Honky Tonk Women

written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards

version française

In 1969 slow syncopated rock and roll riffs were an innovation and Keith Richards was the innovator with that most famous tune.
I remember a few years ago seeing an interview at the TV of an old hatted guitar fame cow-boy of the middle west. He stood there with a foot on a stool holding his dreadnought and saying :" Keith Richards is so bad a guitar player that no one can imitate him. This way we can say that he's got a personnal style ".

Dear ! Why so much bitterness ? Jealousy ? Oh !
Needless to say it is not our opinion here. This tune was a small revolution and I find it is fairly difficult to play all the more so that at times it is impossible to sing while playing to adjust the rhythm. I think my tab is mostly accurate though.

I tabbed it from listening.

I tabbed two guitar lines with a bass. The two guitars are tuned in OPEN G like this:

from low to high : D - G - D - G - B - D

The FIRST GUITAR plays alone the intro and the first verse. Afterwards we hear at least one more guitar but then the whole is drowned in saxophon and it is a real orgy ( a hot atmosphere in this honky tonk bar ! ) in which it is difficult to recognize anything.

Playing that in a band is really funny: you can add as many guitars as you wish : the more , the merrier. Remember too that this was the first single in which Mick Taylor played too ! So my MP3 demo in which I recorded the 3 guitars may sound a bit approximate when compared to the original but I am sure you will find here something consistent. I could sample Charlie Watts' drums at the beginning so I use the sound in the demo.

You can download the MP3 demo here :

Remember to tune the guitars in OPEN G !

Legend :

h : hammer-on
p : pull-off
b/ : full bend up
b\ : mute full bend up and sounding only on release
nb/nbnbnbnbnb\ : bend the n note up then keep it bended while you repeat it then bend it down (solo)

INTRO :

FIRST GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+--0-0--------------------------------+
B +-------------------------------------+--3-3---0-3-0-3---0-----0-0-0--------+
G +-0_---0--0--0_---0--0--0_------------+--4-4p2-0-2-0-4p2-0---0-0-2-0--------+
D +-0_---0--0--0_---0--0--0_------------+----------------------2-------2------+
G +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

VERSE :

FIRST GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +-------------------------------------+-5(5)-----6-6p5----------------------+
G +--0--0----0--0--0----------------0---+-5(5)-----5-5 ----------------------+
D +--0--0----0--0--0--------------------+-5(5)-----7-7p5----------------------+
G +--0--0----0--0--0--------0--2h4------+-5(5)-----5-5 ----------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
I met a gin-soaked bar room queen in Memphis

FIRST GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +--8p6---------0--1--0-------2----3---+--3---2--------------7---8-8p7-------+
G +--7---7--7----0--0--0-------2----2---+--2---2--------------7---7-7 -------+
D +------8--7----0--2--0-------2----4---+--4---2--------------7---9-9p7-------+
G +----------------------------2----2---+--2---2--------------7---7-7 -------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
She tried to take me upstairs for a ride
FIRST GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
G +-----------0------------0--0---------+-0------0--0-------------0-----------+
D +------------------------0--0---------+-0------0--0-------------------------+
G +---0--2h4------5----2---0--0---------+-0------0--0----0--2h4---------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
(see variant below) She had to heave me right across her

FIRST GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +------5------6-6p5-----8p6-----------+----------------------7--------------+
G +---5--5------5-5 -----7---7--7--0---+-7--0-------------0---7--------------+
D +---5--5------7-7p5---------8--7--0---+-7--0-----------------7--------------+
G +---5---------5-5---------------------+---------0--2h4-------7--------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
shoulder I just can't seem to drink her

FIRST GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +--7--7--0----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
G +--7--7--0---------0-0-0-0-0-0--0-0---+--0-0-0-0-0-0--0-0-------------------+
D +--7--7--0---------0-0-2-0-0-0--2-0---+--0-0-2-0-0-0--2-0-------------------+
G +--7--7--0---------0-0-0-0-0-0--0-0---+--0-0-0-0-0-0--0-0-------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

SECOND GUITAR ^^^^
D +-----------------------17-17-17-17---+-------------------------------------+
B +------8------------------------------+------------15-----------------------+
G +--5/7---7---------17b/---------------+-17b\--14b/-----14b\-12--------------+
D +----------8--5-----------------------+-------------------------------------+
G +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
off my mind

1ST CHORUS :

FIRST GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +-------------------------------------+------------------------0-0----------+
G +-----0--0----0--0-0-0--0--0---7-7--7-+--7-7-7--7-7----0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0------+
D +-----0--0----2--0-0-0--2--0---7-7--9-+--7-7-7--9-7----0-0-2-0-0-0-2-0------+
G +-----0--0----0--0-0-0--0--0---7-7--7-+--7-7-7--7-7----0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

SECOND GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
B +-------------------------------------+---------------12-12-13-12-12h13--12--+
G +-------------------------------------+---------------12-12-12-12-12-12--12--+
D +-------------------------------------+---------------12-12-14-12-12h14--12--+
G +-------------------------------------+---------------12-12-12-12------------+
D +-------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+

BASS
G +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
A +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
E +------3---3-3-----------3----10--10--+-10------10-----3--3-3---------------+
And it's a hon_ hon_ hon hon ky tonk woman

FIRST GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +-----------0-0-----------------------+-------------------------------------+
G +--0-0--0-0-0-0-0-0-------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +--0-0--2-0-0-0-2-0-------------------+-------------------------------------+
G +--0-0--0-0-0-0-0-0-------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

SECOND GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +--12-12-13-12-12h13--12--------------+-------------------------------------+
G +--12-12-12-12-12-12--12--------------+-------------------------------------+
D +--12-12-14-12-12h14--12--------------+-------------------------------------+
G +--12-12-12-12------------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

