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THE HARD WAY EVERY TIME

( Jim Croce )

Written by Jim Croce in the key of D in 4/4 time
Released on the album: I Got A Name ( 1973 )
Fingerstyle version for single acoustic guitar
The Hard Way Every Time on Wikipedia | Live | YouTube
thumb: x
index: a
dirty: b
ring: c
pinky: d

Hammer on: h
Pull off: p
Slide up: /
Slide down: \
Arpeggio: ~~~

Bend up: )
Bend down: (
Press but don't play: !
Staccato: :
Mute: m

INTRO
The exact finger positions are important. Stay on 3d in the red marked part
e-----------2c----------------------|---------------------0-------|
b-----------3d----------------------|---------------------3dp2b---|
g-------2b------2b------------------|---------------------0-------|
D---0----------------------0--------|---------------------!-------|
A-------------------0h2a-------2a---|---------------0-------------|
E-----------------------------------|---0--2b--3c-----------------|

¼

¼

picking pattern:
x - a - bc - a
x - x - x - x - x - x - x - abc
!: grab 2a
repeat tab 1x

⅜

<--- Hint --->
... Well, I've ...

1ST VERSE ( D - D/C# - Bm - F#m - G - Bm - A - G - D )
... had my share of broken dreams ... and ...
e-----------2b-----------------2a-------|-----------2a---------------3c------|
b-----------3c-----------------3b-------|-----------2a---------------0-------|
g-------2a-----------------4d------4d---|-------2a-------2a-------0------0---|
D---0------------------!----------------|---!--------------------------------|
A----------------4d----2a---------------|---!--------------------------------|
E---------------------------------------|---2a----------------3b-------------|
<----------- full barré ----------->
... more than a couple of falls ... and in ...
e-----------2a----------------0--------|---------3d----------2b----------|
b-----------3b----------------2b-------|---------0-----------3c----------|
g-------4d------4d--------2a------2a---|------0----------2a---------2a---|
D---!-----------------!----------------|--------------0------------------|
A---2a----------------0----------------|-------------------------0-------|
E--------------------------------------|---3c----------------------------|
< full barré >

!: grab 4c and 4d

picking
x - a x - a x - a !: grab

... chasing what I thought were moonbeams ... I had ...
e-----------2b-----------------2a-------|-----------2a---------------3c------|
b-----------3c-----------------3b-------|-----------2a---------------0-------|
g-------2a-----------------4d------4d---|-------2a-------2a-------0------0---|
D---0------------------!----------------|---!--------------------------------|
A----------------4d----2a---------------|---!--------------------------------|
E---------------------------------------|---2a----------------3b-------------|
<----------- full barré ----------->
... run into a couple of walls ... But in ...
e-----------2a----------------0--------|---------3d-----------2c----------|
b-----------3b----------------2b-------|---------0------------3d----------|
g-------4d------4d--------2a------2a---|------0-----------2b---------2b---|
D---!-----------------!----------------|--------------0-------------------|
A---2a----------------0----------------|--------------------------0-------|
E--------------------------------------|---3c-----------------------------|
< full barré >

picking pattern:
x - a - bc - x
x - a - bc - a ( 3x )

pattern:
bc - a ( 2x )
bc
bc - x - a
4c and 2a

picking pattern:
x - a - bc - x
x - a - bc - a ( 3x )
!: grab 4c and 4d

picking
x - a x - a x - a !: grab

pattern:
bc - a ( 2x )
bc
b - x - a
4c and 2a

1ST CHORUS ( Bm - A - Em - F#m - G - Em - D/F# - G - A - Bm - A )
... lookin' back at the places I've been ... and the ...
e---------------2a--------------------|---------------0-------------------|
b-----------3b-------3b---------------|-----------2b------2b--------------|
g-------4d---------------4d------4d---|-------2a--------------2a-----2a---|
D---------------4c--------------------|---!-----------2a------------------|
A---2a-----------------------2a-------|---0-----------------------0-------|
E-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
<--------- full barré -------->
... changes that I've left behind ... I just ...
e-----------0-------------2a-------|---------------3c----------------|
b-----------0-------------2a-------|-----------0-------0-------------|
g-------0------0------2a------2a---|-------0--------------0------0---|
D----------------------------------|---------------0-----------------|
A----------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E---0-------------2a---------------|---3b--------------------3b------|
< full barré >

picking pattern:
x - a - b - xc - b - a - x - a ( 2x )

