Capo: 2 Tuning: E A D G B E

[Notes] A few facts about this song: 1: The main riff of the song involves a 4 note descending chromatic run created by the chord progression Major -> Major 7th -> 7th -> 6th. (see also: e.g. several Beatles songs). 2: The song as recorded by Harry Nilsson and as featured on the OST of Midnight Cowboy is in the key of E. 3: The guitar as played on the recording is too high to be played using an open E chord. Given these facts a guitarist has several options to recreate this song. Most of the tabs on UG and the videos on YT do so by playing the song in C with a capo on the 4th fret. (This may be how it was recorded - I have no idea). I have tabbed the song (using what I believe to be the correct chords) in D with the capo on the 2nd fret. Why? Because this makes the distinctive pick much simpler IMO. The run the song is based around can be played on a single string using D-shaped chords, while using C-shaped chords it covers two strings - meaning not only does your thumb have to alternate between two bass notes but your fingers also have to pick different strings depending on the chord. Using D-shapes the fingers can pick the same strings for the whole song; only the thumb alternates. NOTE: in D/capo 2 or C/capo 4 you play *the same notes* - I just find the former easier to pick. (I also prefer D for singing; I'll never hit that final high B! - so I can use these shapes without a capo). Also note that the Nilsson version features a lot of orchestral parts that alter / extend perceived chords; a solo guitarist can ignore these - or 'enhance' the chords below by adding 7ths / 9ths etc where appropriate. The recorded version is 82 bars long (+ 1/4 bar fade-out); most bars have 2 chords except parts of the chorus. At 126 BPM the song is ~2:38 long in 4/4 time. The pick (using D shape chords): Thumb on bass note (D string for D, A string for A etc), index, middle, ring fingers on G, B and e strings. Pinch thumb and middle then play index, followed by ring, middle, index. (5 notes, all swung = 1/2 a bar.) Emphasise the pinch and ring finger notes. Repeat for next chord but move thumb up or down a string. There are several tabs on UG that show the correct pattern so I haven't reproduced it here. Tip: play the D barring G, B and e strings with your index finger, with middle finger on D note on B string. Simply remove your middle finger for the change to DM7. Note on slash chords: The bass notes shown below reinforce the chord progressions *and are optional*. (See note above on string arrangement; also I think e.g. D6/B sounds better than D6/A. YMMV). IMPORTANT: Replace the C# and B slash notes played over DM7 and D6 respectively with an open A string

for a simpler, more 'standard' pick. I.e bass line of

D A D A

not

D C# D B

. Finally (lol!), while D6/B is another, less obvious spelling of Bm7 only one inversion of Bm7 is appropriate, and as the D string isn't played in DM7/C# it can be spelt / played as F#m7/C# - but this would obscure the basic chord progression of Major -> Major 7th -> 7th -> 6th. Some of the other UG tabs use these alternatives.

Ignore any pop-up suggestions and use only the following shapes: [Chords] D xx0232 D/B x20232 DM7/A x00222 DM7/C# x40222 D7 xx0212 D6/B x20202 Em 022000 A7 x02020 [Intro] | | | | | D DM7/C# D DM7/C# D DM7/C# D DM7/C# [Verse 1] | | | | |

^D ^DM7/C# Everybody's^D talkin' ^DM7/C#at me ^D7 ^D6/B I don't h^D7ear a word^D6/B they're sayin' ^Em ^A7 Only the e^Emchoes ^A7 of my ^D/Bmind ^DM7/A ^D/B ^DM7/A ^D ^DM7/C# People stop^Dpin', sta^DM7/C#rin' ^D7 ^D6/B I can't s^D7ee their f^D6/Baces ^Em ^A7 Only the ^Emshadows ^A7 of their ^Deyes ^DM7/C# ^D ^DM7/C#

^Em I'm going where the ^A7sun keeps shinin' ^D Through the pouring^D7 rain ^Em Going where the we^A7ather suits my c^Dlo-oo-ooo^DM7/C#-oothes ^D7 ^Em Banking off of the n^A7ortheast winds ^DSailing on a summer ^D7breeze ^Em And skipping over th^A7e ocean like a ^Dstone ^DM7/C# ^D7 ^D6/B

^D ^DM7/C# Whooooooo^D7ooaaaaaaa^D6/Bh-whooooaaaa^D-a-whooo-^DM7/C#ah, Whooo^D7o-aa-whooo^D6/Bo-aaa ^Em Whoo^A7oo-aa-whoooo^Em-aaaaaaaa^A7aaaaaaaaaaaa^Daaaaaaaaa^DM7/C#aaaaaaaaaaa^Daaaaaaaaaa^DM7/C#aaaaa

^D ^DM7/C# Everybody's^D talkin' ^DM7/C#at me ^D7 ^D6/B Can't hea^D7r a word t^D6/Bhey're sayin' ^Em ^A7 Only the e^Emchoes ^A7 of my ^Dmind ^DM7/C# ^D ^DM7/C#

I^Em won't le^A7t you le^Emave ^A7 my love ^Dbe------h^DM7/C#ind ^D ^DM7/C# N^Emo I won't^A7 let you l^Emeeeeeeeee^A7eeeeeeeeeeee^Deeeeeeeee^DM7/C#eeeeeeeeeee^Deeeave ^DM7/C# W^Emhooooooo-^A7aaaaaaaaaaaa^Emaaaaaaaaa^A7aaaaaahhhhh-^D-Aaaaaaaa^DM7/C#aaaaaaaaaaa^Da--aaa-aaa^DM7/C#aaahhh I^Em won't le^A7t you leeeee^Emeeeeeeave^A7 my love beh^Di... (fade out)

Harry Nilsson - Everybodys talkin