I Want It That Way Tab by Backstreet Boys

I Want It That Way tab by Backstreet Boys

Guitar Tab

Artists:	Backstreet Boys
Album:		Millennium
Song:		"I Want It That Way"

Capo on 2nd fret.  This is a good song for the most part.  I don't
"love" the Backstreet Boys but some of their music is okay.

I fit the tab to a normal sized piece of paper in size 9 Courier New.
Any gripes, complaints, or even complements, send to:
guitarguy69@yahoo.com.

Note: Verse 2 and 2nd Verse are different things, just like Post-Chorus
2 and 2nd Post-Chorus.  Notation at very bottom.

🎸

Accuracy Rating: - Votes: -


Intro / Verse:

Riff A:
(Vocal Patterns at Bottom)
Play 5 times
   Em (F#m*)       Em6 (F#m6*)     C (D*)           G (A*)
e|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
B|-------0-----0-|---1-p-0-------|-----------1---|----------3----|
G|----------0----|----------0----|------0--------|-------0-----0-|
D|----2----------|---------------|---------------|----0----------|
A|---------------|---------------|-3-------------|---------------|
E|-0-------------|---------------|---------------|-3-------------|

1st time:

Then play first Pre-Chorus.

2nd time (also play Rhy. Fig. 1 three times on Guitar II):

** = Lyrics are sung at the end of the Pre/Post-Chrous just before.
Then play second Pre-Chorus.

Rhy. Fig. 1
   Em (F#m*)       Em (F#m*)       C (D*)           G (A*)
e|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
B|-0----0----0---|-0----0----0---|-1----1----1---|-3----3----3---|
G|-0----0----0---|-0----0----0---|-0----0----0---|-0----0----0---|
D|-2----2----2---|-2----2----2---|-2----2----2---|-0----0----0---|
A|-2----2----2---|-2----2----2---|-3----3----3---|-2----2----2---|
E|-0----0----0---|-0----0----0---|---------------|-3----3----3---|

3rd time (also play Rhy. Fig. 2 three times on Guitar II):

Then play second Post-Chorus.


Pre/Post-Chorus:

Riff B
Play 1 time
   Em (F#m*)       Em6 (F#m6*)     C (D*)           G (A*)
e|-0-------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
B|-0-----0-----0-|---1-p-0-------|-1-------------|-3-------------|
G|-0--------0----|----------0----|-0-------------|-0-------------|
D|-2-------------|---------------|-2-------------|-0-------------|
A|-2-------------|---------------|-3-------------|-2-------------|
E|-0-------------|---------------|---------------|-3-------------|

1st time:
 "I           want       ...

Pre:	Then play Verse 2nd Time.
Post:	Then play third Verse (play only Rhy. Fig. 1, and play it once).

2nd time:
 "I           want       ...

Pre:	Then play first Chorus (play Rhy. Fig. 1 also with Riff B).
Post:  Then play first Chorus.

Post-Chorus 2:

Rhy. Fig. 2
   Em (F#m*)       Em (F#m*)       B5 (C#5*)       B5 (C#5*)
e|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
B|-0----0----0---|-0----0----0---|---------------|---------------|
G|-0----0----0---|-0----0----0---|-4-------------|-4-------------|
D|-2----2----2---|-2----2----2---|-4-------------|-4-------------|
A|-2----2----2---|-2----2----2---|-2-------------|-2-------------|
E|-0----0----0---|-0----0----0---|---------------|---------------|

1wt time (for Post-Chorus 2):
 "I           want       ....

Then play Bridge.

Chorus:

Rhy. Fig. 3
Play 3 times
   C (D*)           C (D*)         Em (F#m*)        G (A*)
e|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
B|-----------1-1-|--1--1--1--1---|-0----0----0---|-3----3----3---|
G|-----------0-0-|--0--0--0--0---|-0----0----0---|-0----0----0---|
D|-----------2-2-|--2--2--2--2---|-2----2----2---|-0----0----0---|
A|-----------3-3-|--3--3--3--3---|-2----2----2---|-2----2----2---|
E|---------------|---------------|-0----0----0---|-3----3----3---|

1st time:

Then play first Post-Chorus.

After second time playing Chorus, play Post-Chorus 2.



Bridge (Play after Post-Chorus 2):

   Em (F#m*)        Em7 (F#m7*)     C (D*)          C (D*)
e|-0----0--------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
B|-0-------------|--------3------|--------1------|---------------|
G|-0-------0-----|-----0------0--|-----0---------|---------------|
D|-2-------------|--2------------|---------------|--2----0-------|
A|---------------|---------------|--3------------|---------------|
E|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|

Then there is a break, still singing (the parenthesis denote Fill 1
played with the lyrics inside):
   "You are my fire.  The one desire.  (You are), You are, You are, You
are."

