I Cant Tell You Why - Eagles
00:00 / 00:00
Tabs and lyrics
Tunning: Standard (E A D G B e)
I can't tell you why
(The Eagles)


Dmaj7 Gmaj7
Look at us baby up all night tearing our love apart
Dmaj7 Gmaj7 F#7sus4 F#7
Aren't we the same two people who lived through years in the dark?
Bm A/B Gmaj7 F#7sus4 F#7
Every time I try to walk away something makes me turn around and stay
Bm A/B G F#m7
And I can't tell you why.
Dmaj7 Gmaj7
When we get crazy it just ain't right girl I get lonely too
Dmaj7 Gmaj7 F#7sus4 F#7
You don't have to worry just hold on tight 'cause I love you.
Bb A/B Gmaj7 F#7sus4 F#7
Nothing's wrong as far as I can see we make it harder then it has to be
Bm A/B
And I can't tell you why no baby
Gmaj7 F#7sus4 F#7
I can't tell you why.....

Dmaj7 x x 0 2 2 2
Gmaj7 3 x 0 0 0 2
F#7sus4 x 2 2 2 2 2
F#7 2 4 2 3 2 2
A/B 0 2 x 2 2 0
Bm x x 4 4 3 2
G 3 x 0 0 0 3


e|------------|-7-7-5-|------------|-7-7-5-----------|--------------------------|
B|------------|-7-7-5-|------------|-7-7-5-----------|--------------------------|
G|------------|-7-7-6-|------------|-7-7-6-----------|--------------------------|
D|------------|-9-9-7-|------------|-9-9-7-----------|7-h9-p7-h9----------------|
A|--------7---|-9-9-7-|--------7---|-9-9-7--------7-9|-----------7-h9-9>5-7-----|
E|-7-9-10---7-|-7-7-5-|-7-9-10---7-|-7-7-5-7-9-10----|-----------------------5-7|

e|-----------------------------------------|-------------------------------|
B|------------>12-12-P10-------------------|-->12-12-P10-------------------|
G|----------7-------------11-11---11--9--7-|-------------11-11---11--9--7--|
D|------7-9--------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|-7-H9------------------------------------|-------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------|-------------------------------|

e|-----10----------------|-------------------------------|
B|->12----12-P10---------|-------------------------------|
G|---------------11-9-7--|---7-9-(9)-7-(9-(9)-7-P9-7-----|
D|-----------------------|-9--------------------------9--|
A|-----------------------|-------------------------------|
E|-----------------------|-------------------------------|




And this is the lead part that Don plays at the end of the song...

e|------------------------|------------------------|---------------------|
B|------------------------|------------------------|----------------->12-|
G|-------------7-9->11-7--|-------------7-9->11-7--|-------------7-9-----|
D|------7-7-H9------------|------7-7-H9------------|------7-7-H9---------|
A|-7-H9-------------------|-7-H9-------------------|-7-H9----------------|
E|------------------------|------------------------|---------------------|


e|--------------------|--------------------------------|-----(10----------------|
B|--------------------|--------------------------------|--------10-12-12--10-12-|
G|-7-7-H9-7-7-9->11---|---7->12->12-7-7-H9-7-7-9->11---|---7--------------------|
D|------------------7-|-9----------------------------7-|-9----------------------|
A|--------------------|--------------------------------|------------------------|
E|--------------------|--------------------------------|------------------------|

e|-(10---------------(10---------------(12-(12----|-------(10---------------|
B|----10-12-12-10-12----10-12-12-10-12---------10-|-10-12----10-12-12-10-12-|
G|------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|

e|-(10---------------(10-(10---(10-(10---(10-(10---------------|---------------|
B|----10-12-12-10-12--------10--------10---------12-10-H12-10>-|---------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------|-7-9-7---------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------9->11-7-|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|

e|----------------|---------------|----------------|-----------------------------|
B|-------------10-|---------------|-------------10-|-----------------------8-P7--|
G|-7-9-7----------|-7-9-7---------|-7-9-7----------|-5>7-7>9>7----5>7-7-H9-7---7-|
D|-------9->11----|-------9->11-7-|-------9->11----|-5>7-7>9>7----5>7-7-H9-----7-|
A|----------------|---------------|----------------|-----------------------------|
E|----------------|---------------|----------------|-----------------------------|

e|----------------------------|----------------------------|
B|---------------------8-P7---|---------------------8-P7---|
G|-5>7-7>9>7--5>7-7-H9-7---7--|-5>7-7>9>7--5>7-7-H9-7----7-|
D|-5>7-7>9>7--5>7-7-H9-----7--|-5>7-7>9>7--5>7-7-H9------7-|
A|----------------------------|----------------------------|
E|----------------------------|----------------------------|


