Ray Charles - Hit the Road Jack guitar tab

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From: longmire@mcs.com (Bob Longmire)

Subject: TAB: Hit the Road Jack / Ray Charles

This is my first post here, and I'm not exactly sure about the credits.

I believe Ray wrote this himself. If anyone knows better, let me know.

I'll hold off before posting this to Nevada.

Enjoy --

TITLE: HIT THE ROAD, JACK Written by : Ray Charles

Arranged by : Bob Longmire

MAIN RIFF (aka Chorus): (**)

(1) (2)

E -0---0-|-------------|-------0--0-|-0--0--5--5-|-8--8--5-0----|

B -------|-1-----------|-1--3-------|------------|--------------|

G -------|----2------2-|------------|------------|--------------|

D -------|-------------|------------|------------|--------------|

A -------|-0--0--------|------------|-0--0-------|-8--8---------|

E ---0---|--------3--3-|-1--1--0--0-|-------3--3-|-------0----0-|

(3) (4) (5)

E --------------------|-------0----|------------|----------0----|

B ----0h1-------------|-1--3-----1-|----1--0----|-1--1--0-------|

G ---------2-----2----|------------|-2--2--0----|-2--2--1-------|

D --------------------|------------|----2--0----|-3--3--2-------|

A ------0--0----------|------------|-0--0-------|---------------|

E ------------3--3----|-1--1--0--0-|-------3--3-|-1--1--0-----0-|

(**) Repeat this a few times as needed.

VERSE: (**)

(6) (7)

E --5--5p3--0-----------------|--------------0------|

B -------------1--3--1--3--1--|--3-----4------------|

G ----------------------------|---------------------|

D ----------------------------|---------------------|

A -----0----0-----------------|---------------------|

E ----------------3-----3-----|--1-----1-----0---0--|

(8) (9)

E --0--0-------------|------------|-5--5--5--5--5--0----0--|

B --------3--1-------|-1----------|------------------------|

G --------------2--2-|----2--2----|------------------------|

D -------------------|------------|------------------------|

A -----0--0----------|------------|----0--0----------------|

E -----------3--3----|-1--1--0--0-|-------------3-----3----|

(10)

E --------0----|-0-0----------|----------0-----|

B --3--4-------|------3--1----|-1--------------|

G -------------|------------2-|----2--2--------|

D -------------|--------------|----------------|

A -------------|---0--0-------|----------------|

E --1--1--0--0-|---------3--3-|-1--1--0-----0--|

(**) Sandwich in between main riffs

NOTES on main riff:

(1) Leave no fingers on the fretboard here. Get into position

for the next two-note chord.

(2) Using the higher F is a form of cheating, but when played up

to speed the octave change is hidden. This is the main trick

of the piece.

(3) The measure actually starts with the hammered-on C. I didn't

include the bar only because it looked hard to read that way.

(4) It takes extra practice to move the left index finger from

the second-string C to the sixth-string F. Same as bar 2.

(5) This is the same high E as the first note in the main riff, so

you can see that the timing is not exact. I hope you can get

the idea through the feel of this rather than exact notation.

NOTES on Verse:

(6) Set the left index finger on the second-string C now, and use

the pinky for the D. The ring finger can handle the bass G.

(7) Same as note 4.

(8) Use a full first-fret barre to fret both the second and sixth

strings. Keep the ring finger on the A while changing this.

(9) Syncopate the bass with the melody here.

(10) The second verse has an extra 4 bars. Make it up as I'm getting

tired of doing this.

FINGERING:

I find it easier to use the pinky to fret the low G on the first

four measures, and to use the thumb for the F. (Please don't flame

this part; I have had lessons but sometimes expediency prevails over

theoretical technique.) This keeps the right hand in a good position

for doing both melody and the step-down bass.

[CRDPRO]

Main Riff (aka Chorus)

Hit the [Am] Road Jack [G] and [F] don'tcha come [E] back

No [Am] more no [G] more no [F] more no [E] more,

Hit the [Am] Road Jack [G] and [F] don'tcha come [E] back

No [Am] more [G] [F] [E]

"What'd you say"

... Chorus ...

Verse 1

Old [Am] woman old [G] woman, oh you [F] treat me so [E] mean,

You're the [Am] meanest old [G] woman that I [F] ever have [E] seen,

Well I [Am] guess if [G] you say [F] so [E]

I'll [Am] have to pack my [G] things and [F] go [E] *that's right*

... Chorus ...

"What'd you SAY?!?!"

... Chorus ...

Verse 2

Now [Am] Baby, listen [G] Baby, don't you [F] treat me this-a [E] way

'Cause [Am] I'll be [G] back on my [F] feet some[E]day,

*Don't [Am] care if you [G] do, cause it's [F] under[E]stood,*

*You [Am] got no [G] money, and you [F] just ain't no [E] good*

Well I [Am] guess if [G] you say [F] so [E]

I'll [Am] have to pack my [G] things and [F] go *that's [E] right*

... Chorus ...

"What'd you SAY?!?!"

... Chorus ...

Coda

Repeat [Am] [G] [F] [E] ...

"Well ...

Uh, whud jou say?

I didn't understand you.

You can't mean that ...

Aw now Baby, Please.

What you tryin to do to ME!?"

And Fade.

Regards,

^^^^

--oo longmire@mcs.net

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