Photograph - Ringo Starr
This is one of those songs which can be as easy or as hard as you want to make it.
If you just want the rhythm chords, fine - those are pretty simple. There is a way,
however, of including the lead melodic guitar line into the chords which isn't that
difficult, just a few variations on an E-shaped barre chord - but you will need to
get that pinky in good working order, it's going to have to do a lot of work!
Don't worry if you're not that great on barre chords - I'll deal with the original
version first, then I'll show you an easier way to play the rhythm chords using our
old friend, the capo. Before I got to be pretty decent at barre chords, it's not an
exaggeration to say the capo was my VERY best friend - but more of that later.
Let's start with the rhythm guitar chords. The intro's just a B chord, with those
afore-mentioned variations chucked in. You CAN just strum the B chord for the entire
intro, if you've got a second guitarist handy who can play the melody; otherwise,
you could play it like this..... B B5 B B7sus4 B7 B
E |-7-7-7---------------------7--------------|
B |-7-7-7---------7-7------7--7--------------|
G |-8-8-8---------8-9------8--8--------------|
D |-9-9-9---------9-7------7--9--------------|
A |-9-9-9--9-9-9--9-9------9--9--------------|
E |-7-7-7--7-7-7--7-7------7--7--------------|
B B5 B B7sus4 B7 B
E |-7-7-7---------------------7--------------|
B |-7-7-7---------7-7------7--7--------------|
G |-8-8-8---------8-9------8--8--------------|
D |-9-9-9---------9-7------7--9--------------|
A |-9-9-9--9-9-9--9-9------9--9--------------|
E |-7-7-7--7-7-7--7-7------7--7--------------|
(This next section we'll also use as "Fill #1" during the verses.....) B B5 B B7sus4 B7 Badd13 Bm7 B7
E |-7-7-7--------------------------------7---|
B |-7-7-7---------7-7------7--9------10--7---|
G |-8-8-8---------8-9------8--8------8---8---|
D |-9-9-9---------9-7------7--7------7---7---|
A |-9-9-9--9-9-9--9-9------9--9------9---9---|
E |-7-7-7--7-7-7--7-7------7--7------7---7---|
Then into the verses......
(E)Every time I see your face,
It re(A)minds me of the (E)places we used to (B, or use fill #1)go,
But (E)all I've got is a photograph,
And I (A)realize you're not (E)coming back any (B, or use fill #1)more,
(G#)I thought I'd make it,
The (C#m)day you went away.
(G#)But I can't make it,
'Til you come (C#m)home again to (B, or use fill#1)stay.
I (E)can't get used to living here,
While my (A)heart is broke, my (E)tears are cried for (B, or use fill#1)you,
I (E)want you here to have and hold,
As the (A)years go by, and (E)we grow old and (B, or use fill#1)grey,
There's a saxophone solo here; rhythm chords are exactly as they are for the
verses, E A and B, with the fills.
(G#)Now you're expecting me,
To (C#m)live without you,
(G#)But that's not something,
That I'm (C#m)looking forward (B, or use fill#1)to,
I (E)can't get used to living here,
While my (A)heart is broke, my (E)tears are cried for you,(B, or use fill#1)
I (E)want you here to have and hold,
As the (A)years go by, and (E)we grow old and (B)grey....
repeat intro here, then repeat this verse....
(E)Every time I see your face,
It re(A)minds me of the (E)places we used to (B, or use fill #1)go,
But (E)all I've got is a photograph,
And I (A)realize you're not coming back any (B, or use fill #1)more,
....twice, fading out on the third run-through.
OK - that's the orginal key dealt with. How about an easier version? Well,
like I said before, the capo is your best friend in a song like this. I
started transposing the song - and got as far as raising the pitch three
semitones. That makes the E chord into G, A into C, B into D, G# into B, and
C#m into a nice user-friendly E. Not too bad, apart from the B chord, eh? And
if you're not too good on barres, you could substitute a B7 chord...x21020.
The only problem with that key is that you'd have to put a capo on at the 10th
fret to play those chords (G, Em, C D and B) and be in the original key to play
along with the CD.
For a capoed version, so's you can play in the original key, the best I could
come up with for the rhythm chords was this.....
Capo, 4th fret.
Intro - a G chord.
(C)Every time I see your face,
It re(F)minds me of the (C)places we used to (G)go,
But (C)all I've got is a photograph,
And I (F)realize you're not (C)coming back any (G)more,
(E)I thought I'd make it,
The (Am)day you went away.
(E)But I can't make it,
'Til you come (Am)home again to (G)stay.
I (C)can't get used to living here,
While my (F)heart is broke, my (C)tears are cried for (G)you,
I (C)want you here to have and hold,
As the (F)years go by, and (C)we grow old and (G)grey,
repeat intro - the G chord.....
then the solo, then
(E)Now you're expecting me,
To (Am)live without you,
(E)But that's not something,
That I'm (Am)looking forward (G)to,
I (C)can't get used to living here,
While my (F)heart is broke, my (C)tears are cried for (G)you,
I (C)want you here to have and hold,
As the (F)years go by, and (C)we grow old and (G)grey,
repeat intro here, then repeat this verse....
(C)Every time I see your face,
It re(F)minds me of the (C)places we used to (G)go,
But (C)all I've got is a photograph,
And I (F)realize you're not (C)coming back any (G)more,
....twice, fading out on the third run-through.
And that's pretty much it; any questions, fire away!
: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.)
Ah...now this is music! :D
One suggestion Vic, fill # 1 sounded like it was missing something when I played along to the recording. Could it be more like this?
E |-7-7-7---------------------------7----|
B |-7-7-7---------7--7---7--9---10--7----|
G |-8-8-8---------8--9--11--8---8---8----|
D |-9-9-9---------9--7---7--7---7---7----|
A |-9-9-9--9-9-9--9--9---9--9---9---9----|
E |-7-7-7--7-7-7--7--7---7--7---7---7----|
Thanks for this one! 8)
Dan
"The only way I know that guarantees no mistakes is not to play and that's simply not an option". David Hodge
I see what you're getting at Dan, and yes, it works fine if you can stretch your pinky that far (the 11th fret on the G string) - but that particular note's covered at the 7th fret on the G string, and it's less of a stretch for the beginners and those not too fond of barre chords. Your way does sound a little better/fuller, because you're actually doubling the important melody note. I'll try and get it down if I can.
I've actually started using this as a warm-up exercise; I've found it to be a good exercise for my pinky, since that's the finger that's doing most of the work. Possibly it might sound even better as partial chords, or just a few (or even a couple of!) strings played at a time, like in David's lessons - but I'm not in that league, so I've just kind of muddled through it as best as I can.
I've actually played this song for a while - but with just un-embellished rhythm chords. It was Shady Harrison who wanted to learn the song - which got me wondering if there was some way of incorporating the melody into the chords. Like I said, David does it all the time....so this song actually got me thinking outside of my usual mind-set.
: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.)
I'm really impressed with the way you incorporated the melody line along with the chords Vic. I wouldn't have thought about that. Neat trick I'll have to try in my own playing. 8)
Dan
"The only way I know that guarantees no mistakes is not to play and that's simply not an option". David Hodge
Thanks for both versions. I think this could be a good campfire song. It seems like most would know it. When I do campfire songs I like them as easy as I can make them. I can enjoy myself more if I don't think as much. Great tune.