Paint It Black - The Rolling Stones
I thought this was going to be pretty simple, how hard can it be to work out a song with 5 chords?
Well, these are supposed to be EASY songs - I could just give you the chords and leave it at that...
But I've actually transposed it to a different key and tried to incorporate the sitar (or was it a
dulcimer?) melody line as much as possible....
The original chords are Fm, C7, Eb, Ab and Bb....so to make it a little easier, I'm going to change
those chords to.........Dm, A7, C, F and G - looking easier already!!! Obviously you'll need a capo
to be in the same key as the original, so the new chords mean said capo will be on the third fret...
To play the melody as well, you'll need a couple of extra chords...a Dsus2 and Dsus4, and Asus2 and Asus4.
Dm A7 C F G Dsus4 Dsus2 Asus4 Asus2
E 1 0 0 1 3 3 0 0 0
B 3 2 1 1 0 3 3 3 0
G 2 0 0 2 0 2 2 2 2
D 0 2 2 3 0 0 0 2 2
A 0 0 3 3 2 0 0 0 0
E x 0 3 1 3 x x 0 0
Intro....
This is basically just a picked variation on two chords, the Dm and A/Asus4...
Dm Asus4
E---0-1-3---------0-------0---------
B-3-------3-3-2-3---0h2h3---3p2p0-2-
G-----------------------------------
D-0-----------------------0---------
A-----------0---------------------0-
E-----------------------------------
(And as a sidenote, the first part is basically the melody we're going to incorporate into the chords!!!)
So, after the intro, you'll hear some drumbeats...8 altogether - then the Dsus4 and Dm chords are strummed
twice, like this.....
(Strum)--d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d
E----(D)-3-1-3-1-3-1-3---3-1-3-1-3-1-3--
B----(R)-3-3-3-3-3-3-3---3-3-3-3-3-3-3--
G----(U)-2-2-2-2-2-2-2---2-2-2-2-2-2-2--
D----(M)-0-0-0-0-0-0-0---0-0-0-0-0-0-0--
A----(S)-0-0-0-0-0-0-0---0-0-0-0-0-0-0--
E-----x--x-x-x-x-x-x-x---x-x-x-x-x-x-x--
Then the melody comes in.....
I see a red door and I want it painted black,
E--1--1-0---1-3---1----0---1-------------0-----------------
B--3--3-3---3-3---3----3---3-3----2--3---2---3------2-0-2--
G--2--2-2---2-2---2----2---2-2----2--2---2---2------2-2-0--
D--0--0-0---0-0---0----0---0-2----2--2---2---2------2-2-2--
A--0--0-0---0-0---0----0---0-0----0--0---0---0------0-0-0--
E--x--x-x---x-x---x----x---x-x----x--x---x---x------x-x-x--
No col-ours an-y-more I want them to turn black,
E--1--1--0---1----3--1-0----1--------------0------------------
B--3--3--3---3----3--3-3----3-3----2----3--2----3------2-0-2--
G--2--2--2---2----2--2-2----2-2----2----2--2----2------2-2-0--
D--0--0--0---0----0--0-0----0-2----2----2--2----2------2-2-2--
A--0--0--0---0----0--0-0----0-0----0----0--0----0------0-0-0--
E--x--x--x---x----x--x-x----x-x----x----x--x----x------x-x-x--
Then it's straight chords...
(Dm)I (C)see the (F)girls walk (C)by, dressed (Dm)in their summer clothes,
(Dm)I (C)have to (F)turn my (C)head, un(G)til my darkness (A7)goes,
Second verse is almost exactly the same format as the first.....
I see a line of cars and they're all painted black,
E--1--1-0---1-3----1--0----1-------------------0-----------------
B--3--3-3---3-3----3--3----3---3-------2---3---2---3------2-0-2--
G--2--2-2---2-2----2--2----2---2-------2---2---2---2------2-2-0--
D--0--0-0---0-0----0--0----0---2-------2---2---2---2------2-2-2--
A--0--0-0---0-0----0--0----0---0-------0---0---0---0------0-0-0--
E--x--x-x---x-x----x--x----x---x-------x---x---x---x------x-x-x--
With flowers and my love both never to come back,
E--1--1----0---1---3---1--0----1-------------0------------------
B--3--3----3---3---3---3--3----3----3-2---3--2----3------2-0-2--
G--2--2----2---2---2---2--2----2----2-2---2--2----2------2-2-0--
D--0--0----0---0---0---0--0----0----2-2---2--2----2------2-2-2--
A--0--0----0---0---0---0--0----0----0-0---0--0----0------0-0-0--
E--x--x----x---x---x---x--x----x----x-x---x--x----x------x-x-x--
Then back to normal chords...
