IF I NEEDED YOU
                    Townes Van Zandt
          Copyright © 1972 Columbine and UA Music
              Performing rights w/ASCAP
             http://www.ascap.com/ace/ACE.html
#-------------------------PLEASE NOTE--------------------------#
#This file is an interpretation of Townes' work, and does not  #
#necessarily represent the actual way he recorded or performed # 
#the song, and is not intended to be used for any purpose other#
#than for private study, scholarship, or research              #
#--------------------------------------------------------------#

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Submitted by David Byboth via about-townes@physitron.com
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On Jun 2,  1:14pm, Rolland Heiss wrote:
I would be interested in tab to "If I Needed You".  I figured out a
way  to pick it that sounds ok but not quite right I'm afraid.  I
noticed that Townes often used that southern method of picking like on
"Waiting Around to Die" where the thumb plays out a steady beat while
the rest of the fingers do something different.  I haven't mastered
this yet but figured out a pretty fair way to play "Waiting Around to
Die" that sounds good.
I've only been trying to pick seriously for about a year.  Before that
I strummed chords mostly.  I began playing guitar in the early 1980's
and love it.  I can barely get through a day without picking up the
guitar at least once.  Every evening I try to write a song; sometimes
they come and sometimes not.

Man.... I should be careful what I volunteer to do!... I got hammered
with requests for this.....when are all you pickers going to come to
Dallas and play some Townes songs with me?

The pick is very much as Rolland describes.... it's a little hard to
keep the thumb cranking out the bass rhythem while the fingers are
doing their work butwith some practice it all comes together....

To get you started (It may take me a while to get a real tab done with
all the fill in stuff) you have to play it in G.  I play it with the
Capo on the fourth fret.  While fingering a regular G Chord (you have
to finger it with your little finger on the high string to free up
your pointer!) the fingers pick:

NOTE: I just tabbed this at work from memory with no guitar...it has
just the basic bass and lead line.  I'll check it tonight but it
should be close enough to get everyone started, feel free to feed me
back corrections. (backchannel)

Learn it without the hammers first then you can work in the timing to
hammer on the notes with a "h" on them.

The lower D,A, and E string are all thumb work...




   G                                                         C
E --------------------------------------------------------0-----
B ----0-1h--0--------0-----1---3h---1--0---0-----1---3h------1--
G --0-----------0-----------------------------------------------
D ---0---0------------------------------------------------------
A -----------continue bass line --                        ---3--
E -3---3--------------------------                        ------
   If I nee-ded you, would you come to me, would you come to me

          D
E -----------------------
B -----------------------
G ------0----------------
D -2--2h---0-------------
A -------------0---------
E -----------------0-----

       and ease my pain?

If you needed me
I would come to you
I'd swim the seas
for to ease your pain

In the night forlorn
the morning's born
and the morning shines
with the lights of love
You will miss sunrise
if you close your eyes
that would break
my heart in two

The lady's with me now
since I showed her how
to lay her lily
hand in mine
Loop and Lil agree
she's a sight to see
and a treasure for
the poor to find