If Only tab by Tara Maclean

Tabs

Song Title: If Only
Artist: Tara MacLean
Album: If You See Me (1997)

Transcribed By: Laura
Contact Email: [email protected]

Tuning: C#C# F#F# A#A# F#F# A#A# C#C#
Capo: 4th fret

This is my first attempt at 'tabbing' so please don't be too mean if its
wrong! And so far I its the only tab I have ever seen of this song, so
it is all mine! It's also very rough, I haven't listened to the song
all that closely yet, but play around with this and it *should* be
fine. I've aligned some of the lyrics with the tab so you get an idea
of the bits I'm talking about, so I hope that doesn't wreck the
formatting!

I saw a video of Tara playing this with a capo on the fourth fret, so I
think the tuning's right...

It's not a hard song to play, its just the timing at times you have to watch
out for - just listen to the recording.

Intro: (this is played twice)

C#C#|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#A#|---------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3-----3--0-|
F#F#|------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0-------------|
A#A#|------------3-----------------3-----------------0--------3--------0-------|
F#F#|--0-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#C#|---------------------4-----------------2----------------------------------|

For the verses, its just the same as the intro:

ie:
       "...Old ballet shoes tossed in the corner..."
C#C#|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#A#|---------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3-----3--0-|
F#F#|------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0-------------|
A#A#|------------3-----------------3-----------------0--------3--------0-------|
F#F#|--0-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#C#|---------------------4-----------------2----------------------------------|


      "... I put my ...........," (etc - nice and easy!)
C#C#|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#A#|---------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3-----3--0-|
F#F#|------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0-------------|
A#A#|------------3-----------------3-----------------0--------3--------0-------|
F#F#|--0-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#C#|---------------------4-----------------2----------------------------------|

Then when it gets to the chorus bits ("If only I could see past myself..."):


   "...If only       I could       see  past myself, these..."
C#C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#A#|--------1--------1--------0--------0--------1--------1--------0--------0-|
F#F#|-----0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0----|
A#A#|--1--------3--------0--------3--------1--------3--------0--------3-------|
F#F#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|


     "...ankles .................,"
C#C#|---------------------------------------|
A#A#|--------1--------1--------0--------0---|
F#F#|-----0--------0--------0--------0------|
A#A#|--1--------3--------0--------3---------|
F#F#|---------------------------------------|
C#C#|---------------------------------------|

(I don't think this bit's right, partly coz its awkward to play! - its
pretty hard to hear on my recording so I can't be sure about
it... Email me ([email protected]) if you find a better way to play
this bit!)

C#C#|----------------------------------------|
A#A#|----------------------------------------|
F#F#|----------------------------------------|
A#A#|-----0-h5-----0-h5-----0-h5-----0-h5----|
F#F#|--2--------2--------2--------2----------|
C#C#|----------------------------------------|


"...And the older I get,       the more      things............."
C#C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#A#|--------1--------1--------0--------0--------1--------1--------0--------0-|
F#F#|-----0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0----|
A#A#|--1--------3--------0--------3--------1--------3--------0--------3-------|
F#F#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|


    "...to blame..."
C#C#|--------------------------------------------------------|
A#A#|--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--|
F#F#|-----0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0-----|
A#A#|-----------------------------0--------3--------0--------|
F#F#|--0-----------------------------------------------------|
C#C#|-----------4--------2-----------------------------------|


(here's where the timing's a bit different)
  "...same old God,
  ...same old prayer,
  ...I keep repeating myself,"
C#C#|---------------------------------------------------|
A#A#|--------3-----------3-----------3--------3-----3---|
F#F#|-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--------0------------|
A#A#|-----------------------------------0--------3------|
F#F#|--0------------------------------------------------|
C#C#|--------------4-----------2------------------------|


   "... but I'm ............."
C#C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#A#|--------3-----------3-----------3--------3-----3--------3--------3------3|
F#F#|-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--------0--------------0--------0----------|
A#A#|-----------------------------------0--------3--------------3---------0---|
F#F#|--0----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#C#|--------------4-----------2-----------------------2----------------------|


Instrumental interlude (same as intro)

C#C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#A#|--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3-|
F#F#|-----0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0----|
A#A#|-----------3-----------------3-----------------0--------3--------0-------|x2
F#F#|--0----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#C#|--------------------4-----------------2----------------------------------|


then into the second verse then chorus. Then it goes into her 'If only I'
bit:

    "If only I -------------"
C#C#|---------------------------------------------------|
A#A#|--------1--------3-----1--------0--------3-----0---|
F#F#|-----0--------0--------------0--------0------------| x6
A#A#|--1--------3--------1-----0--------3--------0------|
F#F#|---------------------------------------------------|
C#C#|---------------------------------------------------|


   "Keep talking to that same old God"
C#C#|---------------------------------------------------|
A#A#|--------3-----------3-----------3--------3-----3---|
F#F#|-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--------0------------|
A#A#|-----------------------------------0--------3------| x3
F#F#|--0------------------------------------------------|
C#C#|--------------4-----------2------------------------|


C#C#|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#A#|-------3-----------3-----------3--------3-----3--------3--------3------3|
F#F#|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--------0--------------0--------0----------|
A#A#|----------------------------------0--------3--------------3---------0---|
F#F#|-0----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#C#|-------------4-----------2-----------------------2----------------------|


   "If only I --------"
C#C#|---------------------------------------------------|
A#A#|--------1--------3-----1--------0--------3-----0---|
F#F#|-----0--------0--------------0--------0------------| x7
A#A#|--1--------3--------1-----0--------3--------0------|
F#F#|---------------------------------------------------|
C#C#|---------------------------------------------------|


   "Keep talking to that same old God"
C#C#|----------------------------------|
A#A#|--------3-----------3-------------|
F#F#|-----0-----0-----0-----0----------|
A#A#|----------------------------------|
F#F#|--0-------------------------------|
C#C#|--------------4-----------2-------|


Whew! There you go! I hope there aren't *too* many dodgy bits in there!
Please keep in mind that it is my first tab (I'm pretty proud of
myself :)) and email me back any comments or suggestions, coz I love
this song and I'd love it if anyone has a more accurate
tab... anyways, have fun with it!