Your One-Stop Source For
Music Lyrics
Bass and Guitar Tabs
and More...
>Music Lyrics Bass and Guitar Tabs

 

The Tabs Are Below

Learn To Read Tab
Chords Handbook
Corrections & Additions
Get Official Tab
David Bowie tabs @ 911Tabs

Title: I Can’t Read

Artist: David Bowie

Written by: David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels

Transcribed by Scott Fuller

 

 

The original version of this song can be found on the first Tin

Machine abulm. The song was given an acoustic revamp in 1997, where

it was released as a single and appeared on the soundtrack to the

film ‘The Ice Storm’.

 

It is this acoustic version which I have transcribed below. Note

that on the I Can't Read single, the 'short version' merely omits the

intro.

 

 

INTRO

 

E-------------0----------------------------0-------------

B-----------------3----------------------------3---------

G---------0-----------0----------------0-----------------

D-------2----------------------------2-------------------

A-----2----------------------------2---------------------

E---0----------------------------0-----------------------

 

 

E-------------------------------------0------------------

B------2p0-2------2-2p0-2--3------------3\2p0------------

G------0---0------0-0---0--0-----------------------------

D--------------------------------------------------------

A---2----2-----2------2---------2------------------------

E-------------------------------0------------------------

 

 

E----------------------------------------------------0---

B------2p0-2------2-2p0-2--3---------2/3\2p0---------3---

G------0---0------0-0---0--0----0------------2h4-2---2---

D-------------------------------2--------------------2---

A---2----2-----2------2---------2------------------------

E-------------------------------0------------------------

 

 

E---5--7--0------0-----------------0-----0---------------

B----------------1-----1--3--0-----0-------0-------------

G----------------0-----------------2----------2----------

D----------------2-----------------2---------------------

A--------------------------------------------------------

E--------------------------------------------------------

 

 

E-------------0-----------0-------¦

B-------0-------0---------0-------¦

G-----4-----------4-------4-------¦

D---4------4--------4-----4-------¦

A---------------------------------¦

E---------------------------------¦

 

 

VERSE 1

 

E----------------------------------------------------0---

B---------------------------2p0-2------2-2p0-2--3----0---

G---------------------------0---0------0-0---0--0----0---

D---2------------------------------------------------2---

A---2--------------------2----2-----2------2---------2---

E---0------------------------------------------------0---

“I can’t read... (up)

 

E-------------------------------0-----0---------0--------

B------2p0-2------2-2p0-2--3----3-------3-------1--------

G------0---0------0-0---0--0----2---------2-----0--------

D-------------------------------2---------------2--------

A---2----2-----2------2----------------------------------

E--------------------------------------------------------

 

 

E---0---------0-------------------0--0------------0------

B-----1-------0-------------------0----0------------0----

G-------0-----2-----2-4-2---------4-------4-----4-----4—

D-------------2-----------2-------4-----------4----------

A---------------------------3----------------------------

E--------------------------------------------------------

 

 

VERSE 2

 

E--------------------------------------------------------

B---------------------------2p0-2------2-2p0-2--3--------

G---------------------------0---0------0-0---0--0----0---

D---2------------------------------------------------2---

A---2--------------------2----2-----2------2---------2---

E---0------------------------------------------------0---

“Can I see...

 

E-------------------------------0-----0---------0--------

B------2p0-2------2-2p0-2--3----3-------3-------1--------

G------0---0------0-0---0--0----2---------2-----0--------

D-------------------------------2---------------2--------

A---2----2-----2------2----------------------------------

E--------------------------------------------------------

 

 

E---0---------0-----0-------------0----0---------0----¦

B-----1-------0-------0-----------0------0-------0----¦

G-------0-----2-----------2-------4--------4-----4----¦

D-------------2-------------------4----------4---4----¦

A-----------------------------------------------------¦

E-----------------------------------------------------¦

(soft)

 

 

 

 

CHORUS 1

 

The following melody repeats four times in the chorus. The first

three times use link (a) before returning to the start. The fourth

and final time you just sweep chord (b)

 

E---------5--------------5--------¦-5-----5------5-¦-----

B-------5----5---------5----5---5-¦---6------6-----¦-----

G-----5--------5-----5--------5---¦-----5------5---¦-----

D---7------------7-7--------------¦----------------¦-----

A---------------------------------¦----------------¦-----

E---------------------------------¦----------------¦-----

(chd.change) (chd.change)

 

(a) (b)

 

E---7-----7------7-¦ E---7-------------¦

B-----8------8-----¦ B---8-------------¦

G-------7------7---¦ G---7-------------¦

D------------------¦ D---9-------------¦

A------------------¦ A-----------------¦

E------------------¦ E-----------------¦

to start (x 3) 4th time

 

 

SOLO

 

