Rush - Tom Sawyer guitar tab

Rush - Tom Sawyer guitar tab

Rush: Tom Sawyer
From the album Moving Pictures (Mercury Records)
Copyright 1981 Core Music Publishing
Music by Lee and Lifeson
Lyrics by Dubois and Peart

Transcription by C. D. Bruce ,
James Bender, Jimmy Pena , Tony Kennedy
, Jim Cirronella ,
Sean Carroll .

Comments/corrections to C. D. Bruce 
Revision 01, Date submitted:  7/15/98.
Revision 02, Date submitted:  9/2/98.
Revision 03, Date submitted:  9/3/98.


  All synth arrangements for guitar are located at the end of the tab file.

  The song opens with an Oberhiem "Sweep" sound (Guitar tacet for 8 measures)
          Eno3rd                              Ds2
  e q   e hw                          e q   e hw
|---------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|---------0-------|-----------------|---------5-------|-----------------|
|o--------4-------|-----------------|---------7-------|-----------------|
|o--------2-------|-----------------|---------7-------|-----------------|
|---------2-------|-----------------|---------5-------|-----------------|
|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|

          A7s4                                Cs2
  e q   e hw                          e q   e hw
|---------3-------|-----------------|---------3-------|-----------------|
|---------3-------|-----------------|---------3-------|-----------------|
|---------2-------|-----------------|---------5-------|----------------o|
|---------2-------|-----------------|---------5-------|----------------o|
|---------0-------|-----------------|---------3-------|-----------------|
|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|

                      The   riv-er...
  Cs2   G/B   As4     Cs2   G/B As4           E
  Q     Q     Q       Q     q   q     e q   e he          Q     q   q
|-----------------|-----------------|---------4-------|---4-----4---4---|
|-3-----3-----3---|---3-----3---3---|---------5-------|---5-----5---5---|
|-0-----0-----2---|---0-----0---2---|---------4-------|---4-----4---4---|
|-x-----x-----x---|---x-----x---2---|-----------------|-----------------|
|-3-----2-----0---|---3-----2---0---|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|

          Ds2                                 A7s4        D/E   A7s4
  e q   e he          Q     q   q     e q   e he          Q     h
|-----------------|-----------------|---------3-------|---2-----3-------|
|---------5-------|---5-----5---5---|---------3-------|---3-----3-------|
|---------7-------|---7-----7---7---|---------2-------|---2-----2-------|
|---------7-------|---7-----7---7---|---------2-------|---2-----2-------|
|---------5-------|---5-----5---5---|---------0-------|-----------------|
|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|

                                      And what you say about his company...
  Cs2   G/B   A7s4    G     G/F#E     Repeat 4 times
  Q     Q     Q       Q     q   q     Q   h he  w h     Q   h he  w h
|-3-----3-----3---|---3-----3-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-3-----3-----3---|---3-----3-------|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---|
|-0-----0-----2---|---0-----0-------|o----------4-----|-----------4-----|
|-x-----x-----2---|---0-----0---2---|o----------------|-----------------|
|-3-----2-----0---|---x-----x---2---|-----------------|-------0---------|
|-----------------|---3-----2---0---|-0-----2---------|-3---------------|

                   _________________ _________________
                  | 1st-3rd ending  | 4th ending      | Bs2
  Q   Q h   hew   | Q   H Q     q   | Q   H Q     q   | wH
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----0-------0---|-----0-----------|-----0-----------|-2---------------|
|-----------4-----|----------------o|-------------4--o|-4---------------|
|-2---------------|----------------o|-------------2--o|-4---------------|
|-------3---------|-2-----0---------|-2-----0-----0---|-2---------------|
|-----------------|-------------3---|-----------------|-----------------|

                                                        A5
              q     H           q     wH          q     q   q   q   q
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-------------2---|-2-----------2---|-2-----------2\--|-----------------|
|-------------4---|-4-----------4---|-4-----------4\--|-2---2---2---2---|
|-------------4---|-4-----------4---|-4-----------4\--|-2---2---2---2---|
|-------------2---|-2-----------2---|-2-----------2\--|-0---0---0---0---|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

  Gs2     A5  B5                      A5                Gs2
  q   q   q   q         q   q   q     q   q   q   q     q   h   h   q
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-2---2---2---4---|-----4---4---4---|-2---2---2---2---|-2-------2-------|
|-0---0---2---4---|-----4---4---4---|-2---2---2---2---|-0---0-------0---|
|-x---x---0---2---|-----2---2---2---|-0---0---0---0---|-x---------------|
|-3---3-----------|-----------------|-----------------|-3---------------|

