WE ARE FAMILY
As recorded by Sister Sledge
(From the 1979 Album WE ARE FAMILY)
Words and Music by Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers
Transcribed by Slowhand
Gtr I (E A D G B E) - 'Nile Rodgers - Electric Guitar'
Intro
Q=120
A G
4/4
Gtr I (Clean El. Gtr.)
H Q E E +E S S S S S S e E E E
|--------------||------------------------------------|
|-----------14-||o-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-12---12-|
|-----------14-||--(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-12---12-|
|-----------14-||--(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-12---12-|
|--------------||o-----------------------------------|
|--------------||------------------------------------|
D
+E S S S S S S e E E E
|--------------------------------10--|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---10--|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---11--|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---12--|
|------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------|
F A
+E S S S S S S e E E E +E S S S S S S e E E E 4x
|-(10)-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---13-|-(13)-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-------||
|-(10)-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---13-|-(13)-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13---14-o||
|-(11)-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11---14-|-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14---14--||
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---15-|-(15)-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15---14--||
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------o||
|-----------------------------------|------------------------------------||
Chorus
$
A G
+E S S S S S S e E E E
||------------------------------------|
||o-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-12---12-|
||--(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-12---12-|
||--(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-12---12-|
||o-----------------------------------|
||------------------------------------|
D F
+E S S S S S S e E E E +E S S S S S S e E E E
|--------------------------------10-|-(10)-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---13-|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---10-|-(10)-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---13-|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---11-|-(11)-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11---14-|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---12-|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---15-|
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
A G
+E S S S S S S e E E E +E S S S S S S e E E E
|-(13)-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13------|-----------------------------------|
|-(13)-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13---14-|-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-12---12-|
|-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14---14-|-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-12---12-|
|-(15)-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15---14-|-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-12---12-|
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
D
+E S S S S S S e E E E
|--------------------------------10--|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---10--|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---11--|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---12--|
|------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------|
F A
+E S S S S S S e E E E +E S S S S S S e E E E
|-(10)-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---13-|-(13)-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13------|
|-(10)-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---13-|-(13)-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13---14-|
|-(11)-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11---14-|-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14---14-|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---15-|-(15)-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15---14-|
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
G
+E S S S S S S e E E E
|------------------------------------|
|-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-12---12--|
|-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-12---12--|
|-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-12---12--|
|------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------|
D F
+E S S S S S S e E E E +E S S S S S S e E E E
|--------------------------------10-|-(10)-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---13-|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---10-|-(10)-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---13-|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---11-|-(11)-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11---14-|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---12-|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---15-|
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
A
+E S S S S S S e E E E
|-(13)-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-------|
|-(13)-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13---14--|
|-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14---14--|
|-(15)-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15---14--|
|------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------|
G
+E S S S S S S e E E E
|-----------------------------------|
|-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-12---12-|
|-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-12---12-|
|-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-12---12-|
|-----------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------|
To Coda
D F
+E S S S S S S e E E E +E S S S S S S e E E E
|--------------------------------10--|-(10)-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---13-|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---10--|-(10)-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---13-|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---11--|-(11)-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11---14-|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---12--|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---15-|
|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
1st & 2nd Verses
A Em7 D9
+E S S S S S S e Q E H +E E E E +E E E E +Q. E
|-(13)-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13----||-5----(5)-5-5-7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x-|
|-(13)-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13----||-5----(5)-5-5-8-|-(8)-8-8-5-(5)---x-|
|-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14----||-6----(6)-6-6-7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x-|
|-(15)-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15----||-7----(7)-7-7-9-|-(9)-9-9-4-(4)---x-|
|---------------------------------||--------------7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x-|
|---------------------------------||----------------|-------------------|
A Em7 D9 A Em7 D9
H +E E E E +E E E E +Q. E H +E E E E +E E E E +Q. E
|-5----(5)-5-5-7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x-|-5----(5)-5-5-7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x--|
|-5----(5)-5-5-8-|-(8)-8-8-5-(5)---x-|-5----(5)-5-5-8-|-(8)-8-8-5-(5)---x--|
