Good Man -- Josh Ritter
"Animal Years" recording: standard tuning; Live shows: usually Capo II
I tabbed this version from numerous YouTube live videos, which clearly show
Ritter's use of simple, high-necked chords that let the open e & B strings
ring (contrary to other submittals for this song). Easier alternative chords
for a fuller sound can be found at the bottom of the page. Enjoy!
E B A
e| 0 0 0
B| 0 0 0
G| 9 9 x
D| 9 9 7
A| 11 9 7
E| 0 11 9
Solo intro: E, B-A-B, B. E-B-A, A, E.
Band's Intro: E, G#m-A-B. E-B*-A, A, E.
(In band intro, G#m=466400, A=577600, B=799800)
Verse:
E B
These chords are old but we shake hands
A B
'Cause I believe that they're the good guys
We can use all the help we can,
So many minor chords outside
I fell in love with the sound,
Oh I love to sing along with you
We got tunes we kicked around,
We got a bucket that the tunes come through
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/j/josh_ritter/good_man_crd_ver_2.html ]
Chorus:
E B - A - B
Babe we both had dry spells, hard times in bad
E - B - A A
Lands I'm a good man for ya, I'm a good man
E-B-A, A
E B
Last night there was a horse in the road
A B
I was twisting in the hairpin
My hands held on my mind let go
And back to you my heart went skipping
I found the inside of the road
Thought about the first time that I met you
All those glances that we stole
Sometimes if you want them then you've got to
Chorus/instrumental
E B
They shot a Western south of here
A B
They had him cornered in a canyon
And even his horse had disappeared
They said it got run down by a bad, bad man
You're not a good shot but I'm worse
And there's so much where we ain't been yet
So swing up on this little horse
The only thing we'll hit is sunset
Chorus/ instrumental
Repeat chorus, repeat "I'm a good man" several times
End E
Alternate (easier) progressions I came up with:
E=022100 or 079900, B=024400 or 069900*, A=042200
(* this alt. B fingering is played only after using the high-fretted E; use
024400 after every A chord). Regardless of which way you play, your index
finger does a lot of string mashing!
