Touch of Grey
Grateful Dead
In the Dark
1987
Tabbed by: Chad Stobbie
Email: cstobbie@iastate.edu
Tuning: Standard. No capo needed.
[Intro]
Chord progression is A E A E B F# B. Repeat a few times.
I prefer to use power chords for the B and the F# because
it's much easier and pretty much sounds the same. You don't
have to if you don't want, though.
e|-----0---0-----0---0-------------------------|
B|--2--0---0--2--0---0-------------------------|
G|--2--1---1--2--1---1--4--3---3---4--3---3----|
D|--2--2---2--2--2---2--4--4---4---4--4---4----|
A|--0--2-2-2--0--2-2-2--2--4---4---2--4---4----|
E|-------------------------2-2-2------2-2-2----|
[Verse 1]
Chord progression is B F# B E A E for the first line and then
F# B E for the second line. Repeat that for the third and fourth
lines. The chords are the same for all 4 verses, so all the verse
tabs are the same except for lyrics, I just included them all to
make it extra easy. Just know you only have to learn this once.
Lyrics are not exactly lined up, but close.
0:18
e|-------------------------------------0-------------------------0--|
B|-------------------------------------0--------------------2----0--|
G|---4-----------------------3----4----1--------------------2----1--|
D|---4-----------------------4----4----2--------------------2----2--|
A|-2-2-----------------------4--2-2----2------------------0-0--2-2--|
E|-------------------------2-2--------------------------------------|
It must be getting early, clocks are running late
0:25
e|----------------------------------------0-------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------0-------------------------|
G|---3--------------------------------4---1-------------------------|
D|---4--------------------------------4---2-------------------------|
A|---4------------------------------2-2---2-------------------------|
E|-2-2--------------------------------------------------------------|
Paint-by-number morning sky, looks so phony
0:30
e|------------------------------------0---------------------------0-|
B|------------------------------------0-----------------2---------0-|
G|---4-------------------3-----4------1-----------------2---------1-|
D|---4-------------------4-----4------2-----------------2---------2-|
A|-2-2-------------------4---2-2------2---------------0-0-------2-2-|
E|---------------------2-2------------------------------------------|
Dawn is breaking everywhere, light a candle, curse the glare
0:36
e|------------------------------------------------0-----------------|
B|------------------------------------------------0-----------------|
G|---3-----------------------------4--------------1-----------------|
D|---4-----------------------------4--------------2-----------------|
A|---4---------------------------2-2--------------2-----------------|
E|-2-2--------------------------------------------------------------|
Draw the curtains, I don't care 'cause, it's alright
[Chorus]
Chord progression is F# B E for the first two lines and then
F# B A E F# for the third line. You won't be able to play the first F#
on the second and third lines due to the riff overlapping with it. It still
sounds fine.
0:43 This part is hard to hear, listen carefully
e|---------------------0----------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------0----------------------------------------------------|
G|---3-----4-----------1----------------------------------------------------|
D|---4-----4-----------2----------------------------------------------------|
A|---4---2-2-----------2----------0-1-2---------2---------------------------|
E|-2-2-------------------------/4-------0-2-3-4---4-0-2---------------------|
I will get by
0:49
e|---------------------0----------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------0----------------------------------------------------|
G|---------4-----------1----------------------------------------------------|
D|---------4-----------2----------------------------------------------------|
A|-------2-2-----------2----------0-1-2---------2---------------------------|
E|-----------------------------/4-------0-2-3-4---4-0-2---------------------|
I will get by
0:55 Same as intro riff
e|--------------------------0-------------0---0-----0---0-------------------|
B|---------------------2----0----------2--0---0--2--0---0-------------------|
G|---------4-----------2----1----3-----2--1---1--2--1---1--4-3---3--4-3---3-|
D|---------4-----------2----2----4-----2--2---2--2--2---2--2-4---4--2-4---4-|
A|-------2-2---------0-0--2-2----4-----0--2-2-2--0--2-2-2--2-4---4--2-4---4-|
E|-----------------------------2-2---------------------------2-2-2----2-2-2-|
I will get by I Will survive
[Verse 2]
1:06
e|-------------------------------------0-------------------------0--|
B|-------------------------------------0--------------------2----0--|
G|---4-----------------------3----4----1--------------------2----1--|
D|---4-----------------------4----4----2--------------------2----2--|
A|-2-2-----------------------4--2-2----2------------------0-0--2-2--|
E|-------------------------2-2--------------------------------------|
I see you've got your list out say your piece and get out
1:13
e|-----------------------------------0------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------0------------------------------|
G|---3-----------------------4-------1------------------------------|
D|---4-----------------------4-------2------------------------------|
A|---4---------------------2-2-------2------------------------------|
E|-2-2--------------------------------------------------------------|
Yes I get the gist of it, but it's alright
1:19
e|------------------------------------0---------------------------0-|
B|------------------------------------0-----------------2---------0-|
G|---4--------------------3----4------1-----------------2---------1-|
D|---4--------------------4----4------2-----------------2---------2-|
A|-2-2--------------------4--2-2------2---------------0-0-------2-2-|
E|----------------------2-2-----------------------------------------|
Sorry that you feel that way the only thing there is to say
1:25
e|------------------------------------0-----------------------------|
B|------------------------------------0-----------------------------|
G|---3------------------------4-------1-----------------------------|
D|---4------------------------2-------2-----------------------------|
A|---4----------------------2-2-------2-----------------------------|
E|-2-2--------------------------------------------------------------|
Every silver lining's got a touch of grey
[Chorus 2]
Same as the first
[Bridge]
The guitar part is very quiet, keep listening and you'll get it.
