Rush: Circumstances From the album Hemispheres (Mercury Records) Copyright 1978 Core Music Publishing Music by Lee and Lifeson Lyrics by Peart Transcription by: C. D. Bruce (charlesdbruce@hotmail.com) Intro Am Bm Am G D e e e q e e e e e e e q q e e e e e e e e Q |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-3-3-3-2-----| |-----------------|-1---------------|-3---1-----------|-3-3-3-3-----| 4-----------------|-2---------------|-4---2-----------3-0-0-0-2-----| 4-----------------|-2---------------|-4---2-----------4-0-0-0-0-----| |-----------3-2---|-0-0-0-0-0-3-2---|-2---0-0-0-0-0-0-|-2-2-2-------| |---------------3-|---------------3-|-----------------|-3-3-3-------| G D Am Bm Am e e e he e e e q e e Q e e e q q e e Q e e e |-3-3-3-2-|---------------|-----------------|---------------------| |-3-3-3-3-|---------------|-1-----1---------|-3---1-----1---------| 2-0-0-0-2-7---------------|-2-----2---------5-4---2-----2---------| 4-0-0-0-0-8---------------|-2-----2---------4-4---2-----2---------| |-2-2-2---|---------3-2---|-0-0-0-0---3-2---|-2---0-0-0-0---3-2---| |-3-3-3---|-------------3-|---------------3-|-------------------3-| Am G D G D A... q e e Q e e e e e e q e e e he * |-----------------|-3-3-3-2-----|-3-3-3-2-------------| |-1-----1---------|-3-3-3-3-----|-3-3-3-3-------------| 4-2-----2---------3-0-0-0-2-----5-0-0-0-2-------------| 4-2-----2---------4-0-0-0-0-----4-0-0-0-0-------------| |-0-0-0-0---3-2---|-2-2-2-------|-2-2-2---------------| |---------------3-|-3-3-3-------|-3-2-3---------------| boy alone... B G D A D A F# Q Q q Q Q q Q q e q h q q |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-2-------2---2---| |-4-----4-----4/--|-12----12----12\-|-7-----5---7-----|-2-------2---2---| 4o4-----4-----4/--|-12----12----12\-|-7-----6---7-6\--|-3-------3---3---| 4o4-----4-----4/--|-12----12----12\-|-7-----7---7-7\--|-4-------4---4---| |-2-----2-----2/--|-10----10----10\-|-5-----7---5-7\--|-4-------4---4---| |-----------------|-----------------|-------5-----5\--|-2-------2---2---| B G D A D A F# Q Q q Q Q q Q q e q h h |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-2-------2-------| |-4-----4-----4/--|-12----12----12\-|-7-----5---7-----|-2-------2-------| |-4-----4-----4/--|-12----12----12\-|-7-----6---7-6\--|-3-------3-------| |-4-----4-----4/--|-12----12----12\-|-7-----7---7-7\--|-4-------4-------| |-2-----2-----2/--|-10----10----10\-|-5-----7---5-7\--|-4-------4-------| |-----------------|-----------------|-------5-----5\--|-2-------2-------| _________________ | 1st time through| G | B | C A Q Q q | q | Q Q q Q Q q |-3-----3---------|-7-----0---------|-8-----8-----8---|-5-----5-----5---| |-3-----3---------|-7---------0-----|-8-----8-----8---|-5-----5-----5---| |-4-----4---------|-8--(8)----------|-9-----9-----9---|-6-----6-----6---| |-5-----5-----5-/-|-9---9-----------|-10----10----10\-|-7-----7-----7---| |-5-----5-----5-/-|-9---------------|-10----10----10\-|-7-----7-----7---| |-3-----3-----3-/-|-7---------------|-8-----8-----8-\-|-5-----5-----5---| | 2nd time through| | Q Q q | |-7-----7-----7---| |-7-----7-----7---| |-8-----8-----8---| |-9-----9-----9---| |-9-----9-----9---| |-7-----7-----7---| D D#0 E C G Q Q q Q Q q Q Q q h q q |-----------------|-----------------|-0-----0---------|-----------------| |-7-----7-----7---|-7-----7-----7---|-0-----0---------|-12--------------| |-7-----7-----7---|-8-----8-----8---|-1-----1-----1/--|-13------5-------| |-7-----7-----7---|-7-----7-----7---|-2-----2-----2/--|-14------5---5---| |-5-----5-----5---|-6-----6-----6---|-2-----2-----2/--|-14------3---5---| |-----------------|-----------------|-0-----0-----0---|-------------3---| All the same... Am * Bm Am e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e Q e e e q q |---------------|---------------|-----------------|-----------------| |---------------|---------------|---------1-----1-|---------3---1---| 7---------------|---------------4---------2-----2-|---------4---2---| 