Heroin The Velvet Underground backing track and tabs

Tunning: Standard (E A D G B e)

VELVET UNDERGROUND
Heroin

riff 1:
D G D G
|-2-------2---2-|-3-------3-----|-2-----3-2---2-|-3-------3---0-|
|-3-----3---3---|-0-----0---0---|-3---------3---|-0-----0---0---|
|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|
|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|
|---------------|-2-------------|---------------|-2-------------|
|---------------|-3-------------|---------------|-3-------------|

riff 2:
|-2----7----9---7----|
|-3----8----10--8----| listen to the song to get the timing for
|-2----7----9---7----| this part - it isn't broken up into bars
|-0------------------| here.
|--------------------|
|--------------------|

riff 1 2X

[Verse]
D G D G D G D G
I don't know just where I'm going
D G D G D<---- end of riff 1, strum
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom if I can this chord, and the
G D rest of the chords
Cos it makes me feel like I'm a man
G D
When I put a spike into my vein
G D
And I tell ya things aren't quite the same when you hit the word
G D "know" at the end of the
When I'm rushing on my run verse, the D chord marks the
G D beginning of riff 1 again,
And I feel just like Jesus' son which contintues until the

[Chorus]
G D "nullify" in the next verse.
And I guess that I just don't know this pattern continues thru
G D G D G the whole song.
And I guess that I just don't know

[Verse]
D G D G D G D
I have made a big decision
D G D G D
I'm gonna try to nullify my life
G D
Cos when the blood begins to flow
G D
And it shoots up the dropper's neck
G D
When I'm closing in on death

riff2 2X

G D
You can't help me not you guys
G D
Oh, all you sweet girls with all your sweet talk
G D
You can all go take a walk

[Chorus]
G D
And I guess that I just don't know
G D G D G
And I guess that I just don't know

[Verse]
D G D G D G D G
I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
D G D G D
I wish that I'd sailed the darkened seas
G D
On a great big clipper ship
G D
Going from this land here to that
G D
Oh, in a sailor's suit and cap

riff2 2X

G D
Away from the big city
G D
Where a man can not be free
G D
Of all the evils of this town
G D
And of himself and those around

[Chorus]
G D
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
G D G D G
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know

[Verse]
D G D G D G D G
Her_____oin, it'll be the death of me
D G D G D G
Her_____oin, it's my wife, and it's my life
G D
Because a mainline in my vein
G D
Leads to a center in my head
G D
And then I'm better off as dead

riff2 4X

G D
Cos when the smack begins to flow
G D
Oh, I really don't care anymore
G D
'Bout all the jim-jims in this town
G D
And all the politicians making crazy sounds
G D
And everybody puttin' everybody else down
G D
And all the dead bodies piled up in Nam

riff 2 4x
G D
Cos when the smack begins to flow
G D
And I really don't care anymore

riff 2 2x
G D
When that heroin is in my blood
G D
And the blood is in my head
G D
Then I thank God that I'm as good as dead
G D
And thank your God that I'm not aware
G D
And thank God that I just don't care
G D
And I guess that I just don't know
G D G D G
And I guess that I just don't know

riff1 2X

F arpeggio

Tunning: Standard (E A D G B e)

Velvet Underground
Heroin Live
Tabbed by: Miles

Only two cords used throughout the song

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

This tabs if for the live version, I think if not oh well. Guitar 1 comes in at
:04

[Intro]

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

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

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

[Verse]

I don't know just where I'm going
D G D G
e|-2-------2---2-|-3-------3-----|-2-----3-2---2-|-3-------3---0-|
B|-3-----3---3---|-0-----0---0---|-3---------3---|-0-----0---0---|
G|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|
D|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|
A|---------------|-2-------------|---------------|-2-------------|
E|---------------|-3-------------|---------------|-3-------------|

but I'm gonna try for the kingdom if I can

Strum cords, pattern that can be used: Down, Down, Up, Up, Down, Up

D G D
Cos it makes me feel like I'm a man
G D
When I put a spike into my vein

G D
And I tell ya things aren't quite the same
G D
When I'm rushing on my run
G D
And I feel just like Jesus' son

[Chorus]

G D
And I guess that I just don't know
G D
And I guess that I just don't know

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

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

[Verse]

I have made a big
D G D G
e|-2-------2---2-|-3-------3-----|-2-----3-2---2-|-3-------3---0-|
B|-3-----3---3---|-0-----0---0---|-3---------3---|-0-----0---0---|
G|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|
D|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|
A|---------------|-2-------------|---------------|-2-------------|
E|---------------|-3-------------|---------------|-3-------------|
decision

D G D G
e|-2-------2---2-|-3-------3-----|-2-----3-2---2-|-3-------3---0-|
B|-3-----3---3---|-0-----0---0---|-3---------3---|-0-----0---0---|
G|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|
D|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|
A|---------------|-2-------------|---------------|-2-------------|
E|---------------|-3-------------|---------------|-3-------------|
I'm gonna try to

