I think that there are two acoustic guitars in this one, a six string and a twelve string, both tuned to an open G chord. The two guitars play different fingerings of similar chords. The tab that I've written is for the dominant part (the six string) - but I will talk about the other guitar's parts. If you listen to the song with a set of headphones you can clearly hear the differences between the two guitar parts.

I would like to thank Christopher D. Azevedo for helping me with this tab - he sent me his interpretation and I took it from there. I would also like to thank all of the others who sent me their tabs and comments - y'all all helped me very much - thanks!

Click here if you want only the lyrics.

Intro


    Dsus2                 G5/E       C(add 9)/E         G

-|| --2--2---2----2--2-----0--0---0-----0--0---0----0--0-----
-|| --3---3---3----3--3----3---3---3----1---1---1---0---0----
-|| --2----2---2----2---0--0----0-------0----0------0----0---
-|| --0--------------------2------------2-----------0------0-
-|| ------------------------------------------------0--------
-|| ---------------------------------------------------------

                        G Harmonic

-|| -------------------------<5>-----------
-|| --1s3--1-----------------<5>-----------
-|| --0----0--0----0---------<5>-----------
-|| --2s4--2--0----0---------<5>-----------
-|| ----------2s4--0------0--<5>------0----
-|| -------------------0h2---<5>---0h2-----
        ^  ^    ^  ^


Verse 1


    Dsus4/G       C(add 9)/G       G  G
-|| --0-------------0--------------0--------------------------------------
-|| --3-------------1-----------0--0----1s3--1----------------------------
-|| --2-------------0-----------0--0----0----0--0----0--------------------
-|| --0-------------2-----------0--0----2s4--2--0----0-----------0--------
-|| --0-------------0-----------0--0------------2s4--0-----0--0h2---------
-|| ----------------------------------------------------0h2---------------
      I'm going   back to Colorado        ^  ^    ^  ^ 



    Dsus4/G      C(add 9)/G       G  G                               G Harmonic
-|| --0------------0--------------0------------------------------<5>------
-|| --3------------1-----------0--0-----1s3--1-------------------<5>------
-|| --2------------0-----------0--0-----0----0--0----0-----------<5>------
-|| --0------------2-----------0--0-----2s4--2--0----0-----------<5>------
-|| --0------------0-----------0--0-------------2s4--0------0h2--<5>------
-|| ----------------------------------------------------0h2------<5>------
         rollin  down the      highway    ^  ^    ^  ^ 



  Dm(add4)/G    C/G       G     C/G G C/G G      D                 F C Eb Bb 
-|| --7---------5-------0------2--0--2--0------7-------------------5----3--
-|| --6---------5-------0------1--0--1--0------7-----------------6-5--4-3--
-|| --0---------5-------0------0--0--0--0------7-----------------5-5--3-3--
-|| --0---------5-------0------2--0--2--0------7-----------------7-5--5-3--
-|| --0---------0-------0------0--0--0--0------7-----------------5-5--3-3--
-|| -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        just my life to carry             it's written in the wind



   G5(add 6)                   C(add 9)/G                                 G Harmonic
-|| --0--0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0------------------------<5>------
-|| --3---3---3---3---3------1----1---1-----1s3--1----------------<5>------
-|| --0----0---0---0---0-----0-----0---0----0----0--0----0--------<5>------
-|| --2----------------------2--------------2s4--2--0----0--------<5>------
-|| --0----------------------0----------------------2s4--0------0-<5>------
-|| --------------------------------------------------------0h2---<5>--0h2-
     again                                    ^  ^    ^  ^ 



Verse 2


    Dsus4/G  C(add 9)/G          G  G
-|| --0--------0-----------------0---------------------------------------
-|| --3--------1--------------0--0----1s3--1-----------------------------
-|| --2--------0--------------0--0----0----0--0----0---------------------
-|| --0--------2--------------0--0----2s4--2--0----0-------------0-------
-|| --0--------0--------------0--0------------2s4--0-------0--0h2--------
-|| ----------------------------------------------------0h2--------------
      I will drink from the   river     ^  ^    ^  ^ 


