Promise - Ben Howard
Version 5 of 6
- Promise (Tabs) (v1)Rating: 4.26 / 5.00
- Promise (Tabs) (v2)Rating: 4.67 / 5.00
- Promise (Tabs) (v3)Rating: 3.73 / 5.00
- Promise (Tabs) (v4)Rating: 0 / 5.00
- Promise (Tabs) (v6)Rating: 0 / 5.00
Capo: Fret 2
Tuning: C Tuning, C F Bb Eb G C
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROMISE - Ben Howard
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tabbed by: luffacoustic/fossar_
I originally did this tab in DADGBd tuning to encourage more people to pick it up when it should
be in CFCGFc. After a comment asking for both, I have (eventually) done it. UG won't let me have
two tabs for the same song so I am putting both versions in one 'double' tab.
My DADGBd tab had a couple of things wrong. There's a bodge-fix but I'm undecided whether it sounds
fixed or slightly wrong, all explained further down. However, I've updated the Original Tuning tab
to correct this so that one should be as accurate as possible in a condensed format. There's now an
official tab which might be more difficult to follow but will be 100% to the note if that's what
you're looking for.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Original Tuning Tab
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Tuning: C F C G F c, 4/4 time. Capo on 2nd fret.
Intro/Verse:
For singers, note that the lines starting with 'Meet' and 'Promise' begin on an open 6th while
'Winter', 'Shelter', 'Surface' and the humming start with the 9th fret on 6th string held.
Capitalised letters indicate that the start of the word is in line with the note it is sung on.
Optional stuff to make the intro a bit more varied. Just follow the verse though for the majority:
c|------------
F|------------
G|----------12
C|------0-----
F|---11-------
C|-0------0---
--------------
--------------
--------------
------0------0
---11-----11--
-0------0-----
--------------
--------------
---10---------
-----------0--
--------11----
-0----0------0
--------------
--------------
--------9-----
----0---------
-11---------11
------0---0---
--------------
--------------
------------10
-0------0-----
-----11-------
---0------0---
-------|
-------|
p9p0---|
-----0-|
-------|
-------|
c|------------
F|------------
G|----------12
C|------0-----
F|---11-------
C|-0------0---
--------------
--------------
--------------
------0------0
---11-----11--
-0------0-----
--------------
--------------
---12---------
-----------0--
--------11----
-0----0------0
--------------
--------------
--------12----
----0---------
-11----------1
------0----0--
--------------
--------------
------------12
--0-----0-----
1-----9-------
----0-----0---
-------|
-------|
-------|
-----0-|
---9---|
-0-----|
Verse:
c|------------
F|------------
G|----------12
C|------0-----
F|---11-------
C|-0------0---
--------------
--------------
--------------
------0------0
---11-----11--
-0------0-----
--------------
--------------
---12---------
-----------0--
--------11----
-0----0------0
--------------
--------------
--------12----
----0---------
-11----------1
------0----0--
--------------
--------------
-------------1
--0------0----
1-----11------
----0------0--
---------|
---------|
2--------|
-------0-|
----11---|
--0------|
oh Meet
nd Promise
c|------------
F|------------
G|---------12-
C|-----0------
F|---0--------
C|-9-----9----
--------------
--------------
--------------
----0-----0---
--0-----0-----
9-----9-----9-
--------------
--------------
12------------
-------0-----0
-----0-----0--
---9-----9----
me
me
------------|
------------|
---12-------|
----------0-|
--------0---|
-9----9-----|
There
This
c|------------
F|------------
G|----------12
C|------0-----
F|---11-------
C|-0------0---
with Bundles
You'll w
--------------
--------------
--------------
------0------0
---11-----11--
-0------0-----
of flowers we'
ait for me onl
--------------
--------------
---12---------
-----------0--
--------11----
-0----0------0
ll wade throug
y scared of th
--------------
--------------
--------12----
----0---------
-11----------1
------0----0--
h the hours of
e lonely
--------------
--------------
-------------1
--0------0----
1-----11------
----0------0--
---------|
---------|
2--------|
-------0-|
----11---|
--0------|
Cold
Arms
c|------------
F|------------
G|---------12-
C|-----0------
F|---0--------
C|-9-----9----
--------------
--------------
--------------
----0-----0---
--0-----0-----
9-----9-----9-
--------------
--------------
12------------
-------0-----0
-----0-----0--
---9-----9----
------------|
------------|
---12-------|
----------0-|
--------0---|
-9----9-----|
Winter s
(skip to 'Su
c|------------
F|------------
G|----------12