G +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
A +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
E +--3------3-3-------------------------+-------------------------------------+

SECOND GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------17-----17---+
B +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
G +-------------------------------------+---------------------17b/---17b/-----+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
G +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

BASS
G +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
A +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
E +----3---3-3------------3----10--10-10+---------10---3----3-3---------------+
Gimme gimme gimme the honky tonk blues

FIRST GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +----------0-0------------------------+-------------------------------------+
G +--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +--0-0-2-0-0-0-2-0--------------------+-------------------------------------+
G +--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

SECOND GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +------------15-----------------------+-------------------------------------+
G +-17b\--14b/----14b\-12---------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
G +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
(this last G [12] must not be played when you chain with the solo)
BASS
G +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
A +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
E +--3---3-3----------------------------+-------------------------------------+

2nd CHORUS (Instruments only):

FIRST GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +-------------0--0--------------------+----0--0-----------------------5--5--+
G +-0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0----0--0--0---+-0--0--0--0--0-----5--5--5--5--5--5--+
D +-0--0--2--0--0--0--2--0----0--0--2---+-0--0--0--2--0-----5--5--7--5--5--5--+
G +-0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0----0--0--0---+-0--0--0--0--0-----5--5--5--5--5--5--+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

SECOND GUITAR

D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +15--15-15-15-------12-----14---------+------------------------5-6-6p5------+
G +14b/14b14b14b14b\--12--12-14-12-12---+------12-14b/\-12-------5-5-5--------+
D +---------------------14--------------+-12h14------------14--5-5-7-7p5------+
G +-------------------------------------+----------------------5---5-5--------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

BASS
G +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
A +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
E +--3-----3--3--------------3----3--3--+-----------3-------8---8--8----------+

FIRST GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +----------------------5--5-----------+-------------------------------------+
G +---5--5---5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5-----+-0---0---0---0---0---0---------------+
D +---7--5---5--5--7--5--5--5--7--5-----+-0---0---0---0---0---0---------------+
G +---5--5---5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5-----+-0---0---0---0---0---0---------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

SECOND GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +-------------------------------------+15--15-15-15----12----12-14-12-14----+
G +-------------------------------------+14b/14b14b14b14\12----12-14-12-14----+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------14----------------+
G +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

BASS
G +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
A +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
E +---------8------8--8--------8--------+-3----3---3--------3-----------------+

FIRST GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +------------------------7-7-8-8------+--7-7-8-8----7-7-8--7----------------+
G +--2-2-2--2-2--2---------7-7-7-7------+--7-7-7-7----7-7-7--7----------------+
D +--2-2-2--2-2--2---------7-7-9-9------+--7-7-9-9----7-7-9--7----------------+
G +--2-2-2--2-2--2---------7-7-7-7------+--7-7-7-7----7-7-7--7----------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

SECOND GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +--------------10--------7-8-8p7------+-------------------------------------+
G +--------9--11----11-----7-7-7--------+-------------------------------------+
D +--9h11------------------7-9-9p7------+-------------------------------------+
G +------------------------7-7-7--------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

BASS
G +-------------------------------------+---7---------------7-----------------+
D +----------------------------4-5-6----+-7-------4-5-6-7---------------------+
A +------------------------5-5----------+-----5-------------------------------+
E +--5---5--5---5-----------------------+-------------------------------------+

SECOND GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +15--15-15-15-------12-----14---------+------------------------5-6-6p5------+
G +14b/14b14b14b14b\--12--12-14-12-12---+------12-14b/\-12-------5-5-5--------+
D +---------------------14--------------+-12h14------------14--5-5-7-7p5------+
G +-------------------------------------+----------------------5---5-5--------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

BASS
G +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
A +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
E +--3---3-3---------3------3----3------+-----------3-----8------8-8----------+

FIRST GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +----------------------5--5-----------+-------------------------------------+
G +---5--5---5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5-----+-0---0---0---0-0-0---0---0-----------+
D +---7--5---5--5--7--5--5--5--7--5-----+-0---0---2---0-0-0---2---0-----------+
G +---5--5---5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5-----+-0---0---0---0-0-0---0---0-----------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

SECOND GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-15b/\---------------------------------+
B +-------------------------------------+------13b/\-------------12----------12-+
G +-------------------------------------+--------------15-14b/\--12----14b/\-12-+
D +-------------------------------------+---------------------------14----------+
G +-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+

BASS
G +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
A +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
E +-------------------8--8--------------+-3------3-3--------------------------+

FIRST GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +------------7-7----------------------+----0-0-------0-0-----0--------------+
G +--7--7-7-7--7-7--7--7-----0--0--0----+--0-0-0-0--0--0-0-0---0--------------+
D +--7--7-9-7--7-7--9--7-----0--0--2----+--0-0-0-2--0--0-0-2---0--------------+
G +--7--7-7-7--7-7--7--7-----0--0--0----+--0-0-0-0--0--0-0-0---0--------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

SECOND GUITAR
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
B +-14----------------12----------------+-------------------------------------+
G +-14-------12--14b\-12-----12---------+-------------------------------------+
D +----12h14----------------------------+-------------------------------------+
G +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

BASS
G +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
D +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
A +-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
E +--10---10-10-----10-------3----3-3---+-3-----3--3---------3----------------+

VARIANT
D +-------------------------------------+
B +-------------------------------------+
G +-------------0----------0--0---0-----+
D +------------------------0--0---0--etc+
G +----0---2h4----4p2--0---0--0---0-----+
D +-------------------------------------+

Tabbed by myself . All suggestions welcome here :

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