Richie Havens - I Cant Make It Anymore Chords & Tabs

I CAN’T MAKE IT ANYMORE


This is my interpretation of Richie Haven’s version, based mainly on watching the
Woodstock footage, listening to the song and a huge interest in the music. Richie’s DVD (The
Guitar Style of Richie Havens) is available on his website and would be a great help and
source of inspiration to anyone who wants to learn about his style and incorporate it into
their own playing. You may never play like Richie but you can emulate the sounds he makes.

Playing in Open ‘D’

At first glance some of Richie’s chord fingerings look very difficult as barring with
the thumb is the main feature. However, as a complete beginner to the guitar in 2008, I
found I made much faster progress in Open D than in normal tuning. It’s easier to sit
while you play and barring with the thumb is made easier if you hold the guitar with the face
slightly open (i.e. at an angle of about 20 degrees so that you can see the strings and
frets) and angle the neck of the guitar slightly downwards. I know this is considered
bad form normally but it seems to work for Open D chords. I would also advise you to 
track down a supply of the “taco chip” picks that Richie uses. They are made by Fender (355 Medium
I believe) and can be found quite easily on the internet at a few pounds per dozen.
Their extra size and flexibility are excellent for strumming.

Tuning	D	A	D	F#	A	D

I = 	Index finger
M =	Middle finger
T =	Thumb
L =	Little finger

Chords for the song

DMaj7

  D	  A	  D	  F#	  A	  D
	  		  I			Fret 3
				  M	  M	Fret 4

EMaj7

D	  A  	  D	  F#	  A 	  D
                              I			Fret 1
        				  M	  M    Fret 2


These are the dominant chords in the song, but Richie varies these chords frequently to
add what he refers to as “colour”. Both of the above chords can have the following
variations to produce subtle changes

D	  A	  D	  F#	  A	  D
			    I 	  I
					  M

Drop middle finger to cover 1st fret only
D	  A	  D	  F#	  A	  D
                              I        I
                                                M
                                                L
Add your little finger one fret up



GMaj7

D	  A	  D	  F#	  A	  D
					  I  Fret 4
T	  T	  T	  T	  T
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/r/richie_havens/i_cant_make_it_anymore_crd.html ]
Thumb bars bottom 5 strings 5th fret
Index finger holds down 1st string 4th fret


A7sus4 (known by Richie as the “mystery chord”)

D	  A	  D	  F#	  A	  D
			    I 	    I	     I Fret 5
 -	  - 	  -	  -	  - 	  -
T	  T	  T	                          Fret 7

Thumb bars bottom 3 strings 7th fret
Index finger holds down top 3 strings 5th fret
Difficult at first but a great chord

A7

D	  A	  D	  F#	  A	  D
                                                 I Fret 5
 -	  -	  -	  -	  -	  -
T	T	  T	  T	  T          Fret 7

Thumb bars bottom 5 strings 7th  fret
Index finger holds down 1st string 5th fret



Strumming

Most of the song is comprised of a steady, rhythmic, varied strum with emphasis on the
downstroke. The A7sus4 and A7 are played with much more gusto and of course there are
many occasions when Richie throws in four down-ups where previously there was one.

Intro

DM7  EM7 repeated with the variations mentioned above

I get too low		with no reason
DM7				Em7

They says it’s the moon 	or maybe the season
DM7					Em7

But something’s		not the same
GM7				DM7

And I won’t let my mind	believe
GM7					DM7

Baby something’s wrong
Em7

All the feeling’s gone
DM7

I can’t make it		anymore
Em7				DM7		Em7



Lately I don’t		feel much like talking
DM7				Em7

Instead of going home		I just go out walking
DM7					Em7

And thinking		too much
GM7				DM7

And I’m longing for	your touch
GM7				DM7

Baby something’s changed
Em7

I don’t feel the same
DM7

I can’t make it		anymore
Em7				DM7

I can’t make it anymore		anymore
A7sus4					A7		A7……..

Don’t know the reason why
DM7

But I just can’t lie
Em7

When I feel this way
DM7

There are things I must say
Em7

I can’t make it 		anymore.  No No.
Em7				DM7

I can’t make it 		anymore
Em7				DM7		A7sus4	A7……

Where did we go wrong?
DM7

Where do I belong?
Em7

Let me find out when
DM7

Did it all begin?
Em7

Why I’m losing you
DM7


Why our love is through
Em7

Why our love is through
DM7

Why our love is through
Em7					A7sus4	A7

I can’t make it 		anymore (repeated 4 times)
Em7				DM7