Better Man Intro/Verse Help

LukinFan · April 2012

I just started learning how to play "Better Man" on the acoustic guitar and after watching a bunch of videos on youtube, I'm still unclear on how to play the intro/verse. Is this right?

D/F# - Strum the 6th string (Big E) once, then open D (4th), and then strum the G and B (3rd and 2nd) strings twice

- Then slide over to the 4th fret and do the same thing

- Then slide back to the 2nd fret and do the same

- Then back to the 4th fret - same

- Then the 5th fret, 7th fret, 5th fret, 7th fret - strum the chord twice?

Any help would be so grateful! Thank you!!!!

ed243421 · April 2012

lukin
i'm sure you've seen this tab for it
http://giventowail.com/tab/pearl-jam/vi ... better-man

if not, you'll see the hammers needed for the 6th string (fat e)
and nothing is played on the 4th (open d)

the tab is close to what i hear
you just gotta play around with it

InsideMan · April 2012

This may be difficult, but I will try to explain how I do it. First off, I have never heard of strumming an open D; this may be something I have just omitted over the years. Second, it is much easier to finger pick the introduction to this song. Regardless, here we go:

Start in your D/F# position (note, I generally play the 2nd string on the 3rd fret with my pinky so I can maneuver easier and to lift on and off to give the song depth). Hit the 6th string on the second fret. Then strum the 3rd and 2nd strings. After you strum, lift your pinky and play an OPEN 2nd string on the 3rd fret. Play this twice. Then move the whole structure up to the fourth fret. Play the exact same way, but only ONCE. After you do this, place your pinky back down on the 2nd string on the 5th fret. You are back in the original shape and you will want to play the following: pick, in this order, 3rd string 4th fret, 2nd string 5th fret, 3rd string 4th fret, 2nd string 5th, 2nd string 5th, 3rd string 4th, 2nd string 5th. This, again, gives a nice depth. Now, slide back up to the 2nd fret which was your starting position.

I usually play all of this twice and then move into the verse. The verse is slightly different. If you need help with it, let me know. Hopefully this isn't too confusing.

LukinFan · April 2012

ed243421 wrote:

lukin
i'm sure you've seen this tab for it
http://giventowail.com/tab/pearl-jam/vi ... better-man

if not, you'll see the hammers needed for the 6th string (fat e)
and nothing is played on the 4th (open d)

the tab is close to what i hear
you just gotta play around with it

For some reason, I just do not understand tab - thank you though!

LukinFan · April 2012

InsideMan wrote:

This may be difficult, but I will try to explain how I do it. First off, I have never heard of strumming an open D; this may be something I have just omitted over the years. Second, it is much easier to finger pick the introduction to this song. Regardless, here we go:

Start in your D/F# position (note, I generally play the 2nd string on the 3rd fret with my pinky so I can maneuver easier and to lift on and off to give the song depth). Hit the 6th string on the second fret. Then strum the 3rd and 2nd strings. After you strum, lift your pinky and play an OPEN 2nd string on the 3rd fret. Play this twice. Then move the whole structure up to the fourth fret. Play the exact same way, but only ONCE. After you do this, place your pinky back down on the 2nd string on the 5th fret. You are back in the original shape and you will want to play the following: pick, in this order, 3rd string 4th fret, 2nd string 5th fret, 3rd string 4th fret, 2nd string 5th, 2nd string 5th, 3rd string 4th, 2nd string 5th. This, again, gives a nice depth. Now, slide back up to the 2nd fret which was your starting position.

I usually play all of this twice and then move into the verse. The verse is slightly different. If you need help with it, let me know. Hopefully this isn't too confusing.

This is perfect - thank you so much for taking the time in typing all of this out.

DriftingByTheStorm · April 2012

LukinFan wrote:

ed243421 wrote:

lukin
i'm sure you've seen this tab for it
http://giventowail.com/tab/pearl-jam/vi ... better-man

if not, you'll see the hammers needed for the 6th string (fat e)
and nothing is played on the 4th (open d)

the tab is close to what i hear
you just gotta play around with it

For some reason, I just do not understand tab - thank you though!

you don't understand TAB but you made it through that typed dissertation?

