Close To You | TAB
There’s so much TAB to look at here, even though we almost only have one chord progression! Make sure you can see how it is repeated and how by using arrangement ideas, the most is brought from it.
Let’s start with the intro.
This is the easiest part, we start on a major chord moving from add9 – major. This chord could be I, IV, or V.
Here’s the verse, now it’s revealed that C was chord IV as being followed by Bm, a minor chord a semitone below only happens around IV – III.
The chords move IV – III – VI – IV – I. very simple.
Here’s the first chorus, notice how it’s almost the same chords, but the extensions make a big difference. I’ve incorporated the melody making the first chord a maj13.
Next up, we go to a verse again and then a solo, which is the same as verse 4, looks like this.
I’ve chosen the chord shapes because of this awkward key we’re in. The way Fm9 is moving down low is because it was too hard to play it like the Em9 was played in the previous key.
That last one has an unusual Absus2 voicing, it’s a G shape. If you try to hold down all notes throughout it will hurt. You can release what you hold over beats 1 and 2 when you switch to Ab5.
Here’s the new chorus, now I couldn’t incorporate the melody so it became this:
That little dot you see on beat 1 means to “play short”. This drives the part better. The bass line change over Cm is a consequence of the difficult chord shape.
Here’s the outro.
On the original recording, they really milk this part, there’s a bit of change in the rhythm but I figured you’ve had enough TAB as it is and if you’ve made it this far, working that out will be easy!
Close To You TAB | Related Pages
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Burt Bacharach tunes
One of the most important composers of the last century, Burt Bacharach‘s tunes have been recorded by over 1000 artists.
Unforgettable hits include Close To You, Walk On By, Arthur’s Theme, That’s What Friends Are For, What The World Needs Now, and I Say A Little Prayer.
Burt Bacharach on the web
Carpenters tunes
Siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter started out in music early on. Richard on the Piano and Karen on Lead Vocals/Drums.
During Carpenters‘ short and troubled career, they became the biggest act of the 70s, topping even The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel at Award ceremonies.
Carpenters on the web
About me | Dan Lundholm
This guitar lesson by Dan Lundholm features TAB and covers Close To You. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.
Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.