In the original studio recording, it just keeps repaeating the last few bars and
fades out. However, on the Eagle's live album and on "Hell Freezes Over," the
song ends with a little ditty like this at the end...



e|-7-7-----------10-|
B|-8-7-7--------7---|
G|-----7-7-7---7----|
D|-------7-9--9-----|
A|------------------|
E|------------------|


Legend:

>N = Slide to the Nth fret
N> = Slide from the Nth fret down
(N = Bend string up at the Nth fret
N) = Bend string at the Nth fret, pick and release bend
(N) = Bend and release string at the Nth fret
HN = Hammer on at Nth fret
PN = Pull off at Nth fret
Tunning: Standard (E A D G B e)
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHY THE EAGLES Hell Freezes Over

Note to Player: Arranged for Acoustic Guitar. This is not a note-for-note copy. It is
interpretation for a single guitar and singer. Simplified a bit - but it keeps with
overall feel/tone of the song.

Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy_Griplvlk

Tabbed by BaddGuitar
Capo = 2 Tempo = 88

Intro:
Am G Am G Am G Am G/E
--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
-----1-1--0---------1-1--0--------------1-1--0------------1-1--0------0-3-|
-----2-2--0---------2-2--0----------2---2-2--0---------2--2-1--0----0-----|
-----2-2--0---------2-2--0----2-2-------2-2--0---2-2------2-2--0----------|
-0---------------0------------------0------------------0------------------|
---------------0--------------0-0-0--------------0-0-0---------0----------|

Cmaj7 Fmaj7
Look at us baby up all night tearing our love apart
Cmaj7 Fmaj7 E7sus E7
Aren't we the same two people who lived through years in the dark?
Am G Fmaj7 E7sus E7
Every time I try to walk away something makes me turn around and stay
Am G (hold)
And I can't tell you why.

-------------------------------|
----------------1-0-------3----|
----------------2-0-----0------|
-------0--------2-0------------|
-0-2-3---0---------------------|
-------------------------------|

Cmaj7 Fmaj7
When we get crazy it just ain't right girl I get lonely too
(try to keep you head, little girl)
Cmaj7 Fmaj7 E7sus E7
You don't have to worry just hold on tight 'cause I love you
(don't get caught in your little world)
Am G Fmaj7 E7sus E7
Nothing's wrong as far as I can see we make it harder then it has to be
Am G
And I can't tell you why no baby
Fmaj7 G E7
I can't tell you why.....
Fmaj7 G (hold)
I can't tell you why....

Am G Am G
--------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
--------|---------1-1---0-----------------|---------1-1---0-----------------|
--------|---------2-2---0-----------------|---------2-2---0-----------------|
------0-|---------2-2---0---------------0-|---------2-2---0---------------0-|
-0-2-3--|-0-----------------------0-2-3---|-0-----------------------0-2-3---|
--------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

Cmaj7 Fmaj7 Cmaj7
|-0--------------------|--------------------|-----------------------------------|
|-0--------------------|--------------------|-/10-8--------------/10-8----------|
|-0--------------------|--------------------|--------9-9--7-5----------9-9--7-5-|
|-2-------7/5 5--------|------------------5-|-----------------------------------|
|-3-----------7-/5 5-3-|-5--------------7---|-----------------------------------|
|----------------------|---1/5-------/7-----|-----------------------------------|

Fmaj7 E7sus E7 Am
|-----8-------------------------------|-5--|
|-/10---10-8--------------------------|-5--|
|-------------9-7-5-7-b8-7-5-b8-7-5-7-|-5--|
|-------------------------------------|-7--|
|-------------------------------------|-0--|
|-------------------------------------|----|