  A5                Eno3rd
  w                 +       +
|-----------------|---------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|---------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-2---------------|---------4-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-2---------------|-2-------2-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-0---------------|-2---------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|

Guitar rests for 13 measures

  Repeat 4 times
  w             qe      q   q     e e e e e q   q     e e e e e
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
7o---------------------------o7-----------------------------|
4o2-------------4---------4--o4-7---6---4-----7-----6-------|
|-2-------------4-----4-------|---9---7---5-------9---7-5---|
|-0-------------2-------------|---------------------------7-|

  e e e e e q   q   e e e e e
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
7-----------------------------7-----------------------------|
4-7---6---4-----7-----6-------4-----------------------------|
|---9---7---5-------9---7-5---|-----------------------------|
|---------------------------7-|-----------------------------|

Guitar solo (tab expanded for clarity)
  Heavily overdriven with short delay to get a "doubling" effect.
  h               Q           eHw
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
7-1-----------/---4-------/---7-----~---------------------|
4---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|

                  s s e   e   q         s s e   e   e
|------------------p-------------------h-p----------------|
|-----------------9-7-9---10--9-------7-9-7---------------|
7---------------------------------------------7-/-9-------|
4---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|

          S  S S  e             q       q       q
|-----------p-----------------|-------------------------|
|---------10-9-10-12\---------|-------------------------|
7-----------------------------3-------------------------|
8-----------------------------4-------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------5-------|
|-----------------------------|-5-------7---------------|

  h               s s q       eH
|--1---------------p------------2-------------------------|
|-5^--------------3-0-2------[3]^-------------------------|
7---------------------------------------------------------|
4---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|

          e   e   e       e   e   e   s s s   e   e   eq
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|--------[5]-[7]-[5]-----[5]--------------------------5---|
7-----------------------------6--[7]--6---4---6---7-------|
4---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|

                      e   s s e   e   e         s e   e
|---------------------------p-----12--------------h-------|
|---------------------15--151214------14--------1215--12--|
7---------------------------------------------------------|
4---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|

  e   e   e   q                 q       q       q
|---------12------------------|-------------------------|
|-12--14------14--------------|-----------------15------|
7-----------------------------3-14------16--------------|
8-----------------------------4-------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-------------------------|

  Q           q       e   qw
                            1
|---2-----------r---------16^-----------------------------|
|-15^-------(15)^-----17----------------------------------|
7---------------------------------------------------------|
4---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|

            S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  S  e   E
         r                                               2
|----(16)---16-17-19-17-16-17-19-17-16-17-16-19-17-16--19^|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
7---------------------------------------------------------|
4---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|

      e   e   e   Q           q       e   e   e   e
        2   2   2   2           2       2   2   2   2
|-----19^-19^-19^-19^---------19^-----19^-19^-19^-19^-----|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
7---------------------------------------------------------|
4---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|

  q       q       Q           q       e   e   e   e
    2       2       2            2      2   2   2   2
|-19^-----19^-----19^--------(19)^----19^-19^-19^-19^\----|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
7---------------------------------------------------------|
4---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|

Tab returned to normal width

  e e e e e q   q     e e e e e   e e e e e q     q   q   q   q
|-----------------|-------------|---------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-------------|---------------|-----------------|
4-----------------3-------------7---------------4-----------------|
4-7---6---4-----7-4-----6-------8-7---6---4-----4-----------------|
|---9---7---5-----|---9---7-5---|---9---7---5---|---------5---7---|
|-----------------|-----------7-|---------------|-5---7-----------|

          E                                   Ds2
  e q     hw                          e q     hw
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|---------9-------|-----------------|---------5-------|-----------------|
|o--------9-------|-----------------|---------7-------|-----------------|
|o--------9-------|-----------------|---------7-------|-----------------|
|---------7-------|-----------------|---------5-------|-----------------|
|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|

          A7s4                                Cs2
  e q     hw                          e q     hw
|---------3-------|-----------------|---------3-------|-----------------|
|---------3-------|-----------------|---------3-------|-----------------|
|---------2-------|-----------------|---------5-------|----------------o|
|---------2-------|-----------------|---------5-------|----------------o|
|---------0-------|-----------------|---------3-------|-----------------|
|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|

