Capo: 2 Tuning: D A D G B E

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall – Bob Dylan --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Bob Dylan From: "The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan" [1963] Tabbed by: maguri Tuning: Drop-D [D-A-D-G-B-e] + capo 2nd [= E-B-E-A-C#-f#] / Standard [E-A-D-G-B-e] or Standard with partial capo on strings 1-5 [E-B-E-A-C#-f#] capo: 2nd fret key: E For chords in original key transpose these chords +2 to E. These are the chords played on the studio version from “Freewheelin’”. The key is E, but here I suggest using a Drop-D tuning with a capo 2nd fret. Drop D is easy to do: Just tune down the 6th string [low E] down two steps to D and leave the other strings as they are. Tip: Partial capo If you want that low root note on the D chord, like the one heard in Dylan’s recording [which actually sounds as an E due to the capo], but without switching to Drop D tuning: Place a capo on the 2nd fret — but only on strings 1 through 5, leaving the low E string open. Now, when you play a standard D voicing [0-0-0-2-3-2], you’ll also get that low E root note. All other chord shapes can be played as usual. To pull off this trick, you’ll need a capo that allows partial coverage — meaning it only presses down on selected strings. Not all capos support this setup. For example, a Shubb capo is perfect for this, as it allows selective string clamping. On the other hand, traditional full-capos [like those that clamp all six strings] won't allow you to isolate specific strings. There are, however, many different kinds of partial capos available, allowing you to experiment and unlock new sounds. What makes Dylan's usage of Drop D tuning interesting is the continuous drone in the verses. I made a quick demo recording, so you can hear what this tab sounds like: https://soundcloud.com/maguri/a-hard-rains-a-gonna-fall For novice players: [1] Use Standard Tuning with the voicings suggested below. [2] Additionally one could just leave out the notes after the slashes - instead of G/D play a regular G shape, instead of A/D play a regular A. You can use the "Simplify" button at the bottom of the screen to make the slash chords disappear from the chord sheet. Verse 4: Dylan actually sings "what did you meet" in the first line. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHORDS with partial capo [strings 1-5] Tuning Drop D Standard Standard D-A-D-G-B-e E-A-D-G-B-e E-A-D-G-B-e D 0-0-0-2-3-2 x-x-0-2-3-2 0-0-0-2-3-2 A 2-0-2-2-2[0] x-0-2-2-2-0 x-0-2-2-2-0 G [0]2-0-0-3-3 3-x-0-0-0-3 3-x-0-0-0-3 G/D 0-0-0-4-3-3 [actually: Gadd2/D] x-x-0-0-0-3 x-x-0-0-0-3 A/D 0-0-0-6-5-5 [actually: Aadd4/D] x-x-0-2-2-0 x-x-0-2-2-0 D* 0-0-0-7-7-5 x-x-0-7-7-5 x-x-0-7-7-5 D* - this voicing is used fleetingly in the last bar [before the final chord] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Intro] | D | % | G/D | D | | D | % | % | [Verse 1]

Oh, ^Dwhere have you been, my ^G/Dblue-eyed ^Dson? And ^Dwhere have you been, my darling young ^Aone? I’ve ^G/Dstumbled on the side of ^A/Dtwelve misty ^Dmountains I’ve ^G/Dwalked and I’ve crawled on ^A/Dsix crooked ^Dhighways I’ve ^G/Dstepped in the middle of ^A/Dseven sad ^Dforests I’ve ^G/Dbeen out in front of a ^A/Ddozen dead ^Doceans I’ve been ^G/Dten thousand miles in the ^A/Dmouth of a ^Dgraveyard And it’s a ^Dhard, it’s a ^Ahard, it’s a ^Dhard, it’s a ^Ghard D A [ D ] It’s a hard rai---n’s a-gonna fall

[Interlude] | D | % | G | D | % | % | % | [Verse 2]

