| Author: | Leonard | Latest revision: | October 31, 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author’s Notes: | An old country and western song, “Bitterblue” stands out with its upbeat rhythm and rapid chord changes. To better help with the chord transitions, bars for each beat are provided for crucial parts of the song including some of the verse. “Bitterblue” is actually a lot harder to sing—let alone play—than it might seem at first (quite the high notes even for a tenor voice). | ||
| 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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"Bitterblue"
by Cat Stevens
from the original album
TEASER AND THE FIRECAT (1971)
Standard tuning
(low to high) E-A-D-G-B-E
in 4/4 time
INTRO
C F C G C F C G C/G
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
G C/G G D G C/G G D G
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
F F4 F
| / / / / | / / / / |
VERSE 1
C F C G
| / / / / | / / / / |
Oh I gave my last chance to you,
C F C G C/G G
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
Don't hand it back to me, Bitter-blue!____
C/G G D G C/G G D G
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
No, Bitter-blue!
C F C G
| / / / / | / / / / |
Yes I've done all one man can do,
C F C G C/G G
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
Don't pass me up, oh Bitter-blue!____
C/G G D G C/G G D G
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
My Bitter-blue!
CHORUS 1
D G C A D
'Cause I've been running a long time on this travelling ground,
(D) G C A D
Wishing hard to be free of going round and round - yeah yeah!
(D) G C
Yes I've been moving a long time
F C/D D-RIFF G C/G G
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
But only up and down.______________
VERSE 2
C F C G
I gave my last hope to you,
C F C G C/G G
Don't hand it back to me, Bitter-blue!_____
C/G G D G C/G G D G
My Bitter-blue! | / / / / |
C F C G
Oh I've done all one man can do,
C F C G C/G G
Please help me lose this, Bitter-blue!_____
C/G G D G C/G G D G
My Bitter-blue! | / / / / |
CHORUS 2
D G C A D
'Cause I've been waiting a long time, aeons been and gone - woah woah!
(D) G C A D
Looking at the hori-zon for my light to dawn, yeah yeah!
(D) G C
Oh yes, I've been living a long time,
F C/D D-RIFF G C/G G
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
Looking on and on.________
INSTRUMENTAL
C F C G C F C G C/G
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
G C/G G D G C/G G D G
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
C F C G C F C G A
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
(A) D A E A D A E A
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
CHORUS 3
D G C A D
I've been running a long time, summers come and gone - woah woah!
(D) G C A D
Drifting under the dream clouds, past the broken sun - woah yeah!
(D) G C
Yes, I've been living a long time
F C/D D-RIFF G C/G
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
To be back be-yond._________
VERSE 3
C F C G
I gave my last chance to you,
C F C G C/G G
Don't hand it back to me, Bitter-blue!____
C/G G D G C/G G D G
Oh Bitter-blue! | / / / / |
C F C G
I've done all one man can do,
C F C G A (A)
Don't pass me up, oh, Bitter-blue! | / / / / |
D A E A D A E A (A)
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
My Bitter-blue! Oh my Bitter-blue!
D A E A D A E A (A)
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
Yeah my Bitter-blue! Mmmh my Bitter-blue!
D A E A D A E A
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
Oh my Bitter-blue! Yeah!_____
C F C G
Oh I gave my last chance to you.
C F C G A
Don't hand it back to me, Bitter-blue!___
RIFFS
=====
D-RIFF
D D4
d u u
E|--02h--2h3-2--|
B|--3-----------|
G|--0h2---------|
D|--0-----------|
A|--------------|
E|--------------|
CHORDS
======
Note #1: The notation of the rhythm and chord progression
through bars ("/") in this tab can only be a
simplification or approximation to the original,
for the song makes heavy use of dotted notes,
hence the uneven chord shifts which are impossible
to transcribe accurately in such a text document
as this.
Note #2: Throughout the entire song C major is played with G
in the bass (332010) which isn't indicated in the
tablature as such, namely as C/G, because that would
collide with the other C/G used throughout the song.
C C/D F F4 G C/G
332010 xx0010 133211 (10)3311 320003 3x2013
RLM-I- ----I- TRLMII -T--RLII RM---L R-M-IL
D D4 A E
xx0232 xx0233 x02220 022100
---IRM ---IRL --IMR- -MRI--
Chord fingering: T = thumb
I = index finger
M = middle finger
R = ring finger
L = little finger
Tablature notation: h = hammer-on
p = pull-off
x = mute
~ = vibrato
[ ] = natural harmonic (Harm.)
/ = legato slide (gliss) up the fret
\ = legato slide (gliss) down the fret
! = accentuate part with great intensity
d = downward stroke
u = upward stroke
Playing Cat Stevens 