| Author: | Leonard | Latest revision: | December 5, 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author’s Notes: | After a solitary holiday in Spain’s countryside Cat was delighted with how much of a shadow the bright moon really cast without any streetlights around. The basic idea for the song also stemmed from an old traditional Greek song. It took Cat, co-guitarist Alun Davies and producer Paul Samwell-Smith four hours on a Sunday afternoon to record and mix the song, with Cat doubling the guitars perfectly. The distortion on the guitar at the end is credited to Paul Samwell-Smith who took over engineering that session since neither the usual engineers Mike Bobak nor Robin Black were available at the time. The fingerpicking pattern, played with thumb and index only, is typically Cat’s—what a delight to play! | ||
| 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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"Moonshadow"
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
D D5 D4 D D4 D D/F# G G/B A A4 D
E|-----|--5---5-5-5---3-2--|--3-------2--------|------3------------|------0h2----|
B|--3--|----3-------3------|----3---3---3---0--|----0---0---0-2-3--|----3-----3--|
G|-----|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|------0h2----|
D|-----|--0---0-0-0---0-0--|--0---0---0--------|-------------------|--0-------0--|
A|-----|-------------------|-------------------|----------2---0----|-------------|
E|-----|-------------------|--------------2----|--3----------------|-------------|
CHORUS (Use INTRO-RIFF throughout.)
D5 D4 D D4 D D/F# G G/B A A4 D
Yes, I'm being followed by a moon-shadow, moon-shadow, moon-shadow.
D5 D4 D D4 D D/F# G G/B A A4 D
A leaping and hopping on a moon-shadow, moon-shadow, moon-shadow.
VERSE 1
G D G D G D G A
And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land.
G D G D Em A D F#/C# Bm/F#
Oh, if I ever lose my hands, oh if, | / / / / |
Em A RIFF#1
I won't have to work no more.
VERSE 2
G D G D G D G A
And if I ever lose my eyes, if my colors all run dry.
G D G D Em A D F#/C# Bm/F#
Yes, if I ever lose my eyes, oh if, | / / / / |
Em A RIFF#1
I won't have to cry no more.
PLAY CHORUS.
VERSE 3
G D G D G D G A
And if I ever lose my legs, I won't moan and I won't beg.
G D G D Em A D F#/C# Bm/F#
Yes, if I ever lose my legs, oh if, | / / / / |
Em A RIFF#1
I won't have to walk no more.
VERSE 4
G D G D G D G A
And if I ever lose my mouth, all my teeth north and south.
G D G D Em A D F#/C# Bm/F#
And if I ever lose my mouth, oh if, | / / / / |
Em A RIFF#2
I won't have to talk.
Play INTRO twice.
BRIDGE
E E7 A A2 E E7 A A2
"Did it take long to find me," I asked the faithful light.
E E7 A A2 E E7 A A7sus4
"Oh, did it take long to find me, and are you gonna stay the night?"____________
CHORUS (Strum throughout.)
D (D) G A D
Yes, I'm being followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moon-shadow.
(D) (D) G A D
A leaping and hopping on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moon-shadow.
G G/B A A4 D
E|------3------------|------0h2----|
B|----0---0---0-2-3--|----3-----3--|
G|-------------------|------0h2----|
D|-------------------|--0-------0--|
A|----------2---0----|-------------|
E|--3----------------|-------------|
Moon-shadow, moon- shadow,
G A D
Moonshadow, moon-shadow.
RIFFS
=====
RIFF#1 - fingerpicked or strummed
D A7sus4 D
d u d u d
E|--2--0-----------|
B|-(3)(3)-3--3--3--|
G|--2--0-(0)(0)(2)-|
D|-(0)----2--0--0--|
A|-------(0)-------|
E|-----------------|
RIFF#2 - fingerpicked or strummed
D A7sus4 D
d u d
E|--0h2--0-----------|
B|-(3)--(3)-3--3--3--|
G|--0h2--0-(0)(0)(2)-|
D|-(0)------2--0--0--|
A|---------(0)-------|
E|-------------------|
CHORDS
======
D D5 D4 D/F#
xx0232 xx0235 xx0233 200232
---IRM ---IRL ---IRL T--IRM
G G/B F#/C# Bm/F#
320003 x20003 x44322 xx4432
RM---L -M---L -RLMII --RLMI
A A2 A4 A7sus4
x02220 x02200 x02230 x02030
--IMR- --IM-- --IMR- --I-R-
Em E E7
022000 022100 022130
-MR--- -MRI-- -MRIL-
Chord fingering: T = thumb
I = index finger
M = middle finger
R = ring finger
L = little finger
Tablature notation: h = hammer-on
p = pull-off
~ = 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 