(Dm)I (C)see people (F)turn their (C)heads and (Dm)quickly look away,
(Dm)Like a (C)new born (F)baby (C)it just (G)happens every (A)day,
I look inside myself and see my heart is black,
E--1--1-0----1-3----1--0---1----------------0-----------------
B--3--3-3----3-3----3--3---3---3---2--3-----2--3------2-0-2--
G--2--2-2----2-2----2--2---2---2---2--2-----2--2------2-2-0--
D--0--0-0----0-0----0--0---0---2---2--2-----2--2------2-2-2--
A--0--0-0----0-0----0--0---0---0---0--0-----0--0------0-0-0--
E--x--x-x----x-x----x--x---x---x---x--x-----x--x------x-x-x--
I see my red door and I want it painted black,
E--1--1-0---1--3---1----0---1-------------0-----------------
B--3--3-3---3--3---3----3---3-3----2--3---2---3------2-0-2--
G--2--2-2---2--2---2----2---2-2----2--2---2---2------2-2-0--
D--0--0-0---0--0---0----0---0-2----2--2---2---2------2-2-2--
A--0--0-0---0--0---0----0---0-0----0--0---0---0------0-0-0--
E--x--x-x---x--x---x----x---x-x----x--x---x---x------x-x-x--
(Dm)Maybe (C)then I'll (F)fade a(C)way and (Dm)not have to face the facts,
(Dm)It's not (C)easy F)facing (C)up when (G)your whole world is (A)black,
(NB - On the record the next two lines seem to be carried by just the sitar (Dulcimer?) line....
apart from a single strum of the chords....
(Dm)No more will my green sea go (A7)turn a deeper blue,
(Dm)I could not foresee this thing (A7)happening to you,
(I'd suggest a quick strum of the chords, followed by the melody... but just chords will do!)
Then the music kicks back in.....
(Dm)If (C)I look (F)hard e(C)nough in(Dm)to the setting sun,
(Dm)My (C)love will (F)laugh with (C)me be(G)fore the morning (A)comes,
I see a red door and I want it painted black,
E--1--1-0---1-3---1----0---1-------------0-----------------
B--3--3-3---3-3---3----3---3-3----2--3---2---3------2-0-2--
G--2--2-2---2-2---2----2---2-2----2--2---2---2------2-2-0--
D--0--0-0---0-0---0----0---0-2----2--2---2---2------2-2-2--
A--0--0-0---0-0---0----0---0-0----0--0---0---0------0-0-0--
E--x--x-x---x-x---x----x---x-x----x--x---x---x------x-x-x--
No col-ours an-y-more I want them to turn black,
E--1--1--0---1----3--1-0----1--------------0------------------
B--3--3--3---3----3--3-3----3-3----2----3--2----3------2-0-2--
G--2--2--2---2----2--2-2----2-2----2----2--2----2------2-2-0--
D--0--0--0---0----0--0-0----0-2----2----2--2----2------2-2-2--
A--0--0--0---0----0--0-0----0-0----0----0--0----0------0-0-0--
E--x--x--x---x----x--x-x----x-x----x----x--x----x------x-x-x--
(Dm)I (C)see the (F)girls walk (C)by, dressed (Dm)in their summer clothes,
(Dm)I (C)have to (F)turn my (C)head, un(G)til my darkness (A7)goes,
NB the next four lines are simply four lines of the melody & chords, hummed over...)
Hmmm -mmmm -mmmm etc (four times)
E--1--1-0---1-3---1----0---1-------------0-----------------
B--3--3-3---3-3---3----3---3-3----2--3---2---3------2-0-2--
G--2--2-2---2-2---2----2---2-2----2--2---2---2------2-2-0--
D--0--0-0---0-0---0----0---0-2----2--2---2---2------2-2-2--
A--0--0-0---0-0---0----0---0-0----0--0---0---0------0-0-0--
E--x--x-x---x-x---x----x---x-x----x--x---x---x------x-x-x--
Continue playing this riff over and over....the following lyrics are sung over it...
(Or you could just play the Dm and A chords....!!!!)
I wanna see it painted, painted black, black as night, black as coal,
I wanna see the sun, blotted out from the sky,
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted, painted black, yeah,
Then repeat the chord & melody riff, humming over it ad infinitum....
Note - on the last section, I'm not completely sure of the lyrics...even listening
over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over
and over and over and over and over and over and over I've failed to spot whether it's
"I wanna see it painted"
or
"I wanna see you paint it".....
YOU decide....by now I am seriously sick to death of listening to this, and by this stage
I'm not really sure if I will EVER want to hear it again.........much less play it......!!!!
(I would have probably got this finished last night, but Liverpool were on TV, playing that
team from the other side of Stanley Park - that and a few beers to celebrate the Red's 3-1
victory didn't help....)
