7-x-x-7-7-7-7-x-x-7-7-x-x--/10-10-10-10-x-x-10-10-10-10-x-x-10-10-x-x--|
|-/7-7-7-7-x-x-7-7-7-7-x-x-7-7-x-x--/10-10-10-10-x-x-10-10-10-10-x-x-10-10-x-x--|
|--0-0-0-0-x-x-0-0-0-0-x-x-0-0-x-x--/10-10-10-10-x-x-10-10-10-10-x-x-10-10-x-x--|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--0-0-0-0-x-x-0-0-0-0-x-x-0-0-x-x---1-1-1-1-x-x-1-1-1-1-x-x-1-1-x-x--|
|--2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-x-x---1-1-1-1-x-x-1-1-1-1-x-x-1-1-x-x--|
|--2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-x-x---2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-x-x--|
|--2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-x-x---3-3-3-3-x-x-3-3-3-3-x-x-3-3-x-x--|
|--0-0-0-0-x-x-0-0-0-0-x-x-----x-x---3-3-3-3-x-x-3-3-3-3-x-x-3-3-x-x--|
|--------------------------3-3-------1-1-1-1-x-x-1-1-1-1-x-x-1-1-x-x--|
|--2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-----1-1----------------|
|--1-1-1-1-x-x-1-1-1-1-x-x-1-1-x-x-----1-1-----0-0---0-0--|
|--2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-2-2-x-x-2-2-x-x-----2-2-----0-0---0-0--|
|--0-0-0-0-x-x-0-0-0-0-x-x-0-0-x-x-----3-3-----0-0---0-0--|
|--------------------------------------3-3----------------|
|------------------------------------1-----1-3-----4------|
--VERSE 3
|------0----------------------2----2-2----2----2-2----0----0-0----0----0-0--|
|----------3---2--------------3----3-3----3----3-3----3----3-3----3----3-3--|
|----2-------2-2---2---2-2----5------5----5------5----5------5----5------5--|
|----2-------2-2-2------2-----2------2----2------2----4------4----4------4--|
|--0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----5-----5-----5-----5------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----1----1-1----1----1-1----0----0-0----0----0-0--|
|-----1----1-1----1----1-1----0----0-0----0----0-0--|
|-----2------2----2------2----1------1----1------1--|
|-----3------3----3------3----2------2----2------2--|
|-----3------3----3------3----2------2----2------2--|
|--1-----1-----1-----1-----0-----0-----0-----0------|
--CHORUS 3 X 2
|-----0----0-0----0----0-0----1----1-1----0----0-0----0----0-0----1----1-1--|
|-----1----1-1----0----0-0----1----1-1----1----1-1----0----0-0----1----1-1--|
|-----2------2----2------2----2------2----0------0----2------2----2------2--|
|-----2------2----1------1----3------3----2------2----1------1----3------3--|
|--0-----0-----2-----2--------3------3----3------3----------------3------3--|
|--------------------------1-----1-----3-----3-----2-----2-----1-----1------|
--OUTRO PART 1
|-----0----3---5---5---3------0------0----------------0----3---5--5/9---8----|
|------------5-----------5---------5-----5---4p3-------------5---------------|
|-----5-----5----5------5-----5-----5-----5-----5-----0-----0----0-----------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------0--|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------0------|
|--5-----5-----5-----5-----4-----4-----4-----------5-----5-----5-------------|
|--------------------------------------------------0--------------------|
|----------7-----------7-----------7-------5---0-------3-------3--------|
|------4-----4-----4-----4-----4-----4------h7-0-------------------2h4--|
|----4------4----4------4----4------4----4-------0-------0---0-------0--|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--5-----5-----5-----5-----4-----4-----4-------3-----3-----3-----3------|
|-----0----0-0----0----0-0----1----1-1----0----0--0--|
|-----1----1-1----1----1-1----1----1-1----0----0--0--|
|-----2------2----2------2----2------2----1-------1--|
|-----0------0----0------0----3------3----2-------2--|
|-----------------------------3------3----2-------2--|
|--2-----2-----2-----2-----1-----1-----0-----0-------|
--OUTRO PART 2
|-----0----0-0----0----0-0----0----0-0----0----0-0----0----0-0----0----0-0--|
|-----5----5-5----5----5-5----5----5-5----5----5-5----0----0-0----0----0-0--|
|-----5------5----5------5----5------5----5------5----5------5----5------5--|
|-----0------0----0------0----0------0----0------0----5------5----5------5--|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--5-----5-----5-----5-----4-----4-----4-----4-----5-----5-----5-----5------|
