Between The Bars Chords & Tabs

by Elliott Smith

[Version Description]
Strumming Patterns:
Verse:
BPM: 138
Denominator: 8
Triplet: Yes
Measures: [1, 202, 202, 1, 202, 101, 1, 202, 101]
Tuning: DGCFAD
It starts with an Am7. You can play it open on the neck or barred if you like.
Play it for 4 bars of 6/8, then go into the lyrics.
Am7  x02213

[Verse 1]
Am7              Fadd9            
Drink up, baby, stay up all night.
           C                 
With the things you could do,
     Em7/B              
You won't but you might.
       Am7              
The potential you'll be,
       Fadd9          
That you'll never see,
      C        E7         F   
The promises you'll only make.
      Am7            
Drink up with me now,
        Fadd9       
And forget all about
       C             
The pressure of days.
Em7/B         
Do what I say,
          Am7          
And I'll make you okay,
      Fadd9        
And drive them away
    C      E7            F   
The images stuck in your head

[Chorus]
F  G6  Am                
People you've been before
         Fm/Ab Em/G   Am      Am/F# 
That you don't want around anymore -
      F        G6             Am                
That push and shove and won't bend to your will.
F               Fm   
I'll keep them still.

[Verse 2]
Am7               Fadd9           
Drink up, baby, look at the stars.
      C            
I'll kiss you again
Em7/B            
Between the bars,
            Am7            
Where I'm seeing you there,
            Fadd9          
With your hands in the air,
C            E7         F    
Waiting to finally be caught.
      Am7              
Drink up one more time,
     Fadd9             
And I'll make you mine.
C              
Keep you apart,
Em7/B            
Deep in my heart,
      Am7              
Separate from the rest,
         Fadd9            
Where I like you the best,
    C         E7           F   
And keep the things you forgot.

[Chorus]
    F  G6  Am                
The people you've been before
         Fm/Ab Em/G   Am      Am/F# 
That you don't want around anymore -
      F        G6             Am                
That push and shove and won't bend to your will.
F               Fm   
I'll keep them still.
Am7
* There's a riff here.. It's pretty simple, and all the notes receive an even time. Just
listen to the record and you should be able to hear the rhythm.
e|--------------------------|
B|--------------------------|
G                            
D|------------------0---2---|
A|--0---2---3---3-----------|
E|--------------------------|
Note: for the Am/F#, I like to just reach across with my middle finger, which is on the
2nd fret of the D string using my Am open fingering, and hit the second fret on the low E
The point of my finger holds down the string while the fleshy part mutes the A string. I
think this sounds better and is a lot easier than using some weird fingering to get a proper
chord with all six strings ringing.