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Hit The Road Jack
Ray Charles
Text File
#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
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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