#-----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE-------------------------------#
# This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of the #
# music below. It's intent is for study or scholarship purposes only and is #
# not intended for publication, nor for any other commercial use whatsoever. #
#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------#
CAN'T SHAKE THESE BLUES
by Chris Smither
Tabbed 8/05/05 by John M (Dadfad@dadfad.com)
Using Notepad Courier New Regular 10 Font
No matter how I try I just can't shake these blues.
No matter how I try I just can't shake these blues.
They're like a big black crow flyin' after me.
They're tryin' to shake me outa my tree.
They shake me through an' through
But it just don't shake these blues
Seems so hard, nothin' left to fight it.
Seems so easy just to let go.
Seems so dumb to get so excited.
This might be the last "I told you so."
It's like a cautious crap-shoot. I can't win no game.
The dice ain't nice an' they never remember my name.
You can shake 'em an' shoot 'em. You just might win.
Take your money home an' never shoot again.
I shake till I lose,
But I just can't shake these blues.
It's kind of a clue when you finally find me alone.
Just a dark lump of shadow with nobody takin' me home.
The Dark is a demon, it swallows me whole.
The Fear is the shadow that shades my soul
Till I shake in my shoes,But I just can't shake these blues.
I don't b'lieve I'm down 'n this hole again.
I don't believe I lost my way.
I believe I'll sit here tremblin'
Till I shiver and shake my life away....
I been sick in my time. This ain't nothin' new.
It's just worse than the first time, an' it lasts just as long as I do.
I went to my doctor. Just a waste of time.
He gave me a bottle of dope of some kind
That said "Shake 'fore you use."
But it just don't shake my blues.
Seems so hard, nothin' left to fight it.
Seems so easy just to let go.
Seems so dumb to get so excited.
This might be the last "I told you so."
OUTRO....
(can't shake 'em... can't shake 'em....etc....)
>>>>>
The tune is basically made up of three themes or sequences. I'll show each one
below, and then use that sequence in the appropriate lyrical part of a verse
timed as closely as possible to the words. I'll also give what I call "starting
chords" whaich are chords or positions that, even not if completely played, are
the basis for the fingerings through the sequences. I'll give the chord shapes
and the fingers that are best (to me anyway) to hold them with. Sequence #3 has
a couple of slight variations, including a resolution on an E or E7/9 fragment
and a little "walk" back into Sequence #1. I'll show them all.
Keep in mind, Chris generally plays this tune with a capo on the second fret. All
my instructions and tabs are given FROM THE CAPO, as if it was the nut. Anyway,
enough of my ridiculous over-explanation. Here it is.....
------SEQUENCE #1:-------
This is the major sequence of this tune. It's made out of chords and chord
fragments of this progression... C A G D A using the voicings:
C=X32010 to C+9=X32030
A=X0222X
G=320003
D=X00232 to D/F# X04232
A=X0222X
Playing those full chords slowly will give you the melody of that
sequence, however you only need selected notes during the progression.
Hold the full C-chord, add the pinky to get the C+9 note on the 2nd
string. Moving into the A part, use the index to bar the 4,3,2 strings.
Move into the G part. For me it is easiest to use my thumb on the 6-string
3rd-fret to pinch those two notes, then use the index to catch the note
on the 3rd-string/2nd-fret, then ring finger for the note 4th-string/4th-
fret (in the D and D/F# area) and then the index barring the 4,3,2 again
for the second A-chord note(s). Below is that whole first sequence, beneath
it shows the approximate changes through the sequence.I'll also show the
fingered chord shapes he uses for that sequence.
Sequence #1
C=032010 using XRMOIO (added P for +9)
A=XO222X using XOIIIX
G=3X0000 using T00000
D=single notes as tabbed
E)-----------------------------------------------------------
B}------1---3---------------(2)------------------------(2)---
G)---------------------------2------0----2--------------2---- Sequence #1
D)--------------2------------2----------------4---2-----2----
A)--0---3----------------0---------------------------0-------
E)----------------------------------3------------------------
..||||||
This sequence-line is repeated six times (twice for the intro, a brief Sequence #2
passage, and then twice again for the repeated vocal lines).
