Bart Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Does anyone know how Jeff plays the main riff in We've Been Had? The riff itself is pretty easy, but when he plays it, he also plays the G chord and the riff all at the same time. How do he do it?? And since I couldn't find the chords in here, I thought I'd post this. Most of it is stollen from the internets but I added a few transition chords during the verses that were not included in the versions that I found. I think it sounds better this way. The format is messed up and the chords don't align properly. I tired to use the [/code] thing to make it right, but it didn't work. The original font was Arial, so perhaps if you cut and paste it and change the font to Arial, it will look better(?) WE'VE BEEN HAD – Uncle Tupelo (Jeff Tweedy) Riff G C G e|--------------------------------| B|--------------------------------| G|3---4-3-4-3-4-3-4-2-0-----------| D|----------------------2-0-2-----| A|--------------------------------| E|--------------------------------| My version: G C G e|--------------------------------| B|--------------------------------| G|3---4-3-4-3-4-3-4-2-0--0--------| D|--------------------------------| A|--------------------------------| E|--------------------------------| SOME CHORDS G G/F# Em7 e|-3----3-----3----------| B|-3----3-----3----------| G|-0----0-----0----------| D|-0----0-----2----------| A|-2----2-----2----------| E|-3----2-----0----------| Intro GGGG Riff (4 times) C G There's a guitar leaning C G On a Marshall stack C C/B Am G Used to sound like a sun on the horizon D C G Riff (2 times) CC G Now I think, we've been had C G There's a young girl screaming C G All the way in the back C C/B Am G Poor kid, she never saw it coming D C G Riff (2 times) CC G Now she knows, she's been had Bridge G B7 Watchin your labels, spinnin on my turntable Em Em7 There's no call waiting, in my head phones C E And every star that shines, in the back of my mind Am C G Riff (2 times) CC G Just waiting for its cover to be blown C G There's a eardrum bleeding C G Yeah, it's in my head C C/B Am G How could I still be, so in love D C G Riff (2 times) CC G When I know, we've been had Bridge G B7 Republicans and democrats, can’t give you the facts Em Em7 Your parents won't tell you 'till you're grown C E And every star that shines, in the back of your mind Am C G Riff (2 times) CC G Is always waiting for its cover to be blown Riff (2 times) CC G G B7 Flashing their badges just like the law of averages Em Em7 Nobody likes ‘em where they’re from C E And every star that hides on the back of the bus Am C G Is just waiting for its cover to be blown Riff (2 times) CC G PS - The cut and paste and convert to Arial does work to get the chords in the right places. Corrections and additions are welcome........and help with the riff!!! ;-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmacomber68w Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 I just play that basic riff you posted. One exception, instead of that 2 0 2 part on the D string, I just play a C open chord followed by a G open chord. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gobias Industries Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 We've Been Had riff -----------------0~~~~-3 -3~~-3~~-3~~-3~~-1~~~~-0 -3h4-3h4-3h4-3h4-0~~~~-0 -----------------2p0h2-0 -----------------3~~~~-2 -----------------------3 Sounds meatier that way, it's probably what you're looking for. In the verses, on the second line of each ("On a Marshall stack" and co.), there's a brief Em in between the C and the G. Walk downs are probably better written out as C/B, Am/G. In the bridges, the G/F# should really be B7, the Em after the C ("Every star that shines in the back of my mind" line and all variations) should be a straight E. Otherwise at a quick glance it looks pretty good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anthony Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Here is my take on the "We've Been Had" riff. It is a reworking of the CCR riff which is a reworking of the Ligthnin Hopkins Riff. e|------------------------------- b|-----3---3---3---3------------- g|-2s4---4---4---4----2p0-----0-- d|-------------------------2--0-- a|------------------------------- e|------------------------------- What do you guys think? EDIT: it should be slide not hammer from 2 to 4. I am sure you figured this out already. This is a common riff used from "Down By the River" to "Wish You Were Here" to "Casino Queen" to "I See Monsters" to ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bart Posted August 21, 2009 Author Share Posted August 21, 2009 We've Been Had riff -----------------0~~~~-3 -3~~-3~~-3~~-3~~-1~~~~-0 -3h4-3h4-3h4-3h4-0~~~~-0 -----------------2p0h2-0 -----------------3~~~~-2 -----------------------3 Sounds meatier that way, it's probably what you're looking for. In the verses, on the second line of each ("On a Marshall stack" and co.), there's a brief Em in between the C and the G. Walk downs are probably better written out as C/B, Am/G. In the bridges, the G/F# should really be B7, the Em after the C ("Every star that shines in the back of my mind" line and all variations) should be a straight E. Otherwise at a quick glance it looks pretty good. Thanks for the tips Dunder! I made some of the changes above (edited the original). I added the B7 in place of the G/F# and changed the appropriate Em to E. I couldn't figure out how to make the Em sound right between the C and the G so I left that one as it was. Sorry! Thanks also for the help with the riff! I've been playing that way too. I sort of play the "bottom half" of the G barre chord where I bar the first 3 strings with my index finger and hammer on and pull off with my middle finger to do the riff. Then I pop into a C barre chord and then back to G. It works well and it a close enough approximation of what Jeff plays. Thanks again! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gobias Industries Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 I couldn't figure out how to make the Em sound right between the C and the G so I left that one as it was. Sorry! No problem, I'm always willing to help. I'm too lazy to publish these tabs myself (I know way too many Tweedy songs), so I just end up correcting them as I see them. The only real suggestion I have is that the Em is only really for like a beat, it's more of a "listen to the record and hear how it works" sort of deal. But I'm certain as to its inclusion. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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