Blackbird Tab

by Alter Bridge
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Original Version, plus some improvements from You Tube footage.Was this info helpful?
Difficulty: intermediate
Tuning: Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb
Capo: no capo
Author jjhand [a] 50,527.
1 contributor total, last edit on Oct 11, 2016
We have an official Blackbird tab made by UG professional guitarists.
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Alter Bridge - Blackbird
from the album "Blackbird"
written by Mark Tremonti and Myles Kennedy
Tabbed by jjhand
Mark - Eb tuning (all strings tuned down 1/2 step)
Myles - Drop Db tuning, plays lower version of Mark's Chorus chords (not shown)
 
6/8 time ( 6 beats per bar)
 
*Updated Guitar parts 10/04/08. Great Pink Floyd influence, heavy riffs/rhythm, and Excellent solos!
One of Alter Bridge's best ever! Please rate and comment.
 
 
    [Intro/Verse Riff] - Acoustic (Riff 1)
Eb|--------------------------|-------------0----------|---------------------|
Bb|--------3-----------3-----|-------3---------3------|---------------------|
Gb|--3-------3-----2-----0---|-2-------2-----------2--|-2-----3---3p2-0-----|
Db|--------------------------|------------------------|-----------------0---|
Ab|--------------------------|------------------------|---------------------|
Eb|--3---3-----3---3-3-----0-|-2---2-----2-2---2-----0|-1---1---1-1---1-----|
    w/ Thumb
 
1st, 3rd ending
 
-|-------------------------|
-|-------------------------|
-|---------0-----------0---|
-|-------0-----------0-----|
-|-8---------8-------------|
-|-6---6-----6---5-5-----0-|
 
 
   2nd Ending                     4th ending
-|-------------------------|   |------------------------|
-|-------------------------|   |------------------------|
-|--------0----0-----0-----|   |-------0----------------|
-|------0----------7-------|   |-----0------------0-----|
-|-8----------8------------|   |--8--------3----1-------|
-|-6--6-----6-5--5-----0---|   |--6------0-1--1-----0---|
 
Note that the main Verse riff is played 4x with the same endings on the
first and third time playing through you play the same notes.
 
 
Eerie Guitar 2 lick (0:37-0:55)       *Let ring & hold bends
Eb|---------------|-------------|-------------|----------------|
Bb|-8-------------|-8b10--------|-(b10)-b11---|-b10------------|
Gb|---------------|-------------|-------------|----------------|
Db|---------------|-------------|-------------|----------------|
Ab|---------------|-------------|-------------|----------------|
Eb|---------------|-------------|-------------|----------------|
 
 
   [Prechorus] - A heavy distortion part before Chorus
Eb|---------------|-------------|-------------|--------------|
Bb|---------------|-------------|-------------|--------------|
Gb|---------------|-------------|-------------|--3--3--5--5--|
Db|---------------|-------------|-------------|--3--3--3--3--|
Ab|---------------|-------------|-------------|--1--1--0--0--|
Eb|--3~~---5b6r5--|-2~~--5b6r5--|-1~~--5b6r5--|--------------|
 
 
  [Chorus] - Mark's part -                  Listen to song for strum rhythm
Eb|------------|----------|-----------|-----------|------------|-----------|
Bb|------------|----------|-----------|-----------|------------|-----------|
Gb|--8---------|-7--------|-----------|--0--------|--8---------|--7--------|
Db|--8---------|-7--------|--3--------|--2--------|--8---------|--7--------|
Ab|--6---------|-5--------|--3--------|--3--------|--6---------|--5--------|
Eb|--6---------|-5--------|--1--------|--0--------|--6---------|--5--------|
 
 
[Transition Lick] (Guitar 2), Other guitar plays Acoustic Riff over these bars
Eb|--|--|--|----------|-----------|---------------|------------|------|
Bb|--|--|--|---b15r13-|-10--------|---------------|--10--------|------|
Gb|--|--|--|----------|----12-12~-|---12-12-12-12-|----12-12~--|------|
Db|--|--|--|----------|-----------|---------------|------------|------|
Ab|--|--|--|----------|-----------|---------------|------------|------|
Eb|--|--|--|----------|-----------|---------------|------------|------|
 
