Touch Of Grey Chords & Tabs
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---------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/g/grateful_dead/touch_of_grey_tab_ver_3.html ]
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!
************************************
| / slide up
| \ slide down
| h hammer-on
| p pull-off
| v vibrato
| + harmonic
| x Mute note
| B Bend
************************************