8---7-----5-4---|---5-2---------4---------2-----2-|---------4---2---| |-----5-7-----5-|-3-----3-5-2---|---3-2---0-----0-|---3-2---2---0---| |-5-------------|-------------3-|-1-----3---------|-------3---------| G D C G Am e e e h q q e q q e e e q Q e e e |-3-3-3-2---------|-------------3---|---------|-----------------| |-3-3-3-3-------1-|---1---1-1---3---|---------|-1-----1---------| |-0-0-0-2-------0-|---0---0-0---0---2---------4-2-----2---------| |-0-0-0-0-------2-|---2---2-2---0---4---------4-2-----2---------| |-2-2-2---------3-|---3---3-3---2---|---3-2---|-0-----0---3-2---| |-3-3-3-----------|-------------3---|-------3-|---------------3-| Bm Am G D C Am Bm Am q q e e e h H e e e q Q e e e q q |---------|-3-3-3-2---------|---------------|-----------------|---------| |-3---1---|-3-3-3-3-------1-|---------------|-1-----1---------|-3---1---| 2-4---2---4-0-0-0-2-------0-7---------------4-2-----2---------2-4---2---| 4-4---2---4-0-0-0-0-------2-8---------------4-2-----2---------4-4---2---| |-2---0---|-2-2-2---------3-|---------2-0---|-0-----0---3-2---|-2---0---| |---------|-3-3-3-----------|-------------3-|---------------3-|---------| _____________________ _________________________________ | 1st repeat | 2nd repeat | G D | G D | G D | e e e Q | e e e he | e e e he | |-3-3-3-2-----|-3-3-3-2-------------|-3-3-3-2-----------|-------------| |-3-3-3-3-----|-3-3-3-3-------------|-3-3-3-3-----------|-------------| 3-0-0-0-2-----5-0-0-0-2------------o5-0-0-0-2-----------3------------o| 4-0-0-0-0-----4-0-0-0-0------------o4-0-0-0-0-----------4------------o| |-2-2-2-------|-2-2-2---------------|-2-2-2-------------|-------------| |-3-3-3-------|-3-2-3---------------|-3-3-3-------------|-------------| Bridge, repeat 5 times, w/slight reverb. Lifeson uses a Boss CE-1 stereo chorus which results in the left channel getting the chorus effect and the right channel getting no chorus effect. C Dsus4 C Dsus4 Em e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e H |-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------| |-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------| 5-------0---6-------0---0-|-------0-----|-------------| 8-----10--108-----12--12--|-----10----12|-14------\---| |---10------|---12--------|---10--------|-14------\---| |-8---------|-10----------|-8-------10--|-12------\---| The keyboard has been arranged for guitar on the 2nd staff, notes on A string are 8va bassa. The bass sound is likely a Moog Taurus Pedal sound (sawtooth wave with a rapid closing filter). The right hand melody sounds like a Mini-Moog (a sawtooth wave with a somewhat rapid attack but with the filter open relatively wide to achieve a string-like sound). On the promo video Geddy plays both parts with the same sound on a Mini-Moog. It is clear that the bass sound on the promo-video deviates from the original studio recording. C Dsus4 C Dsus4 Em e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e H |-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------| |-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------| 5-------0---6-------0---0-|-------0-----|-------------| 8-----10--108-----12--12--|-----10----12|-14------\---| |---10------|---12--------|---10--------|-14------\---| |-8---------|-10----------|-8-------10--|-12------\---| | | | he H h q H | |-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------| |-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------| 5-----------6-------------|-------------|-------------| 8-----------8-------------|-------------|-------------| |-3---------|-5-----------|-3-------5---|-7-----------| |-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------| C Dsus4 C Dsus4 Em e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e H |-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------| |-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------| 5-------0---6-------0---0-|-------0-----|-------------| 