----------------------------------------------------------------
THE BEATLES - BLACKBIRD (Lennon/McCartney) From THE WHITE ALBUM.
Released on 22nd November 1968.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Tabbed by:PJVillanueva
While in Rishikesh, India, in the spring of 1968, The Beatles
could only use their Martin D-28 guitars. Being Donovan there
too with his Gibson J-45 he gave John some fingerpicking clues.
But we shouldn't forget that in the UK there has always been a
strong liking for folk music and lots of great guitar players
working the folk-club circuit. Bert Jansch, John Renbourn and
Davey Graham to mention a few. John and Paul (oddly enough, not
so much George, who more easily might have got in touch with the
"Travis picking" techniques through his great rockabilly passion
and proficiency) both learned to pick, not only "Travis picking"
style, but also other interesting picking patterns which they'd
often use. John's DEAR PRUDENCE, JULIA, HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN,
SUN KING, and later WORKING CLASS HERO, LOOK AT ME (composed in
Rishikesh) and Paul's YESTERDAY, MOTHER NATURE'S SON, HER MAJESTY
and later CALICO SKIES and JENNY WREN among many others.
BLACKBIRD was written by Paul in Scotland and is based on an open G
pedal point, with two note chords in tenths and it's one of his
best songs ever. Some people say that he used D tuning on sixth
string, but I can't see why should he. I think there is not any
advantage doing it so.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.
Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.
G Am G
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- -------|
B|0---------------1--------------|3-------/------|
G|--------0---------------0------|---------------|
D|-------------------------------|---------------|
A|----------------0--------------|2-------/------|
E|3------------------------------|---------------|
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|12----------------------12-----|12---------12------------------|
G|--------0---0-------0----0-----|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|10--------------10-------------|10--------------10-------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
00:04
Am G
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- -------|
B|0---------------1--------------|3-------/------|
G|--------0---------------0------|---------------|
D|-------------------------------|---------------|
A|----------------0--------------|2-------/------|
E|3------------------------------|---------------|
Blackbird singing in the dead
of
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|12----------------------12-----|12---------12------------------|
G|--------0---0-------0----0-----|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|10--------------10-------------|10--------------10-------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
night
C C#dim Dsus4 Ebdim
e|------- ------- 3------ -------|------- ------- 5------ -------|
B|5------------------------------|7------------------------------|
G|--------0---------------0------|--------0---------------0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|3---------------4--------------|5---------------6--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
Take these broken wings and to fly
learn
Em Eb
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|8------------------------------|8-------8----------------------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|7---------------7--------------|6---------------6--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
Dsus4 C#dim C
e|------- ------- 3------ -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|7------------------------------|5------------------------------|
G|--------0---------------0------|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|5---------------4--------------|3---------------3--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
All your life
00:18
Cm G
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|4------------------------------|3------------------------------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|--------0-----------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|3---------------3--------------|2---------------2--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
you were only waiting
A7 D7sus2
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|2------------------------------|1------------------------------|
G|--------0-----------0---0------|--------0-----------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|0---------------0--------------|
A|0---------------0--------------|-------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
for this moment to arise
G C G
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|0------------------------------|5---------------3--------------|
G|--------0---0-----------0------|--------0---------------0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------|3---------------2--------------|
E|3---------------3--------------|-------------------------------|
A7 D7sus2
e|------- ------- ------- 0------|------- ------- ------- 0------|
B|2-----------------------2------|1-----------------------1------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|0---------------0--------------|
A|0---------------0--------------|-------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
G
e|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|0------------------------------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------|
E|3---------------3--------------|
00:28
G Am G
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- -------|
B|0---------------1--------------|3-------/------|
G|--------0---------------0------|---------------|
D|-------------------------------|---------------|
A|----------------0--------------|2-------/------|
E|3------------------------------|---------------|
Blackbird singing in the of
dead
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|12----------------------12-----|12-----------------------------|
G|--------0---0-------0----0-----|--------0-----------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|10--------------10-------------|10-------------10--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
night
C C#dim Dsus4 Ebdim
e|------- ------- 3------ -------|------- ------- 5------ -------|
B|5------------------------------|7------------------------------|
G|--------0---------------0------|--------0---------------0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|3---------------4--------------|5---------------6--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
Take these sunken and learn to see
eyes
Eb Em
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|8-------------------8---8------|8-------8---8-------8---8------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|7---------------7--------------|6---------------6--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
Dsus4 C#dim C
e|------- ------- 3------ -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|7------------------------------|5------------------------------|
G|--------0---------------0------|--------0---0-----------0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|5---------------4--------------|3---------------3--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
All your life
00:41
Cm G
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|4-----------4-----------4------|3------------------------------|