|-----0----0-0----0----0-0----0----0-0----0----0-0----0----0-0----0----0-0--|
|-----0----0-0----0----0-0----0----0-0----0----0-0----0----0-0----0----0-0--|
|-----4------4----4------4----4------4----4------4----4------4----4------4--|
|-----4------4----4------4----4------4----4------4----0------0----0------0--|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--5-----5-----5-----5-----4-----4-----4-----4-----3-----3-----3-----3------|
|-----0----0-0----0----0-0----0----0-0---0-0---0-0--|
|-----0----0-0----0----0-0----0----0-0---0-0---0-0--|
|-----2------2----2------2----2------2-----2-----1--|
|-----2------2----2------2----0------0-----0-----0--|
|------------------------------------------------2--|
|--2-----2-----2-----2-----1-----1-----1-----0------|
|----------------------------------------|
|------1-----------------1------0-----2--|
|----2-2-----------0----2------1-----2---|
|----2---------0-2-----3------2-----2----|
|--0-----0-2-3--------3------2-----0-----|
|--------------------1------0------------|
C G C Am
Something's happening, don't speak too soon
C Am C G
I told the boss off and made my move
Am G
Got nowhere to go
Am C G Am G
Son of Sam, son of a shining path, the clouded mind
Am C G Am
Couple killer each and every time
C G C Am
I'm not uncomfortable, feeling weird
C Am C G
Lonely leered, options disappear
Am G
But I know what to do
Am C G Am G
Son of Sam, son of a doctor's touch, a nurse's love
Am C G Am
Acting under orders from above
D Bm Am G
King for a daaaaaaaaay
Am C G Am G
Son of Sam, son of a shining path, the clouded mind
Am C G Am
Couple killer each and every time
C G Am C
Shiva opens her arms now
C G C
To make sure I don't get too far
Am C Am
I may talk in my sleep tonight
C Am G
Because I don't know what I am
Am G Am C Am
I'm a little like you, more like Son of Sam
Instead of playing the difficult intros and outro part 1, just substitute OUTRO PART 2.
You’ve got it...
b - bend
r - release
gb - gradual bend
gr - gradual release
h - hammer on
p - pull off
T - trill
W - whammy bar dive
- slide down
/ - slide up
x - mute
X - pick slide
~~~ - vibrato
*7 - artificial harmonic
*7* - natural harmonic
... - palm mute
(0) - optional note
XXX - tremolo pick
alt - variation of riff
--------------
version 2
Tuning: Standard
Chords Used
Verse
A D7III D7II F E
e|-0----0----0----1----0--|
B|-2----3----1----1----0--|
G|-2----5----2----2----1--|
D|-2----4----0----3----2--|
A|-0----0----x----3----2--|
E|-----------2----1----0--|
Chorus Articulated
Am B/Am F C F#dim F
Son of Sam son of that shi-ney .... Bah da Baaaaaah
e|------0---------------0----------1-----------0-----(3)-----5----5------------|
B|------1-------------------3------1-----------1------1------1----1------------|
G|------2-------------------0------2-----------0------0------2----2------------|
D|------2--------------------------3-----------2------2------4---(3)-----------|
A|------0---------------2----------3-----------3------3------0----0------------|
E|---------------------------------1-------------------------------------------|
Am B/Am F C F#dim F
Couple kill-er... Bah da Baaaaaah
e|--0------------------------------1-----------0-----(3)-----5----5------------|
B|--1-------------------3---0------1-----------1------1------1----1------------|
G|--2-----------------------0------2-----------0------0------2----2------------|
D|--2------------------------------3-----------2------2------4---(3)-----------|
A|--0-------------------2----------3-----------3------3------0----0------------|
E|---------------------------------1-------------------------------------------|
Bridge
A F D7 F+14 (F7 except octave is used)
e|-5----8----10----10(11)--------------------------|
B|-5----10---10----10------------------------------|
G|-6----10---11----10------------------------------|
D|-7----10---10----10------------------------------|
A|-7----8----12----8-------------------------------|
E|-5----8----10----8*------------------------------|
Intro:
(There are clearly at least two guitars and a piano during this part. I've
transcribed a playable intro for one guitar that assimilates the combined
instrumentation.)