E---0-----0-----------------------------------------0----

B---3--------3-----7--8-8/10b\7--7--8---7--5---3----2----

G---0-----------------------------------------------0----

D---2-----------------------------------------------2----

A---2----------------------------------------------------

E---0----------------------------------------------------

 

 

E--------------------------------------------------------

B---17-----17------------8----------15------------15-----

G---16-----15-----12-----9b---------14------------14-----

D-----------------12-------------------------------------

A--------------------------------------------------------

E--------------------------------------------------------

Pinch the above notes with thumb and forefinger

 

E---6/8b\7------------6/8b\7--------------0--------------

B----------8-5-6-------------5-6---5------0--------------

G----------------5---------------7---5----4--------------

D-----------------------------------------4--------------

A--------------------------------------------------------

E--------------------------------------------------------

 

 

E----------------------0---0-------0-------0--------¦

B----------------------5-----4-------4-------4------¦

G---6h7p6---------7----4-------4-------4-------4----¦

D---------7---7-9------4----------------------------¦

A-----------7---------------------------------------¦

E---------------------------------------------------¦

(softer)

 

VERSE 3

 

E--------------------------------------------------------

B---------------------------2p0-2------2-2p0-2--3--------

G---------------------------0---0------0-0---0--0--------

D----------------------------------------------------2---

A------------------------2----2-----2------2---------2---

E---0------------------------------------------------0---

“Money goes...

 

E-------------------------------0---------------0--------

B------2p0-2------2-2p0-2--3----3---------------1--------

G------0---0------0-0---0--0----2---------------0--------

D-------------------------------2---------------2--------

A---2----2-----2------2----------------------------------

E--------------------------------------------------------

 

 

E------------------------------------------0-------------

B------------------------------------------0-------------

G---5h7-7/9b--8/9b\5--4-2--2/4b\2-2/4b\2---2-------------

D------------------------------------------2-------------

A--------------------------------------------------------

E--------------------------------------------------------

 

 

E---0--------0--------0--------0--------0----------0---¦

B-----0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0---¦

G-------2--------2--------4--------4--------4------4---¦

D---------2--------2--------4--------4--------4----4---¦

A------------------------------------------------------¦

E------------------------------------------------------¦

 

CHORUS 2

 

Same as for chorus 1, although watch out, the tempo is faster this

time...

 

 

... And thats it (Phew!). Enjoy!

 

Any comments, email FullerSA@cf.ac.uk

 

 

 

Return to my to my David Bowie tabs page

The Tablature is Copyright its respective owners.

Sign Up For My Newsletter
Subscribe | Unsubscribe

Site Map | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Media Kit | Submissions/Corrections

Website © 2000-2014 mattsmusicpage.com. All rights reserved.

Legal & DMCA: Matt's Music Page has been providing lyrics and tabs in a legal way, paying royalties each year to a few organizations. Then, all lyrics and tabs were removed from the site. Now, there's a new owner to the site, which purchased it August 26, 2014, and he is in negotiation to obtain licensing from BMI at the moment. If you have a specific DMCA request -- please do not hesitate to contact me via the contact button on top. I will do my very best to keep this site fully legal.

Get our toolbar!

 


Funko Pop Banjo-Kazooie GameStop Exclusive IN HAND
$
Funko Pop Banjo-Kazooie  GameStop Exclusive IN HAND picture


Vintage Banjo Frog Cigarette Case with lighter ID Holder Wallet
$
Vintage Banjo Frog Cigarette Case with lighter ID Holder Wallet picture


Small New Haven Banjo Clock, 11" Working after being oiled, Keeping good time.
$
Small New Haven Banjo Clock, 11


Vintage Kermit The Frog Playing Banjo Muppets Twin Sheet w/ Flat, Fitted, Pillow
$
Vintage Kermit The Frog Playing Banjo Muppets Twin Sheet w/ Flat, Fitted, Pillow picture


SKS Banjo Oiler with Original Leather Pouch.
$
SKS Banjo Oiler with Original Leather Pouch.   picture


Vintage made in JAPAN flat PIXIE cloth ornament retro figure w/banjo ornament 7"
$
Vintage made in JAPAN flat PIXIE cloth ornament retro figure w/banjo ornament 7


Eddie Cantor Banjo Eyes Obituary San Francisco Examiner Oct 1964 Full Newspaper
$
Eddie Cantor Banjo Eyes Obituary San Francisco Examiner Oct 1964 Full Newspaper picture


Vintage West Germany Weather Station Barometer Banjo Style Wood
$
Vintage West Germany Weather Station Barometer Banjo Style Wood picture


Bey-Berk Banjo Weather Station with Barometer, walnut
$
Bey-Berk Banjo Weather Station with Barometer, walnut picture


Funko Pop BANJO-KAZOOIE #981 Vinyl Figure IN STOCK FAST SHIP
$
Funko Pop BANJO-KAZOOIE #981 Vinyl Figure IN STOCK FAST SHIP picture