1:54
e|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---2-4vvv----2vvv-----1vvv-------------2---4vv---2vv-4-2----1vv-------------|
E|-4---------------------------------2-4--------------------------------------|
It's a lesson to me the Ables and the Bakers and the C's
2:07
e|-------------------------------------------------0--------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------0--------------------------|
G|------------6vv-------6---------3-----4----------1-------------3----4-4-4-3-|
D|-/6vvv--4vv-------4-4-----------4-----4----------2-------------4----4-4-4-4-|
A|--------------------------------4-----2----------2-------------2----2-2-2-4-|
E|--------------------------------2------------------------------2----------2-|
The ABC's we all must face, and try to keep a little grace
[Solo]
It's easiest to learn it broken up into little sections. I have done that for you.
I am very confident that this is accurate; it sounds perfect when I play it.
2:19 2:22
e|---------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
B|-12---------12----11----11-12-12-|---------------9-10---10-9--------------------------|
G|----11---11----11----11----------|----9---9-11-9--------------------------------------|
D|-------9-------------------------|-/9---9---------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
2:25 2:28
e|---------------------------------11vvv-|-------12--12-11-12-14p12-12p11----------11---|
B|-----------------11--12p11-12-14-------|--------------------------------14-12-14------|
G|-----11----11-13-----------------------|-11/13----------------------------------------|
D|-/11----11-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
2:31 2:34
e|-11-------11------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
B|----14-12----14-11----11-12-14-12---|----------9-------9---10-9-10-12-9---------------|
G|-------------------11---------------|------------9---9---9----------------------------|
D|------------------------------------|-/13-11-9-----9----------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
2:37 2:40
e|-----------------14----------------------11-|-------12-------14-------16----16--------|
B|--------11-12-11----14-12vvv-12-11-12-14----|-----------------------------------------|
G|-----11-------------------------------------|-11/13----13/14----14/16----16-----------|
D|-/11----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
2:43 2:47 very fast slide
e|-------------------------------11------12vvv--|--11/12-11-9---------------------------|
B|----11----11-12-14-12p11-12-14------12--------|-------------12-11---------------------|
G|-11----11-------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
2:49 2:53
e|----------------------------11----12vvv--|-11/12-11-9---------------------------------|
B|-------12-------12----12-14----12--------|------------12-11---------------------------|
G|----11-------11----11--------------------|--------------------------------------------|
D|-11-------11-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
2:56 2:58
e|--------------------------11-|--------------------------------------------------------|
B|-11-12-14-----12p11-12-14----|-12-14--------12--------11--------11-12-11--------------|
G|-----------------------------|-------14--------13--------11--------------13-11--------|
D|-----------------------------|----------14--------14--------11------------------------|
A|-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
3:01 3:04
e|--------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
B|-9-------9---10-9-10-10-9-|--------11-12----11-12----12-12-12-11----------------------|
G|---9---9---9--------------|-----11-------11-------11----------------------------------|
D|-----9--------------------|-/11-------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
[Bridge 2]
3:07
e|---4-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---5-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---6-------------------3-----------------------------------------------------3-----------------|
D|---6-------------------4----------------/6vvv--------------------------------4-----------------|
A|-4-4-------------------4---------11-9-7--------------------------------------4-----------------|
E|---------------------2-2-----/12-------------------------------------------2-2-----------------|
It's a lesson to me The Deltas and the East and the Freeze
3:18
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------6------------4-3vvv-------------------------------------------------------|
D|---4-5-6vvv------4/6------------4---------------------------------------4--4---4vv-4-3-2-1-----|
A|-6------------6--------------------------------6vvv---------------0-1-2------2-------------2vv-|
E|-------------------------------------------6/8-----------------/4------------------------------|
The ABC's we all think of and try to win a little love
[Verse 3]
The previous riff overlaps with the first B on the first line.
