Song: Please Me Like You Want To
Artist: Ben Harper
Album: Fight for Your Mind
Tabbed by: C.Hall
Tuning: D = D,G,C,F,A,D (all strings 1 step down)
Chords: E = 079997 (E/E) or 022100
D = x57775 or x00232
A = 577655 or x02220
(D#) = x68886
*********
There are some existing versions of this song that are close (with 5 stars?), but not quite
right - missing connecting parts at end of intro/verse and not providing vital notes for the
song's timing/rhythm. I did not base this on any tabs on this site. I had a version years ago
that I used and modified to learn it. Then when I looked on UG recently and was disappointed
that none were as good as my copy. So, I thought I'd post a complete/correct version.
As a bonus, I'm including chords which are really simple, and I think actually make a nice alt.
way to play this song. You can use open chords for anything not in parens. However, to get the
paren'ed chords to work I use the barre chords (for sliding from D to D# then to E in the
intro/chorus; and for bouncing between A and D in the verses). Enjoy!
*********
Please Me Like You Want To
h = hammer on
p = pick off
/ = slide
Intro:
E D A (D) (D#) E
d:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
A:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
F:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
C:|---------6-h7-p6-------------4-h5-p4---------------------------------6-h7-p6----:||(x2)
G:|-----------------7----5--------------5-------4-4-4-h5---/6----7--------------7---||
D:|--0---------------------------------------5--------------------------------------||
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Verse 1 & 2:
E D A (D) (A) (D) (A)
d:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
A:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
F:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
C:|---------6-h7-p6----------------------------------------------------------------:||(x8)
G:|-----------------7----5--------------0----0-------5-p4-------------4-h5-p4-------||
D:|--0------------------------0---h2------------------------5----5--------------5---||
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
1a) Don't do me a----ny fa---vors
1b)Mat'rfact why don't u do yourself a few
1c) Your presence it ain't nobody's blessing I've got
1d) plenty of other things that I could do
2a) Ohhhh no, not another excuse Your
2b) tired, silly games for me are just no use
2c) And now it's plain for me to see That
2d) you're with somebody that you don't want to be. (So won’t you...)
Chorus 1: (as per intro)
E D A (D) (D#) E
d:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
A:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
F:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
C:|---------6-h7-p6-------------4-h5-p4---------------------------------6-h7-p6----:||(x5)
G:|-----------------7----5--------------5-------4-4-4-h5---/6----7--------------7---||
D:|--0---------------------------------------5--------------------------------------||
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
1) Please, please me like you w----a----n----t to.
2) Not, not like you have to.
3) Orrrrr just go on and leave me. You know...
4) Leaving me is the least that you could do. You know...
5) Leaving me is the least that you could do.
Solo: (general interprataion)
d:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
A:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
F:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
C:|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------:||(x2)
G:|--5---/7----7----4-h5-4----4-h5-4----0---------4-h5-4----0---------4-h5-4-h5-0---||
D:|-(0)-----------------------------------—-(5)-----------------(5)-----------------||
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/b/ben_harper/please_me_like_you_want_to_acoustic_tab.html ]
Bridge: (Play verse riff - no vocals)
E D A (D) (A) (D) (A)
d:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
A:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
F:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
C:|---------6-h7-p6----------------------------------------------------------------:||(x2)
G:|-----------------7----5--------------0----0-------5-p4-------------4-h5-p4-------||
D:|--0------------------------0---h2------------------------5----5--------------5---||
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Verse 3 & 4:
E D A (D) (A) (D) (A)
d:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
A:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
F:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
C:|---------6-h7-p6----------------------------------------------------------------:||(x8)
G:|-----------------7----5--------------0----0-------5-p4-------------4-h5-p4-------||
D:|--0------------------------0---h2------------------------5----5--------------5---||
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
3a) You could've spared me so much mis-ery And
3b) told me you just want-ed a friend Cause
3c) believe me there is a difference From when
3d) you mean it and when yo---u pre--tend
4a) Orrrrrr, was I just your ha---bit? Cause I
4b) know a habit it’s a hard thing to break
4c) But won't you spare me a little mercy? There's only
4d) so much that I can take. (So won't you...)
Chorus 2: (as per intro w/extra pass)
E D A (D) (D#) E
d:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
A:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
F:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
C:|---------6-h7-p6-------------4-h5-p4---------------------------------6-h7-p6----:||(x6)
G:|-----------------7----5--------------5-------4-4-4-h5---/6----7--------------7---||
D:|--0---------------------------------------5--------------------------------------||
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
1) Please, please me like you w----a----n----t to.
2) Not, not like you have to.
3) Orrrrr won't you just go and l---e---a--v--e me. You know...
4) Leaving me is the least that you could do.
5) Leaving me is the least that you could do. (I) said...
6) Leaving me is the l--e--a--s--t that you can do.
Outro: (same as chorus but 2nd C-string ditty doesn't drop down - stays higher)
E D A (D) (D#) E
d:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
A:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
F:|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------||
C:|---------6-h7-p6-------------6-h7-p6---------------------------------6-h7-p6----:||(x?)
G:|-----------------7----5--------------7-------4-4-4-h5---/6----7--------------7---||
D:|--0---------------------------------------5--------------------------------------||
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
(Just play this to fade - Ben adlibs/freestyles over 1st measure every now and then)
*********
Comments:
When I learned this song years ago, I wanted to focus on the C-string ditties that occur around
beats 2 and 4 of the measures - as they (the "6h7p6" and "4h5p4" deals) are are the most
noticeable pieces . However, I stress after working this song out, that notes played over beats
1 and 3 - along with their preceeding "&s" - are what make this song and hold the rhythm. Timing
the bass notes with the bass drum is vital to get the pace and soul of this great song.
Also, I don’t sing as low as Ben does. I find the song sounds great in std E tuning, and then I
can sing it without mumbling. (Note: some of the slappy hammer-ons sound better with looser
strings or D tuning.)
Well, I think this is about as good as it gets. It’s a very repetitive little song with all the
measures tied directly together (don’t ever stop or pause between chorus/verse lines, or
when switching between verse, chorus and solo). The bass note on the 1st beat of each tab pass
above connects directly with the last "&" note in the preceeding pass. It’s a great song because
it’s easy to play (3 strings, all notes) and sounds great as a one-man show.
If you looking for chords, I think these work. Though not like the original, with some palm
mutes and mixing in of note picking (from above), I think these make a pretty cool version - you
can liven it up a little, without losing the feeling. Strike the bass note on each chord switch
listed and you're all set. Add in the "&" note preceed the chord switch and I think it sounds
really cool.
If you see improvements, drop comments!
–C.Hall (7/31/2009)
