[A]I keep a [E7]close watch on this heart of [A]mine
[A]I keep my [E7]eyes wide open all the [A]time. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
[A]I keep the [D]ends out for the  tie that [A]binds
[A]Because you're [E7]mine, I walk the [A]line
[A]I find it [E7]very, very  easy to be [A]true
[A]I find my[E7]self alone when each day is [A]through
[A]Yes I'll ad[D]mit I'm  a fool for [A]you
[A]Because you're [E7]mine, I walk the [A]line
[A]As sure as [E7]night is dark and  day is [A]light
[A]I keep you [E7]on my mind both day and [A]night
[A]And happi[D]ness I've known  proves that it's [A]right
[A]Because you're [E7]mine, I walk the [A]line
             **************
feel free to correct or suggest a strumming pattern
In the case you are unsure how to play an 'E7', some possible ways to play it are:
[0 2 0 1 0 0]
[0 2 2 1 3 0]
[x 2 0 1 3 0]
[x x 0 1 0 0]
If someone could give us a strumming pattern we could finish this song also. Just something simple.
-Bull
Actually, the whole song is picking bass notes. I'm not sure about how to play the whole thing, but the intro is something like:
------------------------------------0-------0-------------------------
-------------0-----0------0--2--4----2--0----4--2--0---------------
---0--2--4----2---------------------------------------2--0--4--2
---------------------------
--2--2---2--2--0---------
0--0---0----------4--2--0
Stupidity is wit for the simple-I think I made that up
That looks alot like the intro to Ring of Fire Are you sure youv'e got the right tab?
I just worked it out it's close but it is different sorry.
Sorry about dredging this old one back up but it is such an easy song to play and no one posted the pattern yet.
I play a simple bass strum pattern.
Pick the root note then strum the chord.
The first chord do it once, pick the open A string then downstrum the A chord. Next is E7 (I use the first example Arjen posted above) Pick the open E string then strum the chord. Do this twice.(pick the root, strum,pick the root,strum)
Back to A same thing as before but play it twice (this takes you into the next verse) Just follow this pattern throughout.
On the D chord pick the open D string.
The beauty is all of the root notes are open strings so you have a little more time to get your fingers in place for the chord.
This is a slow lazy tempo, have fun with it.
I know this is the easy song database, but if you listen to Johnny's recording of this, you'll hear he actually changes key for each verse.
Falling in love is like learning to play the guitar; first you learn to follow the rules, then you learn to play with your heart.
And even though I haven't heard the recording in a long time, it seems to me he alternates the bass as well.
However, you don't have to play exaclty like Johny to produce a passable version that is within reach of new players.
PORR,
Great tune, I've been wanting to add a third Johnny Cash song to my repertoire for some time. This is the one, so thanks for bringing it to my attention and making me do some work.
I also hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this song really isn't that easy, since it has an alternating bass line pick and strum pattern, a Johnny Cash trade mark. Plus it is played in three different keys that changes with each verse, introduced by a short bass line run.
Obviously you can play the song however you'd like, but here's my tab, freshly tabbed out with the help of the original recording and my Transkriber software.
I WALK THE LINE - Johnny Cash
(Capo 1st fret to play along with the original recording.)
INTRO: (pick root note & strum chord, pick alternate root note & strum chord)
1/E |---------| A chord |---------| D chord |---------| A chord
2/B |---------|alternate|---------|alternate|---------| alternate
3/G |---------| root |---------| root |---------| root note
4/D |---------| note |-------0-| note |-0-------| pick & strum
5/A |-------0-| pick & |-0-2-4---| pick & |---4-2-0-| twice
6/E |-0-2-4---| strum |---------| strum |---------|
1/E |---------| E chord |---------| B7 chord |---------| E chord
2/B |---------|alternate|---------|alternate |---------| 4 measures
3/G |---------| root |---------| root |---------| alternate
4/D |---------| note |---------| note |---------| root note
5/A |-0-------| pick & |-------2-| pick & |-2-------| pick & strum
6/E |---4-2-0-| strum |-0-2-4---| strum |---4-2-0-| twice
VERSE 1: (Written in the Key of E but sounds like the Key of F.
Remember to do the alternating root note pick and strum.)
B7 E
I KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON THIS HEART OF MINE
B7 E
I KEEP MY EYES WIDE OPEN ALL THE TIME
A E
I KEEP THE ENDS OUT FOR THE TIE THAT BINDS
B7 E 5/A |-------0-|
BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE, I WALK THE LINE 6/E |-0-2-4---| A | A | A | A…
VERSE 2: (Written in the Key of A but sounds like the Key of Bb.
Remember to do the alternating root note pick and strum.)
