The Fray – How To Save A Life (Guitar Tab)

Capo 3
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Song : How To Save A Life Artist : The Fray --------- are written out for the sake of simplicity, regardless of the fact that most of this song is constructed of piano, bass, lead guitar, and drums. LEGEND : { } = half mute (note is played then muted immediately) < > = heavy emphasis (the most recognizable note) [ ] = medium emphasis (typically the 2nd most audible note) ( ) = light emphasis (a note only heard from reverb or echo) « » = harmonic (finger lightly touching string directly above fretbar) huf = hold until fade (usually a single note on the piano or guitar) x = string mute & = short pause / = slide up a = half pause \ = slide down z = full pause ^ = bend h = hammer-on r = release bend p = pull-off ~ = hold ring v = vibrato * = heavy damping d = drum note % = fade in ; = fade out TUNING : 1} E up 1½ steps (3 semitones) -> G 2} B up 1½ steps (3 semitones) -> D 3} G up 1½ steps (3 semitones) -> Bb 4} D up 1½ steps (3 semitones) -> F 5} A up 1½ steps (3 semitones) -> C 6} E up 1½ steps (3 semitones) -> G {Piano 1}: medium reverb
        M1                M2                M3                M4                = measure number
        1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &   1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &   1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &   1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &   = timing count
        d                 d                 d                 d                 = bass drum tap
1: G  +-3---------------|-5---------------|-7---------------|-2-------5-------+
2: D  |---3---3---3&~~~-|---3---3&--3---3-|-----0-------0---|--(3)--3---3---3-|
3: Bb |-0---4---0~~-----|-----4-------4---|-0-7---7&~-7---7-|-----4---4---4---|
4: F  |-----------------|-4---------------|-----------------|-4---------------|
5: C  |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
6: G  +-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------+
{Verse One}: only piano accompanying G M1 D/F# M2 Step one, you say we need to talk Em7 M3 D M4 D/F# G M1 He walks, you say "Sit down, it's just a talk" D/F# M2 Em7 M3 He smiles politely back at you D M4 D/F# You stare politely right on through [drums start] G M1 G D/F# M2 Em7 M3 Some sort of window to your right D M4 D/F# G M1 As he goes left and you stay right G D/F# M2 Em7 M3 Between the lines of fear and blame D M4 D/F# %R1 You begin to wonder why you came {Chorus Piano}: piano, bass, lead guitar, drums
        1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &   1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &   1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &   1 & 2 & 3 & 4  &
1: G  +---7-------7-----|-5---7---5---7---|-----7-------7---|-5---7---5---10---+
2: D  |-------8---------|-----------------|---8-----8-------|------------------|
3: Bb |-----7---7---7---|---7---7---7---7-|-7-----7---7---7-|---7---7---7----7-|
4: F  |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|
5: C  |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|
6: G  +-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------+

1: G  +---7-------7---|-5---7---5---7---|-----7-------7---|-5---7---5---2-3--+
2: D  |-------8-------|-----------------|---8-----8-------|------------------|
3: Bb |-----7---7---7-|---7---7---7---7-|-7-----7---7---7-|---7---7---7------|
4: F  |---------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|
5: C  |---------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|
6: G  +---------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------+

{Chorus R1}:
octaves, full sustain
        1&2&3&4&   1&2&3&4&   1&2&3&4&   1&2&3&4& = timing count
1: G  +----------|----------|----------|----------+
2: D  |-%5~~~~~~~|-/7~~~~~~~|-/8~~~~~~~|-8~~~~~~~~|
3: Bb |----------|----------|----------|----------| Play
4: F  |-%2~~~~~~~|-/4~~~~~~~|-/5~~~~~~~|-5~~~~~~~~|  2x
5: C  |----------|----------|----------|----------|
6: G  +----------|----------|----------|----------+
Repeat: {Piano 1] {Chorus R2} medium sustain
        1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & = timing count
1: G  +-----------------+
2: D  |-----------------|
3: Bb |-----------------|
4: F  |-4/5\4---4\2~~~;-|
5: C  |-------5---------|
6: G  +-----------------+
{Chorus} C D Where did I go wrong Em I lost a friend G R2 D/F# Somewhere alone in the bitterness C D Em And I could have stayed up with you all night G D/F# G Had I known how to save a life {Chorus Outro} medium reverb
1: G  +-0---------------------+
2: D  |---3-1-0-1&-0-0&-------|
3: Bb |-----------------0&----|
4: F  |--------------------0&-|
5: C  |-----------------------|
6: G  +-----------------------+
{Verse Two} G D/F# Let him know that you know best Em7 D D/F# Cause after all, you do know best G D/F# Try to slip past his defense Em7 D D/F# Without granting innocense G D/F# Em Lay down a list of what is wrong D D/F# The things you told him all along G D/F# Pray to God he hears you Em7 D/F# And I pray to God he hears you Repeat: {Chorus} including associated bells and whistles, then {Chorus Outro}: {Chorus} C D Where did I go wrong Em I lost a friend G R2 D/F# Somewhere alone in the bitterness C D Em And I could have stayed up with you all night G D/F# G Had I known how to save a life {Chorus Outro} medium reverb
1: G  +-0---------------------+
2: D  |---3-1-0-1&-0-0&-------|
3: Bb |-----------------0&----|
4: F  |--------------------0&-|
5: C  |-----------------------|
6: G  +-----------------------+
{Verse Three}: bass, drums, piano G D/F# As he begins to raise his voice Em7 You lower yours D/F# G And grant him one last choice D/F# Drive until you lose the road Em7 D/F# Or break with the ones who follow G D/F# He will do one of two things Em7 D/F# He will admit to everything G PAM D/F# Or he'll say he's just not the same Em7 D/F# And you'll begin to wonder why you came {Piano Alternate Measures}: Referred to as [PAM] in Verse Three and Interlude
        1 &  2  &  3  & 4 &   1  &  2  &  3  & 4 & = timing count
1: G  +---10-10-10----8-7---|-10-10-10-10----------+
2: D  |------------10-----8-|-------------10-8-7---|
3: Bb |---------------------|----------------------|
4: F  |---------------------|----------------------|
5: C  |---------------------|----------------------|
6: G  +---------------------|----------------------+
{Chorus} 2x with bells & whistles, then {Piano 1} w/ {Piano Alternate Measures} {Interlude}: just {Piano 1} with [PAM] G D/F# G D/F# G PAM D/F# G How to save a life D/F# How to save a life Repeat: {Chorus} 2x with bells & whistles {Song Outro}: Just piano and drums throughout song outro Repeat {Chorus Outro} and {Piano 1} simultaneously G D/F# G D/F# G PAM D/F# G How to save a life Repeat {Chorus Outro} and {Piano Alternate Measures} simultaneously D/F# G D/F# G How to save a life D/F# G How to save a life Repeat {Piano 1}