Sixteen Tons Chords & Tabs
Johnny Cash
SIXTEEN TONS
The song "Sixteen Tons" originally was a working song
The Intro-Riff of the Johnny Cash version of this song is played over an a-blues-scale:
[INTRO-RIFF]
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
h|--4/5-4/5--4/5--4--1-----1-----------------------------------------------------------|
g|----------------------2----2--0--1/2-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
/ means SLIDE
Just listen to the song once or twice and you easily get the timing.
After the intro-section play the following instrumental part:
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/j/johnny_cash/sixteen_tons_tab.html ]
[RIFF 1]
Am
e|---------------|
h|---1--1--1--1--|
g|---2--2--2--2--| 2 times,
D|---2--2--2--2--| then directly into 1st verse [RIFF 2]
A|-0-------------|
E|-----3--1---0--|
Verse:
[RIFF 2]
Am
e|-----------------|
h|---1---1---1--1--|
g|---2---2---2--2--| 2 times (1st & 2nd line of the verses),
D|---2---2---2--2--| then, for the 3rd and 4th line play:
A|-0-------0-------|
E|-----0-------0---|
[RIFF 3]
Am Dm Am
e|-------------1---1--|-0x-----------| x means MUTE GUITAR (again, listen to the song
h|---1---1-----3---3--|-1x-----------| and you'll know what I mean ;-)
g|---2---2-----2---2--|-2x-----------|
D|---2---2---0--------|--------------|
A|-0-------------0----|-0x-----------|
E|-----0--------------|--------------|
Chorus:
Am
e|---------------|
h|---1--1--1--1--|
g|---2--2--2--2--| 2 times, then go over to RIFF 3, and after the chorus
D|---2--2--2--2--| play the INTRO-RIFF (2x) and back to Verse
A|-0-------------|
E|-----3--1---0--|
----------------------------------------------------------------
If you've got any questions or comments, please e-mail me:
p.krickl@gmx.at