E7 A
I FIND IT VERY VERY EASY TO BE TRUE
E7 A
I FIND MY-SELF, ALONE WHEN EACH DAY'S THROUGH
D A
YES I'LL AD-MIT, THAT I'M A FOOL FOR YOU
E7 A 4/D |-------0-|
BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE, I WALK THE LINE 5/A |-0-2-4---| D | D | D | D…
VERSE 3: (Written in the Key of D but sounds like the Key of Eb.
Remember to do the alternating root note pick and strum.)
A7 D
AS SURE AS NIGHT IS DARK AND DAY IS LIGHT
A7 D
I KEEP YOU ON MY MIND BOTH DAY AND NIGHT
G D
AND HAPPINESS I'VE KNOWN PROVES THAT IT'S RIGHT
A7 D 4/D |-0-------|
BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE, I WALK THE LINE 5/A |---4-2-0-| A | A | A | A…
VERSE 4: (Written in the Key of A – sounds like the Key of Bb.
Remember to do the alternating root note pick and strum.)
E7 A
YOU'VE GOT A WAY TO KEEP ME ON YOUR SIDE
E7 A
YOU GIVE ME CAUSE FOR LOVE THAT I CAN'T HIDE
D A
FOR YOU I KNOW I'D EVEN TRY TO TURN THE TIDE
E7 A 5/A |-0-------|
BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE, I WALK THE LINE 6/E |---4-2-0-| E | E | E | E…
VERSE 5: (Written in the Key of E – sounds like the Key of F.
Remember to do the alternating root note pick and strum.)
B7 E
I KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON THIS HEART OF MINE
B7 E
I KEEP MY EYES WIDE OPEN ALL THE TIME
A E
I KEEP THE ENDS OUT FOR THE TIE THAT BINDS
B7 E (DO A FEW MEASURES OF E & FADE)
BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE, I WALK THE LINE
The capo is only necessary if you want to play along with the original recording, which I have as an MP3 file should you need to reference it.
Add the F# on the sixth string when playing the B7 chord to get a good alternating bass note between B & F#. Which means you won't be fretting an playing the F# on the high E string. B7 = 2 2 1 2 0 X, played with fingers 2, 3, 1, 4, 0, X.
Use the open E (6th string) as the alternate root note for the A or A7 chord.
Use the open A (5th string) as the alternate root note for the D chord.
Always start the root note pick and strum with the tonic note of the chord, so "D" when playing the D chord, "B" when playing the B7 chord, "A" when playing the A chord, even though the alternate root note is actually a lower note.
The chords in the intro are not played long at all. Pick the tonic root note and strum down once, pick alternate root note and strum down once, and you move on to the bass line run that introduces the next chord.
It took me a long time to learn how to do the alternating root note pick and strum pattern, but once you do, you can use it on "Folsum Prison Blues" and a Waylon classic, "Good Ole Boys" (Dukes of Hazzard Theme Song), and many more tunes.
E doesn't = MC2, E = Fb
Music "Theory"? "It's not just a theory, it's the way it is!"
Jonny T.
The latest issue of PlayGuitar! has a lesson on this song which I've found helpful. They only provide the tab for the A portion, but it was a nice challenge to figure out the chords and bass notes for the D and E passages. (And sorry there is no web version of the lesson. :( )
What nobody has said so far is that you need springs on your finger tips to play this song which is very nice and bouncy.
There is no way to peace. Peace is the way. - A.J. Muste
I was once just goofing around with an A-D-E progression and playing a walking bass line in between chords, when all of a sudden I realized I was playing "I Walk The Line." I think it was the first song I ever figured out on my own - and it was by total luck.
Blame it on the lies that killed us, blame it on the truth that ran us down.
THE MOVIE "WALK THE LINE" COMES OUT TODAY!
E doesn't = MC2, E = Fb
Music "Theory"? "It's not just a theory, it's the way it is!"
Jonny T.
I was once just goofing around with an A-D-E progression and playing a walking bass line in between chords, when all of a sudden I realized I was playing "I Walk The Line." I think it was the first song I ever figured out on my own - and it was by total luck.
That's always a great feeling. I would call it less luck and more experimentation which is a good way to develop creativity, something a lot of people struggle with. I know I do.
There is no way to peace. Peace is the way. - A.J. Muste
THE MOVIE "WALK THE LINE" COMES OUT TODAY!
Welcome to the Johnny Cash Universe. All Johnny all the time. Much better than the Shrek Universe, man that dude was everywhere- couldn't go to the grocery store without seeing that green dude everywhere - on soda cans to cereal boxes. Yup, I'm hitting the movie when it opens up.
Enjoy your karma, after all you earned it.
http://www.gadlaw.com
