Nobody’s Hero: Tablature

By Tony Zimmermann

Excerpted from Fretplay.

A brief note on chords. There are 3 chord namings which I should explain.

1) The suspended seconds (sus2). People with some chord theory should know
this, but for the less informed, its always root 5th barre chord with the
2nd string “open”. So a Csus2 is played like:
E|-3- For the Bbsus2 just move down the fret board. The Ebsus2 is played
B|-3- differently. See below.
G|-5-
D|-5-
A|-3-
E|—

2) The Ebsus2. This has a very low sound to it, so I think Alex fingers it
like so:
E|-1-
B|-4-
G|-3-
D|-1-
A|-1-
E|—

3) The Gm/A. Now I *know* this is the wrong name for the chord, but I have
absolutely no idea what its proper name is. My handy-dandy book of 7,488
guitar chords doesn’t seem to have it. Anyway, I finger it like this:
E|-3- If this looks kinda wacko, there is precedent for it. Alex plays
B|-3- the same chord in _Lock and Key_. Check the video if you don’t
G|-3- believe me 🙂
D|-5-
A|-3-
E|-5-

The “Gm/A” chord may not sound quite right when you play it, but that’s
probably because Alex uses a “Nashville tuning” technique for his guitar.
I’m not terribly familiar with this method, but I believe it involves
replacing the low, heavy, E, A, D strings with lighter guage ones so they
are tuned up to the same octave as the higher strings. So when you listen
to the cd at the “Gm Gm/A” change, it actually sounds like the change in
fingering is occuring on the higher stirings, but I don’t think it is. It
sounds to me like the E, B, and G strings are unchanged through that chord
change. But anyway, if you think you have a better idea than that by all
means correct me.

As far as the two solos go, I haven’t had time to figure them out, so they
aren’t included. Chords only. Sorry.

Strumming is pretty much the key to this tune. There is no way I can
effectively transcribe the strumming pattern here but if you listen to the
cd and get a feel for the rhythm and where the chord changes occur, you
should be able to get pretty close to the original.

Warning: Playing this song on an acoustic with a thick neck may cause
severe cramping of the left hand (it did for me anyways – but then maybe its
just me; I get the same thing playing Distant Early Warning). 🙂

So, on with our show.

intro:
Gm F Bbsus2 Csus2
Gm Gm/A F

verse 1:
Gm F Bbsus2
I knew he was different …
Gm Gm/A F
I went to his parties as the …
Gm F Bbsus2
He never seemed a threat to …
Gm Gm/A F
He only introduced me to …

Ebsus2

Gm F Bbsus2
As the years went by we …
Gm Gm/A Dm Csus2 Bbsus2
When I heard that he …

chorus1:
Dm
But he’s ….
Csus2
– Saves a ….
Am G
– Cures a …

F
Hero
Am < — I hear a Dm here… Z.
– Lands a crippled …
Csus2 G
– Solves …

Dm
Hero

For complete tab, go to Fretplay.

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