If Tab
This is the way I believe the song should be tabbed. The picking pattern is
constant throughout most of the song: strings 4, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2. The
second time through the chorus, when you get to the end of the second line, jump
down to the ending. The easiest way to play measures six and seven of the chorus
is to bar the entire 2nd fret and finger the third string, third fret for measure
six; then move your finger down to the second string, third fret for measure
seven. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, e-mail me at
lmeyerjr@sbcglobal.net.
INTRO:
E-----------0--------0----+----------0--------0----+----------0---------0-----+
B-----0--------0--------0-+----0--------0--------0-+----0---------0---------0-+
G--------6--------6-------+-------4--------4-------+-------4---------4--------+
D--7----------------------+-6----------------------+-5------------------------+
A-------------------------+------------------------+--------------------------+
E-------------------------+------------------------+--------------------------+
E-----------0--------0----+----------0--------0----+----------0---------0-----+
B-----0--------0--------0-+----3--------3--------3-+----2---------2---------2-+
G--------2--------2-------+-------2--------2-------+-------2---------2--------+
D--4----------------------+-3----------------------+-2------------------------+
A-------------------------+------------------------+--------------------------+
E-------------------------+------------------------+--------------------------+
VERSE:
E-----------1--------1----+-------------0----------+
B-----0--------0--------0-+----------3-------------+
G--------2--------2-------+-------1----------------+
D--0----------------------+------------------------+
A-------------------------+----2-------------------+
E-------------------------+-0----------------------+
1. If a
E-----------0--------0----+----------0--------0----+----------0---------0-----+
B-----0--------0--------0-+----0--------0--------0-+----0---------0---------0-+
G--------6--------6-------+-------4--------4-------+-------4---------4--------+
D--7----------------------+-6----------------------+-5------------------------+
A-------------------------+------------------------+--------------------------+
E-------------------------+------------------------+--------------------------+
pic - ture paints a thou - sand words then why can't I paint
face could launch a thou - sand ships, then where am I to
man could be two pla - ces at one time, I'd be with
world should stop re - volv - ing, spin - ning slow - ly down to
E-----------0--------0----+----------0--------0----+----------0---------0-----+
B-----0--------0--------0-+----3--------3--------3-+----2---------2---------2-+
G--------2--------2-------+-------2--------2-------+-------2---------2--------+
D--4----------------------+-3----------------------+-2------------------------+
A-------------------------+------------------------+--------------------------+
E-------------------------+------------------------+--------------------------+
you? The words will nev - er show the
go? There's no one home but you, you're
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/b/bread/if_tab_ver_5.html ]
you, to - mor - row and to - day be -
die, I'd spend the end with you, and
E-----------1--------1----+-------------0----------+
B-----0--------0--------0-+----------3-----3-------+
G--------2--------2-------+-------1-----------1----+
D--0----------------------+------------------------+
A-------------------------+----2-------------------+
E-------------------------+-0----------------------+
you I've come to know. If a
all that's left me to. And (to chorus)
side you all the way. If the
when the world was through, then (to chorus)
CHORUS:
E-----------2--------2----+----------2--------2----+----------2---------2-----+
B-----2--------2--------2-+----2--------2--------2-+----2---------2---------2-+
G--------2--------2-------+-------2--------2-------+-------2---------2--------+
D--4----------------------+-3----------------------+-2------------------------+
A-------------------------+------------------------+--------------------------+
E-------------------------+------------------------+--------------------------+
1. when my love for life is run - ning
2. one by one the stars would all go
E-----------2--------2----+----------0--------0----+----------2---------2-----+
B-----0--------0--------0-+----0--------0--------0-+----2---------2---------2-+
G--------2--------2-------+-------0--------0-------+-------3---------3--------+
D--0----------------------+------------------------+--------------------------+
A-------------------------+-4----------------------+--------------------------+
E-------------------------+------------------------+-2------------------------+
dry you come and pour your -
out, then you and I would
E-----------2--------2----+-------------0----------+
B-----3--------3--------3-+----------3-------------+
G--------2--------2-------+-------1----------------+
D-------------------------+------------------------+
A--2----------------------+----2-------------------+
E-------------------------+-0----------------------+
self on me. 2. If a
ENDING:
E-----------2--------2----+----------2--------2----+----------0---------0-----+
B-----3--------3--------3-+----3--------3----------+----0---------0---------0-+
G--------2--------2-------+-------2--------2-------+-------6---------6--------+
D-------------------------+----------------------6-+-7------------------------+
A--2----------------------+------------------------+--------------------------+
E-------------------------+-0----------------------+--------------------------+
sim - ply fly a - way.