 
    Dsus4/G      C(add 9)/G        G  G                              G Harmonic
-|| --0------------0---------------0------------------------------<5>-----
-|| --3------------1------------0--0-----1s3--1-------------------<5>-----
-|| --2------------0------------0--0-----0----0--0----0-----------<5>-----
-|| --0------------2------------0--0-----2s4--2--0----0-----------<5>-----
-|| --0------------0------------0--0-------------2s4--0------0h2--<5>-----
-|| -----------------------------------------------------0h2------<5>-----
        that runs down from the mountain   ^  ^    ^  ^ 



  Dm(add4)/G    C/G      G     C/G  G  C/G  G   D                 F  C   Eb Bb 
-|| --7--------5-------0------2---0---2---0---7-----------------5--5---3--3--
-|| --6--------5-------0------1---0---1---0---7-----------------6--5---4--3--
-|| --0--------5-------0------0---0---0---0---7-----------------5--5---3--3--
-|| --0--------5-------0------2---0---2---0---7-----------------7--5---5--3--
-|| --0--------0-------0------0---0---0---0---7-----------------5--5---3--3--
-|| -------------------------------------------------------------------------
       just my life  returning              I feel it in the wind



     G5(add 6)                   C(add 9)/G                                  G Harmonic
-|| ----0--0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0-------------------------<5>---
-|| ----3---3---3---3---3------1----1---1-----1s3--1-----------------<5>---
-|| ----0----0---0---0---0-----0-----0---0----0----0--0----0---------<5>---
-|| ----2----------------------2--------------2s4--2--0----0---------<5>---
-|| ----0----------------------0----------------------2s4--0------0--<5>---
-|| ----------------------------------------------------------0h2----<5>---
       again                                    ^  ^    ^  ^ 



Guitar Solo


 Dm(add4)/G  C/G   Dm(add4)/G  C/G  Dm(add4)/G   C/G  Dm(add4)/G  C/G  G  C/G  G
-|| -7-------5-------7-------5-------7-------5-------7------5---0---2---0-----
-|| -6-------5-------6-------5-------6-------5-------6------5---0---1---0-----
-|| -0-------5-------0-------5-------0-------5-------0------5---0---0---0-----
-|| -0-------5-------0-------5-------0-------5-------0------5---0---2---0-----
-|| -0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0------0---0---0---0----0
-|| ----------------------------------------------------------------------0h2-


   
   Dsus4/G   C(add9)/G      G           Harmonics
-|| -0---------0---------0-------<12>---<7>---<5>---
-|| -3---------1---------0-------<12>---<7>---<5>---
-|| -2---------0---------0-------<12>---<7>---<5>---
-|| -0---------2---------0-------<12>---<7>---<5>---
-|| -0---------0---------0-------<12>---<7>---<5>---
-|| -----------------------------<12>---<7>---<5>---



Outtro

 
  Dm(add4)/G      C       D      Bb
-|| --7---------5-------7-------3-------
-|| --6---------5-------7-------3-------
-|| --7---------5-------7-------3-------
-|| --5---------5-------7-------3-------
-|| ------------------------------------
-|| ------------------------------------  (4 times)
      ahhh......ahhh....ahhh....ahhh....



  Dm(add4)/G     C/G     D/G    Bb/G
-|| --7---------5-------7-------3-------
-|| --6---------5-------7-------3-------
-|| --0---------5-------7-------3-------
-|| --0---------5-------7-------3-------
-|| --0---------0-------0-------0-------
-|| ------------------------------------  (1 time)
      ahhh......ahhh....ahhh....ahhh....



  Dm(add4)/G     C/G     D/G    Bb/G
-|| --7---------5-------7-------3-------
-|| --6---------5-------7-------3-------
-|| --0---------5-------7-------3-------
-|| --0---------5-------7-------3-------
-|| --0---------0-------0-------0-------
-|| ------------------------------------  (lots of times)
      ahhh......ahhh....ahhh....ahhh....

      lala......lala....lala....lala....
 