                      But   change...
  Cs2   G/B   As4     Cs2   G/B As4           E                   Es4
  Q     Q     Q       Q     q   q     e q   e he          Q     e e q
|-----------------|-----------------|---------4-------|---4-----4-5-4---|
|-3-----3-----3---|---3-----3---3---|---------5-------|---5-----5-5-5---|
|-0-----0-----2---|---0-----0---2---|---------4-------|---4-----4-4-4---|
|-x-----x-----2---|---x-----x---2---|-----------------|-----------------|
|-3-----2-----0---|---3-----2---0---|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|

          Ds2                                 A7s4        D/E   A7s4D/E
  e q   e he          Q     q   q     e q   e he          Q     q   q
|-----------------|-----------------|---------3-------|---2-----3---2---|
|---------5-------|---5-----5---5---|---------3-------|---3-----3---3---|
|---------7-------|---7-----7---7---|---------2-------|---2-----2---2---|
|---------7-------|---7-----7---7---|---------2-------|---2-----2---2---|
|---------5-------|---5-----5---5---|---------0-------|-----------------|
|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|-0-0---0---------|-----------------|

                                      What you say about his company...
  Cs2   G/B   A7s4    G     G/F#E     Repeat 4 times
  Q     Q     Q       Q     q   q     Q   h he  w h     Q   h he  w h
|-3-----3-----3---|---3-------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-3-----3-----3---|---3-------------|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---|
|-0-----0-----2---|---0-----0-------|o----------4-----|-----------4-----|
|-x-----x-----2---|---0-----0---2---|o----------------|-----------------|
|-3-----2-----0---|---x-----x---2---|-----------------|-------0---------|
|-----------------|---3-----2---0---|-0-----2---------|-3---------------|

                   _________________ _________________
                  | 1st-3rd ending  | 4th ending      | Bs2
  Q   Q h   hew   | Q   H Q     q   | Q   H Q   e q   | wH
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----0-------0---|-----0-----------|-----0-----------|-2---------------|
|-----------4-----|----------------o|-----------4-4---|-4---------------|
|-2---------------|----------------o|-----------2-2---|-4---------------|
|-------3---------|-2-----0---------|-2-----0---0-0---|-2---------------|
|-----------------|-------------3---|-----------------|-----------------|

              The   world is...                         A5
              q     H           q     wH          q     q   q   q   q
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-------------2---|-2-----------2---|-2-----------2\--|-----------------|
|-------------4---|-4-----------4---|-4-----------4\--|-2---2---2---2---|
|-------------4---|-4-----------4---|-4-----------4\--|-2---2---2---2---|
|-------------2---|-2-----------2---|-2-----------2\--|-0---0---0---0---|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

  Gs2     A5  B5                      A5                Gs2
  q   q   q   q         q   q   q     q   q   q   q     q   h   h   q
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-2---2---2---4---|-----4---4---4---|-2---2---2---2---|-2-------2-------|
|-0---0---2---4---|-----4---4---4---|-2---2---2---2---|-0---0-------0---|
|-x---x---0---2---|-----2---2---2---|-0---0---0---0---|-x---------------|
|-3---3-----------|-----------------|-----------------|-3---------------|

  A5                Eno3rd
  w                 +       +
|-----------------|---------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|---------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-2---------------|---------4-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-2---------------|-2-------2-------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-0---------------|-2---------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|

Guitar Rest for 7 measures.

  RF
  Eno 3rd         F#no3rd
  q   q   q   e Q     q   q
|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|
7o---------------------------o|
4o2-------2---2-4---------4--o|
|-2---2-------2-4-----4-------|
|-0-----------0-2-------------|


  Pre-guitar solo synth arranged for guitar
  Repeat 8 times
  e e e e e q   q   e e e e e   e e e e e q   q   e e e e e
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
7o14--13--11----14----13--11-o7-14--13--11----14----13------|
4o--16--14--12------16--14---o4---16--14--12------16--141214|
|---------------------------14|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|

  e e e e e +
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
7-14--13--11------------------7-----------------------------|
4---16--14--12----------------4-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|

  Ending Synth arranged for guitar
  e e e e QH                    +
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
7-14--13--11------------------7-----------------------------|
4---16--14--------------------4-14--------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|

                  q   q   q     e e e e e w              S S
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
7-------------------------11--7-14---13--11--------------1411
4---------------------11------4----16--14-------------------|
|-----------------9-----------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|

  +
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
7-----------------------------7-----------------------------|
4-14--------------------------4-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|

  e e e e e q     +
|-17--16--14------------------|-----------------------------|
|---19--17--15----17----------|-----------------------------|
7-----------------------------7-----------------------------|
4-----------------------------4-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|


Lyrics

A modern-day warrior
Mean mean stride,
Today's Tom Sawyer
Mean mean pride.