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
hi vic
first of all thanks
It's a whola lotta informations! It will took me a while to digest it! In any case I'll try and then let you know
Thanks again and happy new year
Matteo
There looks to be a lot to it, but it's pretty easy once you get used to it...
It's basically just repeated over and over, the only bit I had trouble with was the Dm to Asus4 change in the verse...but a little forward planning re finger placement seemed to do the trick....
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Wow Vic:
You've done a lot of work here!
This is not the type of song I would normally play.(being an acoustic guy) (I like the tune; but I'd prefer to let the Stones play it!)
However, I'm gonna take a closer look later. Looks like you have tabbed out the rhythm and all. Your transposing work has made it a little more approachable for beginners.
Thanks Vic for bringing this to us.
Ghost
"Colour made the grass less green..." 3000 miles, Tracy Chapman
Wow, how long did you work on this one Vic ? Its very accurate and like you said not too difficult.
I think you are setting the benchmark for all future posters a little high, but we'll see what we can do in the future to get somewhere near this standard.
Great song, plenty of info, really nice job. Well done Vic.
(I love the intro :wink:)
Be excellent to each other & party on dudes!
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=686668
Thanx a lot Vic. This one has given me a new project. Have tried some of it and by god even I sound like a musician for short bursts. Will work on this one till I get it right. I am guessing you are well into celebrating by now. Just starting my first beer in the middle of Canada. Have a good one!!
Robbie
Blimey Vic - bust a gut on this one mate!!
Happy New Year to you and all those who have made this database a great place to drop in and visit!
Matt
Great work Vic. Thanks so much. Great song too and virtually everybody who's seen the Devil's Advocate knows it. (It plays during the end credits.) I remember having to track down and buy a mixed tape just to give this song to somebody as a present 8-9 years ago when I wasn't in the USA yet.
I'm only doing the very beginnging verse now. When I play it sounds like something, but not really. I tried to listen to the recording hoping it would help and it did. However, for some reason I do not hear the first Dm on any verse. I only here one Dm while I see two in the tab. (Last 4 notes on each verse sound a bit blurry too in the recording but I'll have to figure that out later)
So are there 1 or 2 Dm's at the beginning of verses ? :)
I see a red door and I want it painted black,
E--1--1-0---1-3---1----0---1-------------0-----------------
B--3--3-3---3-3---3----3---3-3----2--3---2---3------2-0-2--
G--2--2-2---2-2---2----2---2-2----2--2---2---2------2-2-0--
D--0--0-0---0-0---0----0---0-2----2--2---2---2------2-2-2--
A--0--0-0---0-0---0----0---0-0----0--0---0---0------0-0-0--
E--x--x-x---x-x---x----x---x-x----x--x---x---x------x-x-x--
By the way, you also mentioned the switch from Dm to Asus4 in a later post. Here's what I found myself doing after a few tries. I fret the Dm in the most common way (with finger 1 on fret 1 of string 1, finger 2 on fret 2 of string 3, finger 3 on fret 3 of string 2 --I usually use my pinky for that but it's needed for Dsus4 in this song). When switching from Dm to Asus4, I keep everything in place except move finger 1 to fret 2 of string 4 for which gives me Asus4. Then comes a regular A. The next Asus4 I just put the pinky on 3rd fret of 2nd string. In short, two different fingerings for the same Asus4. :) Why did I take the time to write this paragraph? Because I'm kind of proud I figured this out on my own. I don't want to know if there's a super easy way to do the same :P (joking).
Thanks again. I wouldn't mind knowing this song at all :)
Oktay
Oktay, pretty sure it's a strummed Dm then a quick change from Dm to Dsus2....believe me, I listened to this a lot!!!
It may not be 100% accurate, but like I said in the original post, I've tried to incorporate the sitar (or whatever the hell that instrument is!) line into the chords...it seems to work for the most part....
I use the same fingering for the Dm, but for the change to the Asus4, I put my fingers down as if I'm playing an A chord with my 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers, and my pinky on the 3rd fret of the B string to make the sus4....that way, you only have to take fingers OFF for the rest of the changes around the A chord....
It's a bit tricky at first, took me about half-a-day to get it right....but once I'd got it, it became second nature....
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Thanks a lot. I will try to hear it :P
oktay
Vic
I love this - BUT and this is no critisism of your work, its briliant, are you 100% sure of the melody on the bit it changes to Asus4?
to my ears (mind you, they are crap!) it doesn't sound quite right. The Dm bit sounds spot on. Maybe i am playing it wrong, I don't know.
I can't get the sheet music or i would check it myself.
Is it meant to be a "near as damn it" bit through the Asus / A bit or is it spot on??
cheers and all the best
Matt
great song by the way, love it to death.