8-----10--108-----12--12--|-----10----12|-14------\---| |---10------|---12--------|---10--------|-14------\---| |-8---------|-10----------|-8-------10--|-12------\---| | | | e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e | |-----------|---------5---|-8-7-5-------|-------------| |-----5-----|-6-5-8-6---8-|-------8-6-8-|-5-6-8-6-5---| 5-5-7---7-5-6-------------|-------------|-----------7-| 8-----------8-------------|-------------|-------------| |-3---------|-5-----------|-3-------5---|-7-----------| |-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------| C Dsus4 C Dsus4 Em e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e H |-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------| |-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------| 5-------0---6-------0---0-|-------0-----|-------------| 8-----10--108-----12--12--|-----10----12|-14------\---| |---10------|---12--------|---10--------|-14------\---| |-8---------|-10----------|-8-------10--|-12------\---| | | | e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e essse e | |-----------|---------5---|-8-7-5-------|-------------| |-----5-----|-6-5-8-6---8-|-------8-6-8-|-5-6-86865---| 5-5-7---7-5-6-------------|-------------|-----------7-| 8-----------8-------------|-------------|-------------| |-3---------|-5-----------|-3-------5---|-7-----------| |-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------| C Dsus4 C Dsus4 Em e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e H |-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------| |-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------| 5-------0---6-------0---0-|-------0-----|-------------| 8-----10--108-----12--12--|-----10----12|-14------\---| |---10------|---12--------|---10--------|-14------\---| |-8---------|-10----------|-8-------10--|-12------\---| | | | e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e H+ | |-----------|---------5---|-8-7-5-------|-------------| |-----5-----|-6-5-8-6---8-|-------8-6-8-|-5-----------| 5-5-7---7-5-6-------------|-------------|-------------| 8-----------8-------------|-------------|-------------| |-3---------|-5-----------|-3-------5---|-7-----------| |-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------| * Overdriven guitar tone AaddB B AaddB B e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| |-------0---|---------0---|-------0---|---------0---| 5---------6-6-------8---8-5---------6-6-------8---8-| 8-----7-----8-----9-------8-----7-----8-----9-------| |---7-------|---9---------|---7-------|---9---------| |-5---------|-7-----------|-5---------|-7-----------| | | | w+ | |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| |(5)--------|-------------|-----------|-------------| 5-----------6-------------5-----------6-------------| 8-----------8-------------8-----------8-------------| |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| C Dsus4 C Dsus4 e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| 5-------0---6-------0---0-|-------0---|-------0---0-| 8-----10--108-----12--12--|-----10--10|-----12--12--| |---10------|---12--------|---10------|---12--------| |-8---------|-10----------|-8---------|-10----------| | | | w+ | |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| |-?---------|-------------|-----------|-------------| 5-----------6-------------5-----------6-------------| 8-----------8-------------8-----------8-------------| |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| AaddB B AaddB B e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| |-------0---|---------0---|-------0---|---------0---| 5---------6-6-------8---8-5---------6-6-------8---8-| 8-----7-----8-----9-------8-----7-----8-----9-------| |---7-------|---9---------|---7-------|---9---------| |-5---------|-7-----------|-5---------|-7-----------| | | | w+ | |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| |-5---------|-?-----------|-5---------|-?