Riverboat by Ocean Colour Scene guitar tab (text):

#

Worked out by Ronnie Zahdeh.
Note: for best display of the file use Dos edit
Key:
----
p=pull off
h=hammer on
b=bend up
l=let down
\=slide down
/=slide up
v=vibrato
()=don't play note in brackets, reference only.

I`ll give each riff a name and refer to it in the rest of the document under
that name.
Here are the riffs used in the song.
 Blow   A|---5--7---5-7
        E|7-------7----
 Elow   A|----10--12----10-12
        E|12---------12------
 Bhigh  D|----12--14----12-14
        A|14---------14------
 Ehigh  G|----12--14----12-14
        D|14---------14------
 F#high A|----12--14----12-14
        E|14---------14------
Okay these are the main riffs there are other twidly bits played by Steve
Craddock. I`ve worked some of them out there is no need to play them note
for note they`re all based in a Bmin pentatonic, so just improvise.
Okay here we go.
Intro:
------
Blow *8  Bhigh*4  Ehigh*2  Blow*2  F#high*2  Blow*2
Steve plays the following riff starting on the F#high to lead into verse 1:
Note again this isn`t exact but it`s what I play,(listen to the song to get
the timing right).
E|10--7--10--7--10--7--10-12b(14)l12-10-10h12p10----10------------------------
B|-----------------------------------------------12----10 -------------10b(12)
G|--------------------------------------------------------11------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------12-12\9----------
Verse1:
-------
Blow*4
I see double up ahead
Elow*2
Where the riverboat swayed beneath the sun
                        Blow*2
Is where the river runs red
Elow*2
Like a king who stalks the wings and shoots a dove
                       Blow*2
And frees an eagle instead
    xE               xF#         xB (these are notes on low E string)
It`s more or less the same as the things that you said.
The following Riff is played before going into verse 2:
A|----0---0-2(hold for 2 bars while other guitar plays a wah bit)
E|0-2---2----
Verse2:
-------
Blow*4
I see trouble up the road
Elow*2
Like the thing you found in love are by the way
                          Blow*2
And like to cheat on your soul
Elow*2
Like the best and worst of thoughts that lose control
                         Blow*2
Before you lie on your bed
    xE               xF#         xB (these are notes on low E string)
It`s more or less the same as the things that you said.

The following Riff is played before going into chorus:
RiffV A|----0---0-2
      E|0-2---2----
Chorus:
-------
RiffC1
(E/F#) (F#/A)                (A/B) (THESE ARE NOT CHORDS FOLLOW RIFFC1 BELOW)
Anyway for all the things you know
       E
tell me why does the river not flow
RiffC1
(E/F#) (F#/A)                (A/B) (AS BEFORE)
Anyway for all the things you said
RiffC2
tell me why does the river run red
RiffC3
(A/B) (B/D)                    (D/E)  (NOT CHORDS FOLLOW RIFFC3 BELOW)
Anyway for all the things you`ve seen
RiffC4
tell me when will the river run green
Bassy riff
B   A                             F#(2) (Notes On The Low E String)
And anyway for all the things you know
(RiffV played by bass)
tell me why does the river not flow
          E/F#       F#/A         A/B          E
RiffC1  B|------------------------10b(12)vv------------
        G|9b(11)vv---11b(14)vv-------------------------
        D|-------------------------------------14vvvvvv

RiffC2 this is a little twidly bit played by Steve.
       E|17-17p14---------
       B|---------17p15-17

RiffC3 E|-----------------------10b(12)vv------
       B|10b(12)vv---12b(15)vv-----------------

RiffC4 this is another little fill by steve
       E|17p14----14----------------------
       B|------17----17p15----15----------
       G|------------------16----16p14----
       D|-------------------------------16
Verse3:
-------
Blow*4  Bhigh*4
G(D string fret 17 hold)
It`s more or less the things you fail to say in your own way
                  D(D string fret 12)
that`s your trouble
B(D sting fret 9 hold)
Like a king who stalks the wings and shoots the moon and the stars
             D(D sting fret 12)
And his double
    xE               xF#         xB (these are notes on low E string)
It`s more or less the same as the things that you said.
RiffV A|----0---0-2
      E|0-2---2----
Chorus:(As Above)
-------
Solo:
-----
Uses Bmin Pentatonic (with a wah wah pedal) played over the following
progression.
Feedback & Switch flicking for 6 bars then improvise over
Blow*4  Bhigh*4  Elow*2  Blow*2  F#high*2  Blow*2

Ending:
-------
RiffE1
(F)            (E)
I see double up ahead
(Chords played by Paul Weller on the Organ)
Where the riverboat swayed beneath the sun
Is where the river runs red
(with little fill from second guitar)
F#high*2                       Blow*2(then hold the B (7th fret) on the low E)
I see double - that`s my trouble
RiffE1  G|(9)b10---l9-9p7h9---p7---
        D|-----------------------9\
then
B|7-7-9/10\9--7vv
G|7-7-9/10\9--7vv
Blow*4  Bhigh*4  Blow*4  then organ & little stratospheric noises to end.
Well thats it, the bits I mised out are improvised, if you want to play them
note for note then work them out yourself. I`ve worked out 99% of the guitar
bits here just improvise the rest to add your own style to the song.
This is a great band and are gonna be very big.
Well if you`re ever in Nottingham check out "Beatroot" nightclub on Tuesdays
(Britpop student)& Fridays(Indie), I`m there every week.
or if you`re in Coventry check out the Calesuim on Thursdays, there this thing
called THE BUZZ which is ment to be a very big mod scene that`s just moved
there it`s every month on Friday I think so check it out.

If you want to e-mail me I`m in Nottingham Uni e-mail address:
eeymrz@een1.notts.ac.uk