Guitar Solo (Open G Tuning)

       Dm(add4)/G         C/G              Dm(add4)/G       C/G  Dm(add4)/G

bends:1/2  1/2  1/2  1/2   1/2 1/2               1    1            1    1    
-|| -------------------------------------12--12--12------12--12--12------------
-|| --9---9---9---9----9---9--9--10--12--------------10------------------------
-|| -----------------------------------------------12---------------12-12-10---
-|| -------------------------------------------------------------------------12
-|| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-|| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------


     Dm(add4)/G      C/G           Dm(add4)/G     C/G      G                 C/G G
     heavy vibrato
bends:1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2  1/2             1/2 1/2    1/2                       
-|| --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-|| --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-|| --9--9--9--9----9---9-7-9-0---3--3--2--3---0-2-0--------------------------
-|| -----------------------------------------------------------------020------
-|| ---------------------------------------------------0-00-0-00--234---420--- 
-|| ------------------------------------------------234-----------------------

Fingerings for the chords:

(the numbers on the left are fingers
-the numbers on the right are frets)

Intro chords

Dsus2

-|| -------2----------2
-|| -----------3------3
-|| -------1----------2
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| -------------------
-|| -------------------

G5/E

-|| ----0-------------0
-|| ----------3-------3
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| -------1----------2
-|| -------------------
-|| -------------------

C(add9)/E

-|| ----0-------------0
-|| -------1----------1
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| -----------2------2
-|| -------------------
-|| -------------------

G :)

-|| ----0-------------0
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| -------------------

Verse chords

Dsus4/G

-|| ----0-------------0
-|| ------------3-----3
-|| --------2---------2
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| -------------------

C(add 9)/G

-|| ----0-------------0
-|| --------1---------1
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| -----------2------2
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| -------------------

Dm(add4)/G

-|| ------------3-----7
-|| --------2---------6
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| ----T-------------x

C/G

-|| ----1-------------5
-|| ----1-------------5
-|| ----1-------------5
-|| ----1-------------5
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| ----T-------------x

C/G

-|| -----------3------2
-|| --------1---------1
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| -----------2------2
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| -------------------

F

-|| ---(1)------------x
-|| ---(1)--2---------6
-|| ----1-------------5
-|| ---(1)-----3------7
-|| ----1-------------5
-|| -------------------

C

-|| ----1-------------5
-|| ----1-------------5
-|| ----1-------------5
-|| ----1-------------5
-|| ----1-------------5
-|| -------------------

Eb

-|| ---(1)------------x
-|| ---(1)--2---------4
-|| ----1-------------3
-|| ---(1)-----3------5
-|| ----1-------------3
-|| -------------------

Bb

-|| ----1-------------3
-|| ----1-------------3
-|| ----1-------------3
-|| ----1-------------3
-|| ----1-------------3
-|| -------------------

G5(add6)

-|| ----0-------------0
-|| ----------3-------3
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| -------1----------2
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| -------------------

Outtro Chords

(1st part)

Dm(add4)/G

-|| ------------4-----7
-|| -------2----------6
-|| ------------3-----7
-|| ----1-------------5
-|| -------------------
-|| -------------------

C

-|| ----1-------------5
-|| ----1-------------5
-|| ----1-------------5
-|| ----1-------------5
-|| -------------------
-|| -------------------

D

-|| ----3-------------7
-|| ----3-------------7
-|| ----3-------------7
-|| ----3-------------7
-|| -------------------
-|| -------------------

Bb

-|| ----1-------------3
-|| ----1-------------3
-|| ----1-------------3
-|| ----1-------------3
-|| -------------------
-|| --------------------

(2nd & 3rd parts)

Dm(add4)/G

-|| -----------3------7
-|| ------2-----------6
-|| ------------------0
-|| ------------------0
-|| ------------------0
-|| ----T-------------x

C

-|| ----1-------------5
-|| ----1-------------5
-|| ----1-------------5
-|| ----1-------------5
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| ----T--------------x

D/G

-|| ----3-------------7
-|| ----3-------------7
-|| ----3-------------7
-|| ----3-------------7
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| ----T-------------x

Bb/G

-|| ----1-------------3
-|| ----1-------------3
-|| ----1-------------3
-|| ----1-------------3
-|| ----0-------------0
-|| ----T-------------x

T = use thumb to dampen string

TIPS

Tuning to Open G

The tuning used in this tab is: DGDGBD - from thickest (6th) to thinnest (1st) string. From a standard tuning, lower the 6th string so that it sounds like the 4th string. Lower the 5th string so that it sounds like the 3rd string. Lower the 1st string so that it sounds like the 4th and 6th strings. If you strum the strings, you should get a beautiful sounding open G chord. Double check to make sure that the 1st, 4th, & 6th strings sound alike and the 3rd and 5th strings sounds alike.