------SEQUENCE #2------
This sequence is made up of the open D7 and E or E7 chords:
D7=200210 using TOOMIO
E=022100 using OMRI00 (added P for the 7th)
A partial D7 chord which goes into a hammered E and E7. Fairly easy.
E)--------------------------------------0-----------------
B}--------1-----0----1p0----------------------3-------0---
G)--0--2------------------2----0h1-----------(1)------1--- Sequence #2
D)-----------0-------0--------------2-----------------2---
A)------------------------------------------------2-------
E)--0--2------------------2-----0-------------------------
.|||
------SEQUENCE #3-------
For this sequence he uses the index to bar the entire
fifth fret strings 1 thru 4 with his index (which gives
a partial C or Am chord). He adds his pinkie over that
on the 1 and 2 strings on the eighth fret for those notes.
Keeping that same index bar on the 5th-fret, he uses his
middle and ring fingers for the additional notes, which
are notes from the C-pentatonic (or Am-pent) scale. On
the B part of the sequence at the end he goes into a part-
ial E or E7/9 fragment 0 7(6)(7)X X. He picks only the six
and five but the four and three string should be held to
sympathize with them. He then walks back down the neck as
shown, resolving on the E/E7 at the end of the vocal-line
"...I told you so..."
E)--8---5----------------------------------------
B}--8-------8---5-------------------------------- Sequence #3-A
G)--5----------------------5--7--5--7---5--------
D)--5-------5---------5h7------------------------
A)--------------------(0)----------(0)-----------
E)-----------------------------------------------
.||
E)--8---5---------------------------------------
B}--8-------8---5------------------------------- Sequence #3-B
G)--5----------------------5--7--5---(7)--------
D)--5-------5---------5h7------------(6)--------
A)------------------------------------7---------
E)------------------------------------0---------
.||
E)--------------------------------------------(0)--0-
B}---------------------------------------------3----- Sequence #3
G)--------------------------------------0h1---------- (leading back
D)-----7-----5--------------------------------------- to Sequence #1)
A)--0---------------7------5-------3-----------2-----
E)---------------------------------------------------
>>>
(Sequence reference numbers are shown next to each tab line)
INTRO.....
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/s/smither_chris/cant_shake_these_blues_tab.html ]
E)-----------------------------------------------------------
B}------1---3---------------(2)------------------------(2)--- #1
G)---------------------------2------0----2--------------2----
D)--------------2------------2----------------4---2-----2----
A)--0---3----------------0---------------------------0-------
E)----------------------------------3------------------------
E)-----------------------------------------------------------
B}------1---3---------------(0)------------------------(2)--- #1
G)---------------------------2------0----2--------------2----
D)--------------2------------2----------------4---2-----2----
A)--0---3----------------0---------------------------0-------
E)----------------------------------3------------------------
E)--8---5----------------------------------------
B}--8-------8---5-------------------------------- #3-A
G)--5----------------------5--7--5--7---5--------
D)--5-------5---------5h7------------------------
A)--------------------(0)----------(0)-----------
E)-----------------------------------------------
E)--8---5---------------------------------------
B}--8-------8---5------------------------------- #3-B
G)--5----------------------5--7--5---(7)--------
D)--5-------5---------5h7------------(6)--------
A)------------------------------------7---------
E)------------------------------------0---------
E)--8---5---------------------------------------
B}--8-------8---5------------------------------- #3-A
G)--5----------------------5--7--5--7---5-------
D)--5-------5---------5h7-----------------------
A)---------------------------------(0)----------
E)----------------------------------------------
E)--------------------------------------------(0)--0-
B}---------------------------------------------3----- #3 into #1
G)--------------------------------------0h1----------
D)-----7-----5---------------------------------------
A)--0---------------7------5-------3-----------2-----
E)---------------------------------------0-----------
FIRST VERSE....
E)----------------------------------------------------------------
B}-----------1---3---------------(2)------------------------(2)--- #1
G)--------------------------------2------0----2--------------2----
D)-------------------2------------2----------------4---2-----2----
A)-------0---3----------------0---------------------------0-------
E)---------------------------------------3------------------------
..No matter how much I.... try.......I just can't shake these....
