| Author: | Leonard | Latest revision: | April 16, 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author’s Notes: | One of his first attempts at R&B as an “Otis Reddis sort of thing,” penned by Cat Stevens at the tender age of just 17 years old, turned out to be a milestone composition so popular that it would become a hit single time and again not only for the composer himself but many different artists, most notably Rod Stewart (1977). The original 1967 studio recording had (Big) Jim Sullivan on lead guitar, John Paul Jones on bass, Dougie Smith on drums and quite possibly Mike Hurst, then Cat’s producer at Decca Studios, on rhythm guitar. In 2014 Cat would perform a more intimate sittee version for solo acoustic guitar and vocals at the NPR Music Tiny Desk concert, which we chose to transcribe here. | ||
| Each guitar tab is the author’s own work and represents his or her own interpretation of the song. Visitors may use the guitar tabs offered here only for private study, scholarship, or research. |
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"The First Cut Is the Deepest"
by Yusuf / Cat Stevens
from the original album
NEW MASTERS (1967)
as performed live at the
NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert, 2014
Standard tuning
(low to high) E-A-D-G-B-E
in 4/4 time
Note: The version of the song transcribed here is played
fingerstyle, i.e. without a plectrum. Yusuf alter-
nates between strumming w/ index finger and finger-
picking w/ thumb and index only.
INTRO
G* D* C* D* (repeat)
E| |--------7-----------5-------|--------3-----------5-------| |
B| |-----8-----8-----7-----7----|-----5-----5-----7-----7----| |
G|.|--7-----------7-------------|--5-----------7-------------|.|
D|.|----------------------------|----------------------------|.|
A| |----------------------------|----------------------------| |
E| |----------------------------|----------------------------| |
VERSE 1 (Continue fingerpicking as in INTRO.)
G* D* C* D*
I would have given you all of my heart
G* C* D* C*
But there's someone who's torn it a-part
G* D* C*
And she's taking almost all that I've got
D* G* D* C*
But if you want I'll try to love a-gain
D* G* C* D D D4 D D2 D
Baby, I'll try to love a-gain, but I know
CHORUS 1
G D C RIFF D G
The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
D C C/B D
The first cut is the deepest
G D C C/B D
'Cause when it comes to being lucky she's cursed
G C D C
When it comes to loving me she's worst
G D C
But when it comes to being loved she's first
D
That's how I know
G D C RIFF D G
The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
D C D D+11 D4+9 D
The first cut is the deepest | / / / / | / / / / |
VERSE 2 (Continue fingerpicking as in INTRO.)
G* D* C* D*
I still want you by my side
G* C* D* C*
Just to help me dry the tears that I've cried
G* D* C*
'Cause I'm sure gonna give you a try
D* G* D* C*
And if you want I'll try to love a-gain.
D* G* C* D D D4 D D2 D
Baby, I'll try to love a-gain, but I know
CHORUS LINK
G D C RIFF D G
The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
D C D D4+9
The first cut is the deepest | / / / / | / / / / |
INSTRUMENTAL BREAK
G D C D G D C D
/ . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / .
d u d u d u d u
E|-----------------|-3-0-------------|-----------------|-3-0-------------|
B|---3-1-0-----3-3-|-----3-1-3---3-3-|---3-1-0-----3-3-|-----3-1-3---3-3-|
G|-----------2-2-2-|-----------2-2-2-|-----------2-2-2-|-----------2-2-2-|
D|---------0---0---|---------0---0---|---------0---0---|---------0---0---|
A|-----------------|-3--(3)----------|-----------------|-3--(3)----------|
E|-3---------------|-----------------|-3---------------|-----------------|
G D C D (D) D+11 D
/ . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / . / .
d u d u d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
E|-----------------|-3-0-------------|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|--2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0-|
B|---3-1-0-----3-3-|-----3-1-3---3-3-|-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|--3-3-3-3-3-3-3-0-|
G|-----------2-2-2-|-----------2-2-2-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0-|0h2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0-|
D|---------0---0---|---------0---0---|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|--0-0-0-0-0-0-0---|
A|-----------------|-3--(3)----------|-----------------|------------------|
E|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|
CHORUS 2
G D C D G
The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
D C D
The first cut is the deepest
G D C D
'Cause when it comes to being lucky she's cursed
G C D C
When it comes to loving me she's worst
G D C
But when it comes to being loved she's first
D
That's how I know
G D C C/B D G
The first cut is the deepest, baby I know
D C C/B D D+11 D
The first cut is the deepest | / / / / | / / / / |
OUTRO
G D C D G D C D G
d u d u d u d u d
E|-----------------|-3-0-------------|-----------------|-3-0-------------|-3-||
B|---3-1-0-----3-3-|-----3-1-3---3-3-|---3-1-0-----3-3-|-----3-1-3---3-3-|-0-||
G|-----------2-2-2-|-----------2-2-2-|-----------2-2-2-|-----------2-2-2-|-0-||
D|---------0---0---|---------0---0---|---------0---0---|---------0---0---|-0-||
A|-----------------|-3--(3)----------|-----------------|-3--(3)----------|-x-||
E|-3---------------|-----------------|-3---------------|-----------------|-3-||
RIFFS
=====
RIFF___
C G D
E|---------2-2-2-2-|
B|---------3-3-3-3-|
G|---------2-2-2-2-|
D|---------0---0---|
A|-3-2-0-----------|
E|-------3---------|
deepest, baby I know...
CHORDS
======
G* D* C*
xxx787 xxx775 xxx553
---IRM ---MRI ---MRI
G D C C/B
3x0003 xx0232 x32010 x2x010
R----L ---IRM -RM-I- -M--I-
D4 D2 D+11 D4+9
Dsus4 Dsus2 Dadd11 Dsus4add9
xx0233 xx0230 xx0032 xx0030
---IRL ---IR- ----RM ----R-
Chord fingering: T = thumb
I = index finger
M = middle finger
R = ring finger
L = little finger
Tablature notation: d = downward stroke
u = upward stroke
Playing Cat Stevens 