Ben Howard wrote this song to be played with a capo on the second fret with CFCFGC
tuning, which sounds totally beautiful and is very fun to play. However, if you are
interested in playing the song sans capo and in standard tune, I tabbed out a version
that doesn't sound exactly like his, but it suffices for a quick play.
The trick is to minimize changes in the treble notes of the chords while emphasizing the
base. Often, the only finger that moves between chords is your index finger.
Pick through the chords in a pattern that makes sense to you, and listen well to his
version to get the changes right.
Also, these lyrics is ratchet. I copy-pasted them from the internet; sorry 'bout it.
CHORDS USED:
Verse:
Bm: x2443x
G: 3x443x
Pre-Chorus:
D: x577xx
Asus: x022xx
Bm: x2443x
G: 3x443x
Chorus:
D: x577xx
D/C#: x477xx
Bm': 7x77xx
Asus': 5x77xx
VERSE 1:
Bm G
How would you know?
Bm
When everything around you's changing like the weather,
G
A big black storm.
Bm G
And where'd you turn to?
Bm G
Or hide a ghost, a shadow at the most, would you let me know?
Bm G
Cause I don't want to,
Bm G
To trouble your mind with the childish design of how it all should go.
Bm G
But I love you so,
Bm G
When it all comes clear, when the wind is settled, I'll be here, you know.
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/b/ben_howard/gracious_crd_ver_2.html ]
PRE-CHORUS:
D Asus
Cause you said ours were the lighthouse towers
Bm G
The sand upon that place
D Asus
Darling I'll grow weary, happy still
Bm G (hold into chorus)
With just the memory of your face
CHORUS*:
D D/C# Bm' Asus'
Gracious goes the ghost of you
D D/C#
And I will never forget the plans and the
Bm' Asus'
Silhouettes you drew here and
D D/C# Bm' Asus'
Gracious goes the ghost of you
G (hold into verse)
My dear
Verse 2
How would you know?
When everything around you's bruised and battered
Like the cold night storm.
And where would you turn to?
Or hide a ghost, a shadow at the most, would you tell me so?
Cause I, I adore you so
When it all comes clear, the wind is settled, I'll be here, you know.
Pre-Chorus
Cause you said ours were the lighthouse towers
The sand upon that place
Darling I'll grow weary, happy still
With just the memory of your face
Chorus x2
Gracious goes the ghost of you
And I will never forget the plans and the
Silhouettes you drew here and
Gracious goes the ghost of you
My dear
Gracious goes the ghost of you
And I will never forget the plans and the
Silhouettes you drew here and
Gracious goes the ghost of you
My dear
*Note on the chorus:
Ben Howard uses harmonics in the chorus; a simliar sound and rhythm can be achieved like so:
D D/C# Bm' Asus'
---------------------------------0h7-----------0h5------------|
---5-----------0h4--------------------------------------------|
-----------7--------------7---------------7------------7------|
-------7--------------7----------------7---------------7------|
--------------------------------------------------------------|
--------------------------------------------------------------|
Good luck; happy playing.