Am G Fmaj7 E7sus E7
Every time I try to walk away something makes me turn around and stay
Am G
And I can't tell you why no no baby
Fmaj7 G E7
I can't tell you why
Fmaj7 G
I can't tell you why
Fmaj7 G Am G
I can't tell you why

Quick ending:
Am G ..ritard.. (hold)
|------------------5--5--3-----|------------------------------0---|
|-------------5----5--5--3-----|-------------5----6--5--3-\1--1---|
|---------5-7---5--5--5--4-----|---------5-7---5--7--5--4-\2--2---|
|-----5-7----------------5-----|-----5-7----------------------3---|
|--/7--------------------5-----|--/7--------------------------3---|
|------------------5--5--3-----|----------------------------------|

===========================================================================

Variation: The Am/G phrase can be played with a higher voicing like this:

Am G Am G Am G Am G
-----5-5--3---------5-5--3---| |-----0-0-----------0-0------|
-----5-5--3---------5-5--3---| |-----1-1--3--------1-1--3---|
-----5-5--4---------5-5--4---| or |-----2-2--0--------2-2--0---|
-----------------------------| |----------0-------------0---|
-0---------------0-----------| |--0-------------0-----------|
---------------0-------------| |--------------0-------------|

===========================================================================

Full Ending: If you choose to play the full ending - here's a simplified
version for Acoustic Guitar. The Eagles play it with fantastic bends
that may be difficult on an acoustic. The tab below substitues literal
notes for most bended notes and simplifies it a bit. Buy and listen to
the Hell Freezes Over verison for timing and to hear the real deal.

Each chord name represents 4 beats.

Am G Am G
|------------------------------------5-----5---3-----------------|
|------------------------------5-----5-----5---0---------------5-|
|--------------------------5-7---5---5-----5---0-----------5-7---|
|----------------------5-7---------------------0-------5-7-------|
|-------------------/7-------------------------2----/7-----------|
|------------------------------------5-----5---3-----------------|

Am G Am G
|----5-----5---3------------------------------------------------|
|----5-----5---0---------------5-/10-8--------------------------|
|5---5-----5---0-----------5-7---------9------5h7-5-5-7-----5-7-|
|--------------0-------5-7-----------------5h7-----7-----5h7----|
|--------------2----/7------------------------------------------|
|----5-----5---3------------------------------------------------|

Am G
|---------------------------------|
|/10-8----------------------8-10--|
|------9------5h7-5-5----/9-------|
|----------5h7-----7--7-----------|
|---------------------------------|
|---------------------------------|

Am G Am G
|-8--------------8--------------8--------------12-10-12-10-12-10--------|
|---8-10-10-8-10---8-10-10-8-10---8-10-10-8-10-------------------8-8-10-|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|

Am G Am G
|-8--------------8--------------8--8------8--8------8-8------------------|
|---8-10-10-8-10---8-10-10-8-10------10-8------10-8-----8---8h10-8\\-----|
|---------------------------------------------------------9--------------|
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Am G Am G Am G Am G
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-/5--7-5---4\0------/5--7-5--4/12----/5--7-5---454\0------/5--7-5--4/12-|
|---------7-----------------7-----------------7-----------------7--------|
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Am G Am G
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------5/7\5--------5h7-5/7\5-h7--------5/7\5-------5/7--10\9---9-----|
|---5h7-5/7\5----5h7-5h7-5/7\5-h7----5h7-5/7\5---5h7-5/7--10\9---9-----|
|---5h7----------5h7-----------------5h7---------5h7-------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|

Am G Am (ritard) Fmaj7
|---------------------------------------------------------------------0---|
|----------------------------------------------6---5-----3-----\1-----1---|
|-------5/7\5--------5h7-5/7\5-------5/7\5-----7---5-----4-----\2-----2---|
|---5h7-5/7\5----5h7-5h7-5/7\5---5h7-5/7\5----------------------------3---|
|---5h7----------5h7-------------5h7----------------------------------3---|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Tunning: Standard (E A D G B e)
I Can’t Tell You Why by Eagles
Tuning:Standard Chords: Dmaj7 xx0222 : Gmaj7 3x0002
F#7sus4 x22222 : F#7 242322
A/B 02x220 : Bm x24432
G 3x0003
Intro:

e----2-2--2-------2-2--2-----------2-2--2-----------2-2--2----0-|
B----3-3--2-------3-3--2-----------3-3--2-----------3-3--2---2--|
G----4-4--2-------4-4--2-----------4-4--2--4-4------4-4--2--2---|
D----4-4--2-------4-4--2--4-4------4-4--2-----------4-4--2------|
A-2--2-2--2----2--2-2--2--------2--2-2--2--------2--2-2--2------|
E-----------------------------2----------------2----------------|