Strum cords pattern that can be used Down, Down, Up, Up, Down, Up

D
Nullify my life

G D
Cos when the blood begins to flow
G D
And it shoots up the dropper's neck
G D
When I'm closing in on death

e|-----2--2--2---2---|-7----7------9----7-|
B|-----3--3--3---3---|-8----8-----10----8-|
G|-----2--2--2---2---|-7----7------9----7-|
D|-------------------|--------------------|
A|-------------------|--------------------|
E|-------------------|--------------------| x 2

1 2 and 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 (note don't play first beat)

strummed (same pattern)

D G D
You can't help me not you guys
G D
Oh, all you sweet girls with all your sweet talk
G D
You can all go take a walk

[Chorus]

G D
And I guess that I just don't know
G D
And I guess that I just don't know

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

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

[Verse]

I wish that I was

D G D G
e|-2-------2---2-|-3-------3-----|-2-----3-2---2-|-3-------3---0-|
B|-3-----3---3---|-0-----0---0---|-3---------3---|-0-----0---0---|
G|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|
D|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|
A|---------------|-2-------------|---------------|-2-------------|
E|---------------|-3-------------|---------------|-3-------------|
born a thousand years ago

D G D G
e|-2-------2---2-|-3-------3-----|-2-----3-2---2-|-3-------3---0-|
B|-3-----3---3---|-0-----0---0---|-3---------3---|-0-----0---0---|
G|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|
D|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|
A|---------------|-2-------------|---------------|-2-------------|
E|---------------|-3-------------|---------------|-3-------------|
I wish that I'd sailed the

Strummed

D
darkened seas
G D
On a great big clipper ship
G D
Going from this land here to that
G D
Oh, in a sailor's suit and cap

e|-----2--2--2---2---|-7----7------9----7-|
B|-----3--3--3---3---|-8----8-----10----8-|
G|-----2--2--2---2---|-7----7------9----7-|
D|-------------------|--------------------|
A|-------------------|--------------------|
E|-------------------|--------------------| x 2

1 2 and 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 (note don't play first beat)

Strummed

G D
Away from the big city
G D
Where a man can not be free
G D
Of all the evils of this town
G D
And of himself and those around

[Chorus]

G D
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
G D
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know

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

D G D G
e|-2-------2---2-|-3-------3-----|-2-----3-2---2-|-3-------3---0-|
B|-3-----3---3---|-0-----0---0---|-3---------3---|-0-----0---0---|
G|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|
D|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|
A|---------------|-2-------------|---------------|-2-------------|
E|---------------|-3-------------|---------------|-3-------------|
Her______________________________oin it'll be

D G D G
e|-2-------2---2-|-3-------3-----|-2-----3-2---2-|-3-------3---0-|
B|-3-----3---3---|-0-----0---0---|-3---------3---|-0-----0---0---|
G|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|
D|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|
A|---------------|-2-------------|---------------|-2-------------|
E|---------------|-3-------------|---------------|-3-------------|
the death of me

D G D G
e|-2-------2---2-|-3-------3-----|-2-----3-2---2-|-3-------3---0-|
B|-3-----3---3---|-0-----0---0---|-3---------3---|-0-----0---0---|
G|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|
D|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|
A|---------------|-2-------------|---------------|-2-------------|
E|---------------|-3-------------|---------------|-3-------------|
Her_____________________________oin it's

D G D G
e|-2-------2---2-|-3-------3-----|-2-----3-2---2-|-3-------3---0-|
B|-3-----3---3---|-0-----0---0---|-3---------3---|-0-----0---0---|
G|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|-2---2---------|-0---0---------|
D|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|-0-------------|
A|---------------|-2-------------|---------------|-2-------------|
E|---------------|-3-------------|---------------|-3-------------|
my wife and it's my life

Strummed

D G D
Because a mainline in my vein
G D
Leads to a center in my head
G D
And then I'm better off as dead

e|-----2--2--2---2---|-7----7------9----7-|
B|-----3--3--3---3---|-8----8-----10----8-|
G|-----2--2--2---2---|-7----7------9----7-|
D|-------------------|--------------------|
A|-------------------|--------------------|
E|-------------------|--------------------| x 4

1 2 and 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 (note don't play first beat)

Strummed

D G D
Cos when the smack begins to flow
G D
Oh, I really don't care anymore
G D
'Bout all the jim-jims in this town
G D
And all the politicians making crazy sounds
G D
And everybody puttin' everybody else down
G D
And all the dead bodies piled up in Nam

e|-----2--2--2---2---|-7----7------9----7-|
B|-----3--3--3---3---|-8----8-----10----8-|
G|-----2--2--2---2---|-7----7------9----7-|
D|-------------------|--------------------|
A|-------------------|--------------------|
E|-------------------|--------------------| x 4

