"Bullet The Blue Sky" by U2
As heard on "The Joshua Tree" (1987)
Track Length: 4:32
Guitar 1 Tuning: eb Bb Gb Db Ab Eb -elec. w/ slight echo -full dist. w/slide
Guitar 2 Tuning: eb Bb Gb Db Ab Eb -elec. w/ dist. set 0 gain (1 pickup)
Not that the other version was wrong in any way... here's my interpretation.
Lyrics not quite lined up.
Begins with drums (0:00)
G1 (0:06) w/slide (clink noises from slide) *tap harmonic to slowly mute it
e|-----------|-----------------------------12^-----------------------------|
B|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----7^----|-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-7^--------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------8^-|--9.5^*------------------------------------------------------|
G1 Intro (0:31) w/ slide *accidental harmonics (0:44)
e|----------------------------------------12-------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------12-------------------------------|
G|-12======\9---9^*-----12======\9==\7/12-12======\9---------12======\9----|
D|------------------8^*-12======\9==\7/12-12---------\x-9/12-12======\9----|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------0--|
G1 Verse (0:57) volume down until 2:22
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--7^---------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
"In the howling wind... comes a stingin' rain.
G1
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--15^--------------------------------------------------------------------|
See it drivin' nails into the souls on the tree of pain.
G1 *ringing from previous note
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-*-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
From the fire fly... a red orange glow.
G2
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------x-------x---|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------x-------x---|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------x-x----x--x-x-|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------x------x----x-|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
See the face of fear runnin' scared in the valley below.
G1 Chorus (1:08)
e|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
B|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
G|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Shot Shot
G2
e|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
B|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
G|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
A|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Wooh- hoo hoo. Wooh- hoo hoo.
G1
e|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
B|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
G|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Shot Shot
G2
e|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
B|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
G|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
A|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Bullet the blue sky Bullet the blue sky
G1
e|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
B|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
G|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Shot Shot
G2
e|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
B|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
G|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
A|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7======-|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Bullet the blue... Bullet the blue... oh- oh...
G1 Verse (1:28)
e|-----------------------7------------|-------------------------------------
B|-----------------------7------------|-------------------------------------
G|-----------------------7------------|-------------------------------------
D|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------
A|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------
E|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------
G2
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------x----x--|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------x----x--|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------x----x--|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
In a locust wind... comes a rattle and hum.
G1 *equivalence on the frettboard
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|*25----------26----------26/27----------27/28----------28/29\25----------|
G|*------25----------26-------------27-------------28----------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Jacob wrestled and angel and the angel was overcome.
G1 *equivalence on the frettboard
e|--------------------15==\12\3\0------------------------/12/15\-----------|
B|*-------25----------15==\12\3\0------------------------/12/15\-----------|
G|*-25---------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
You have a demon seed... you need the flower of fire.
G1
e|-------------------------------------------------------15\12-------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------15\12-------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G2
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------x-----------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------x-----------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------x-----------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
See them burning crosses... see the flames higher and higher.
G1 Chorus (1:56)
e|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
B|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
G|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Shot Shot
G2
e|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
B|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
G|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
A|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Wooh- hoo hoo. Wooh- hoo hoo.
G1
e|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
B|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
G|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Shot Shot
G2
e|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
B|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
G|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
A|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Bullet the blue sky Bullet the blue sky
G1
e|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
B|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
G|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------|
D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Shot Shot
G2
e|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
B|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
G|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|
D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
A|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7======-|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Bullet the blue... oh- oh... Bullet the blue... oh- oh...
G1 (2:22) volume swell
e|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------
B|-12----------------12---------------|-------------------------------------
G|-12======\9--x-----12======\9-------|-------------------------------------
D|-12----------x/12--12----------x/12-|-------------------------------------
A|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------
E|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------
G1 Verse *volume back down
e|-12==\9------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-12==\9------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------17^----------------------------------------------|
This guy comes up to me, face red like a rose on a thornbush, like all the
G1
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------22^----------------------------|
colors of a royal flush. And he's peelin' off those dollar bills, slappin'
G1 let ring* touching random harmonics w/ feedback
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------17^*----------------------------|
em' down. "One-hundred, two-hundred." And I can see those fighter planes.