E-----------2--------2----+----------1-------------+-----0--------------------+
B-----3--------3--------3-+----3--------3--------3-+----2---------------------+
G--------2--------2-------+-------2--------2-------+---2----------------------+
D--4----------------------+-3-----------------3----+--2-----------------------+
A-------------------------+------------------------+-0------------------------+
E-------------------------+------------------------+--------------------------+
IF
BY:BREAD
CHORD SHEET BY ANTHONY JOHNSON
These chords are played by picking the 4th and 1st string at the same time
then the 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd 1st strings. On E7 the 5th and 1st are played together.
As you play the last "A" all strings are strummed top to bottom slowly
This is my best interpretation of this song.
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/b/bread/if_crd_ver_2.html ]
Verse:1
A C#m A7 Dadd9
002220 002120 002020 004230
If a picture paints a thousand words, Then why can't I paint you,
Dadd9m A Dm6 E7
003230 002220 000201 020100
The words will never show, The you I've come to know,
A C#m A7 Dadd9
If a face could launch a thousand ships, Then where am I to go,
Dadd9m A Dm6 E7
There's no one home but you, You're all thats left me too,
F#m c#aug5 c#maug5 D6
04222 003224 002225 000202
And when my love for life is running dry,
C#m F#7 Bmi E7
002120 004320 004432 020100
You come and pour yourself on me.
Verse:2
A C#m A7 Dadd9
If a man could be two places at one time, I'd be with you,
Dadd9m A Dm6 E7
Tomorrow and today, Beside you all the way.
A C#m A7 Dadd9
If the world should stop revolving, Spinning slowly down to die,
Dadd9m A Dm6 E7
I'd spend the end with you, And when the world was through,
F#m c#aug5 c#maug5 D6
Then one by one, the stars would all go out,
C#m F#7 Bmi E7 A(strummed slowly)
Then you and I, would s imply fly away.
alternate chords for intro
A E7 Em7 Dadd9 Dadd9m A Dm6
007600 006400 005400 004230 003230 002220 000201
E7
020130
IF - Bread
picking on strings: e+D - B - G - e - B - G - e - D
Intro
A* - E7 - Em7 - Dadd9/e - Dadd9m - A - Dm - E7
A* E7
If a picture paints a thousand words,
Em7 Dadd9/e
Then why can't I paint you,
Dmadd9/e A
The words will never show,
Dm E7
The you I've come to know,
A* E7
If a face could launch a thousand ships,
Em7 Dadd9/e
Then where am I to go,
Dmadd9/e A
There's no one home but you,
Dm E7
You're all thats left me too,
F#m * Amaj7/F A/E D6/e
And when my love for life is running dry,
Em F# Bm7/e E7*
You come and pour your- self on me.
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/b/bread/if_crd_ver_4.html ]
A* E7
If a man could be two places at one
Em7 Dadd9/e
time, I'd be with you,
Dmadd9/e A
To- morrow and to- day,
Dm E7
Be- side you all the way.
A* E7
If the world should stop re- volving,
Em7 Dadd9/e
Spinning slowly down to die,
Dmadd9/e A
I'd spend the end with you,
Dm E7
And when the world was through,
F#m* Amaj7/F A/E D6/e
Then one by one, the stars would all go out,
Em F# Bm7/e E7**
Then you and I, would simply fly a-
A* Dsus2 - Dm6 - A*
way //
A* xx7600
E7 xx6400
Em7 xx5400
Dadd9/e xx4230
Dmadd9/e xx3230
A xx2220
Dm xx0231
E7 xx0130
F#m* xx4222
Amaj7/F xx3224
A/E xx2225
D6/e xx0202
Em xx2000
F# xx4322
Bm7/e xx4432
E7* xx2130
E7** xx2134
A* x02220
Dsus2 xx0230
Dm6 xx0201