The Smiths – The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (Guitar Intro Tab)
Capo 2
• Video Lesson
Versions
(5)
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Speed:
1.0x
BEGINNING NOTES:
A few things before you start,
the way Johnny plays it and in my experience, you get a better, more accurate sound and tone.
I've included some live details from the very early 1983 performances in here, I'll note them as they
appear.
I've used some live performance and a demo along with my own experimentation to compile this tab.
Credit to:
The Smiths live at the Camden Electric Ballroom, May 1983 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iirGdbCHZBI
The Smiths 1982 Decibel Studios Demo tape https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCGyAkoeLUQ
Thank you for using my tab, I hope it is useful. Enjoy playing :)
If you want to learn more Smiths songs, check out the rest of my tabs!
KEY:
▲ = strum upward
▼ = strum downward
/ = slide up OR down depending on the proceeding fret number
[1983 LIVE INTRO & MAIN RIFF]
▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ e|---3-3---------------------|---3-3-------------------| B|---3-3-3-----3-------5-----|---3-3-3-----1-------3---| G|---4-4---4-----0-------0---|---4-4---4-----0-------0-| D|-5---------------2-------0-|-5---------------2-------| A|-5---------3-------5-------|-5---------3-------5-----| E|---------------------------|-------------------------| ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▼ e|---3-3---------------------|---3-3-------------0-0/0-| B|---3-3-3-----3-------5-----|---3-3-3-----1-----1-1/3-| G|---4-4---4-----0-------0---|---4-4---4-----0---2-2/4-| D|-5---------------2-------0-|-5---------------2-3-3/5-| A|-5---------3-------5-------|-5---------3-------------| E|---------------------------|-------------------------|
Notes:
My interpretation here is not a catchall accurate one for each iteration of the song. The riff
order/progresion changes throughout live versions and demos so feel free to alternate/play to whichever
version you like.
[STUDIO VERSION INTRO & MAIN RIFF]
e|----------0----0-----0----|---------0---0-----5-| B|----3------------3--------|---3-----------3-----| G|------0------0-----0----0-|-----0-----0-----0---| x1 D|--5-----5-----------------|-5-----5-------------| A|--------------------------|---------------------| E|--------------------------|---------------------| e|-0-------0---0-------0-------0-----5-| B|---3-------3---3-------3-------3-----| G|-----0-----------0-------0-------0---| D|-------5-----------5-------5---------| A|-------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------|
Notes:
The D string notes need to be picked softly as they serve to fill out the blank space between the sharp
treble notes.
The picking pattern seems a little random sometimes thoughout the studio version so feel free to play around
a bit.
This riff is repeated throughout the whole song until it fades out.
[1983 VERSION OUTRO RIFF]
▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ e|--------------12-----------------------------| B|---------12----------12----13-13-13-11-11-11-| G|------12----12----------12-12-12-12-10-10-10-| x9 D|--12-------------12-------13-13-13-11-11-11--| A|---------------------------------------------| E|---------------------------------------------| ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ e|---3-3-------------------3-| B|---3-3-3-----1-------3---3-| G|---4-4---4-----0-------0-4-| x1 D|-5---------------2-------5-| A|-5---------3-------5-----5-| E|---------------------------|
Notes:
Let the last chord ring out.