e|------------5----5--------------------------------------5----5-------------|
B|----5---8-----------8---5-------5----5---5-------5---8----------8--7----7--|
G|----5----------------------5------5--------7p5---5-------------------5-----|
D|-7----7---7----7------7-6------------6--------7*7--7---7----7------7---7---|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|-------------------------------------0-0--0--------------------------------|
B|--------7----7-----------7------------3-------3----3--3---0h1-----1--------|
G|-5--------5----5------4----4----4-----------4----4------2-------2---2------|
D|---7-------------7--6--------6-----6------5-------------------4-------4----|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|-----0---------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-1h3---3p1---1----------0--------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------2---2------1--------------------------------------------------|
D|-----4-----3-------3--2----------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Verse 1
A D7III
Something's happening, don't speak too soon
D7II F
I told the boss off and made my move
E
got no where to go
Chorus 1 (see tab above for accurracy)
Am B/Am F C F#dim F
Son of Sam, son of a shining path, the clouded mind bah da baaaaaaah
Am B/Am F C F#dim F
couple killer each and every time bah da baaaaaaah
[Repeat Intro up until * (first two measures)]
Verse 2
A D7III
I'm not uncomfortable, feeling weird
D7II F
long revered options disappear
E
but I know what to do
Chorus 2
Am B/Am F C F#dim F
Son of Sam, son of a doctor's touch, a nurse's love
Am B/Am F C F#dim F
acting under orders from above
Bridge (Chords tabbed above)
A F D7 F+14th
A F D7 F G
King for a day
Solo (some of the notes are trem picked)
A D7III D7II F E
e|------------------------------0--------------------------------------------|
B|-5--3--2-------5--3------3--3------3---------------------------------------|
G|---------2----------5------5------------5--------5-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------7------7-7-7-7-6---6----------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------7------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Repeat Chorus 1
Repeat Intro in entirety
Outro
Shiva opens her arms now to make sure I don't get to far
Am Am+M7 d/G D7
e|--5----------------5-------------------------------------------------------|
B|--5----------------5-----------------0-----------------10------------------|
G|--5----------------5-----------------0-----------------11------------------|
D|--7----------------6-----------------9-----------------10------------------|
A|--7----------------7----------------10-----------------12------------------|
E|--5----------------5----------------10-----------------10------------------|
I may talk in my sleep tonight cause I don't know what I am I'm a little
E G6sus2sus4 F#m7b5th
e|--0----------------------------0------------------------0------------------|
B|--0----------------------------1------------------------1------------------|
G|--1----------------------------2------------------------2------------------|
D|--2----------------------------0------------------------4------------------|
A|--2----------------------------x------------------------x------------------|
E|--0----------------------------3-----------------------(2)-----------------|
like you more like son of Sam
F E Am
e|--------1----------------0------0------------------------------------------|
B|--------1----------------0------1------------------------------------------|
G|--------2----------------1------2------------------0-2---1---2-------------|
D|--------3----------------2------2--------------0-2---3---2---2-------------|
A|--------3----------------2------0-----0--0-2-3-------3---2---0-------------|
E|--------1----------------0---------------------------1---0---0-------------|
Structure:
Intro 1x
Verse 1 1x
Chorus 1 1x
First two measures of Intro
Verse 2 1x
Chorus 2 1x
Bridge 1x
Solo