Symbols: s, h, ^

If you see an s in the tab, it means to slide your finger(s) along the frets from note to note. In all of the tab on this page, the first notes of all the slides are played very quickly. In the following example, use your first and second fingers to slide while picking once - keep your fingers pressed down down while sliding.

-|| -------
-|| --1s3--
-|| --0----
-|| --2s4--
-|| -------
-|| -------

If you see an h in the tab, it means to hammer. In the following example, pluck the bottom string, immediately press the second fret, pick the next string. The overall effect is that you pick twice but get three notes played.

-|| --------
-|| --------
-|| --------
-|| --------
-|| -----0--
-|| --0h2---

If you see a ^ in the tab - it's just a marker to keep time while learning the tab. These are the four main groups of notes that you hear in this phrase.

-|| ------------------
-|| --1s3--1----------
-|| --0----0--0----0--
-|| --2s4--2--0----0--
-|| ----------2s4--0--
-|| ------------------
        ^  ^    ^  ^

Harmonics

If you see funny symbols like <5> - they are harmonics. In this example, place any finger lightly on top of all the strings on the fifth fret (on top of the fret bar) - and pluck all the strings - most strings, in not all, should ring out.

   G Harmonic
-|| --<5>--
-|| --<5>--
-|| --<5>--
-|| --<5>--
-|| --<5>--
-|| --<5>--

Other comments

The following lick can be pretty hairy to play - try hammering with your first finger and playing the harmonics with the 4th or 5th finger (on the recording, one six string guitar plays the hammers and the twelve string plays the harmonics). It it's tough to play, then leave out the second "h2" hammer.

 
          G Harmonic
-|| ----------<5>---
-|| ----------<5>---
-|| ----------<5>---
-|| ----------<5>---
-|| ------0h2-<5>---
-|| --0h2-----<5>---

The following looks ugly to play but is quite easy if you look at my fingering charts above. If you barre the F and Eb chords, just lift the second and third fingers to get the C and Bb chords.

      F  C   Eb Bb 
-|| --5--5---3--3--
-|| --6--5---4--3--
-|| --5--5---3--3--
-|| --7--5---5--3--
-|| --5--5---3--3--
-|| ---------------

Regarding he last four chords of the songs that repeat over and over - take a look at my fingerings - use your thumb to dampen the sixth string - then you can pick as wildly and loudly as you want. Actually, you can play the open 6th string with the four last chords - but you don't want to strike it too loudly.

_________________

2 guitars playing

There are two acoustic guitars playing similar chords, but different fingerings. This occurs mainly during the verse. If you have another guitarist playing with you, one can use these fingerings:

    Dsus4/G       C(add 9)/G  
-|| --0-------------0----
-|| --3-------------1----
-|| --2-------------0----
-|| --0-------------2----
-|| --0-------------0----
-|| ---------------------

while the other can play these chords and fingerings:

      D             C
-|| --7-------------5----
-|| --7-------------5----
-|| --7-------------5----
-|| --7-------------5----
-|| --7-------------5----
-|| --7-------------5----

Try using either set of these chords when playing solo.

Regarding the intro, if you have another guitarist playing with you - he/she can play harmonics over your parts (on the recording the 12 string guitar does this). Try the harmonics on the 5th, 7th, & 12th frets.

The guitar solo should be played by an electric. If you try it on acoustic, It may be difficult to bend the strings far enough to make the note sounds right. If you want try it on acoustic, play 1fret above the notes that bend a 1/2 step and play 2 frets above the notes that bend a full (1) step.

Other than what I've explained, the two acoustic guitars play pretty much the same thing in all the other parts of the song.

Review the chord fingerings for easier transition to other chords.