Ray Charles - Hit The Road Jack

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From: longmire@mcs.com (Bob Longmire)
Subject: TAB: Hit the Road Jack / Ray Charles

This is my first post here, and I'm not exactly sure about the credits.
I believe Ray wrote this himself.  If anyone knows better, let me know.
I'll hold off before posting this to Nevada.

Enjoy --

TITLE:  HIT THE ROAD, JACK          Written by  :  Ray Charles
                                       Arranged by :  Bob Longmire

MAIN RIFF (aka Chorus):  (**)

(1)          (2)
   E -0---0-|-------------|-------0--0-|-0--0--5--5-|-8--8--5-0----|
   B -------|-1-----------|-1--3-------|------------|--------------|
   G -------|----2------2-|------------|------------|--------------|
   D -------|-------------|------------|------------|--------------|
   A -------|-0--0--------|------------|-0--0-------|-8--8---------|
   E ---0---|--------3--3-|-1--1--0--0-|-------3--3-|-------0----0-|

(3)             (4)                                (5)
   E --------------------|-------0----|------------|----------0----|
   B ----0h1-------------|-1--3-----1-|----1--0----|-1--1--0-------|
   G ---------2-----2----|------------|-2--2--0----|-2--2--1-------|
   D --------------------|------------|----2--0----|-3--3--2-------|
   A ------0--0----------|------------|-0--0-------|---------------|
   E ------------3--3----|-1--1--0--0-|-------3--3-|-1--1--0-----0-|

(**) Repeat this a few times as needed.

VERSE: (**)

(6)                  (7)
   E --5--5p3--0-----------------|--------------0------|
   B -------------1--3--1--3--1--|--3-----4------------|
   G ----------------------------|---------------------|
   D ----------------------------|---------------------|
   A -----0----0-----------------|---------------------|
   E ----------------3-----3-----|--1-----1-----0---0--|

(8)                      (9)
   E --0--0-------------|------------|-5--5--5--5--5--0----0--|
   B --------3--1-------|-1----------|------------------------|
   G --------------2--2-|----2--2----|------------------------|
   D -------------------|------------|------------------------|
   A -----0--0----------|------------|----0--0----------------|
   E -----------3--3----|-1--1--0--0-|-------------3-----3----|

(10)
   E --------0----|-0-0----------|----------0-----|
   B --3--4-------|------3--1----|-1--------------|
   G -------------|------------2-|----2--2--------|
   D -------------|--------------|----------------|
   A -------------|---0--0-------|----------------|
   E --1--1--0--0-|---------3--3-|-1--1--0-----0--|

(**)  Sandwich in between main riffs

NOTES on main riff:

(1)  Leave no fingers on the fretboard here.  Get into position
        for the next two-note chord.

(2)  Using the higher F is a form of cheating, but when played up
        to speed the octave change is hidden.  This is the main trick
        of the piece.

(3)  The measure actually starts with the hammered-on C.  I didn't
        include the bar only because it looked hard to read that way.

(4)  It takes extra practice to move the left index finger from
        the second-string C to the sixth-string F.  Same as bar 2.

(5)  This is the same high E as the first note in the main riff, so
        you can see that the timing is not exact.  I hope you can get
        the idea through the feel of this rather than exact notation.

NOTES on Verse:

(6)  Set the left index finger on the second-string C now, and use
        the pinky for the D.  The ring finger can handle the bass G.

(7)  Same as note 4.

(8)  Use a full first-fret barre to fret both the second and sixth
        strings.  Keep the ring finger on the A while changing this.

(9)  Syncopate the bass with the melody here.

(10)  The second verse has an extra 4 bars.  Make it up as I'm getting
        tired of doing this.

FINGERING:

I find it easier to use the pinky to fret the low G on the first
   four measures, and to use the thumb for the F. (Please don't flame
   this part; I have had lessons but sometimes expediency prevails over
   theoretical technique.)  This keeps the right hand in a good position
   for doing both melody and the step-down bass.

[CRDPRO]

Main Riff (aka Chorus)

Hit the [Am] Road Jack [G] and [F] don'tcha come [E] back
   No [Am] more no [G] more no [F] more no [E] more,
   Hit the [Am] Road Jack [G] and [F] don'tcha come [E] back
   No [Am] more  [G]  [F] [E]

"What'd you say"
         ... Chorus ...

Verse 1

Old [Am] woman old [G] woman, oh you [F] treat me so [E] mean,
   You're the [Am] meanest old [G] woman that I [F] ever have [E] seen,
   Well I [Am] guess if [G] you say [F] so [E]
   I'll [Am] have to pack my [G] things and [F] go [E] *that's right*

... Chorus ...
         "What'd you SAY?!?!"
         ... Chorus ...

Verse 2

Now [Am] Baby, listen [G] Baby, don't you [F] treat me this-a [E] way
   'Cause [Am] I'll be [G] back on my [F] feet some[E]day,
   *Don't [Am] care if you [G] do, cause it's [F] under[E]stood,*
   *You [Am] got no [G] money, and you [F] just ain't no [E] good*
   Well I [Am] guess if [G] you say [F] so [E]
   I'll [Am] have to pack my [G] things and [F] go *that's [E] right*

... Chorus ...
         "What'd you SAY?!?!"
         ... Chorus ...

Coda

Repeat [Am] [G] [F] [E] ...

"Well ...
    Uh, whud jou say?
    I didn't understand you.
    You can't mean that ...
    Aw now Baby, Please.
    What you tryin to do to ME!?"

And Fade.

Regards,

^^^^
     --oo   longmire@mcs.net
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