The Tragically Hip - Ahead by a Century

      
 
 The Tragically Hip - Ahead by a Century
 =======================================
 
 This song is easy to strum along to - the one tough part is the intro, which is
 throughout the song. Read my notes on the fingerings if you find it difficult. If
 rather
 learn it, just play D and E (see the simple tab below to know when to play them).
 
 Legend:
 V = downbeat
 ^ = upbeat
 
 EADGBe
 A = X02220
 A2 = 002200 (Asus2 or Esus4)
 Cadd9 = X32030 (or Cadd2)
 D = X00232
 D2 = X00230 (Dsus2)
 D* = X00235 (an alternate of D)
 E = 022100
 E4 = 002100 (Eadd4 or Amaj7sus2)
 E4* = 002X00 (an alternate of Eadd4)
 G/B = X20033
 
 The Intro
 =========
 
 The simple melody, broken down (with the simple chords):
 
 D                       E      
 V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^

 e |-2-----------0-------5-------2-|-----5-------------------------|
 B |-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
 G |-------------------------------|-----------------1---2---1-----|
 D |-------------------------------|-------------2---------------2-|
 A |-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
 E |-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
 

 
 But if you want to strum and play the melody, you'll need the chords. When you strum,
 harder on the area where the melody is carried (i.e. on the higher strings during the D
 and on the middle ones during the E4 and A2 stuff) and it'll come through.
 
 D D2 D* D D* E4* E4 A2 E4 E4*
 V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^ V ^

 e |-2-----------0-------5-------2-|-----5-------0---0---0---0---0-|
 B |-3-----------3-------3-------3-|-----3-------0---0---0---0---0-|
 G |-2-----------2-------2-------2-|-----2-----------1---2---1-----|
 D |-0-----------0-------0-------0-|-----0-------2---2---2---2---2-|
 A |-0-----------0-------0-------0-|-----0-------0---0---0---0---0-|
 E |-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
 

 
 The trick to the D part is the fingering. When playing the first D, use your index
 to bar the G, B, and e strings on the 2nd fret, and your middle finger on the B string on
 3rd fret. This way, you can lift your index finger off the E string to play the D2, and
 your pinky finger over to the 5th fret to reach the D* chord.
 
 The Song
 ========
 
 Intro x4 (see above notes)
 
 D                            
 First thing we'd climb a tree
 D                       
 And maybe then we'd talk
 D              
 Or sit silently
 D                         Cadd9 
 And listen to our thoughts
                      D 
 Illusions of some day
                       Cadd9 
 Casting a golden light
                   D 
 No dress rehearsal
 
 This is our life
 
 Intro x2
 
 D                                  Cadd9 
 And that's when the hornet stung me
                       D   
 And I had a feverish dream
                     Cadd9 
 With revenge and doubt
                        D 
 Tonight we smoke them out
 
 A                          
  You are ahead by a century
 G/B                        
  You are ahead by a century
 A                          G/B 
  You are ahead by a century
 
 Intro x4
 
 D                          
 Stare in the morning shroud
 D                     
 And then the day began
 D                  
 I tilted your cloud
 D                 Cadd9 
 You tilted my hand
                        D 
 Rain falls in real time
                            Cadd9 
 Rain fell through the night
                    D 
 No dress rehearsals
 
 This is our life
 
 D 
  
 
 D                                  Cadd9 
 But that's when the hornet stung me
                      D   
 And I had a serious dream
                     Cadd9 
 With revenge and doubt
                        D 
 Tonight we smoke them out
 
 A                          
  You are ahead by a century
 G/B                        
  You are ahead by a century
 A                          G/B 
  You are ahead by a century
 
 A                          
  You are ahead by a century
 G/B                        
  You are ahead by a century
 A                          G/B 
  You are ahead by a century
 
                          D             
 And disappointing you's getting me down
 
 Intro x6
 
 Other Notes
 ===========
 
 During the verses, feel free to play around with a D2 during the long D part.
 
 The strumming pattern of the verses goes something like this:
 
 Beat: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
 Emphasis: * * * * * *
 Rhythm: 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 1 2
 
 Hope this makes sense. Enjoy learning an awesome song!