Oh, ^Dwhat did you see, my ^Gblue-eyed ^Dson? And ^Dwhat did you see, my darling young ^Aone? I saw a ^G/Dnewborn baby with wild ^A/Dwolves all a^Dround it I saw a ^G/Dhighway of diamonds with ^A/Dnobody ^Don it I ^G/Dsaw a black branch with ^A/Dblood that kept ^Ddrippin’ I saw a ^G/Droom full of men with their ^A/Dhammers a-^Dbleedin’ I ^G/Dsaw a white ladder all ^A/Dcovered with ^Dwater I saw ^G/Dten thousand talkers whose ^A/Dtongues were all ^Dbroken I saw ^G/Dguns and sharp swords in the ^A/Dhands of young ^Dchildren And it’s a ^Dhard, it’s a ^Ahard, it’s a ^Dhard, and it’s a ^Ghard D A [ D ] And it’s a hard rai---n’s a-gonna fall

[Interlude] | D | % | G | D | % | % | % | [Verse 3]

And ^Dwhat did you hear, my ^Gblue-eyed ^Dson? And ^Dwhat did you hear, my darling young ^Aone? I heard the ^G/Dsound of a thunder that ^A/Droared out a ^Dwarnin’ I heard the ^G/Droar of a wave that could ^A/Ddrown the whole ^Dworld I heard ^G/Done hundred drummers whose ^A/Dhands were a-^Dblazin’ I heard ^G/Dten thousand whisperin’ and ^A/Dnobody ^Dlistenin’ I heard ^G/Done person starve, I heard ^A/Dmany people ^Dlaughin’ I heard the ^G/Dsong of a poet who ^A/Ddied in the ^Dgutter I heard the ^G/Dsound of a clown who ^A/Dcried in the ^Dalley And it’s a ^Dhard, it’s a ^Ahard, it’s a ^Dhard, it’s a ^Ghard D A [ D ] It’s a hard rai---n’s a-gonna fall

[Interlude] | D | % | G | D | % | % | % | [Verse 4]

Oh, ^Dwho did you meet, my ^Gblue-eyed ^Dson? ^DWho did you meet, my darling young ^Aone? I ^G/Dmet a young child be^A/Dside a dead ^Dpony I ^G/Dmet a white man who ^A/Dwalked a black ^Ddog I ^G/Dmet a young woman, her ^A/Dbody was ^Dburning I ^G/Dmet a young girl, she ^A/Dgave me a ^Drainbow I ^G/Dmet one man who was ^A/Dwounded in ^Dlove I ^G/Dmet another man who was ^A/Dwounded in ^Dhatred And it’s a ^Dhard, it’s a ^Ahard, it’s a ^Dhard, it’s a ^Ghard D A [ D ] It’s a hard rai---n’s a-gonna fall

[Interlude] | D | % | G | D | % | % | % | % | % | [Verse 5] D G | D | G | D | % | And, what’ll you do now, my blue-eyed son?

And, ^Dwhat’ll you do now, my darling young ^Aone? I’m a-^G/Dgoin’ back out ’fore the ^A/Drain starts a-^Dfallin’ I’ll ^G/Dwalk to the depths of the ^A/Ddeepest dark ^Dforest Where the ^G/Dpeople are many and their ^A/Dhands are all ^Dempty Where the ^G/Dpellets of poison are ^A/Dflooding their ^Dwaters Where the ^G/Dhome in the valley meets the ^A/Ddamp dirty ^Dprison And the ^G/Dexecutioner’s face is ^A/Dalways well ^Dhidden Where ^G/Dhunger is ugly, where the ^A/Dsouls are for^Dgotten Where ^G/Dblack is the color, where ^A/Dnone is the ^Dnumber And I’ll ^G/Dtell it and speak it and ^A/Dthink it and ^Dbreathe it And ^G/Dreflect from the mountain so ^A/Dall souls can ^Dsee it Then I’ll ^G/Dstand on the ocean un^A/Dtil I start ^Dsinkin’ But I’ll ^G/Dknow my song well be^A/Dfore I start ^Dsingin’ And it’s a ^Dhard, it’s a ^Ahard, it’s a ^Dhard, and it’s a ^Ghard D A [ D ] It’s a hard rai---n’s a-gonna fall

[Coda] | D | % | G | D | % | D* | D [timing becomes fuzzy here]

Bob Dylan - A hard rains a-gonna fall