Though his mind is not for rent,
Don't put him down as arrogant.
His reserve, a quiet defense,
Riding out the day's events.
The river.

And what you say about his company
Is what you say about society.
Catch the mist, catch the myth
Catch the mystery, catch the drift.

The world is, the world is,
Love and life are deep,
Maybe as his eyes are wide.

Today's Tom Sawyer,
He gets high on you,
And the space he invades
He gets by on you.

Guitar Solo

No, his mind is not for rent
To any god or government.
Always hopeful, yet discontent,
He knows changes aren't permanent,
But change is.

And what you say about his company
Is what you say about society.
Catch the witness, catch the wit,
Catch the spirit, catch the spit.

The world is, the world is,
Love and life are deep,
Maybe as his skies are wide.

Exit the warrior,
Today's Tom Sawyer,
He gets high on you,
And the energy you trade,
He gets right on to the friction of the day.


Tablature Contributors:
This transcription was created by C. D. Bruce (cbruce@peco-energy.com)
in the format described below.  It was previously transcribed by James
Bender and Jimmy Pena (jimmy@walrus.com).  Other significant contributions
were made by Tony Kennedy (TKennedy@buckeye.com), Jim Cirronella
(TwoZbar@AOL.com) and Sean Carroll (xamolleh@ix.netcom.com).  Special
thanks to Tony Kennedy (TKennedy@buckeye.com) for the 1/2 speed wav file
of the guitar solo.  Special thanks to Rich Soto (lerxst@zeus.jersey.net)
for the video footage.


Disclaimer:
This tablature represents how the song is played as closely as reasonably
achievable to the studio recording.  Video footage was utilized as much
as possible to validate the information (Exit Station Left, LeStudio
version, A Show of Hands).  Alex Lifeson may have played it slightly
differently.


Revision History:
Revision 0:  No date information available.  Initial submittal by
C. D. Bruce.
Revision 01:  7/15/1998.  Reformatted to condense tab.  Made changes
to D chords and E chords, moved synth tab to the end of the file.
Revision 02:  9/2/1998.  Changed time signature in pre-solo and
solo sections from 4/4 and 3/4 to 7/4.  Made some minor changes
to the outro.
Revision 03:  9/3/1998.  Credited Rich Soto for video footage which
was instrumental in creating this tablature.


Tablature Explanation:
NT   = Nashville Tuning is when the low E, A and D strings are replaced with
       lighter gauge strings and tuned one octave higher than normal.
|    = bar separating measures
~    = vibrato
x    = percussive note with no pitch; muted note
.    = staccato; mute the note immediately after striking it
h    = hammer
p    = pull
s    = slide (used when \ or / don't fit)
^    = bend string up to indicated pitch/fret shown in parenthesis ()
r    = release bend (string/fret may be indicated)
t    = fret board tap (not many of these with Rush)
/    = slide up
\    = slide down
x/   = pick slide up
x\   = pick slide down
<5>  = natural harmonic (lightly touch the string at fret indicated)
[5]  = artificial harmonic (use thumb to follow through the pick attack)
(5)  = note sustained from previous measure
o    =\ repeat sign
o    =/
DC   = "Da capo" - means "from the head", when you see these initials
        you go back to the beginning of the piece of music.
DS   = "Dal segno" - means "from the sign", go back in the tabulature
        only as far as the (%) sign.
Coda = A passage at the end of a movement or composition that brings
       it to a formal close.
Al
Coda = means "to the tail", tells you that you must go to the end
          section which starts with the Coda sign (+).
RF   = repeat and fade
rit  = "ritardando" - Gradually slowing in tempo; retarding.

