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Running Down a Dream- Tom Petty

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(@wes-inman)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 5582
Topic starter  

Running Down a Dream- Tom Petty

Here's a song that was posted by our member Bull several years ago, but got messed up when the format changed awhile back. This song is played with two guitars, but you can play it with one. It is pretty simple really. Here's the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKo6oU3Jk4c


Intro E riff

* let sustain *starts over here
e------------------------(0)------------------------
b------------------------(0)------------------------
g------------------------(1)------------------------
d------------------------(2)------------------------
a---------------------------------------------------
e-0--7--0--6--0--5--0--3--0-----------------------0-
& 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Note: You can leave out the last note on the E string and strum the chord to get correct timing. I showed the open E note to show what the lead guitarist was playing. I am talking about the open E note following the G note at the 3rd fret.

Play E riff 4 times

E
It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down
D E play E riff
I had the radio on, I was drivin'
E
The trees went by, me and Del were singin'
D E
Little Runaway, I was flyin'

D G E /////// E G A ///////
Yeah, runnin' down a dream, that never would come to me
D G E /////// E G A ///////
Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads,
A G E
Runnin' down a dream

Play E riff

E
I felt so good, like anything was possible,
D E play E riff
I hit cruise control, and rubbed my eyes
E
The last three days, the rain was unstoppable
D E
It was always cold, no sunshine

Repeat chorus

Play E riff then…

C riff

* let sustain
e------------------------(0)----------------------
b------------------------(1)----------------------
g------------------------(0)----------------------
d------------------------(2)----------------------
a------------------------(3)----------------------
e-0--7--0--6--0--5--0--3--0-----------------------
& 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4

D riff

* let sustain
e------------------------(2)----------------------
b------------------------(3)----------------------
g------------------------(2)----------------------
d------------------------(0)----------------------
a-------------------------------------------------
e-0--7--0--6--0--5--0--3--0-----------------------
& 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4

E riff

* let sustain
e------------------------(0)----------------------
b------------------------(0)----------------------
g------------------------(1)----------------------
d------------------------(2)----------------------
a-------------------------------------------------
e-0--7--0--6--0--5--0--3--0-----------------------
& 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4

Repeat E, C, D, E riffs once more

E
I rolled on, as the sky drew dark
D E play E riff
I put the pedal down, to make some time
E
There's somethin' good, waitin' down this road
D E
I'm pickin' up, whatever's mine

Repeat chorus twice

Play E riff twice

Repeat C, D, E, E riffs over and over with solo in E Minor
Pentatonic scale -- fade out

If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis


   
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(@davidhodge)
Member
Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 4472
 

One way to spice this up, especially for the rhythm guitar, is to use these substitutions (and voicings) in the verses:

Instead of E, go with E5 (079900)
Instead of D, go with D69/E (057700)

One nice sustaining belt of these chords go a long way.

Likewise, in the instrumental bridge and the outro, use the same idea to substitute for C:

Instead of C, go with Cmaj7 (035500)

Great song! Thanks, Wes!

Peace


   
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(@vic-lewis-vl)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 10264
 

OOh, I like those chords, David - I'm becoming more and more partial to alternative voicings, especially if they're played higher up the neck but with some open strings.

BTW, I changed the link in the index so that anyone clicking on it will be redirected here. Shame to lose Bull's post, but at least Wes gave him the credit for tabbing it out. And Bull's tab of "Smelly Cat" is still in there somewhere!

: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.)


   
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(@mmoncur)
Estimable Member
Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 168
 

Try substituting frets 2, 1, 0 on the A string for 7, 6, 5 on the E string in the riffs - I found that a little bit easier to play with open chords. (You can basically keep the E fingered during the riff.)


   
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(@rodders)
Noble Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 1086
 

I Love this song.

At the moment I can't get enough Tom Petty :wink:

Be excellent to each other & party on dudes!
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=686668


   
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(@malika)
New Member
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 1
 

Try substituting frets 2, 1, 0 on the A string for 7, 6, 5 on the E string in the riffs - I found that a little bit easier to play with open chords. (You can basically keep the E fingered during the riff.)

I try to substitute frets on A String and E strings but found it bit difficult, can you please let me know some open chords to play easily as I'm newbie.

Thanks!


   
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