G1 let ring* touching random harmonics w/ feedback
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
And I can see those fighter planes. Across the mudhuts where children sleep
G1 let ring* touching random harmonics w/ feedback
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--19^*-------------------------------------------------------------------|
Through the alley of a quiet city street. And take a staircase to the
G1 let ring* touching random harmonics w/ feedback
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------12^*-------------|
first floor. And turn the key and slowly unlock the door.
G1 let ring* touching random harmonics w/ feedback
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-0*----------------------------------------------------------------------|
As a man breathes into a saxiphone, and through the walls
G1
e|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------12======\9-|-------------------------12======\9-|
G|-------------------------12======\9-|-------------------------12======\9-|
D|-------------------------12======\9-|-------------------------12======\9-|
A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
you hear the city groan. Outside it's America.
G1
e|-------------------------12======\9-|------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------12======\9-|-------------------------12======\9-|
G|-------------------------12======\9-|-------------------------12======\9-|
D|------------------------------------|-------------------------12======\9-|
A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Outside it's America America...
G1 Solo (3:19) *volume swell
e|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
B|-9/12----------------12~~-----------|--12~~--------------12--------------|
G|---------12~~--12~~--------12~~-----|--------12~~--------------12~~------|
D|---------------------------------12-|--------------12~---------------12~-|
A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
G1
e|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
B|---------------12==/14--14~~~~=\9---|-9/12~~--------------12~~-----------|
G|-12==/14-------12==/14=~------------|---------12~~--------------12=====~-|
D|-12==/14~~~~~~----------------------|---------------12~~-----------------|
A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
G2
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------12------12----12------12---12------|
G|------------------------------------------12------------12-----------12--|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G1
e|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
B|-12~~--------------12~~-------------|---------------14-------------------|
G|-------12~~--------------12~~-------|-12==/14~~~~~~-----14~~~~~----------|
D|-------------12~---------------12~--|-12==/14~~~-------------------------|
A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
G2
e|-----------------------------------------------12------------------------|
B|-12------12----12------12----12------12----12-----12----12------12----12-|
G|-----12------------12------------12-------------------------12-----------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G1
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-14---------14.5-----------15-------15.25-------15.5------15.75-----(16)-|
G|------14----------14.75--------15--------15.25-------15.5------15.75-----|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G2
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------12------|
B|-----12----12------12----12------12----12------12----12------12------12--|
G|-12------------12------------12------------12------------12--------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G1
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------21----------21----------21\20-------19\12p0-9====\7~~~~--------|
G|-19/21----------21----------21------------20----------9====\7~~~~--------|
D|------------------------------------------------------9====\7~~~~p0--12^-|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G2
e|-----12------12----12------12----12------12----12------12----12------12--|
B|-12------12------------12------------12------------12------------12------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G1
e|-----7--7--7--7\-----7--7--7--7/--------7--7--7--7\-----7--7--7--7-7/19\-|
B|-----7--7--7--7\-----7--7--7--7/--7-----7--7--7--7\-----7--7--7--7-7/----|
G|-----7--7--7--7\-----7--7--7--7/--------7--7--7--7\-----7--7--7--7-7/----|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-0---------------0------------------0---------------0--------------------|
G2
e|-----12------12----12------12----12------12----12------12----12------12--|
B|-12------12------------12------------12------------12------------12------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G1 Verse (4:08) let ring* touching random harmonics w/ feedback
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-0*----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G2
e|-----12------12----12------12----12------12----12------12----12------12--|
B|-12------12------------12------------12------------12------------12------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Across the feild see the sky ripped open. See the rain through the gaping
G1 *feedback from previous note
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|*0-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
wound. Telling the women and children to run. Into the arms of America."
Notation Key
- = string
# = frett
~ = vibrato
/ = slide up (if not indicated, to and from "nowhere")
\ = slide down (if not indicated, to and from "nowhere")
h = hammer-on
p = pull-off
b = bend (to indicated frett or 1/4 step if not specified)
fb = full bend (1 step)
hb = hold bend
pb = pre-bend (bend before striking
r = release bend
x = string noise (tap/rake)
(#)= mute string (after striking)
^ = natrual harmonic (wanted to use <> but html problems...)
+ = artificial harmonic
t = trill/tremelo (as noted)
= = hold note
* = as noted
Lemme know if I should fix it.
e-mail: [email protected]
