"If I Laugh" Tabs Completed

[SP4313]

Hi everyone,

I finished the tabs to "If I Laugh" last night and sent them to Christine today. There were a couple chords that I have been playing over the last couple months in the break that sounded a lot like what Cat was playing, but I knew it wasn't quite right. I had to listen to them on "Teaser" over and over and finally figured them out. There's a lot of changes from strumming to picking and back again in this song, so to really get the feel of these changes, throw on the CD and have fun. This has always been one of my favorite songs because of the guitar playing alone, not to mention it's just a beautiful song.

Gino

[Ruins]

Thanks a lot

[workahollis1]

looking forward to it Gino! A proposito, did you work out Aluns side? I think he used Standard or Drop D. If you could figure out What chords he was using. I've watched the video "old grey whistle test" and they just don't show enough of him playing it to help me figure it out. I know however that by looking at your new tab it will help a lot. There was always 2 chords I couldn't quite find. I'm really looking forward to seeing your tab. Hopefully it will explain a lot.

[SP4313]

No Kristian, I didn't tab Alun's part. I've never seen the video "old grey whistle test". That's the one that Jacky was telling me about that's on the Majikat DVD right? Is it also on line? I'll have to check it out and tab it too. I had a blast tabbing "If I Laugh". I had no Idea tabbing was so much fun. Right now I'm working on "How Can I Tell You" and trying to decide how I am going to break up the parts. As you know, it's a more simple song on guitar. I think I'll tab one as "Cat's part", and a whole separate tab under "Alun's part. I've always tried to stay true to how the song is played on the album when playing Cat's songs on guitar, but when I play and sing "How Can I Tell You", I play a mixture of both parts along with a little of the bass line too. What a beautiful song it is when those two parts are played together. I still just get lost in that song when listening to the guitars on the "Teaser" CD.

[SP4313]

I just searched "If I Laugh" on YOUTUBE and this came up! It was added yesterday. Cat and Alun playing "If I Laugh" and it shows both part's back in 1971!!! This will make figuring out Alun's part a little easier. And he is in standard tuning.

youtube.com/watch?v=6JU68Tnxi_I

Cat plays this as clean as he does on the album.

Added:
Okay guys, sorry to get so excited. I just checked the Youtube info on this and this is the "old grey whistle test" video so you've all seen it before. What a great recording. I looked at it again and Alun's part shouldn't be to hard to figure out.

[Deleted]

sp4313 said:

I just searched "If I Laugh" on YOUTUBE and this came up! It was added yesterday. Cat and Alun playing "If I Laugh" and it shows both part's back in 1971!!! This will make figuring out Alun's part a little easier. And he is in standard tuning.

youtube.com/watch?v=6JU68Tnxi_I

Cat plays this as clean as he does on the album.

Hi SP, actually voices are live but guitars are playback on this video.

[SP4313]

Alun's part (2nd verse):

If I laugh (E) just a little (x444xx) bit maybe (B x244xx) I can forget (A x022xx) the plans that I didn't (G# 466544) use to get you (C#m x46654) (A x022xx) at home (F#) with me (E)
alone(F#) Oo (B x244xx) oo oo Oh (A x022xx) (A x022xx) (G#m) (F#m) (E)

Here are the chords to Alun's part. He starts at the 2nd verse and picks a very simple pattern.
Example: His second chord is (x444xx) and the strings he picks in order are - 5,4,3,4,5,4,3.
Alun's part does not sound good by itself, but adds fulness to Cat's part.

Got to get some sleep. We'll get the chords to the Break tomorrow.

[SP4313]

[/quote]Hi SP, actually voices are live but guitars are playback on this video.[/quote]

I noticed that when they show the close up of the back of Alun's picking hand.

[Leonard]

sp4313 said:

Right now I'm working on How Can I Tell You and trying to decide how I am going to break up the parts.

I am very impressed by your enthusiasm about the tabbing work ^.^
I am currently tabbing Katmandu, which is hard work :/

But maybe to save you some time: DJ has made, to me, a perfect "How Can I Tell You" tab (http://majicat.com/guitartabs/hcitytab.htm) of how Alun played it (as he has met Alun who showed it to him).
Actually, Steve himself does not play guitar on the album version of How Can I Tell You. On the album Alun Davies (1st guitar), and Andy Roberts (2nd guitar) played guitar, Steve sang live to it, and some girl called Linda Lewis sang this high background voice near the end.