3:31
e|------------------------------------0-------------------------0----|
B|------------------------------------0--------------------2----0----|
G|---4----------------------3----4----1--------------------2----1----|
D|---4----------------------4----4----2--------------------2----2----|
A|-2-2----------------------4--2-2----2------------------0-0--2-2----|
E|------------------------2-2----------------------------------------|
I know the rent is in arrears the dog has not been fed in years
3:37
e|-----------------------------------------0------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------0------------------------|
G|---3-----------------------4-------------1------------------------|
D|---4-----------------------4-------------2------------------------|
A|---4---------------------2-2-------------2------------------------|
E|-2-2--------------------------------------------------------------|
It's even worse than it appears, but its alright
3:43
e|------------------------------------0---------------------------0-|
B|------------------------------------0-----------------2---------0-|
G|---4-------------------3-----4------1-----------------2---------1-|
D|---4-------------------4-----4------2-----------------2---------2-|
A|-2-2-------------------4---2-2------2---------------0-0-------2-2-|
E|---------------------2-2------------------------------------------|
Cow is giving kerosene kid can't read at seventeen
3:49
e|----------------------------------------------0-------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------0-------------------|
G|---3------------------------4-----------------1-------------------|
D|---4------------------------2-----------------2-------------------|
A|---4----------------------2-2-----------------2-------------------|
E|-2-2--------------------------------------------------------------|
The words he knows are all obscene, but it's alright
[Chorus 3]
Same as the first 2
[Verse 4]
4:19
e|-------------------------------------0-------------------------0------|
B|-------------------------------------0--------------------2----0------|
G|---4-----------------------3----4----1--------------------2----1------|
D|---4-----------------------4----4----2--------------------2----2------|
A|-2-2-----------------------4--2-2----2------------------0-0--2-2------|
E|-------------------------2-2------------------------------------------|
The shoe is on the hand it fits there's really nothing much to it
4:25
e|-----------------------------------------------0----------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------0----------------------|
G|---3-----------------------4-------------------1----------------------|
D|---4-----------------------4-------------------2----------------------|
A|---4---------------------2-2-------------------2----------------------|
E|-2-2------------------------------------------------------------------|
Whistle through your teeth and spit, cause' it's alright
4:31
e|------------------------------------0---------------------------0-----|
B|------------------------------------0-----------------2---------0-----|
G|---4-------------------3-----4------1-----------------2---------1-----|
D|---4-------------------4-----4------2-----------------2---------2-----|
A|-2-2-------------------4---2-2------2---------------0-0-------2-2-----|
E|---------------------2-2----------------------------------------------|
Oh, well, a touch of grey kind of suits you anyway
4:37
e|----------------------------------------0-----------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------0-----------------------------|
G|---3------------------------4-----------1-----------------------------|
D|---4------------------------2-----------2-----------------------------|
A|---4----------------------2-2-----------2-----------------------------|
E|-2-2------------------------------------------------------------------|
And that was all I had to say, and it's alright
[Chorus 4]
Similar to the first 3. On the transition from "I will get by" to
"We will get by" strum the F# 4 times loudly (its very obvious). After that
the song begins to fade out. Here's how I like to end it: wait for the last
audible chorus riff at 5:40, play it, but without the last note, then very
quickly transition to the intro riff, play that a twice, and end on a B.
Like so:
5:40
e|--------------------------0---0----0---0----------------------0---0----0---0---------------------|
B|------------------------2-0---0--2-0---0--------------------2-0---0--2-0---0---------------------|
G|------------------------2-1---1--2-1---1--4-3---3--4-3---3--2-1---1--2-1---1--4-3---3--4-3---3--4|
D|------------------------2-2---2--2-2---2--4-4---4--4-4---4--2-2---2--2-2---2--4-4---4--4-4---4--4|
A|----0-1-2---------2-----0-2-2-2--0-2-2-2--2-4---4--2-4---4--0-2-2-2--0-2-2-2--2-4---4--2-4---4--2|
E|-/4-------0-2-3-4---4-0---------------------2-2-2----2-2-2----------------------2-2-2----2-2-2---|
And you're done!
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| p Pull-off
| / Slide up
| v Vibrato
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