Ray Charles

Hit The Road, Jack(Tabs)

Ray Charles

Watch the video lesson
Key: Am

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	        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 someEday,
   *Don't Am care if you G do, cause it's F underEstood,*
   *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
	        

Written by Percy Mayfield

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