However, in live versions of How Can I Tell You, Steve strums using standard tuning along with Alun playing the original picking part (BBC THEATRE '71).

[workahollis1]

Great addition Jacky. I played it and it sounds very accurate. The only thing I would suggest is cahnge the Gsus 4 to a straight G. The second chord (x444xx) Change to (x443xx). Try it and tell me if you don't think it fits nicer. All we need now is The part our good friend Gino has and it's complete. If you need help with Katmandu. I can help I know how to play that flawlessly. Cat plays it live without capo in D and on Mona he plays it on 3rd fret capo in F. He uses the same chord shapes he just sings in different keys D in one and F. It's nice what capoes can do. Your right about how can I tell you. My preference is paying it without capo Starting with Em. I just use the pick pick strumm strumm method. Just do it by feel you know. Just how ever the fingers want to go. Whether they want to pick or strumm that's all up to them and where the song is leading to. Always Thumb and forefinger.

[workahollis1]

Like always I messed up again.
(the Gsus 4 to a straight G. The second chord (x444xx) Change to (x443xx).)
I meant Gflat sus4 to straight G flat.

[SP4313]

Jacky- Where did you get the info on Cat not playing guitar on "How Can I Tell You" and Andy Roberts sitting in on the album version? I am fascinated by those kinds of details. I did notice that Cat was strumming standard open chords in the '71 live version.

As far as tabbing that song, I did check out DJs tab on it, and I play it just a little bit different.
I play the very beginning of the song the way Alun does in the link below (album version too), and I hear a different picking pattern than DJ has tabbed. Aside from that, the chords are almost identical. Has anyone tabbed the guitar part in the lower position? I was thinking of tabbing the lower position first, with the upper position after.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBwUkPYzjKs

I can't wait 'til you post your tabs on Katmandu. I spent a few minutes trying to play it a couple months back and you're right, it was pretty hard work. I want to learn to play that song flawlessly like you guys. Right now I don't play it at all. Thanks for offering help Kristian.
If I get stuck on something, it's good to know I now have two guys to go to.

Christine said the tabs to "If I Laugh" could go up this weekend. After watching Cat play on the "Old grey whistle test" video, there is 1 chord that is wrong. After the tabs are posted, I'll make the correction here on this thread.

[Deleted]

sp4313 said:

Jacky- Where did you get the info on Cat not playing guitar on "How Can I Tell You" and Andy Roberts sitting in on the album version? I am fascinated by those kinds of details. I did notice that Cat was strumming standard open chords in the '71 live version.

From the Cat Stevens Box set 2001

Paul Samwell Smith: The guitars are Alun Davies and a guy called Andy Roberts. I think it's my favourite tracks of all. What I did was really set up the session so that there was an incredible atmosphere. Cat Stevens just sang, and he sang it live with the guitars. The female voice is Linda Lewis.

[SP4313]

Thanks glaucus.

[SP4313]

Okay guys, here is the correction to the tabs on "IF I Laugh".
In the last measure of all 3 verses and the break, the last 4

chords that I tabbed are: (xx5555) (xxx000) (002100) (000000).

What Cat actually plays is: (xx5555) (xx4300) (002100) (000000).

As you can see, it's the second chord that is wrong. Here's the thing; the strings I tabbed (xxx000) are picked in this order: 3,2,1,2. The strings that Cat plays (xx4300) are picked in this order: 4,3,1,2. If you play it you'll see that the notes picked are exactly the same and in the same order. Having tabbed this by ear I heard the right notes, but didn't know of his hand position until I saw the video. So musically the tab is right, but if you are a purist you'll want to make the correction.

[workahollis1]

Maybe you can send your revision off to Christine and label it as 2nd try so it's different. She hasn't posted it yet and there is always time to fix it. Most people who see the tab. Like say in a year or so won't know to come here to the thread and fix it. I like the change though it makes a lot more sense. Good work!!

[workahollis1]

Excellent work Amico!! I've been playing it all night. I even mixed the 2 tracks together on my MAGIX program and it sounds really good!!

[SP4313]

Thanks Kristian,
I was able to get the editted version with the chord change in the break to Christine, so the whole tab is good. I made a single chord change to the "Rubylove" tab also so check out that thread too.