 
Play Acoustic, Eerie part, Prechorus, and Chorus again then:
 
 
After 2nd Chorus (Fill 1)
Eb|---------------|-----------------|
Bb|---------------|-----------------|
Gb|---------------|-----------------|
Db|--5--5---7--7--|--8--8---10--10--|
Ab|---------------|-----------------|
Eb|--3--3---5--5--|--6--6---8---8---|
 
 
Play Chorus again except last bar (Db Chord)
 
Riff 3
    Both Guitars
Eb|------------|------------|---------------|-----------|--------------|-----------|
Bb|------------|------------|---------------|-----------|--------------|-----------|
Gb|--7---------|-7----------|--8-7---8-7-5--|--7--------|--------------|--7--------|
Db|--8---------|-7----------|--8-7---8-7-5--|--7--------|------4-5-4---|--7--------|
Ab|--5---------|-5----------|--6-5---6-5-3--|--5--------|--5-6-------6-|--5--------|
Eb|------------|-5----------|--6-5---6-5-3--|--5--------|--------------|--5--------|
 
 
                                               Start Interlude, {Gtr. 2}
Eb|---------------|-----------|----------------|-------------|--------|
Bb|---------------|-----------|----------------|-------------|--------|
Gb|--8-7---8-7-5--|--7--------|----------------|-------------|--------|
Db|--8-7---8-7-5--|--7--------|------4-8-7-/10-|-------------|--------|
Ab|--6-5---6-5-3--|--5--------|--5-6-----------|-{10~~----5/-|--8~}---|
Eb|--6-5---6-5-3--|--5--------|----------------|--3----------|--------|
 
 
 
 
Clean Tone Gtr. 1
[Interlude] - Play 16 times & end on this note
 
Eb|-----------15----13------|--15------|
Bb|--------12----12----12--o|----------|
Gb|--12-12------------------|----------|
Db|-------------------------|----------|
Ab|------------------------o|----------|
Eb|-------------------------|----------|
 
 
 
 
After first 8 bars, Gtr. 2 play Riff 4:
Eb|--------------------|--------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
Bb|--------------------|--------------------|---------------------|----------/6-------|
Gb|------5---7-5---5h7-|------5---8-7---5h7-|------5---7--5---5h7-|------5------8p7p5-|
Db|--5-5---5-----5-----|--5-5---5-----5-----|--5-5---5------5-----|--5-5---5----------|
Ab|--------------------|--------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
Eb|--------------------|--------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
 
Eb|---------------------|------------------|--------------------|----------------|
Bb|---------------------|------------------|--------------------|----------------|
Gb|-------5---5p3-2-3h5-|------7---7-5p3p2-|------5---7-5---5h7-|------5---5/7~--|
Db|---5-5---5-----------|--5-5---5---------|--5-5---5-----5-----|--5-5---5-------|
Ab|---------------------|------------------|--------------------|----------------|
Eb|---------------------|------------------|--------------------|----------------|
 
 
 
 
Riff 5 played 2x, as singing begins
Eb|-------------------|----------------|------------------|-------------|
Bb|-------------------|----------------|------3---3p2--0--|--2--2--2--2-|
Gb|-------3----3p2-0--|--2---3p2-------|------------------|-------------|
Db|---5-5-------------|-----------5--5-|--5---------------|-------------|
Ab|-------------------|----------------|------------------|-------------|
Eb|-------------------|----------------|------------------|-------------|
 
Eb|-------------------|----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
Bb|-------------------|----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
Gb|------3----3p2-0---|-------------5--|------3-------3--|-----0--2--2b3r2-|
Db|---0---------------|--4--5---5p4----|--0-------0------|--0--------------|
Ab|-------------------|----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
Eb|-------------------|----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
 