Fill 1
   Em (F#m*)
e|---------------|
B|---------------|
G|-----0---------|
D|-2-------------|
A|---------------|
E|---------------|

Then play Fill 2.


Fill 2 (Two Guitars):

   Em (F#m*)       Em6 (F#m6*)     A (B*)          A (B*)
e|-0-------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
B|-0-----0-----0-|---1-p-0-------|---------------|---------------|
G|-0--------0----|----------0----|-2-------------|---------------|
D|-2--2----------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
A|-2-------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
E|-0-------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
 |                                                               |
 |                                                               |
 | Em (F#m*)       Em6 (F#m6*)     A (B*)          A (B*)        |
e|------------3--|--------7------|-5-------------|---------------|
B|-5-------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
G|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
D|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
A|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
E|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|

                                     Don't wanna' hear you say,

Then play Chorus 2 [Change keys (Em - F#m)].



Chorus 2:

Rhy. Fig. 4
Play 3 times
   D (E*)           D (E*)         F#m (G#m*)      A (B*)
e|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
B|-----------3-3-|--3--3--3--3---|-2----2----2---|-2----2----2---|
G|-----------2-2-|--2--2--2--2---|-2----2----2---|-2----2----2---|
D|-----------0-0-|--0--0--0--0---|-4----4----4---|-2----2----2---|
A|---------------|---------------|-4----4----4---|-0----0----0---|
E|---------------|---------------|-2----2----2---|---------------|

1st time:

Then play Post-Chorus 3.


Post-Chorus 3:

Rhy. Fig. 5
   F#m (G#m*)       F#m (G#m*)     D (E*)          A (B*)
e|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
B|-2----2----2---|-2----2----2---|-3----3----3---|-2----2----2---|
G|-2----2----2---|-2----2----2---|-2----2----2---|-2----2----2---|
D|-4----4----4---|-4----4----4---|-0----0----0---|-2----2----2---|
A|-4----4----4---|-4----4----4---|---------------|-0----0----0---|
E|-2----2----2---|-2----2----2---|---------------|---------------|

1st time:
  "I           want       ...

2nd time:
  "I           want      ...

Then play Chorus 2, then Post-Chorus 3, then Chorus 2 again, then Rhy.
Fig. 6.


Rhy. Fig. 6

   F#m (G#m*)                      D (E*)          A (B*)
e|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
B|-2-------------|---------------|-3-------------|-2-------------|
G|-2-------------|---------------|-2-------------|-2-------------|
D|-4-------------|---------------|-0-------------|-2-------------|
A|-4-------------|---------------|---------------|-0-------------|
E|-2-------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|

1st time:
  "I           want       ...

Then play Rhy. Fig. 7 to end the song.


Rhy. Fig. 7

   F#m (G#m*)       F#m (G#m*)     D (E*)          A (B*)
e|---------------|-2---5---------|---------------|-5-------------|
B|-2-------------|---------------|-5-------------|-5-------------|
G|-2-------------|---------------|-4-------------|-2-------------|
D|-4-------------|----------4----|-2-------------|---------------|
A|-4-------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
E|-2-------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|

1st time:
  "I           want       ...

* = What chord is implied by tonality.





Vocal Patterns:

Before now I've never been able to do this (voice - guitar) but now I
attempting.  Vocals are not to the song rhythm.

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

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

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

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

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

e|---------------|------------------------------|
B|------0--3---3-|--3---1---1-----1-------------|
G|--0------------|-------------------0-------0--|
D|---------------|-----------------------4------|
A|---------------|------------------------------|
E|---------------|------------------------------|

e|---------------|------------------------------|
B|------0--3---3-|--3---1---1-----1-------------|
G|--0------------|-------------------0-------0--|
D|---------------|-----------------------4------|
A|---------------|------------------------------|
E|---------------|------------------------------|



e|---------------|--------------------------------|
B|---------------|--3---1---1---1-----------------|
G|--0------0-----|-----------------0--------0---0-|
D|------2--------|---------------------4----------|
A|---------------|--------------------------------|
E|---------------|--------------------------------|

e|---------------|---------------|
B|-------------0-|---------------|
G|------0--------|--2----0-------|
D|-2-------------|---------------|
A|---------------|---------------|
E|---------------|---------------|
  "I   want    ...

