| Author: | Leonard | Latest revision: | October 31, 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author’s Notes: | Cat actually did not play guitar on the original recording. According to his producer Paul Samwell-Smith, the studio session was set up with “two stereo acoustic guitars put down first, Andy Roberts on one, Alun Davies on the other, Steve singing as an overdub later.” Steve’s original guitar part—a beautfully played rhythm guitar—can only be had from the demo tape as well as various live performances such as the 1971 BBC Theatre concert, which this transcription is based on. For Cat’s rythm guitar part, see Cat’s Part. | ||
| 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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How Can I Tell You by Cat Stevens (1971)
- Alun Davies' Guitar Part -
Standard tuning (EADGBE)
CAPO at 7th FRET (Key of Em)
in 4/4 time
INTRO
Am D5/A
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
d d
E|------------------|-----------------|--------------------|-----------------|
B|--1---------------|-----------------|-3------------------|-----------------|
G|--2---------------|-----------------|-2------------------|-----------------|
D|--2---------------|-----------------|-0------------------|-----------------|
A|--0---------------|-----------------|-0------------------|-----------------|
E|------------------|-----------------|--------------------|-----------------|
D7/F# G C/G
E|------------------|-----------------|--------------------|-----------------|
B|------------------|--------------0--|-------0-h1~~-------|-----------------|
G|------------------|-----0-h2--2-----|--0-----------------|-----------------|
D|------------------|--------------0--|-------0-h2~~-------|-----------------|
A|------------------|-----------------|--------------------|-----------------|
E|------------------|-----0-h2--2-----|--3-----------------|-----------------|
Am* D7/F# G C/G C C/B
/ / / /
E|------------------|-----------------|--------------------|-----------------|
B|------------------|--------------0--|-------0-h1~~-------|-----1-------1---|
G|--4~---2-\0-------|-----0-h2--2-----|--0-----------------|---0---0---0---0-|
D|-------------4~~~~|~~~~----------0--|-------0-h2~~-------|-----------------|
A|--5~---3-\2-------|-----------------|--------------------|-3-------2-------|
E|-------------5~~~~|~~~~-0-h2--2-----|--3-----------------|-----------------|
Am* D7/F# G C/G C C/B
/ / / / /
E|------------------|-----------------|-----------------|---------------------|
B|------------------|--------------0--|-------0-h1~~----|-----1-------1-------|
G|--4~---2-\0-------|-----0-h2--2-----|--0--------------|---0---0---0---0---0-|
D|-------------4~~~~|~~~~----------0--|-------0-h2~~----|---------------------|
A|--5~---3-\2-------|-----------------|-----------------|-3-------2-------2---|
E|-------------5~~~~|~~~~-0-h2--2-----|--3--------------|---------------------|
Woh_______________ woh___ woh______
VERSE 1
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C C/B
E|-----------------|-----------------|---------------|---------------|
B|-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---|---1-p0-0------|-1-1-----------|
G|---2---2---2---2-|---2---2---2---2-|-0--------2-\0-|-----0---0---0-|
D|-----------------|-0---------------|---2-p0-0------|---------------|
A|-0---------------|-----------------|----------3-\2-|-3-----3---2---|
E|---------0-------|---------2-------|-3-------------|---------------|
How can I tell you that I love______________ you?
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C C/B
E|-----------------|-----------------|---------------|---------------|
B|-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---|---1-p0-0------|-1-1-----------|
G|---2---2---2---2-|---2---2---2---2-|-0--------2-\0-|-----0---0---0-|
D|-----------------|-0---------------|---2-p0-0------|---------------|
A|-0---------------|-----------------|----------3-\2-|-3-----3---2---|
E|---------0-------|---------2-------|-3-------------|---------------|
I love____________ you, but I can't think of right words to say.
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C C/B
E|-----------------|-----------------|---------------|---------------|
B|-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---|---1-p0-0------|-1-1-----------|
G|---2---2---2---2-|---2---2---2---2-|-0--------2-\0-|-----0---0---0-|
D|-----------------|-0---------------|---2-p0-0------|---------------|
A|-0---------------|-----------------|----------3-\2-|-3-----3---2---|
E|---------0-------|---------2-------|-3-------------|---------------|
I long to tell you that I'm al-ways think-ing of you.
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C
E|-----------------|-----------------|---------------|---------------|
B|-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---|---0-h1-0------|-1-1-------1---|
G|---2---2---2---2-|---2---2---2---2-|-0--------2-\0-|-----0---0---0-|
D|-----------------|-0---------------|---0-h2-0------|---------------|
A|-0---------------|-----------------|----------3-\2-|-3-----3-------|
E|---------0-------|---------2-------|-3-------------|---------------|
I'm always thinking of you, but my words just blow a-way,
G C/G G C C/B
E|---------------|---------------|
B|---0-h1-0------|-1-1-----------|
G|-0--------2-\0-|-----0---0---0-|
D|---0-h2-0------|---------------|
A|----------3-\2-|-3-----3---2---|
E|-3-------------|---------------|
Words just blow a-way.