Chorus 1 1x
Intro 1x
Outro 1x
| / slide up
| \ slide down
| h hammer-on
| p pull-off
| ~ vibrato
| + harmonic
| x Mute note
| b Bend
| pb Pre-bend
| br Bend release
| pbr Pre-bend release
| brb Bend release bend
--------------
version 3
Intro: Part I Part II
e|------5--5----------------|-------5--5-------------------------------------|
B|--5-8------8-5---5--------|--5--8------8-7---7------7-------7--------------|
G|-------------------7-5----|----------------7---7--7---6x---4---4-----------|
D|-----------------------7--|------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
Part II continued
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--5---5-5---5-----5------------5-------------------------------------------|
G|----7-----7---7-------4-5--5-7---7--5-------------4------------------------|
D|--------------------7------------------7-6--6-6-7---7----------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A Am
something's happening, don't speak to soon
D F
i told the boss off and made my move
E
got no where to go
Am E F G B C
son of sam, son of a shining path, the clouded mind
Am E F G B C
couple killer each and every time
Intro: Part I
A Am
i'm not uncomfortable, feeling weird
D F
long we live options disappear
E
but i know what to do
Am E F G B C
son of sam, son of a doctor's touch, a nurse's love
Am E F G B C
acting under orders from above
A Am D F
A Am D F G
king for a day
A Am D F E
solo: e|----------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------|
G|--9-7-5-------9-7-5---7-5-7-9--7-5---5--------------9-7-5-|
D|--------7-7------------------------7---7777-6666----------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------|
Am E F G B C
son of sam, son of a shining path, the clouded mind
Am E F G B C
couple killer running out of time
Intro: Part I and II
Am E
shiva opens her arms now
D F
to make sure i don't get too far
E Am
i may talk in my sleep tonight cause i don't know what i am
D F E Am F E Am
i'm a little like you, more like son of sam
--------------
version 4
Standard tuning (that is, capo on second fret if you've been playing a lot of Elliott Smith)
Intro:
(This is basically just the chords from the piano part. You can pretty much ignore the bass
notes of this intro if you want to. How do you play E9/G# on guitar anyway??)
Am Abaug Am D/A D7/A
E9/Ab Em/G D/F# F E
Am Abaug
Something's happening, don't speak too soon.
G F
I told the boss off and made my move;
E
I got nowhere to go.
Am Am/B F C
Son of Sam, son of a shining path, a clouded mind.
B7 F Am
(aah-aaaah aaaah aa-ah)
Am/B F C
Couple killer, each and every time.
B7 F Am
(aah-aaaah aaaah aa-ah)
Abaug
(little walk-down riff)
Am Abaug
I'm not uncomfortable, feeling weird.
G F
Lonely leered, options disappeared,
E
but I know what to do.
Am Am/B F C
Son of Sam, son of a doctor's touch, a nurse's love.
B7 F Am
(aah-aaaah aaaah aa-ah)
Am/B F C
Acting under orders from above.
B7 F Am
(aah-aaaah aaaah aa-ah) (I feel silly writing this out)
BRIDGE:
Am F D7 F
Am F D7 F E
Back to Verse progression for the solo:
Am Abaug G F
G F E
Am Am/B
Son of Sam, son of a shining path, a clouded mind.
B7 F Am
(aah-aaaah aaaah aa-ah)
Am Am/B F C
Couple killer, running out of time
B7 F Am
(aah-aaaah aaaah aa-ah)
Return to intro progression:
Abaug Am D/A D7/A
E9/Ab Em/G D/F# F E
Am Abaug G D/F#
Shiva opens her arms now, to make sure I don't get too far.
E/G# Em/G D/F#
I may talk in my sleep tonight, 'cause I don't know what I am.
F E Am
I'm a little like you, more like Son of Sam.
F E Am
You can figure out the riffs for yourself, they're not too hard.
CHORDS USED:
I wrote "Abaug" in the tab, but I just use am-maj7 on guitar because it's easier for me and
it still sounds right (to me at least). Basically, it's just the chord you get when you flat
the root of an am. Everything else should be pretty easy to figure out.
"Abaug [sic]"
e|------0--------|
B|------1--------|
G|------1--------|
D|------2--------|
A|------0--------|
E|------X--------|
--------------