G|--------0-----------0----------|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|3---------------3--------------|2---------------2--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
you were only waiting
A7 D7sus2
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|2------------------------------|1-----------------------1------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|--------0-----------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|0---------------0--------------|
A|0---------------0--------------|-------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
for this moment to be
G
e|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|0---------------0--------------|
G|--------0---0---0-------0------|
D|-------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------|
E|3---------------3--------------|
free
00:46
Fadd9 Em Dm C
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|10--------------8--------------|6---------------5--------------|
G|--------0---------------0------|--------0---------------0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|-8--------------7--------------|5---------------3--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
Blackbird fly
Bb6 C
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|3------------------------------|5-------5---5------------------|
G|--------0-----------0---0------|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|1---------------1--------------|3---------------3--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
Fadd9 Em Dm C
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|10--------------8--------------|6---------------5--------------|
G|--------0---------------0------|--------0---------------0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|-8--------------7--------------|5---------------3--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
Blackbird fly
Bb6 A7
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|3------------------------------|2---------------2--------------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|--------0---0-----------0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|1---------------1--------------|0---------------0--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
into the light
D7sus4
e|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|1------------------------------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|0---------------0--------------|
A|-------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|
of the dark black
00:58
G Am G
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- -------|
B|0---------------1--------------|3-------/------|
G|--------0---------------0------|---------------|
D|-------------------------------|---------------|
A|----------------0--------------|2-------/------|
E|3------------------------------|---------------|
night
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/b/beatles/blackbird_tab_ver_14.html ]
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|12-----------------------------|12-------------12--/-----------|
G|--------0---0-------0----0-----|--------0---------------0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|10--------------10-------------|10-------------10--/-----------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
C C#dim Dsus4 D#dim
e|------- ------- 3------ -------|------- ------- 5------ -------|
B|5------------------------------|7------------------------------|
G|--------0---------------0------|--------0---------------0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|3---------------4--------------|5---------------6--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
Em Eb
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|8------------------------------|8------------------------------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|7---------------7--------------|6---------------6--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
D C#dim C
e|------- ------- 3------ -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|7-----------------------0------|5------------------------------|
G|--------0---------------0------|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|5---------------4--------------|3---------------3--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
Cm G
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|4------------------------------|3------------------------------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|3---------------3--------------|2---------------2--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A7 D7sus4
e|------- 0---0-- ----0-- 0------|------- 3---3-- ----3-- 3------|
B|2-------2---2-------2---2------|1-------1---1-------1---1------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|0---------------0--------------|
A|0---------------0--------------|-------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
G
e|------- 3---3-- ----3-- 3------|
B|0-------0---0-------0---0------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------|
E|3---------------3--------------|
01:16
Fadd9 Em Dm C
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|10--------------8--------------|6---------------5--------------|
G|--------0---------------0------|--------0---------------0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|-8--------------7--------------|5---------------3--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
Blackbird fly
Bb6 C
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|3------------------------------|5-------5----------------------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|1---------------1--------------|3---------------3--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
Fadd9 Em Dm C
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|10--------------8--------------|6---------------5--------------|
G|--------0---------------0------|--------0---------------0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|-8--------------7--------------|5---------------3--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
Blackbird fly
Bb6 A7
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|3------------------------------|2------------------------------|
G|--------0-----------0---0------|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|1---------------1--------------|0---------------0--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
into the light
D7sus4
e|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|1------------------------------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|0---------------0--------------|
A|-------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|
of the dark black
01:28
G Am G
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- -------|
B|0---------------1--------------|3-------/------|
G|--------0---------------0------|---------------|
D|-------------------------------|---------------|
A|----------------0--------------|2-------/------|
E|3------------------------------|---------------|
night
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|12------12--12------12--12-----|12-------------12---12--12-----|
G|---------0---0-------0---0-----|--------0-------0----0---0-----|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|10--------------10-------------|10-------------10---10--10-----|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|12------12--12--12--12--12-----|12------12--12--12--12--12-----|
G|---------0---0---0---0---0-----|---------0---0---0---0---0-----|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|10------10--10--10--10--10-----|10------10--10--10--10--10-----|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
(.