!: grab 2a

picking pattern:
x - a - bc - a ( 2x )
x - a - b - xc - b - a - x - a

... look at myself to find ...
e-----------0-----------0---------------|-----------3c---------3c---------|
b-----------0-----------0---------------|-----------0----------0----------|
g-------0-----------0----------2c-------|-------0-----------0---------0---|
D---!-----------2c----------------------|---------------0-----------------|
A---!-----------------------------------|---!-----------------------------|
E---0----------------------2b-------/---|---3b--------------------3b------|

picking pattern:
x - a - bc - x - a - bc - x - a ( 2x )

!: grab 2b, 2c & 2a

... I've learn the hard way ev'ry time ... Yeah, I've ...
e---------------0--------------------|--------------2a-------------------|
b-----------2d------2c---------------|----------3b------3b---------------|
g-------2c--------------2b------2b---|-------4d-------------4d------4d---|
D---!-----------2b-------------------|---!----------4c-------------------|
A---0-----------------------0--------|---2a---------------------2a-------|
E------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
<------- full barré -------->
e-----------0-----------0------------|
b-----------2b----------2b-----------|
g-------2a----------2a---------2a----|
D---!-----------2a-------------------|
A---0----------------------0---------|
E------------------------------------|

picking pattern:
x - a - b - xc - b - a - x - a ( 2x )

!: grab 2b & 4c

picking pattern:
x - a - bc - x - a - bc - x - a

!: grab 2a

2ND VERSE ( same tab as 1st verse )
...
...
...
...

had my share of good intentions ... and I've ...
made my share of mistakes ... and I've ...
learned at times it's best to bend ... 'cause if you ...
don't well those are the breaks ... Should have ...

2ND CHORUS ( same tab as 1st chorus )
...
...
...
...

listened to all the things I was told ... but I was ...
young and too proud at the time ... now I ...
look at myself to find ...
I've learn the hard way ev'ry time ...

INSTRUMENTAL
e-----------2b-----------------2a-------|-----------2a---------------3c------|
b-----------3c-----------------3b-------|-----------2a---------------0-------|
g-------2a-----------------4d------4d---|-------2a-------2a-------0------0---|
D---0------------------!----------------|---!--------------------------------|
A----------------4d----2a---------------|---!--------------------------------|
E---------------------------------------|---2a----------------3b-------------|
<----------- full barré ----------->
e-----------2a----------------0--------|---------3d-----------2c----------|
b-----------3b----------------2b-------|---------0------------3d----------|
g-------4d------4d--------2a------2a---|------0-----------2b---------2b---|
D---!-----------------!----------------|--------------0-------------------|
A---2a----------------0----------------|--------------------------0-------|
E--------------------------------------|---3c-----------------------------|
< full barré >
... But in ...

3RD CHORUS ( same tab as 2nd chorus )
...
...
...
...

looking back at the lessons I've learned ... and the ...
mountains I wanted to climb ... I just ...
look at myself to find ...
I've learned the hard way ev'ry time ... Cause I've ...

3RD VERSE ( same tab as 2nd verse )
...
...
...
...

had my share of broken dreams ... and ...
more than a couple of falls ... and in ...
chasing what I thought were moonbeams ... I have ...
run into a couple of walls ... But in ...

4TH CHORUS ( same tab as 3rd chorus )
...
...
...
...

looking back at the faces I've been ... I would ...
sure be the first one to say ... when I ...
look at myself today ...
I wouldn've done it any other way ...

OUTRO ( same tab as intro )
Finish the song with a strummed D chord

picking pattern:
x - a - bc - x
x - a - bc - a ( 3x )
!: grab 4c and 4d

picking
x - a x - a x - a !: grab

pattern:
bc - a ( 2x )
bc
b - x - c
4c and 2a