Eb|-------------------|----------------|------------------|---------------|
Bb|-------------------|----------------|------3---3p2--0--|--5--3--2/3--2-|
Gb|-------3----3p2-0--|--2---2b3r2-----|------------------|---------------|
Db|---5-5-------------|-----------5--5-|--5---------------|---------------|
Ab|-------------------|----------------|------------------|---------------|
Eb|-------------------|----------------|------------------|---------------|
 
Eb|-------------------|----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
Bb|-------------------|----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
Gb|------3----3p2-0---|----------------|------0-------0--|------0-------0--|
Db|---0---------------|--4--5---5p4--0-|--0-------0------|--0-------0------|
Ab|-------------------|----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
Eb|-------------------|----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
 
 
 
As Riff 5 begins 2nd time:
 
[Myles Solo] w/ Warm Distortion      prebends are in ()
Eb|-------------|--------|----------------|--------|-----------------|
Bb|-------------|--------|----------------|--------|-----------------|
Gb|--x\-----5p0-|--------|-----------3-5--|-b8r5b8-|----------3--5p3-|
Db|--x\---------|--5~~~--|--(5)~~--5------|--------|--------5--------|
Ab|-------------|--------|----------------|--------|--6~-------------|
Eb|-----19\-----|--------|----------------|--------|-----------------|
                   Hold bend
Eb|---------3-|---------------|----------------|------------------------------------------|
Bb|-----------|---------------|----------------|------------------------------------------|
Gb|---5b7~----|-6\5---5-3-5b7-|-(b7)r5-3-------|-15b16------------------------------------|
Db|-----------|---------------|---------5~---17|-------17-15-17-15------------------------|
Ab|-----------|---------------|----------------|------------------17\15p13-16p15p13-15p13-|
Eb|-----------|---------------|----------------|------------------------------------------|
 
Eb|-------------------------|-----------------------|------|----------15--18--20p18-|
Bb|-------------------------|-------15----15~-14-13-|-16~--|-(16)--/15--15----------|
Gb|-----------12--10--10-12-|-/12-12---12-----------|------|------------------------|
Db|-----12------------------|-----------------------|------|------------------------|
Ab|-/10----10---------------|-----------------------|------|------------------------|
Eb|-------------------------|-----------------------|------|------------------------|
 
Eb|--20b22~~-18---|--20b22~~------|-------------|------20-20-20b22r20-|--18~~-|
Bb|------------20-|----------19~~-|-20~--20b22~-|-b23~----------------|-------|
Gb|---------------|---------------|-------------|---------------------|-------|
Db|---------------|---------------|-------------|---------------------|-------|
Ab|---------------|---------------|-------------|---------------------|-------|
Eb|---------------|---------------|-------------|---------------------|-------|
 
 
 
 
  [Mark's Solo]  - w/ Heavy Dist. (This overlaps as solo 1 ends)
  - other Guitar plays Chorus                                        PH
Eb|--15-17-|-18~~--17b18r17-15------|-17~~-15h16p15--15-----------|----------------------------|
Bb|--------|------------------18-15-|--------------18--18-15-18---|----------------------------|
Gb|--------|------------------------|------------------------17b19|-14*-12--14-b15r-b15r--12---|
Db|--------|------------------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------14-|
Ab|--------|------------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------------|
Eb|--------|------------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------------|
 
Eb|---------------------------15-|-15--18-15-------------------------------|
Bb|---------------------------15-|--------15-15-18b20-18-15-18-15-------18-|
Gb|------------------------------|-------------------------------17-15-----|
Db|--10--8--8-10b11r-8--8h10-0---|------------------------------------17---|
Ab|-------10----------10---------|-----------------------------------------|
Eb|------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
 
                    w/ wah_______________________
Eb|-------------------3-3h5h6p5p3-----------------|-------------------------|
Bb|-------------------3-----------6-3h6p4p3-------|-----------------------x-|
Gb|--17b19-15-17p15-------------------------5-3-3-|-3---5--3---2---3--2---x-|
Db|-----------------------------------------------|----------x--------------|
Ab|-----------------------------------------------|-------------------------|
Eb|-----------------------------------------------|-------------------------|
 
