If I Needed Someone (tab) — Beatles
#This file is the author`s own work and represents their interpretation of the # #song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. # From: [email protected] (Marc Bennett Hirsh) Subject: "If I Needed Someone" (The Beatles)
George Harrison`s finest unsung moment. A very underrated song that is a brilliant example of pop perfection, circa 1965. They don`t make `em like this any more. To play it, use a capo at the 7th fret. Of course, to make it sound right, you`ll need a 12-string (preferably Rickenbacker, of course), but I`ve found that I can achieve a passably similar effect by either turning on the chorus just enough that I hear two separate sounds or setting my delay pedal long enough to hear two separate sounds. Either way, ya gotta jangle, or it won`t sound right.
I think John Lennon may be playing first position chords throughout, so I`ll write the chord names above the TAB and I`ll draw the shapes at the end. I can`t tell exactly what the rhythm is for this part, but as long as it`s not overdone, it should be fine.
(Even though the capo is at the 7th fret, I`m writing this as if it were the nut - i. e. `0` in the tab will correspond to the 7th fret. Just add 7 to everything if it gets too confusing.)
"If I Needed Someone" (George Harrison) Performed by the Beatles >From the album _Rubber_Soul_ Transcribed without permission but I`ll take the heat anyway by Marc Hirsh
Notation: s - sixteenth note e - eighth note q - quarter note h - half note w - whole note . - play note for one and a half times the value before it (just like a dot in standard notation) ^ - ties two note lengths together NOTE LENGTHS IN CAPITAL LETTERS MEAN REST FOR THAT VALUE OF TIME! / - slide up - slide down h - hammer-on p - pull-off
Let ring!
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e G-----------------|------------------ X2 (band enters 2nd time)
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e If I needed someone to love, you`re the one that I`d be thinking of
(w) (w) e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e If I needed someone
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e If I had some more time to spend, then I guess I`d be with you, my friend
(w) (w) e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e If I needed someone
w w w w Had you come some other day then it might not have been like this
w w w e e e e e e e e But you see now I`m too much in love
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e Carve your number on my wall and maybe you will get a call from me
(w) (w) e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e If I needed someone
(guitar solo) e e e e e e e e e e e e e q. e e e e e e e e e e e e e q. Aaah...
w q. q. q e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e Aaah...
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e If I needed someone to love, you`re the one that I`d be thinking of
(w) (w) e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e If I needed someone
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e If I had some more time to spend, then I guess I`d be with you, my friend
(w) (w) e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e If I needed someone
w w w w Had you come some other day then it might not have been like this
w w w e e e e e e e e But you see now I`m too much in love
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e Carve your number on my wall and maybe you will get a call from me
(w) (w) e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e If I needed someone
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e w
John Lennon`s chords: (all played 1st position - WITHOUT A CAPO)
Rhythmically, this should be okay. I transcribed this mostly on my own (I got chord changes and forms and lyrics from a book, but all of the embellishments such as capo placement and music beyond standard chording was my own doing), so there are going to be some things that aren`t quite right. For instance, obviously, if both guitars stand still during the G/A chord, things are going to be pretty boring, so there is a rhythm pattern beyond what I have, I just haven`t pegged it down precisely. Slight arpeggiations seem to work fine here.
I recently listened to this album again and was blown away by this song. A true masterpiece, especially the solo. I wish that I could transcribe the incredible vocal harmonies; alas, there`s no way. Still, this should be plenty. Happy playing! Marc Hirsh ([email protected])
/ ^ --""Why pay to be bored? Baby, this is free!" (Too Much Joy) V