Blood Bank - Bon Iver
Standard tuning
E A D G B E
I think a lot of tabs are missing the strumming pattern. The pattern through out
this whole song is D D D U D U. When strumming,
try to hit mostly the lower strings. This gives it a deeper sound.
Em7: O22O3OO
D/F#: 2OO23O
C/G: 332O1O
G: 32OO3X
Intro: Em7, D/F#, C/G, C/G (X4)
A different progression starts when he says "See look it..."
You start with G, G, D/F#, D/F#, Em7, Em7, and C/G C/G. This means that the
pattern is played twice because I repeated the chord. I know I may not
have shown that in the tab, but you do play them twice during that part.
In the song, he kind of fades out with the second C/G, so do whatever
sounds nice. This is the same progression when he says "You said 'ain't
this just like...'"
Em7
Well, I met you at the blood bank. D/F#
C/G C/G
We were looking at the bags
Em7 D/F#
Wondering if any of the colors
C/G C/G
Matched any of the names we knew on the tags.
G D/F#
You said "See, look it! That's yours stacked on top
Em7
with your brothers. See how they resemeble one anothers?
C/G C/G
Even in their plastic little covers."
(In this next chorus-like part, you only strum the chords
once until you get to the next verse).
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/b/bon_iver/blood_bank_crd_ver_5.html ]
And I said "I know it well." Em7 D/F#
G
That secret that you know.
D/F#
That you don't know how to tell.
G
It fucks with your honor.
D/F#
And it teases your head,
Em7
but you know that it's good, girl.
C/G
'Cause it's runnin' you with red.
(After this, I usually just lightly strum
over the C/G to make some noise).
Em7
Then the snow started fallin'. D/F#
C/G C/G
We were stuck out in your car.
Em7 D/F#
You were rubbing both my hands,
C/G
chewing on a candy bar.
G
You said "ain't this just like the present,
D/F#
to be showing up like this?"
Em7
As the moon waned to crescent,
C/G
We started to kiss.
And I said "I know it well..." Em7 D/F#
(For this second chorus-like part, he uses the same chord progression
as the other one, but he uses the same strumming patter as in the rest
of the song. So, G, G, D/F#, D/F#, Em7, Em7, C/G, C/G).
G
It's that secret that we know.
D/F#
That we don't know how to tell.
G
I'm in love with your honor.
D/F#
I'm in love with you cheeks.
Em7
What's that noise up the stairs, babe?
C/G
Is that Christmas morning creeks?
And I said "I know it well..." Em7 D/F#
Then you can just do the same as the intro unti the song fades.
I really hope this tab helps. I tried hard to make everything clear.
If you don't know a part, try listening to the song and it should
guide you.