E)-----------------------------------------------------------
B}------1---3---------------(2)------------------------(2)--- #1
G)---------------------------2------0----2--------------2----
D)--------------2------------2----------------4---2-----2----
A)--0---3----------------0---------------------------0-------
E)----------------------------------3------------------------
...blues.....
E)----------------------------------------------------------------
B}-----------1---3---------------(2)------------------------(2)--- #1
G)--------------------------------2------0----2--------------2----
D)-------------------2------------2----------------4---2-----2----
A)-------0---3----------------0---------------------------0-------
E)---------------------------------------3------------------------
..No matter how much I.... try.......I just can't shake these....
E)-----------------------------------------------------------
B}------1---3---------------(2)------------------------(2)--- #1
G)---------------------------2------0----2--------------2----
D)--------------2------------2----------------4---2-----2----
A)--0---3----------------0---------------------------0-------
E)----------------------------------3------------------------
...blues.
E)---------------------------------------------0-----------0----
B}------------1-----0----1p0-------------------------3---------- #2
G)-----0---2-------------------2------0h1-----------(1)---------
D)---------------0-------0-----------------2--------------------
A)--------------------------------------------------------------
E)-----0---2-------------------2-------0------------------------
..They're like a big black crow flyin' after me.................
E)--------------------------------------0-----------0----
B}--------1-----0----1p0----------------------3---------- #2
G)--0--2------------------2----0h1-----------(1)---------
D)-----------0-------0--------------2--------------------
A)-------------------------------------------------------
E)--0--2------------------2-----0------------------------
..They're tryin' to shake me...out of my tree.............
E)---------------------------------------0----------0-------------
B}---------1-----0----1p0----------------------3--------3p0------- #2
G)---0--2------------------2----0h1-----------(1)-----------------
D)------------0-------0--------------2----------------------------
A)----------------------------------------------------------------
E)---0--2------------------2-----0--------------------------------
They shake me through and through...but they just don't shake these...
E)---------------------------------------------------------
B}----1---3---------------(2)------------------------(2)--- #1
G)------------------2------2------0----2--------------2----
D)------------2------------2----------------4---2-----2----
A)----3----------------0---------------------------0-------
E)--------------------------------3------------------------
...blues.
FIRST REFRAIN....
E)--8---5----------------------------------------
B}--8-------8---5-------------------------------- #3-A
G)--5----------------------5--7--5--7---5--------
D)--5-------5---------5h7------------------------
A)--------------------(0)----------(0)-----------
E)-----------------------------------------------
Seems so hard....nothin' left to fight it
E)--8---5---------------------------------------
B}--8-------8---5------------------------------- #3-B
G)--5----------------------5--7--5---(7)--------
D)--5-------5---------5h7------------(6)--------
A)------------------------------------7---------
E)------------------------------------0---------
Seems so easy........just to let go
E)--8---5---------------------------------------
B}--8-------8---5------------------------------- #3-A
G)--5----------------------5--7--5--7---5-------
D)--5-------5---------5h7-----------------------
A)---------------------------------(0)----------
E)----------------------------------------------
Seems so dumb...........to get so exited
E)--------------------------------------------(0)--0-
B}---------------------------------------------3----- #3 into #1
G)--------------------------------------0h1---------- (var.)
D)-----7-----5---------------------------------------
A)--0-----0---------7------5-------3-----------2-----
E)--------------0------0------0---------0------------
....This might be the last "I told you so".....
(or that last line, more simply done, just.....)
E)--------------------------------------------(0)--0-
B}---------------------------------------------3----- #3 into #1
G)--------------------------------------0h1----------
D)-----7-----5---------------------------------------
A)--0---------------7------5-------3-----------2-----
E)---------------------------------------0-----------
....This might be the last "I told you so".....
Hold that pattern out a little on the E7 and then go back to
Sequence #1 for the next verse. That's basically it. Of course
the are slight differences in the verses and sequences (verse 2
omits the refrain part which uses Sequence #3 for example). But
the three basic sequences as shown above are the parts that make
up the complete tune.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