I'm not knockin you. .. i'm just sayin, CLEARLY you have the intellectual skills to grasp tab.

It's just a mirror image of your fret board.

2

3

2

You don't recognize a D chord in that?

or

1

2

an E chord there?

???

LukinFan · April 2012

DriftingByTheStorm wrote:

LukinFan wrote:

ed243421 wrote:

lukin
i'm sure you've seen this tab for it
http://giventowail.com/tab/pearl-jam/vi ... better-man

if not, you'll see the hammers needed for the 6th string (fat e)
and nothing is played on the 4th (open d)

the tab is close to what i hear
you just gotta play around with it

For some reason, I just do not understand tab - thank you though!

you don't understand TAB but you made it through that typed dissertation?

I'm not knockin you. .. i'm just sayin, CLEARLY you have the intellectual skills to grasp tab.

It's just a mirror image of your fret board.

2
3
2

You don't recognize a D chord in that?

or
1
2
2

an E chord there?

???

OH! Now, I feel like an idiot. :oops: Thanks Driftin

I guess now I do not understand why people use TAB to begin with. Why not just put down the chords?

DriftingByTheStorm · April 2012

LukinFan wrote:

OH! Now, I feel like an idiot. :oops: Thanks Driftin

I guess now I do not understand why people use TAB to begin with. Why not just put down the chords?

Now, hey now.
you know i wasn't trying to make you feel stupid ... just tryin to boost your confidence, really.

People use tab, because not everything is a straight chord ... it is easier to show transitions, some approximation of rhythm ... and you cant "put down chords" for single notes, solos, riffs, fills, and a whole lot of other little nuances that are best conveyed with TAB. Things like hammer ons, pull offs, slides, bends ... much easier to comprehend in tab form, than in any other.

Go check out a tab for Corduroy ... that is one of the first songs I learned by tab ... you'll get the hang of it. Look at how the chorus progresses in tab form ... that would be a key example of the value of tab.

DriftingByTheStorm · April 2012

LukinFan wrote:

OH! Now, I feel like an idiot. :oops: Thanks Driftin

I guess now I do not understand why people use TAB to begin with. Why not just put down the chords?

Now, hey now.
you know i wasn't trying to make you feel stupid ... just tryin to boost your confidence, really.

People use tab, because not everything is a straight chord ... it is easier to show transitions, some approximation of rhythm ... and you cant "put down chords" for single notes, solos, riffs, fills, and a whole lot of other little nuances that are best conveyed with TAB. Things like hammer ons, pull offs, slides, bends ... much easier to comprehend in tab form, than in any other.

Go check out a tab for Corduroy ... that is one of the first songs I learned by tab ... you'll get the hang of it. Look at how the chorus progresses in tab form ... that would be a key example of the value of tab.

LukinFan · April 2012

DriftingByTheStorm wrote:

LukinFan wrote:

OH! Now, I feel like an idiot. :oops: Thanks Driftin

I guess now I do not understand why people use TAB to begin with. Why not just put down the chords?

Now, hey now.
you know i wasn't trying to make you feel stupid ... just tryin to boost your confidence, really.

People use tab, because not everything is a straight chord ... it is easier to show transitions, some approximation of rhythm ... and you cant "put down chords" for single notes, solos, riffs, fills, and a whole lot of other little nuances that are best conveyed with TAB. Things like hammer ons, pull offs, slides, bends ... much easier to comprehend in tab form, than in any other.

Go check out a tab for Corduroy ... that is one of the first songs I learned by tab ... you'll get the hang of it. Look at how the chorus progresses in tab form ... that would be a key example of the value of tab.

Makes sense. Once I get down Betterman - Corduroy will be next! Thanks again!!

Better Man Intro/Verse Help

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