-----------| 5-----------6-------------5-----------6-------------| 8-----------8-------------8-----------8-------------| |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| C Dsus4 C Dsus4 e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| 5-------0---6-------0---0-|-------0---|-------0---0-| 8-----10--108-----12--12--|-----10--10|-----12--12--| |---10------|---12--------|---10------|---12--------| |-8---------|-10----------|-8---------|-10----------| | | | w+ | |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| |-?---------|-?-----------|-5---------|-?-----------| 5-----------6-------------5-----------6-------------| 8-----------8-------------8-----------8-------------| |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| |-----------|-------------|-----------|-------------| C Dsus4 Em C Dsus4 e e e e e e H e e e e e e e e e e e |-------------|-------------|-----------|-------------| |-------------|-------------|-----------|-------------| 6-------0-----|-------------5-------0---6-------0---0-| 8-----10----12|-14------\---8-----10--108-----12--12--| |---10--------|-14------\---|---10------|---12--------| |-8-------10--|-12------\---|-8---------|-10----------| | | | | |-------------|-------------|-----------|-------------| |-?-----------|-?-----------|-?---------|-?-----------| |-------------|-------------5-----------6-------------| |-------------|-------------8-----------8-------------| |-------------|-------------|-----------|-------------| |-------------|-------------|-----------|-------------| C Dsus4 Em e e e e e e H |-------------|-------------| |-------------|-------------| |-------0-----|-------------| |-----10----12|-14------\---| |---10--------|-14------\---| |-8-------10--|-12------\---| | | | | |-------------|-------------| |-?-----------|-------------| |-------------|-------------| |-------------|-------------| |-------------|-------------| |-------------|-------------| All the same... Am * Bm Am e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e Q e e e q q |---------------|---------------|-----------------|-----------------| |---------------|---------------|---------1-----1-|---------3---1---| 7---------------|---------------4---------2-----2-|---------4---2---| 8---7-----5-4---|---5-2---------4---------2-----2-|---------4---2---| |-----5-7-----5-|-3-----3-5-2---|---3-2---0-----0-|---3-2---2---0---| |-5-------------|-------------3-|-1-----3---------|-------3---------| G D C G Am e e e h q q e q q e e e q Q e e e |-3-3-3-2---------|-------------3---|---------|-----------------| |-3-3-3-3-------1-|---1---1-1---3---|---------|-1-----1---------| |-0-0-0-2-------0-|---0---0-0---0---2---------4-2-----2---------| |-0-0-0-0-------2-|---2---2-2---0---4---------4-2-----2---------| |-2-2-2---------3-|---3---3-3---2---|---3-2---|-0-----0---3-2---| |-3-3-3-----------|-------------3---|-------3-|---------------3-| Bm Am G D C Am Bm Am q q e e e h H e e e q Q e e e q q |---------|-3-3-3-2---------|---------------|-----------------|---------| |-3---1---|-3-3-3-3-------1-|---------------|-1-----1---------|-3---1---| 2-4---2---4-0-0-0-2-------0-7---------------4-2-----2---------2-4---2---| 4-4---2---4-0-0-0-0-------2-8---------------4-2-----2---------4-4---2---| |-2---0---|-2-2-2---------3-|---------2-0---|-0-----0---3-2---|-2---0---| |---------|-3-3-3-----------|-------------3-|---------------3-|---------| G D G D e e e Q e e e he (w/delay) |-3-3-3-2-----|-3-3-3-2-------------| |-3-3-3-3-----|-3-3-3-3-------------| 3-0-0-0-2-----5-0-0-0-2-------------| 4-0-0-0-0-----4-0-0-0-0-------------| |-2-2-2-------|-2-2-2---------------| |-3-3-3-------|-3-2-3---------------| Lyrics: A boy alone so far from home Endless rooftops from my window I felt the gloom of empty rooms On rainy afternoons Sometimes in confusion I feel so lost and disillusioned Innocence gave me confidence To go up against reality Chorus: All the same, we take our chances Laughed at by time Tricked by circumstances Plus ca change Plus c'est la meme chose The more that things change The more they stay the same Now I've gained some understanding Of