Bulletproof 2 chords
Swap ↔ or rotate ↻ the device
(in the key of A AND in the key of G)
tabbed by Bjorn Lodvar Larsen (spamcatcher@lodvar.com)
Well I've seen a lot of interpetations of the chords on this song on the WWW and none
of them seemed right to me (some of them downright weird), so I gave it a go.
I don't know if this ENTIRELY correct, but I think its very close.
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First in the key of A. Well, when I say A, I mean A-chords, not A-natura.....naturally.(he he!)
Jim sings it in C so we need a capo.
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SO, Capo III'rd fret
Fill 1
A F#m7
------5----4-2-4--- Let the F#m chord ring while you do the riff. Just play the chord, with the riff.
------5----0-------
------2----0-------
------2----0-------
---0--0----4-------
-0----x----2-------
Fill 2
A Dm
-----5--x-0-1-0------ Let the Dm chord ring while you do (most of) the riff.At least, the base-note(D).
-----5--3-------3-2--
-----2--2-----------2
-----2--0------------ <- the D, HERE
---0-0--x------------
-0---x--x------------
Fill 1 x 2
A Adim Bm
Tell me one more time again just like I didn't hear you
Dm A
Like I don't know whats goin through your mind I do
Asus2/G# F#m
I've played the same games too
D Esus4 E
You know its hard to stop even when you want to
A Adim Bm
Now the moon lights up your face and I can see you're crying
Dm A
You never liked me to see you cry its true
Asus2/G# F#m
I've done some crying too
D Esus4 E
You know the hardest part about its trying to hide it from you
D Dadd13 E/g# C#
It would be great to be so strong
F#m F#m/f F#m/e F#m/Db
Never needed anybody else to along
Bm E7/g# C#
And we so scared of the silence and the tricks that we use
F#m/f# F#m/f F#m/e F#m/eb
Oh we're careful and we're cunning but we're easily bruised
Bm Esus4 E A
I don't want to lie about it I'm not bulletproof
Fill2
A Adim Bm
Well I've finally found a way to hide from all your glances
Dm A
Till the waiting game you play is through
Asus2/G# F#m
I can but what's the use
D Esus4 E
When all I really want to do is hide out with you
D Dadd13 E7/G# C#
Well it would be great to be so strong
F#m F#madd9/G F#m#9/G F#m/Db
Never needed anybody's help to get along
Bm E7/g# C#
And we so scared of the silence and the language that we use
F#m/G# F#madd9/G F#m#9/G F#m/Db
Oh we're careful and we're cunning but we're easily bruised
Bm Esus4 E A
I don't want to kid about it I'm not bulletproof
D Dadd13 E/G# C#
F#m F#madd9/f F#m#9/e F#m/Db
Bm Esus4 E A
Fill2
A Adim Bm
Tell me on more time again well I guess I didn't hear you
Dm A
And I don't know all the secrets that you keep inside
Asus2/G# F#m
Tried the same thing too
D Esus4 E
But they all come pouring out of me when Im talking to you
D Dadd13 E7/G# c#
Well it would be great to be so strong
F#m F#madd9/F F#m#9/E F#m/Db
Never needed anybody's help to carry on
Bm E/G# C#
But I'm not waking up each morning with forgiveness I can use
F#m F#madd9/F F#m#9/E F#m/Db
No I'm careless and I'm cruel but I still easily bruised
Bm Esus4 E F#m F#madd9/F F#m#9/E F#m/Db
And I'm so tired of lying about it I'm not bulletproof
Bm Esus4 E A
I'm not going to lie about it I'm not bulletproof
Fill1 x 2
chords:
A: 002255
Adim: 01003X
Bm: 224432
Dm: X00231
D: x00232
Dadd13 x00432
Asus2/F#: 5X220X
E: 022100
Esus4: 022200
E7/F#: 42010X
C# 446664
F#m 244222
F#madd9/F 243224
F#m#9/E 242225
F#m/Db 64x222
Actually, the E7/G# is also a G#dim, played like so: xx6767, so it actually works either way.
Same notes in both chords, see? Use whatever you like best.
X means; don't play that string
Finger picking on this song is a good idea, especially when playing it alone with an acoustic guitar.
A word of encouragement for Novices:
It's not that hard, most of the chords are just usual chords with another base-note,
sometimes with another extra note as well.(the add9 and so on). These are just variants of a chord
you probably already know.
A curiosity is that the part; " never needed anybody else to get along...." and "oh we're careful and we're..."
with the chords: f#m ->F#madd9/F ->F#m#9/E ->F#m/Db is actually the same chords as are
used in the well known beginning riff from Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven"! At least if you use the
same finger picking sequence. Cliche chord-progression? YES, Very!!
Except that Stairway to heaven is played i A, then. At least I think is in A. ;-))
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AND NOW:
Bulletproof by Blue Rodeo in G
Perhaps a better way to play this song on the guitar is in G. At least I think it is, but that's just me...
The "bridge" part of the song leading up to the refrain sounds much better in that key on the guitar.
The "Stairway to heaven" - part...
It's all a matter of taste which key you prefer I guess!
Jim sings the song in C, so again we need a CAPO, this time on the 5'th fret.
On the the "E7/G# is actually a G#dim -part", as mentioned above, I will use the dim-chord now.
Why? 'Cause it both sounds and plays better i G. The chord is D#dim.