Eb|--------------------------|---------15--------|---------------|--------18--------x\-|
Bb|-------------18-----------|-/18--18----18~~---|-(18~)\2-------|-/18-18---18~-15--x\-|
Gb|--15-17-15---17b19r-14-15-|-------------------|---------14-15-|---------------------|
Db|-----------x--------------|-------------------|---------------|---------------------|
Ab|--------------------------|-------------------|---------------|---------------------|
Eb|--------------------------|-------------------|---------------|---------------------|
 
                             Play 4x                                       TP
Eb|-------18-----18--------|--17b19r17-15------|--20b22-20b21------20b22-20b22-15-|
Bb|--18b20--18b20---18b20~-|-------------18-15-|-------------20-18----------------|
Gb|------------------------|-------------------|----------------------------------|
Db|------------------------|-------------------|----------------------------------|
Ab|------------------------|-------------------|----------------------------------|
Eb|------------------------|-------------------|----------------------------------|
 
     * Play 2x                         *
Eb|--20-15-15-18-15-15-17-15-15-18-15-15-  -20-15-15----15-15-18-15----15-|
Bb|--------------------------------------  ----------18-------------18----|
Gb|--------------------------------------  -------------------------------|
Db|--------------------------------------  -------------------------------|
Ab|--------------------------------------  -------------------------------|
Eb|--------------------------------------  -------------------------------|
 
 
Eb|--17-15------15-17-18-17-15--------------------------------------------|-------|
Bb|-------18-18---------------18-16-15-18-16-15---------------------------|-------|
Gb|--------------------------------------------17-15--15--15p14--14-15-14-|-------|
Db|-------------------------------------------------17---------17---------|-/17~~-|
Ab|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|
Eb|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|
 
 
 
 
As solo ends play chorus, fill 1, chorus
 
 
 
Ending Riff:
Eb|---------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
Bb|---------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
Gb|---------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
Db|---------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
Ab|--2------------|-1------------|-0------------|-8--8--8--8---|
Eb|--3--5b6r5b6r5-|-2--5b6r5b6r5-|-1--5b6r5b6r5-|-6--6--5--5---| play 4x
 
 
Guitar 2 plays the interlude notes during this riff
 
 
Riff 1 plays 4x when the interlude notes end on a high Gb (15th fret)
 
 
[Outro] as Riff 1 ends the 2nd time
w/ warm distortion      tb - tremelo bar dive
Eb|------|----------|-------|----------|------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|---|
Bb|------|----------|-------|----------|------------|--9----|-------|-------|-------|---|
Gb|--5~~-|--(5~)tb--|--8~~--|--(8~)tb--|--10~~-8h10-|-------|---3-5-|-5b6r5-|-5b6r5-|---|
Db|------|----------|-------|----------|------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-5-|
Ab|------|----------|-------|----------|------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|---|
Eb|------|----------|-------|----------|------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|---|
 
 
************************************
 
| /  slide up
| \  slide down
| PM palm mute
| PH pinch harmonic
| h  hammer-on
| p  pull-off
| ~  vibrato
| *  harmonic
| x  Mute note (or rake)
| b  bend (bends with vibrato bar indicated)
| r  release bend
| TP tremelo pick
 
************************************
X
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Blackbird – Alter Bridge
How to play
"Blackbird"
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18 comments
jjhand
I do what I can by ear and tab a song so it sounds right. Some of Tremonti's solo passages are quite fast
+2
Brazilianrocker
Your Rhytim is perfect...there are some parts on the solo athta are not 100% correct. I've seen them in concert myself and did not take my eyes off mark's guitar. I'd post the corretc solo version but i'm way too lazy.
+1
jjhand
I just updated the solo and acoustic part, since Guitar Magazine tabbed this song in their latest issue
0