the only world that we see Things that I onced dreamed of Have become reality These walls that still suround me Still contain the same old me Just one more who's searching for The world that ought to be Repeat Chorus Bridge Repeat Chorus Tablature Contributors: This transcription was created by C. D. Bruce (cbruce@erols.com) in the format described below. It was previously transcribed by Richard Soto (hrhkinglerxst@home.com) and Jimmy Pena (no email available). Tony Kennedy (TKennedy@buckeye.com) provided some corrections to chord names in the bridge section. Doug White (bbwscin@iquest.net) provided the keyboard transcription (less the bass notes). Special thanks to Rich Soto for the video footage. Previously Transcribed by: Richard Soto (hrhkinglerxst@home.com), Jimmy Pena, Doug White (bbwscin@iquest.net), and Sean Carroll (xamollen@ix.netcom.com) Disclaimer: This tablature represents how the song is played as closely as reasonably achievable to the studio recording. Alex Lifeson may have played it slightly differently. Video footage from the promotional video for Circumstances was used in making this transcription. Revision History: Revision 00: No data Revision 01: No data Revision 02: Submitted 05-27-1998, reformatted to condense tab. Revision 03: Submitted 10-14-1998, Corrected chord name in bridge section. Added bass notes to keyboard transcripion Made changes to main verse chords and a minor change to the arpeggiated figure in the bridge. Added various slides on chords. Added 1st and 2nd repeat designations at the end of each section (including an addition 3 beats which were missing previously). Changed Overdrive to Distortion. Revision 04: Submitted 10-15-1998, Changed open G chord to an A at 5th fret in verse section. Revision 05: Submitted 10-27-1999, Changed 1 note in main riff. Revision 06: Submitted 11-01-1999, Changed A/C# to A barre chord. Revision 07: Submitted 06-12-2015, Changed C chord and parts of main descending riff. Revision 08: 03-22-2022, minor clarifications about the chorus effect. Tablature Explanation: NT= Nashville Tuning is when the low E, A, D and G strings are replaced with lighter gauge strings and tuned one octave higher than normal. | = bar separating measures (occasionally replaced by time signatures) ~ = vibrato x = percussive note with no pitch; muted note . = staccato; mute the note immediately after striking it h = hammer p = pull s = slide (used when \ or / don't fit) ^ = bend string up to indicated pitch/fret shown in parenthesis () r = release bend (string/fret may be indicated) t = fret board tap (not many of these with Rush) / = slide up \ = slide down x/= pick slide up x\= pick slide down < = volume swell <5> = natural harmonic (lightly touch the string at fret indicated) [5] = artificial harmonic (use thumb to follow through the pick attack) (5) = note sustained from previous measure o =\ repeat sign o =/ D.C. = "Da capo" - means "from the head", when you see these initials you go back to the beginning of the piece of music. D.S. = "Dal segno" - means "from the sign", go back in the tabulature only as far as the (%) sign. Coda = A passage at the end of a movement or composition that brings it to a formal close. Al Coda = means "to the tail", tells you that you must go to the end section which starts with the Coda sign (+). R.F. = repeat and fade rit. = "ritardando" - Gradually slowing in tempo; retarding. Other pertinent information: Tuning: Standard [EADGBe]. Key signature: Effects: Chorus, overdrive/distortion, reverb, some delay (at ending only) Chord Chart: 0 Am 0 Bm 0 G e |---|---|---|---| e |---|---|---|---| e |---|---|-O-|---| B |-O-|---|---|---| B |---|---|-O-|---| B |---|---|-O-|---| G |---|-O-|---|---| G |---|---|---|-O-| G 0---|---|---|---| D |---|-O-|---|---| D |---|---|---|-O-| D 0---|---|---|---| A 0---|---|---|---| A |---|-O-|---|---| A |---|-O-|---|---| E |---|---|---|---| E |---|---|---|---| E |---|---|-O-|---| 0 D 2 B 10 G e |---|-O-|---|---| e |---|---|---|---| e |---|---|---|---| B |---|---|-O-|---| B |---|---|(O-|---| B |---|---|(O-|---| G |---|-O-|---|---| G |---|---|(O-|---| G |---|---|(O-|---| D 0---|---|---|---| D |---|---|(O-|---| D |---|---|(O-|---| A |---|---|---|---| A |-O-|---|---|---| A |-O-|---|---|---| E |---|---|---|---| E |---|---|---|---| E |---|---|---|---| 5 D 4 A 0 F# e |---|---|---|---| e |---|---|---|---| e |---|-O-|---|---| B |---|---|(O-|---| B |---|-O-|---|---| B |---|-O-|---|---| G |---|---|(O-|---| G |---|---|-O-|---| G |---|---|-O-|---| D |---|---|(O-|---| D |---|---|---|-O-| D |---|---|---|-O-| A |-O-|---|---|---| A |---|---|---|-O-| A |---|---|---|-O-| E |---|---|---|---| E |-O-|---|---|---| E |---|-O-|---|---| 7 B 8 C 5 A e |(O-|---|---|---| e |(O-|---|---|---| e |(O-|---|---|---| B |(O-|---|---|---| B |(O-|---|---|---| B |(O-|---|---|---| G |(--|-O-|---|---| G |(--|-O-|---|---| G |(--|-O-|---|---| D |(--|---|-O-|---| D |(--|---|-O-|---| D |(--|---|-O-|---| A |(--|---|-O-|---| A |(--|---|-O-|---| A |(--|---|-O-|---| E |(O-|---|---|---| E |(O-|---|---|---| E |(O-|---|---|---| 6 D#0 12 E 12 E e |---|---|---|---| e |---|---|---|---| e 0---|---|---|---| B |---|(O-|---|---| B |---|---|---|---| B |-O-|---|---|---| G |---|(--|-O-|---| G |---|-O-|---|---| G |---|-O-|---|---| D |---|(O-|---|---| D |---|---|-O-|---| D |---|---|-O-|---| A |-O-|---|---|---| A |---|---|-O-|---| A |---|---|-O-|---| E |---|---|---|---| E 0---|---|---|---| E 0---|---|---|---| 0 C3 8 C 10 DaddG e |---|---|---|---| e |---|---|---|---| e |---|---|---|---| B |-O-|---|---|---| B |---|---|---|---| B |---|---|---|---| G |---|---|---|---| G |---|---|---|---| G 0---|---|---|---| D |---|-O-|---|---| D |---|---|-O-|---| D |---|---|-O-|---| A |---|---|-O-|---| A |---|---|-O-|---| A |---|---|-O-|---| E |---|---|---|---| E |-O-|---|---|---| E |-O-|---|---|---| 12 Em e |---|---|---|---| B |---|---|---|---| G 0---|---|---|---| D |---|---|-O-|---| A |---|---|-O-|---| E |-O-|---|---|---| Tablature Format: This Tablature is based on the format indicated below. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 <--Quarter note beat locations 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 <--Eighth note beat locations <--Effects/Misc Line D C G/B <--Chord Line e e e q q e e e e q e e e <--Note Duration Line (table below) |-----2-----------|-----------------| <--High E string |-------3---------|-----------------| <--B string |---2-------2---0-|-----0-------0---| <--G string |-0---------------|---2-------0---0-| <--D string |-----------------|-3-----2---------| <--A string |-----------------|-----------------| <--E string Effects/Misc Line: Provides effects information, number of repeats, etc. Chord Line: Provides the chord name for the chords used in the tab below. Note Duration Line: Provides the "value" of each note, e.g., whole, half, quarter, etc. Note Duration Designator Table: w = Whole note h = Half note q = Quarter note H = Dotted half note Q = Dotted Quarter note s = Sixteenth note e = Eighth note S = Dotted sixteenth note E = Dotted eighth note + = Duration exceeds 2 measures t = Thirty-second note T = Dotted thirty-second note Notes with two designations immediately adjacent to each other have durations added (e.g., he = half note + eigth note, etc.) String lines: Represent the strings of a guitar. The tab is laid out as if you placed a right handed guitar on your lap, string side up. A vertical line character "|" represents a bar between measures. A dash "-" represents each string. The numbers indicate which fret should be fingered to sound the note. The first space after every bar is a blank space that is almost never used. Quarter notes are separated by 3 dashes, eighth notes are separated by 1 dash. In an effort to make the ASCII tab look as much like tab in a music book, the notes are spaced out as accurately as possible. In the event the notes will not fit into the format shown above, the tab will be expanded (usually only required for solos).