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C C/B
E|-----------------|-----------------|---------------|---------------|
B|-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---|---1-p0-0------|-1-1-----------|
G|---2---2---2---2-|---2---2---2---2-|-0--------2-\0-|-----0---0---0-|
D|-----------------|-0---------------|---2-p0-0------|---------------|
A|-0---------------|-----------------|----------3-\2-|-3-----3---2---|
E|---------0-------|---------2-------|-3-------------|---------------|
It always ends up to one thing, honey, and I can't think of right words to say.
Play
Am* D7/F# G C/G C C/B twice
E| |----------------|----------------|-------------------|-----------------| |
B| |----------------|-------------0--|------0-h1~~-------|-----1-------1---| |
G|.|-4~---2-\0------|----0-h2--2-----|-0-----------------|---0---0---0---0-|.|
D|.|------------4~~~|~~~----------0--|------0-h2~~-------|-----------------|.|
A| |-5~---3-\2------|----------------|-------------------|-3-------2-------| |
E| |------------5~~~|~~~-0-h2--2-----|-3~----------------|-----------------| |
Woh_____________ woh___woh______
VERSE 2
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C C/B
Wherever I am girl, I'm al-ways walk-ing with you.
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C C/B
I'm always walking with you, but I look and you're not there.
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C C/B
And whoever I'm with, I'm al-ways, always talk-ing to you.
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C
I'm always talking to you, and I'm sad that you can't hear,
G C/G G C C/B
Sad that you can't hear.
Am Am/E D7 D7/F#
It always ends up to one thing, honey,
G C/G G C C/B
When I look and you're not there.
INSTRUMENTAL
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C C/B
E| |-----------------|-----------------|---------------|---------------| |
B| |-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---|---1-p0-0------|-1-1-----------| |
G|.|---2---2---2---2-|---2---2---2---2-|-0--------2-\0-|-----0---0---0-|.| Play
D|.|-----------------|-0---------------|---2-p0-0------|---------------|.| four
A| |-0---------------|-----------------|----------3-\2-|-3-----3---2---| | times
E| |---------0-------|---------2-------|-3-------------|---------------| |
VERSE 3
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C C/B
I need to know you, need to feel my arms around you,
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C C/B
Feel my arms surround you like sea a-round a shore.___
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C C/B
And each night and day I pray in hope that I might find you,
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C
In hope that I might find you, because hearts can do no more,
G C/G G C C/B
Hearts can do no more.
Am Am/E D7/F#!
It always ends up to one thing, honey,
G C/G G C C/B
Still I kneel up-on the floor.___
Am* D7/F# G C/G C C/B
E|------------------|-----------------|--------------------|-----------------|
B|------------------|--------------0--|-------0-h1~~-------|-----1-------1---|
G|--4~---2-\0-------|-----0-h2--2-----|--0-----------------|---0---0---0---0-|
D|-------------4~~~~|~~~~----------0--|-------0-h2~~-------|-----------------|
A|--5~---3-\2-------|-----------------|--------------------|-3-------2-------|
E|-------------5~~~~|~~~~-0-h2--2-----|--3-----------------|-----------------|
Woh_______________ woh___ woh______
VERSE 4
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C C/B
How can I tell you that I love____________________ you.
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C C/B
I love_______ you, but I can't think of right words to say.
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C C/B
I long to tell you that I'm al-ways think-ing of you.
Am Am/E D7 D7/F# G C/G G C
I'm always thinking of you, (but my words just blow a-way,)
G C/G G C C/B
(Words just blow a-way.)
Am Am/E D7/F#!
It always ends up to one thing, honey,
G C/G G C C/B
And I can't think of right words to say.
OUTRO
Am* D7/F# G
E|------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|------------------|--------------0--|-----------------|
G|--4~---2-\0-------|-----0-h2--2-----|--0~~~~----------|
D|-------------4~~~~|~~~~----------0--|-----------------|
A|--5~---3-\2-------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-------------5~~~~|~~~~-0-h2--2-----|--3~~~~----------|
Woh_______________ woh___ woh______
CHORDS
======
Note: All chords are relative to the capo position at 7th fret.
Am Am/E
x02210 002210
--MRI- --MRI-
D5/A D7 D7/F#
x0023x xx021x 2x021x
---IR- ---MI- T--MI-
G C/G
32000x 3x201x
RM---- R-M-I-
C C/B
x32010 x2x010
-RM-I- -M--I-
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 