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!

 


Music Box Hand Crank Engraved Mother Day-My Sunshine Mechanism Antique Vintage..
$
Music Box Hand Crank Engraved Mother Day-My Sunshine Mechanism Antique Vintage.. picture


MTV Fridge - MAGNET - Vintage Music Television Logo Vinyl Locker Vehicle
$
 MTV Fridge - MAGNET - Vintage Music Television Logo Vinyl Locker Vehicle  picture


Vintage Branson Missouri Coffee Mug Music Note Tourist Souvenir
$
Vintage Branson Missouri Coffee Mug Music Note Tourist Souvenir picture


Vintage Christmas Carols Music Song Book MCM Advertising ME Santa Claus Sleigh
$
Vintage Christmas Carols Music Song Book MCM Advertising ME Santa Claus Sleigh picture


Vintage Music/Storage Box "Anchors Aweigh"
$
Vintage Music/Storage Box


Vintage Christmas Border Sheet Music Three Kings of Orient 7.4 Ft Paper Holiday
$
Vintage Christmas Border Sheet Music Three Kings of Orient 7.4 Ft Paper Holiday  picture


VINTAGE HARP MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SALT & PEPPER SHAKERS MADE IN JAPAN
$
VINTAGE HARP MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SALT & PEPPER SHAKERS MADE IN JAPAN picture


Vintage music box with Drawer
$
Vintage music box with Drawer picture


Vintage Glamor - Flapper Girl - PUBLICITY PHOTO
$
Vintage Glamor  - Flapper Girl -  PUBLICITY PHOTO picture


Vintage Nickel Plated Musical Angel “Silent Night” Melody 7" Christmas Holiday
$
 Vintage Nickel Plated Musical Angel “Silent Night” Melody 7