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|12------12------12------12-----|12------12------12-------------|
G|---------0---------------0-----|---------0---------------------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|10--------------10-------------|10--------------10-------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|-------------------------------|------------------------12--\--|
G|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------|------------------------10--\--|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
01:41
G Am G C
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|0---------------1--------------|3---------------5--------------|
G|--------0---------------0------|--------0---------------0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|----------------0--------------|2---------------3--------------|
E|3------------------------------|-------------------------------|
G A7 D7sus4
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|3---------------2--------------|1------------------------------|
G|--------0---------------0------|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|0---------------0--------------|
A|2---------------0--------------|-------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
01:46
G Am G
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- -------|
B|0---------------1--------------|3-------/------|
G|--------0---------------0------|---------------|
D|-------------------------------|---------------|
A|----------------0--------------|2-------/------|
E|3------------------------------|---------------|
Blackbird singing in the dead
of
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|12------12--12------12--12-----|12------12------12-------------|
G|---------0---0-------0---0-----|---------0-------0-------------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|10--------------10-------------|10--------------10-------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
night
C C#dim D D#dim
e|------- ------- 3------ -------|------- ------- 5------ -------|
B|5------------------------------|7------------------------------|
G|--------0---------------0------|--------0---------------0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|3---------------4--------------|5-------/-------6--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
Em Eb
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|8-------8---8-------8---8------|8-------8---8-------8---8------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|7---------------7--------------|6---------------6--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
D C#dim C
e|------- ------- 3------ -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|7------------------------------|5------------------------------|
G|--------0---------------0------|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|5---------------4--------------|3---------------3--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
All your life
02:00
Cm G
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|4-------4----------------------|3------------------------------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|3---------------3--------------|2---------------2--------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
you were only waiting
A7 D7sus4
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|2------------------------------|1------------------------------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|--------0-----------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|0---------------0--------------|
A|0---------------0--------------|-------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
for this moment to arise
02:05
G C G
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|0------------------------------|5---------------3--------------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|--------0---------------0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------|3---------------2--------------|
E|3---------------3--------------|-------------------------------|
you were only waiting
A7 D7sus4
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|2------------------------------|1------------------------------|
G|--------0---0-------0---0------|--------0---0-------0---0------|
D|-------------------------------|0---------------0--------------|
A|0---------------0--------------|-------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
for this moment to arise
02:10
G C G
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|0------------------------------|5---------------3--------------|
G|--------0---0-----------0------|--------0---------------0------|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------|3---------------2--------------|
E|3---------------3--------------|-------------------------------|
you were only waiting
A7 D7sus4
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|2------------------------------|1------------------------------|
G|--------0---0-----------0------|--------0---------------0------|
D|-------------------------------|0---------------0--------------|
A|0---------------0--------------|-------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
for this moment to arise
(.
G
e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
B|0-------0----------------------|-------------------------------|
G|--------0----------------------|-------------------------------|
D|--------0----------------------|-------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
E|3------------------------------|-------------------------------|
B Bend
R Release
/ slide up
\ slide down
H hammer-on
P pull-off
~ vibrato
+ harmonic
x Mute note
. - play note like a dot in standard notation
^ - ties two notes together
(. Pause
