Grateful Dead - Operator guitar tab

Date: Mon, 29 Jun 1998 13:16:02 -0500

From: Nick Bayard

Subject: g/grateful_dead/operator.tab

by the Grateful Dead, on the album, American Beauty

transcribed by Nick Bayard

Sung by Ron (pig pen) McKernan, who also played the blues harp.

someone already covered the harmonica tab, so this is the guitar part:

e)--------------------------8------------------------------

b)--10---8---10---8---10-------------------------------------

g)----------------------------8---9---8----9--------------------

d)---------------------------------------------10---10---11---12---12-

a)---------------------------------------------------------------

e)--------------------------------------------------------------

e)-----------------------------------------------------------

b)----------------------------------------------------------

g)--10---10---10---12---10--------------------10------------------

d)---------------------------10----12----10--------10---12---10---

a)-------------------------------------------------------------------

e)--------------------------------------------------------------

main riff repeated throughout song- followed by next line

e)----------------------------------------------------------------

b)-------------------------------------------------------------

g)---10----------------10-----------------------(12)------------

d)---------10----12----------10----12----10-------------------

a)----------------------------------------------------------

e)----------------------------------------------------------

(the (12) works into the riff in different ways)

e)-----------------------------------------------------------------

b)----------------------------------------------------------------

g)---12---12---10---8---9---8---9---8---9--------------------10---10---12

d)------------------------------------------10----11----12--------------

a)---------------------------------------------------------------------

e)--------------------------------------------------------------

[F] Operator, can you help me? Help me if you please

[Bb] Give me the right area code and the [F] number that I need

[G] My rider left upon a mid[C]night flyer [A7]

[Dm] Singin like a summer[C] [F] breeze

I think she^?s somewhere downsouth,

down about Baton Rouge

but I just cant remember no number,

a number, i can use,

directory dont have, central done forgot it,

got to find a number to use

trying to check out a number,

tryin to run down a line,

operator said thats priveliged information

and it aint no business of mine

its flirtin down in Texas, hose are out in Utah,

got to find a private line

she could be hangin round a steel mill,

working in a house of blue light,

ridin the getaway bus out of Portland,

talkin to the night

I dont know what shes doin,

dont care where shes been,

long as shes been doin it right

Def: F( 1 1 2 3 x x)

Bb(1 3 3 3 x x)

G(3 2 0 0 0 3)

Dm(1 3 2 0 x x)

C(0 1 0 2 3 x)