knives_out

I really like the stripped down version of Shot in the Arm that Jeff Tweedy plays alone. I have been trying to figure it out for the last couple hours, but the strumming pattern is stumping me. Anyone have any idea how to strum it? I found a decent tab that sounds right, but I just can't get the strumming down.

 

Any help/tips would be appreciated.

DADGBE

Start strumming a D

E---2-------|---2-2-2-2-2--|

B---3------o|---3-3-3-3-3--|

G---2-------|---2-2-2-2-2--|

D-----------|--------------|

A----------o|---4-2-4-2-0--|

D-----------|--------------| (D)

The ashtray says

Noted. Fingering the E, though, gives it a bigger tone.

It's just a D, G and then a Gm, but played a bit differently since the live version is in Drop-D

DADGBE

Start strumming a D

E---2-------|---2-2-2-2-2--|

B---3------o|---3-3-3-3-3--|

G---2-------|---2-2-2-2-2--|

D-----------|--------------|

A----------o|---4-2-4-2-0--|

D-----------|--------------| (D)

The ashtray says

This version's great. Here's a little video of him playing it in Vancouver: http://download.loperco.com/misc/TheologiansCBC.mov

Enjoy.

Set!

 

While I'm at it, does anyone know the fingerpicking deal?

It's an easy little riff on the high E and B strings:

e----2--0----2p0--0-----|---0h2-----0h2p0-----0

B----3-----2----------2--|----------2----------2---

G----2--------------------|--------------------------

D----0--------------------|--------------------------

On the last open high e you can hammer on 2 to change things up if you want.

does anyone have the chords to the acoustic version to 'i am trying to break your heart' that jeff plays in the beginning of the DVD?

Just throw a capo on 2 and play two bars of A, then one of Em and D. You gotta mix up the rhythm a bit - hammer on second fret of the B-string when you're playing the A. Like this.

E---------------------------00---22---

B----0h2---0h2----00-----00---33---

G ------2----- 2----22-----00---22---

D-------2------2----22-----22---00---

A----------------------------22---------

E----------------------------00---------

Just play that throughout. Easy. I have the bridge solo, too, if you want that. I'll post it when it's not finals week.

The trick to getting it to sound like the live versions is to play to E chord (assuming capo 1) as a C-shape barre chord, barring the 4th fret. You only have to play the top 4 strings, so getting the shape isn't hard (actually no different than the top 4 strings of a C#min7 using the A minor barre chape, which is probably a more familiar shape)

 

So the riff relative to the capo would look like this... sliding up to the chord initially.

 

e--s4-4--4-4-4--

B--s5-5--5-5-5--

G--s4-4--7-6-4--

D--s6-6--6-6-6--

A---------------

E---------------

 

During the chord I'm sliding initially, I'm focusing on picking stings 2,3, and 4. Then there's a quick hit, same chord shape, focusing on strings 1,2,and 3

 

You're intoducing a dominant 7th note on the G string, which gives it that bluesy/rock feel.

It's so much easier just to form an E chord and play that twice, then just put your pinky finger on the third fret of the B string (making an E7) , then slide your pinky to the second fret, then take it off to make another E. You still get the bluesy feel. Like this:

e----------------------

B---00--3333--22--0

G---11--1111--11--1

D---22--2222--22--2

A---22--2222--22--2

E----------------------