This is Steve Earle's Lonelier Than This from the album Transcendental Blues. It's a great song all around and a lot of fun to fingerpick. These chord fingerings may be new to you (depending on how long you've been playing) but they are incredibly useful. One nice thing about this song is that you can keep your pinkie anchored on the third fret of the high-E string the entire song (excepting the Em chord section), making the chord changes easier. Standard tuning, capo at 4th fret. G ====== ------ You'll want to use this fingering for G. -2---- If it's awkward for you, this song would be great 3----4 way to practice it. C (basically) ====== ----1- This chord is why you want to use the fingering --2--- shown above. In this song, hammer on with the 3----4 1 and 2 fingers when you transition to this chord. D7/F# ====== ----1- Use your thumb to fret the low-E string. I know ---2-- that can be a challenge sometimes, but it's pretty T----4 easy here. Pick the notes on the low-E, A and D string with your thumb, the G string with index finger, B string with middle finger, high-E with ring finger. Listen to the song for the timing, but it might also help to remember the thumb plays steady quarter notes throughout. G (twice for intro) ----------------------------------------------------| ----------------------------------------------------| --0-------0-----------0-----------0----------0------| ----0-------0-------0-----0-----0----0-----0------0-| ----------------------------------------------------| 0-------2-------2h3-----3-----3----3-----3------3---| G ----------------------------------------------------| ----------------------------------------------------| --0-------0-----------0-----------0----------0------| ----0-------0-------0-----0-----0----0-----0------0-| ----------------------------------------------------| 0-------2-------3-------3-----3----3-----3------3---| It doesn't get... I believe... C -----------------------------| 1h----------------------1----| ----------0----------0-------| (2h)-2------2------2------2--| Note*1 -----------------------------| 3-------3-------3-----3------| break... Tonight I G (first time) Dm ------------------------------------------------| 0--------------------1----------------------1---| -------0----------------------2---------2-------| --0------0-----0--------0-------0-----0-------0-| ------------------------------------------------| 3----3------3--------2-----2-------2------2-----| prayed... wake G (second time) Em Note*2 --------------------0----------------------| --------------------0-----------------0----| -------0------------0----0--------0--------| --0------0----------2------2----2-------2--| --------------------2----------------------| 3----3------3-2-0---0--0------0-----0------| Note 1: Hammer on the C chord shape with both index and middle fingers even though you won't pluck the note fretted by the middle finger; that note will still ring out. Note 2: Strum the Em chord. Steve plays a little interlude between the second and third verse which I now realize I never worked out. Here's what I've been playing between those verses. You can use this, come up with your own, or work out what Steve plays. Or leave this section out and just go directly from verse 2 to verse 3. -------------------------------------------| ------0---------------0------------0-------| --0-------0---0---0-------------0----------| ----0-------0-------0-----0-------0----0---| -------------------------------------------| 0-------2-------3-------3-----3------3-----| (3 times) ------------3---------------| 1h----------------0---------| --------0--------------0----| (2h)--2-------2-----0----0--| ----------------------------| 3---------3-------3---3-----| --------------| --------------| ---------0----| ----2------2--| --------------| 3------3------| General notes: I just watched a video of Steve playing this song live and noticed a couple of things. He actually fretted the Dm/F# chord without using his thumb. Also, I think he used only his thumb and index finger to fingerpick the entire song. I hope you find this useful. I'm sure there are parts I didn't transcribe perfectly, but it should be fairly close. Good luck and have fun. If you have any comments, improvements, suggestions, etc., please e-mail me at [email protected]. Lonelier Than This Steve Earle Transcendental Blues It doesn't get any lonelier than this I believe my heart'll break Tonight I prayed I'd die before I wake With every breath I'm tastin' your kiss And it's sweet upon my tongue Until the bitter tears fall one by one It doesn't get any lonelier than this 'cause I'm on this road alone My hearbeat ringin' like a hollow drum I'm about as lonesome as a poor boy gets And there's nothin' I can do 'cause it's dark out here and I can't find you It doesn't get any lonelier than this It doesn't get any lonelier than this I'm as blue as blue can be Just an empty place where your love should be I'm sick and tired of walkin' round like this With my heart outside my skin Scared to death we'll never touch again It doesn't get any lonelier than this And there's no place I can go Just the dusty corners that the shadows know Maybe this is as good as it's gonna get And I'll always be this way I'll just wander this world callin' out your name It doesn't get any lonelier than this