|-6----(6)-6-6-7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x-|-6----(6)-6-6-7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x--|
|-7----(7)-7-7-9-|-(9)-9-9-4-(4)---x-|-7----(7)-7-7-9-|-(9)-9-9-4-(4)---x--|
|--------------7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x-|--------------7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x--|
|----------------|-------------------|----------------|--------------------|
A Em7 D9 A Em7 D9
H +E E E E +E E E E +Q. E H +E E E E +E E E E +Q. E
|-5----(5)-5-5-7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x-|-5----(5)-5-5-7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x--|
|-5----(5)-5-5-8-|-(8)-8-8-5-(5)---x-|-5----(5)-5-5-8-|-(8)-8-8-5-(5)---x--|
|-6----(6)-6-6-7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x-|-6----(6)-6-6-7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x--|
|-7----(7)-7-7-9-|-(9)-9-9-4-(4)---x-|-7----(7)-7-7-9-|-(9)-9-9-4-(4)---x--|
|--------------7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x-|--------------7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x--|
|----------------|-------------------|----------------|--------------------|
A Em7 D9 A Em7
H +E E E E +E E E E +Q. E H +E E E E
|-5----(5)-5-5-7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x-|-5----(5)-5-5-7-|
|-5----(5)-5-5-8-|-(8)-8-8-5-(5)---x-|-5----(5)-5-5-8-|
|-6----(6)-6-6-7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x-|-6----(6)-6-6-7-|
|-7----(7)-7-7-9-|-(9)-9-9-4-(4)---x-|-7----(7)-7-7-9-|
|--------------7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x-|--------------7-|
|----------------|-------------------|----------------|
D.S. al Coda
D9 A Em7 D9 A
+E E E E +Q. E H +E E E E +E E E E +Q E E
|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x-|-5----(5)-5-5-7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---------||
|-(8)-8-8-5-(5)---x-|-5----(5)-5-5-8-|-(8)-8-8-5-(5)----14--o||
|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x-|-6----(6)-6-6-7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)----14---||
|-(9)-9-9-4-(4)---x-|-7----(7)-7-7-9-|-(9)-9-9-4-(4)----14---||
|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)---x-|--------------7-|-(7)-7-7-5-(5)--------o||
|-------------------|----------------|-----------------------||
&
D D#E F G G# A
E S S S S S S e E E E E E E E E E E E
|-(10)-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-----|---------------------|
|-(10)-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---7-|---8-9-10---12-13-14-|
|-(11)-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11---7-|---8-9-10---12-13-14-|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---7-|---8-9-10---12-13-14-|
|----------------------------------|---------------------|
|----------------------------------|---------------------|
A9 G
+E S S S S S S e E E E
|------12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12------|
|-(14)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---12-|
|-(14)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---12-|
|-(14)---------------------------12-|
|-----------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------|
D F
+E S S S S S S e E E E +E S S S S S S e E E E
|--------------------------------10-|-(10)-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---13-|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---10-|-(10)-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---13-|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---11-|-(11)-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11---14-|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---12-|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---15-|
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
A9
+E S S S S S S e E E E
|-(13)-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13---/12--|
|-(13)-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13---/12--|
|-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14---/12--|
|-(15)-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15--------|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
G D
+E S S S S S S e E E E +E S S S S S S E E E E
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12------|--------------------------------10-|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---12-|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---10-|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---12-|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---11-|
|--------------------------------12-|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---12-|
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
F
+E S S S S S S e E E E
|-(10)-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---13--|
|-(10)-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---13--|
|-(11)-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11---14--|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---15--|
|------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------|
A9 G
+E S S S S S S e E E E +E S S S S S S e E E E
|-(13)-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13---/12-|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12------|
|-(13)-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13---/12-|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---12-|
|-(14)-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-14---/12-|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---12-|
|-(15)-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-------|--------------------------------12-|
|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
D
+E S S S S S S e E E E
|--------------------------------10--*|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---10--*|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---11--*|
|-(12)-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12---12--*|
|------------------------------------*|
|------------------------------------*|
Duration Legend
---------------
W - whole; H - half; Q - quarter; E - 8th; S - 16th; T - 32nd; X - 64th; a - acciaccatura
+ - note tied to previous; . - note dotted; .. - note double dotted
Uncapitalized letters represent notes that are staccato (1/2 duration)
Irregular groupings are notated above the duration line
Duration letters will always appear directly above the note/fret number it represents the
duration for. Duration letters with no fret number below them represent rests. Multi-
bar rests are notated in the form Wxn, where n is the number of bars to rest for. Low
melody durations appear below the staff
Tablature Legend
----------------
h - hammer-on
p - pull-off
b - bend
pb - pre-bend
r - bend release (if no number after the r, then release immediately)
/\ - slide into or out of (from/to "nowhere")
s - legato slide
S - shift slide
- natural harmonic
[n] - artificial harmonic
n(n) - tapped harmonic
~ - vibrato
tr - trill
T - tap
TP - trem. picking
PM - palm muting
\n/ - tremolo bar dip; n = amount to dip
\n - tremolo bar down
n/ - tremolo bar up
/n\ - tremolo bar inverted dip
= - hold bend; also acts as connecting device for hammers/pulls
<> - volume swell (louder/softer)
x - on rhythm slash represents muted slash
o - on rhythm slash represents single note slash
Misc Legend
-----------
| - bar
|| - double bar
||o - repeat start
o|| - repeat end
*| - double bar (ending)
: - bar (freetime)
$ - Segno
& - Coda
Tempo markers - = BPM(8/16=s8/s16), where s8 = swing 8ths, s16 = swing 16ths