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First the Riffs or Fills if you will:
Fill 1
G Em
------3----2-0-2--- Let the Em chord ring while you do the riff. Just play the chord, with the riff.
------3----0-------
------0----0-------
-0----0----2-------
------2----2-------
--3---3----0-------
Fill 2
G Cm
-----3--x------------- Let the Cm chord ring while you do (most of) the riff.At least, the base-note(C).
-----3--x-3-4-3-------
-----0--5--------5-4--
-0---0--5------------5
-----2--3-------------
--3--3--x-------------
HERE WE GO!!
Fill 1 x 2
G Gdim Am
Tell me one more time again just like I didn't hear you
Cm G
Like I don't know whats goin through your mind I do
G Gsus2/F# Em
I've played the same games too
C Dsus4 D
You know its hard to stop even when you want to
G Gdim Am
Now the moon lights up your face and I can see you're crying
Cm G
You never liked me to see you cry its true
G Gsus2/G# Em
I've done some crying too
C Dsus4 D
You know the hardest part about its trying to hide it from you
C Cadd13 D#dim B
It would be great to be so strong
Em Emadd9/Eb Em#9/D Em/C#
Never needed anybody else to along
Am D#dim B
And we so scared of the silence and the tricks that we use
Em Emadd9/Eb Em#9/D Em/C#
Oh we're careful and we're cunning but we're easily bruised
Am Dsus4 D G
I don't want to lie about it I'm not bulletproof
Fill2
G Gdim Am
Well I've finally found a way to hide from all your glances
Cm G
Till the waiting game you play is through
G Gsus2/F# Em
I can but what's the use
C Dsus4 D
When all I really want to do is hide out with you
C Cadd13 D#dim B
Well it would be great to be so strong
Em Emadd9/Eb Em#9/D Em/C#
Never needed anybody's help to get along
Am D#dim B
And we so scared of the silence and the language that we use
Em Emadd9/Eb Em#9/D Em/C#
Oh we're careful and we're cunning but we're easily bruised
Am Dsus4 D G
I don't want to kid about it I'm not bulletproof
Fill1
C Cadd13 D#dim B
Em Emadd9/Eb Em#9/D Em/C#
Am Dsus4 D (G)
G Gdim Am
Tell me on more time again well I guess I didn't hear you
Cm G
And I don't know all the secrets that you keep inside
G Gsus2/F# Em
Tried the same thing too
C Dsus4 D
But they all come pouring out of me when Im talking to you
C Cadd13 D#dim B
Well it would be great to be so strong
Em Emadd9/Eb Em#9/D Em/C#
Never needed anybody's help to carry on
Am D#dim B
But I'm not waking up each morning with forgiveness I can use
Em Emadd9/Eb Em#9/D Em/C#
No I'm careless and I'm cruel but I still easily bruised
Am Dsus4 D Em Emadd9/Eb Em#9/D Em/C#
And I'm so tired of lying about it I'm not bulletproof
Am Dsus4 D G
I'm not going to lie about it I'm not bulletproof
Fill1 x 2
chords:
G: 320033
Gdim: 43340X
Gsus2/F# 200233
Am: 002210
C X32013
Cm: 335543
Cadd13: X3X213
Em: 022000
Emadd9/Eb: x21002
Em#9/D: x20003
Em/C#: x42000 <- See now how this is easier to play i this key,
AND how it will sound better with more strings open?
D: x00232
Dsus4: x00233
Don't worry if you think it's a lot of chords. Stick with it, and you'll get there with some practice.
Get the feel and the general theme of the song, then start working with the details.
Do the song bit-by-bit, first the verse, then the bridge and when you've got that, the refrain should be easy.
Also remember some chords, like the Cadd13, are not all that important. Just a C-chord will actually do!
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So, finally a little trick;
C is perhaps a high key to sing it in for many, so a good idea could be to do the following:
Put the CAPO on the 2'nd fret, NOT COVERING THE DEEPEST E-STRING, and play the song with the
scheme I've given here in G, except for the riffs, or fills if you will. For that, look just below
the next paragraph. With this trick you'll also get the deep E in the riff (Fill).
You're now playing the song in A, one-and-half note lower than the original.
This should be comfortable for most, it's a "Baryton-key" where most males at least can sing it easily.
After all, Jim Cuddy is a PRETTY high Tenor!
The tuning will then be like this, bottom-to-top(OBS! IN-NATURA):
F#
Db
A
E
B
E -> NOTE: this string is open
Play the Riff's (FILLS) like this:
Fill1
G Em
--------3---2-0-2--
--------3---0------
--------0---0------
--------0---2------
--------2---2------
-0-3----3---X------ <- NOTE: The "3" on this line is relative to the capo on the 2'nd fret. So actually "5".
Fill 2
-----3--x------------
-----3--x-3-4-3------
-----0--5-----5-4----
-----0--5---------5--
-----2--3------------
-0-3-3--3------------ <- Same here
Oh, and the on the Em-chords you'll have to mute the open E-string with your thumb or something.
You want a F# note there, not an E. You have the F# on the D-string, so use that.
Like this:
Em: x22000
Emadd9/Eb: x21002
Em#9/D: x20003
Em/C#: x42000
And so on...
If this is too also high, then remove the CAPO all together, and just play the song i G.
You can get the deep D for the Fills, just tune the E-string down to D.