Dmaj7 Gmaj7
Look at us baby up all night tearing our love apart
Dmaj7 Gmaj7 F#7sus4 F#7
Aren't we the same two people who lived through years in the dark?

Bm A/B Gmaj7 F#7sus4 F#7
Every time I try to walk away something makes me turn around and stay
Bm A/B (B,C#,D,E,B) G F#m7
And I can't tell you why.

Dmaj7 Gmaj7
When we get crazy it just ain't right girl I get lonely too
Dmaj7 Gmaj7 F#7sus4 F#7
You don't have to worry just hold on tight 'cause I love you.
Bm A/B Gmaj7 F#7sus4 F#7
Nothing's wrong as far as I can see we make it harder than it has to be

Bm A/B
And I can't tell you why no baby
Gmaj7 F#7sus4 F#7
I can't tell you why.....
Bm A/B
I can't tell you why no baby

e------------2-2--2-------------2-2--2--------------------------------------|
B------------3-3--2-------------3-3--2--------------------------------------|
G------------4-4--2-------------4-4--2--------------4-2-4p2-----------------|
D-------2----4-4--2--------2----4-4--2--------2-2/4----------2h4-2-0-2------|
A-2-4-5---2--2-2--2--2-4-5---2--2-2--2--2-4-5-----------------------------2-|
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------3---|

e---------------------------------------------------10----------------------|
B---------7-10^-10^v-7-7-7-----10^-10^v-7-7-7-----10^-10^v-7----------------|
G-----2/7------------------9-7----------------9-7------------9---7-9-9------|v 9^
D-2-4----------------------------------------------------------9------------|
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e--------------|
B--------------|
G-v9-9^v-7h9p7-|
D--------------|
A--------------|
E--------------|

Bm A/B Gmaj7 F#7sus4 F#7
Every time I try to walk away something makes me turn around and stay
Bm A/B
And I can't tell you why. No no Baby
Gmaj7 F#7sus4 F#7
I can't tell you why.....
Bm A/B
I can't tell you why
Bm A/B
I can't tell you why
Bm A/B

e-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B------------3-5/7----------------3-5/7----------------3-5/10^v7----------|
G-----2--2-4-------7-------2--2-4-------7-------2--2-4-----------7/11-7---|
D-2-4------------------2-4------------------2-4-------------------------9-|
A-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B---------------10^-10^v-7---------------------10-12-12^v-10-12-12--10-12-|
G-7--9------7-9---------------7h9p--7-----9/11----------------------------|
D-------5/9-----------------9-----9---9-----------------------------------|
A-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------|


e-------------------------------------------12^v^v^v----------------------|
B-12^v-10-12-12--10-12-12^v-10-12-12--10-12----------10--10-12-12^v-10-12-|
G-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B-12--10-12-12^v-10-12-12--10-12-12^-12^-10-12^-12^-10-12^12^-10---10h12-|
G----------------------------------------------------------------9-------|
D------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B-10------------------------------10------------------------------10----|
G-----5/7-9-7---------7--9-7-----------7--9-7---------7--9-7------------|
D-------------9/11-7---------9/11-------------9/11-7---------9/11-------|
A-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------|

e-------------------------------------------------------------|II
B-o-----------------------------------------------8-7---------|o-II
G-------7-9-7------7-9-7-9-7------7-9-7-------7-9-----7----II-| (X3)
D---7/9--------7/9------------7/9---------7/9-----------------|II
A-o------------------------------------------------------0----|II
E-------------------------------------------------------------|II
Song info
I Cant Tell You Why
Eagles
1979
  • Rock
  • Classic Rock
  • Country Rock
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