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

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

e|---------------|------------------------------|
B|------0--3---3-|--3---1---1-------------------|
G|--0------------|----------------0----------0--|
D|---------------|--------------------4--4------|
A|---------------|------------------------------|
E|---------------|------------------------------|

e|---------------|------------------------------|
B|------0--3---3-|--3---1---1-------------------|
G|--0------------|----------------0----------0--|
D|---------------|--------------------4--4------|
A|---------------|------------------------------|
E|---------------|------------------------------|

e|---------------|--------------------------------|
B|---------------|--3---1---1---------------------|
G|--0------0-----|--------------2--0--------0---2-|
D|------2--------|---------------------4----------|
A|---------------|--------------------------------|
E|---------------|--------------------------------|

e|------3--------|---------------|
B|-5-----------0-|--0----0-------|
G|------0--------|---------------|
D|-2-------------|---------------|
A|---------------|---------------|
E|---------------|---------------|

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

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

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

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


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

e|---------------|---------------|
B|---------------|------------3-0|
G|-----0-------0-|-----2---0-----|
D|-2-------2-----|-4-------------|
A|---------------|---------------|
E|---------------|---------------|
                             &
e|---------------|-5-----3---5---|
B|---5-----5--5--|---------------|
G|---------------|---------------|
D|---------------|---------------|
A|---------------|---------------|
E|---------------|---------------|

& = Carry this note into next measures.





e|---------------|---------------|---------------|
B|---5-----5--5--|---------------|---2-----------|
G|---------------|--2---2---4----|---------------|
D|---------------|---------------|---------------|
A|---------------|---------------|---------------|
E|---------------|---------------|---------------|

e|---------------|---------------|---------------|
B|---5-----5--5--|---------------|---2-----------|
G|---------------|--2---2---4----|---------------|
D|---------------|---------------|---------------|
A|---------------|---------------|---------------|
E|---------------|---------------|---------------|

e|---------------|---------------|---------------|
B|---5-----5--5--|---------------|---2-----------|
G|---------------|-2---2--4----4-|---------------|
D|---------------|---------------|---------------|
A|---------------|---------------|---------------|
E|---------------|---------------|---------------|

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

e|---------------|------------------------------|
B|------2--5---5-|--5-----3---3-----------------|
G|--2------------|-----------------2--2--1---2--|
D|---------------|------------------------------|
A|---------------|------------------------------|
E|---------------|------------------------------|

e|---------------|------------------------------|
B|--5---2---5--5-|--5-----3--3------------------|
G|---------------|----------------2---2--1---2--|
D|---------------|------------------------------|
A|---------------|------------------------------|
E|---------------|------------------------------|

e|---------------|--------------------------------|
B|---------------|--5---3---3---------------------|
G|--2-------2----|--------------4--2---1----1---2-|
D|------4--------|--------------------------------|
A|---------------|--------------------------------|
E|---------------|--------------------------------|

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

e|---------------|------------------------------|
B|------2--5---5-|--5-----3---3-----------------|
G|--2------------|-----------------2--2--1---2--|
D|---------------|------------------------------|
A|---------------|------------------------------|
E|---------------|------------------------------|

e|---------------|------------------------------|
B|---------------|--5-----3--3------------------|
G|---------------|----------------2---2--1---2--|
D|---------------|------------------------------|
A|---------------|------------------------------|
E|---------------|------------------------------|

e|---------------|--------------------------------|
B|---------------|--5---3---3---------------------|
G|--2-------2----|--------------4--2---1----1---2-|
D|------4--------|--------------------------------|
A|---------------|--------------------------------|
E|---------------|--------------------------------|

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

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

Fin

This took me 2 or 3 days.  I thought it would be nice to do a new song.
 If there are any problems in this document, or you have a request of a
song you would like tabbed (I'll try to do it), please email me at:
guitarguy69@yahoo.com

Backstreet Boys tabs for I want it that way

What is this?

Learn how to play "I Want It That Way" by Backstreet Boys with our easy-to-follow guide. Build confidence, sharpen your technique, and enjoy playing guitar.

Who Is This Page For?

This guitar tabs tutorial for "I Want It That Way" by Backstreet Boys is crafted for all musicians players ready to learn and grow. Whether you're just starting or refining your skills, this guide meets you where you are.

Why This Page Is Perfect for You

No matter your skill level, this page is a valuable resource for improving your guitar tab playing.

What You Will Gain

By using our guitar tabs, you’ll not only learn to play "I Want It That Way" by Backstreet Boys with accuracy and style, but you'll also elevate your overall musicianship. Explore our full archive of guitar tabs for more songs, skills, and inspiration.

Other versions of I Want It That Way by Backstreet Boys

Find guitar tabs and chords

[ Privacy | About us ]

×