Other pertinent information:
  Tempo:  1/4 note = ???
  Tuning:  Standard [EADGBe].
  Key signature:
  Effects:  Overdrive, Chorus, Short Delay

  Chord Chart Below for major chords used:

          Eno3rd              5   Dsus2                  A7sus4
  e 0---|---|---|---|     e |---|---|---|---|     e |---|---|-O-|---|
  B 0---|---|---|---|     B |-O-|---|---|---|     B |---|---|-O-|---|
  G |---|---|---|-O-|     G |---|---|-O-|---|     G |---|-O-|---|---|
  D |---|-O-|---|---|     D |---|---|-O-|---|     D |---|-O-|---|---|
  A |---|-O-|---|---|     A |-O-|---|---|---|     A 0---|---|---|---|
  E 0---|---|---|---|     E |---|---|---|---|     E |---|---|---|---|

      3   Csus2                    G/B                   Asus4
  e |-O-|---|---|---|     e |---|---|-O-|---|     e |---|---|---|---|
  B |-O-|---|---|---|     B |---|---|-O-|---|     B |---|---|-O-|---|
  G |---|---|-O-|---|     G 0---|---|---|---|     G |---|-O-|---|---|
  D |---|---|-O-|---|     D |---|-x-|---|---|     D |---|-O-|---|---|
  A |-O-|---|---|---|     A |---|-O-|---|---|     A 0---|---|---|---|
  E |---|---|---|---|     E |---|---|---|---|     E |---|---|---|---|

      7     E                 5     D                       G
  e |---|---|---|---|     e |---|---|---|---|     e |---|---|-O-|---|
  B |---|---|(O-|---|     B |---|---|(O-|---|     B |---|---|-O-|---|
  G |---|---|(O-|---|     G |---|---|(O-|---|     G 0---|---|---|---|
  D |---|---|(O-|---|     D |---|---|(O-|---|     D 0---|---|---|---|
  A |-O-|---|---|---|     A |-O-|---|---|---|     A |---|---|-x-|---|
  E |---|---|---|---|     E |---|---|---|---|     E |---|---|-O-|---|

      1   Bsus2                   Gsus2                    A5
  e |---|---|---|---|     e |---|---|---|---|     e |---|---|---|---|
  B |-O-|---|---|---|     B |---|---|---|---|     B |---|---|---|---|
  G |---|---|-O-|---|     G |---|-O-|---|---|     G |---|-O-|---|---|
  D |---|---|-O-|---|     D 0---|---|---|---|     D |---|-O-|---|---|
  A |-O-|---|---|---|     A |---|---|-x-|---|     A 0---|---|---|---|
  E |---|---|---|---|     E |---|---|-O-|---|     E |---|---|---|---|

      1     F                 4     E
  e |---|---|---|---|     e |-O-|---|---|---|
  B |---|---|---|---|     B |---|-O-|---|---|
  G |---|---|---|---|     G |-O-|---|---|---|
  D |---|---|-O-|---|     D |---|---|---|---|
  A |---|---|-O-|---|     A |---|---|---|---|
  E |-O-|---|---|---|     E |---|---|---|---|


Tablature Format:

This Tablature is based on the format indicated below.

  1   2   3   4     1   2   3   4     <--Quarter note beat locations
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8   <--Eighth note beat locations
                                      <--Effects/Misc Line
  D                 C     G/B         <--Chord Line
  e e e q   q   e   e e e q   e e e   <--Note Duration Line (table below)
|-----2-----------|-----------------| <--High E string
|-------3---------|-----------------| <--B string
|---2-------2---0-|-----0-------0---| <--G string
|-0---------------|---2-------0---0-| <--D string
|-----------------|-3-----2---------| <--A string
|-----------------|-----------------| <--E string

Effects/Misc Line:  Provides effects information, number of repeats, etc.

Chord Line:  Provides the chord name for the chords used in the
             tab below.

Note Duration Line:  Provides the "value" of each note, e.g., whole,
                     half, quarter, etc.

Note Duration Designator Table:
  w = Whole note                   h = Half note
  q = Quarter note                 H = Dotted half note
  Q = Dotted Quarter note          s = Sixteenth note
  e = Eighth note                  S = Dotted sixteenth note
  E = Dotted eighth note           + = Duration exceeds 2 measures
  t = Thirty-second note
  T = Dotted thirty-second note

  Notes with two designations immediately adjacent to each other
  have durations added (e.g., he = half note + eigth note, etc.)

String lines:  Represent the strings of a guitar.  The tab is laid
               out as if you placed a right handed guitar on your
               lap, string side up.  A vertical line character "|"
               represents a bar between measures.  A dash "-" represents
               each string.  The numbers indicate which fret should
               be fingered to sound the note.  The first space after
               every bar is a blank space that is almost never used.
               Quarter notes are separated by 3 dashes, eighth notes
               are separated by 1 dash.  In an effort to make the
               ASCII tab look as much like tab in a music book, the
               notes are spaced out as accurately as possible.  In the
               event the notes will not fit into the format shown above,
               the tab will be expanded (usually only required for
               solos).