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Islands on the Coast - Band of Horses
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Tabbed by: BluesLP1990
Email: [email protected]
Tuning: Standard
This is my own interpretation of the song that i've picked up seeing them live and
along with the record. It may not be exactly as it's played, since i'm pretty sure ben's
is in an alternate tuning, but it's all right, play along and see if you agree
It’s also my first tab post, so any constructive criticism is very welcome!
Bass intro plays Db 8 counts
Then guitars enter playing Db octaves:
Db
e|-x-|
B|-x-|
G|-6-| Play for 16 counts
D|-x-|
A|-4-|
E|-x-|
Over that the lead plays this 8 times over the 16 counts
e|-------------|
B|-9p6-6-----6-|
G|-------8p6---|
D|-------------|
A|-------------|
E|-------------|
This lead riff continues over this next group of chords until the vocals begin
Db Eb F
e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|-6-6-6-6/8-8-8-8/10101010101010101010101010101010-|
D|-x-x-x-x/x-x-x-x/x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x--|
A|-4-4-4-4/6-6-6-6/8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8--|
E|--------------------------------------------------|
Once the vocals begin, this progression continues until the chorus. There’s a little
riff that repeats after each line of the vocals, here’s that:
e|----------------|
B|----------------|
G|-13-11--10-(10)-|
D|----------------|
A|----------------|
E|----------------|
Simple enough to work in with the rhythm on one guitar if you choose to.
Next is the chorus, it’s played in octaves just like the rest, and with the same rhythm.
numbers after the chord is the fret of it’s root on the 5th string for referenceHere it
over the lyrics:
Eb(6)
When islands want to coast, islands want to coast,
C(3) Db(4) Eb(6) F(8)
they'll know how, yeah, they'll know how.
(I know, I hate chord tabs too, but just play those octaves and you’ll hear where the
are)
next comes the “Ohh ohhh ohhh” part, some people say he’s saying “home” I really don’t know.
The chords are strummed double the number of time’s I’ve tabbed them, just did that to
space, again, just listen to the song. Underneath I’ve tabbed a second guitar that plays
little lead parts.
Ohh ohhh ohhhh
e|----------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------|
G|--101010105-5-5-5-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|x4
D|--x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-|
A|--8-8-8-8-3-3-3-3-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-|
E|----------------------------------|
Over first two repeats:
e|----------------------------------|
B|---------------------------6----9-|
G|------------------6----8----------|
D|--------------------------(3)--(6)|
A|-----------------(4)--(6)---------|
E|----------------------------------|
Over third:
e|----------------------------------|
B|--6-9--6-6---------9-6---------6--|
G|--------8-8--6-5-------8-5-6-8----|
D|-----------------8----------------|
A|--^vocal-melody--^-^guitar-riff^--|
E|----------------------------------|
Over last:
e|----------------------------------|
B|-------------------9-6---------6--|
G|--10--108-5------6-----8-5-6-8----|
D|--x---x-x-x------x----------------|
A|--8---8-6-3------4----------------|
E|--^vocal--melody-^-^guitar-riff^--|
Now After that there’s a little BRIDGE that repeats four times, the fourth time has a
ending
First three:
e|----------------------------------|
B|--111111119-9-9-9-----------------|
G|--x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-101010108---6---|
D|--8-8-8-8-6-6-6-6-x-x-x-x-x---x---|
A|------------------8-8-8-8-6---4---|
E|----------------------------------|
Last time:
e|----------------------------------|
B|--111111119-9-9-9-----------------|
G|--x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-6---6---6---6---|
D|--8-8-8-8-6-6-6-6-x---x---x---x---|
A|------------------4---4---4---4---|
E|----------------------------------|
That’s all the parts.
The intro/verse repeats, the after chorus, then the bridge.
The song ends on the Db octave.
Enjoy!
