Title: Hold On
Artist: Sarah McLachlan
First the twangy guitar intro while keyboards hold a long A major chord. Hammer on with
3rd finger in the last bar:
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|--8s10(hold)---|--8s7—8-8(hold)|--8-8-8-(hold)-|---------------|
|--9------------|--7-----9------|--7---7--------|-----------0---|
|--7------------|--9-----11-----|--9---9--------|--------0h2----|
|--0------------|--0-----0------|--0---0--------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
Barre the A chord with 3rd finger, strum the rhythm and do the slides with the 3rd
Then this is easily playable:
A Dsus2 Esus4 Dsus2
|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|
|-2-------------|-3-------------|-5-------------|-3-------------|
|-2-------------|-2-------------|-4-------------|-2---------0---|
|-2--------2s4--|-4--------4s6--|-6--------2s4--|-4------0h2----|
|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
In the third bar barre on the 9th fret with the 3rd finger, and in the last bar barre on
7th fret with the 1st finger
A Dsus2 Esus4
|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------9-7---|-10-9-7-9-7----|
|-2-------------|-3-------------|-5-------9--10-|-7----7-7-7-10-|
|-2-------------|-2-------------|-4-------9-----|-7----7--------|
|-2--------2s4--|-4--------4s6--|-6-------9-----|-7----7--------|
|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
On with the verses. A, Dsus2, Esus4 chord shapes as per the intro. The other chords are
follows, in order of appearance. Note there are additional A and Dsus2 versions,
denoted an asterisk, use them where indicated for a more authentic sound.
Likewise the non-standard D chord. There is also this little riff, which
is a variation on the Dsus2 chord
and connects lines of the verse where indicated by (Riff) in the song.
Bm7 x 2 4 2 3 2 Riff |---------------|
E 0 2 2 1 0 0 |-----3-3-------|
D x 5 4 2 3 2 |---2-4-2-2-2---|
A* 5 7 7 6 5 5 |-4-------4-0---|
Dsus2* x 5 7 7 5 5 |---------------|
Asus4 x 0 2 2 3 0 |---------------|
A Dsus2 Esus4 Dsus2
Hold on. Hold on to yourself for this is gonna hurt like hell
A Dsus2 Esus4 Dsus2
Hold on. Hold on to yourself. You know that only time can tell,
(Riff)
Bm7 E
what is it in me that refuses to believe,
Bm7 D
This isn't easier than the real thing.
A Dsus2
My love, you know that you're my best friend,
Esus4 Dsus2
you know that I'd do anything for you and
A Dsus2
my love let nothing come between us,
Esus4 Dsus2
my love for you is strong and true. (Riff)
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/s/sarah_mclachlan/hold_on_tab.html ]
Bm7 E Bm7 D
Am I in heaven here or am I. . . at the crossroads I am standing
Fm A* Dsus2* E
So now you're sleeping peaceful I lie awake and pray
Fm A* Dsus2* E
that you'll be strong tomorrow and will see another day
Bm7 E Bm7 D
and we will praise it and love the light that brings a smile
Asus4 A
across your face
Now the Solo. Crank up the gain control.
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|-10s12-12-12s14|--14b15r14b15--|17--12s14-14s10|-10s5-5s10-----|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|12s14—14s17--17--17-----17s5---|4b5r4---4b5r4--|---------------|
|-----------17--17--------------|-----5-------5-|5s7-7s9-7-5h7-5|
|-------------------------------|---------------|---------------|
|-------------------------------|---------------|---------------|
|-------------------------------|---------------|---------------|
|-------------------------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|
|-6-6h7-7s9-----|--7—6s2--------|
|--7------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|---------------| Overdrive off.
A Dsus2
Oh God, if you're out there won't you hear me.
Esus4 Dsus2
I know we've never talked before and (Riff)
A Fm
Oh God, the man I love is leaving,
Dsus2* (stop strumming, vocals only)
won't you take him when he comes to your door.
(resume strumming)
Bm7 E
Am I in heaven here or am I in hell,
Bm7 D
at the crossroads I am standing
Fm A* Dsus2* E
So now you're sleeping peaceful I lie awake and pray
Fm A* Dsus2* E
that you'll be strong tomorrow and will see another day
Bm7 E Bm7 D
and we will praise it and love the light that brings a smile
Fm A* Dsus2* E
So now you're sleeping peaceful I lie awake and pray
Fm A* Dsus2* E
that you'll be strong tomorrow and will see another day
Bm7 E
and we will praise it (slow down)
Bm7 D A Dsus2
and love the light that brings a smile across your face
Esus4 Dsus2 A Dsus2 Esus4 Dsus2
Outro:
A Dsus2 Esus4
Hold on. Hold on to yourself for this is gonna hurt like
Hell
|---0---0---0---|-----0---------|
|-3---2---0-----|-0h2—----------|
|---------------|-2-------------|
|---------------|-2-------------|
|---------------|-0-------------|
|---------------|---------------|