1 2 and 3 4 | 1 2 3 4

Strummed

D G D
Cos when the smack begins to flow
G D
And I really don't care anymore

e|-----2--2--2---2---|-7----7------9----7-|
B|-----3--3--3---3---|-8----8-----10----8-|
G|-----2--2--2---2---|-7----7------9----7-|
D|-------------------|--------------------|
A|-------------------|--------------------|
E|-------------------|--------------------| x 2

Strummed
D G D
When that heroin is in my blood
G D
And the blood is in my head
G D
Then I thank God that I'm as good as dead
G D
And thank your God that I'm not aware
G D
And thank God that I just don't care
G D
And I guess that I just don't know

G
And I guess that I just don't

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

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

F arpeggio if you want

Tunning: Standard (E A D G B e)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEROIN - Velvet Underground
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tabbed by: Ben Aitken
Email: ben.j.aitken@gmail.com

Tuning: 1/2 step down (EbAbDbGbBbEb)

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

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

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

0:30
e|--2----------2-----2-------------0-----0--2--------3--2-----2---------------0----0h2-|
B|--3-----3-------------0-----0-------------3-----3--------------0-------0---------3---|
G|--2--2----------2-----0--0----------0-----2--2-----------2-----0----0------------2---|
D|--0-------------------0-------------------0--------------------0-----------------0---|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

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

e|--2--------3--2-----2----------0-------------0h2----------2-----2---------------0----2-|
B|--3-----3--------------0-------0----0-----0--3-------3-------------0-------0---------3-|
G|--2--2-----------2-----0----0----------0-----2----2----------2-----0----0------------2-|
D|--0--------------------0---------------------0---------------------0-----------------0-|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

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

Repeat with variations for verse (Fig. 1)
e|--2------------2-----2---------------------0--2--------3--2-----2---------------------0--|
B|--3-------3-------------0-------0----0--------3-----3--------------0-------0----0--------|
G|--2----2----------2-----0----0----------0-----2--2-----------2-----0----0----------0-----|
D|--0---------------------0---------------------0--------------------0---------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

"'Cause it makes me feel like a man..." (Fig. 2)
e|--------2-----------2--2------------------------|
B|--3-----3-----------3--3--0-----0-----0----0----|
G|--2-----2-----------2--2--0-----0-----0----0----|
D|--0-----0-----------0--0--0-----0-----0----0----|
A|------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------|

Repeat Fig. 1 w/ variations for verse, Fig. 2 w/ variations for chorus

After "closing in on death"
e|--2----2--------2--7-----9----7----2----2--------2--7-----9----7----|
B|--3----3--------3--8----10----8----3----3--------3--8----10----8----|
G|--2----2--------2--7-----9----7----2----2--------2--7-----9----7----|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------|

After "all the dead bodies piled up in mounds"
e|--7----7-----9----7----2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--------------------------|
B|--8----8----10----8----3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--|
G|--7----7-----9----7----2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--|
D|-----------------------0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
Repeat second part until after "and I guess I just don't know", then Fig. 1 until end

************************************

| h Hammer-on

************************************

Tunning: Standard (E A D G B e)

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE--------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the#
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research.#
#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------#
#-- File created with Instab - http://www.pconline.com/~smcarey/instab.html --#
#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------#

Author/Artist: Velvet Underground
Title: Heroin

A Arpeggio

Tuning (c# A D f# a d), Down ~ 10%, (c#, D) Down ~ 20%
Live Standard Tuning, Down ~ 10%, (E, D) Down ~ 20%
Key: (D + C#)

----|-------------|--|----------------------------|--|
----|-------------|--|-8----------------4---------|--|
----|-------------|--|-7----------------4---------|--|
----|-------------|--|-6----------------4---------|2x|
----|-4--4--4--4--|--|---4-4-4-4-4-4-4----4-4-4---|--|
----|-------------|--|----------------------------|--|

Intro A A

----|-----------------------------------------------------------|
----|-8-------8---8-4-------4---4--8------9-8---8--4----4-4---4-|
----|-7----7----7---4----4---------7---7------7----4------------|
----|-6--6----------4--4------4----6-6-------------4--4-----4---|
----|-----------------------------------------------------------|
----|-----------------------------------------------------------|

Verse A A A

----|---------|
----|-8--9----|
----|-7--7----|
----|-6--8----|
----|-4--9----|
----|---------|

Chorus

----|--------------------------|
----|-8--8--8-8--9-9--9--11-9--|
----|-7--7--7-7--7-7--7--9--7--|
----|-6--6--6-6--8-8--8--10-8--|
----|-4--4--4-4--9-9--9--11-9--|
----|--------------------------|

Chorus Pt.2