This is the tab for the version off of the Once soundtrack album–which is significantly different from the one off the Frames’s album, Fitzcarraldo. Both are great but I definitely prefer the solo acoustic version off the soundtrack.
The Open E tuning made figuring this one out significantly harder for me (my tuning experimentation involves all of dropping down a half step and I rarely even do that) so I set off on some searches and found good starting points. Eventually, I found this great video though which turned out to pretty much dead on as far as I can tell. I still didn’t see it tabbed anywhere to this extent so I figured I’d get it down and easier to find. Also, Travestees, who made the very helpful video, has also recorded a video of himself playing the actual song which is also worth checking out.
Tuning (low to high): E-B-E-G#-B-E Verse Chords e------0------0-------0------0---- b-----12-----12------12-----12---- g#------0------0-------0------0---- e------0-----11-------0------0---- b-----12-----12------12-----12---- e--0------0------10------9-------- Pre-chorus e--0---0---0---0---0---0---------- b--0---0---0---0---0---0---------- g#--1---3---4---3---1---7---------- e--0---0---0---0---0---0---------- b--2---4---5---4---2---7---------- e--2---4---5---4---2---7---------- Chorus (3x) e---0----0----0----0-------------- b---0----0----0----0-------------- g#---0----0----8----5-------------- e--12---14----0----0-------------- b---0---13----9----5-------------- e---0----0----9----5-------------- Chorus (4th time) e---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0- b---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0- g#---0---7---5---7---5---7---5---7- e--12---0---0---0---0---0---0---0- b---0---7---5---7---5---7---5---7- e---0---7---5---7---5---7---5---7- Outro e---0---0---0---0---0-------0----- b---0---0---0---0---0-------0----- g#--12--10---8---7---8-------8----- e---0---0---0---0---0-------0----- b---9---7---5---4---5-------0----- e---0---0---0---0---0-------0-----
Share your thoughts
Nice one! Sounds very much like the original. Cheers, T.
I think there’s a couple spots that are off based on numerous live performance video and the Once DVD. Here’s what I’ve come up with:
Say It to Me Now – Glen Hansard Once (Original Soundtrack)
Chords and tab by Alex (Zandy) Wight
[Open E tuning] Into and verse chords: E(1) Em7 E/D E/C#(1) e --0--- --0--- --0--- --0--- B --12-- --12-- --12-- --12-- G#--0--- --0--- --0--- --0--- E --0--- --11-- --0--- --0--- B --12-- --12-- --12-- --12-- E --0--- --0--- --10-- --9--- Pre-chorus chords: Aadd9/F# Emaj7 Amadd9 Badd11 e ---0---- --0--- --0--- --0--- B ---0---- --0--- --0--- --0--- G#---1---- --3--- --4--- --7--- E ---0---- --0--- --0--- --0--- B ---2---- --4--- --5--- --7--- E ---2---- --4--- --5--- --7--- Chorus chords (3x): E(2) Eadd13- E/C#(2) Aadd9 e --0--- ---0---- ---0---- --0--- B --0--- ---13--- ---0---- --0--- G#--12-- ---12--- ---8---- --5--- E --0--- ---0---- ---0---- --0--- B --0--- ---0---- ---9---- --5--- E --0--- ---0---- ---9---- --5--- Chorus chords (4th time): E(2) Badd11 Aadd9 e --0--- ---0---- --0--- B --0--- ---0---- --0--- G#--12-- ---7---- --5--- E --0--- ---0---- --0--- B --0--- ---7---- --5--- E --0--- ---7---- --5--- Outro: ritard................. 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & ........... e --0---0-0-0---0-0|-0---0-0-0---0-0|-0---0-0-0-0-0--|---------0- B --7/9-9-9-9\7-7-7|-7\5-5-5-5\4-4-4|-4---4-4-4-4-4/5|--------5-- G#--0---0-0-0---0-0|-0---0-0-0---0-0|-0---0-0-0-0-0--|-------0--- E --0---0-0-0---0-0|-0---0-0-0---0-0|-0---0-0-0-0-0--|------0---- B --7/9-9-9-9\7-7-7|-7\5-5-5-5\4-4-4|-4---4-4-4-4-4/5|-----5----- E --0---0-0-0---0-0|-0---0-0-0---0-0|-0---0-0-0-0-0--|-0---------Lyrics:
Scratching at the surface now
and I’m trying hard to work it out
and so much has gone misunderstood
and this mystery only leads to doubt
and I didn’t understand
when you reached down to take my hand
and if you have something to say
you better say it now
’cause this is what you’ve waited for
Your chance to even up the score
and as these shadows fall on me now
I’ll win somehow, yeah
’cause I’m picking up a message Lord
and I’m closer than I’ve ever been before
so if you have something to say
say it to me now
just say it to me now, now, oh… oh… oh no
Thanks Alex. I added the “pre” tags to your comment to have the tab show up correctly as well.
Thanks Gus, as you can see the only real difference is in the first 2 chords of the main chorus part, the first chord of the (4th time) chorus, and the outro. All the rest you had spot on. Nice blog!
-a
Oops I mislabeled the A string as D instead of B as it should be. Can you edit that one out Gus? :-) thanks again.
For some reason, I missed your second post asking me to correct the string label. Just noticed now though and I’ve fixed your comment. Thanks again Alex.
Even though this tuning sounds correct, if you watch the youtube video of Glen performing in Toronto, his tuning sounds quite a bit different. Any thoughts?
Hi jcb700, I think Alex’s version which is just a little different from the one I originally posted seems pretty spot on given the three youtube videos I just watched after searching for Toronto shows. :) If you find a different tuning that works better or tab, feel free to share and I’m sure a few of us would try it out.
I honestly rarely play this song as I’m a bit lazy to switch tunings often and, the primary reason, the fact that I can’t hit the notes singing and it’s just not the same if one can’t get up there. :)
Hi Gus
Thanks for the tab – pretty much on the nose. I’ve seen GH play a good number of times over the years and he tends to change the arrangement of his playing over time (keeps things interesting I guess).
I came upon this because I was trying to figure out The Flame Turns Blue by David Gray and decided to google “song’s in Open E” to see what else I could knock out while I had the guitar retuned. Nice site.
Glad to hear it helped Frank! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave the note.
Hi All. It may have been a while, but I’m trying to locate Alex (Zandy) Wight, the gentleman who did some tabbing here above, and has other most excellent tabs in GPro elsewhere on the web. I’m not with IRS, not a lawyer for BMI, just a guitarist who has appreciated his work and would like to thank him, and get in touch. It seems we have very similar tastes, and I would like to drop him a line.
Please let me know if you know how to contact him, or feel free to pass this note and my email his way.
Many Thanks and Good Wishes.
Superdonut
Superdonut@verizon.net
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