C|------0-----
F|---11-------
C|-0------0---
Time
he'll Howl @ t
rface...' for
--------------
--------------
--------------
------0------0
---11-----11--
-0------0-----
he walls Teari
2nd verse)
--------------
--------------
---12---------
-----------0--
--------11----
-0----0------0
ng down doors
--------------
--------------
--------12----
----0---------
-11----------1
------0----0--
of
--------------
--------------
-------------1
--0------0----
1-----11------
----0------0--
---------|
---------|
2--------|
-------0-|
----11---|
--0------|
c|------------
F|------------
G|---------12-
C|-----0------
F|---0--------
C|-9-----9----
Shelter
Surface
--------------
--------------
--------------
----0-----0---
--0-----0-----
9-----9-----9-
--------------
--------------
12------------
-------0-----0
-----0-----0--
---9-----9----
--------------
--------------
---12---------
----------0---
--------0-----
-9----9-----9-
As
Fa
--------------
--------------
------12------
--0----------0
0----------0--
----9----9----
r below these
-|
-|
-|
-|
-|
-|
we go
birds
Bridge (part 1):
c|------------
F|------------
G|---------12-
C|-----0------
F|---0--------
C|-9-----9----
nd Maybe
--------------
--------------
--------------
----0-----0---
--0-----0-----
9-----9-----9-
--------------
--------------
12------------
-------0-----0
-----0-----0--
---9-----9----
just Maybe
--------------
--------------
---12---------
----------0---
--------0-----
-9----9-----9-
--------------
--------------
------12------
--0----------0
0----------0--
----9----9----
i'll co
-|
-|
-|
-|
-|
-|
me home
Bridge (part 2):
Exactly the same fingering shape as in the Intro/Verse part. The marking |---|
denotes a rolled 16th-notes in the tab directly below it.
|---|
c|-----------0
F|------------
G|------12----
C|-----0------
F|---11-------
C|-0-------0--
--------------
------0-------
--------------
-------------0
---11-----11--
-0------0-----
---0----------
----------0---
--------------
--------------
-------11-----
-0---0------0-
-------0------
--------------
--------------
---0----------
11---------11-
-----0---0----
-----------0--
0-------------
--------------
-------0------
----11--------
--0------0---0
------|
----0-|
------|
------|
-11---|
------|
|---|
c|----------0-
F|------------
G|-----12-----
C|----0-------
F|---0--------
C|-9------9---
--------------
----0---------
--------------
----------0---
--0-----0-----
9-----9-----9-
0-------------
------0-------
--------------
------------0-
----0-----0---
--9-----9-----
--0-----------
--------0-----
--------------
--------------
------0-----0-
9---9-----9---
----0--------|
------0------|
-------------|
0------------|
--------x----|
--9-----x----|
|---|
c|-----------0
F|------------
G|------12----
C|-----0------
F|---11-------
C|-0-------0--
--------------
------0-------
--------------
-------------0
---11-----11--
-0------0-----
---0----------
----------0---
--------------
--------------
-------11-----
-0---0------0-
-------0------
--------------
--------------
---0----------
11---------11-
-----0---0----
-----------0--
0------------0
--------------
-------0------
----11--------
--0------0----
------|
------|
------|
------|
-x----|
-x----|
|---|
c|----------0-
F|------------
G|-----12-----
C|----0-------
F|---0--------
C|-9------9---
--------------
----0---------
--------------
----------0---
--0-----0-----
9-----9-----9-
0-------------
------0-------
--------------
------------0-
----0-----0---
--9-----9-----
--0-----------
--------0-----
--------------
--------------
------0-----0-
9---9-----9---
----0--------|
------0------|
-------------|
0------------|
--------x----|
--9-----x----|
Outro:
Each round Ben plays it slightly differently, improvise and add your own flair.
Nonetheless, I've tabbed out a guideline with a few variations to get you going.
Towards the end he starts slowing it down and dropping notes, bringing back to the basics.
Listen to the song to get the jist and carry on grooving as long as you want!
|---|
c|------------
F|------------
G|------12----
C|-----0------
F|---11------1
C|-0-------0--
--------------
--------------
--10-----9----
--------------
1----x-------x
-----x-0-----x
--------------
--------------
---9h10p9p0---
--------------
------------x-
-0----------x-
|---|
--------------
--------------
-------12-----
------0-------
----11------11
0-0-------0---
--------------
--------------
-10-----9-----
--------------
----x-------x-
----x-0-----x-
-------------|
-------------|
--9h10p9-----|
-------------|
---------x---|
0--------x-0-|
Who
Who
and Who
|---|
c|------------
F|------------
G|-----12-----
C|----0-------
F|---0--------
C|-9-----9-9--
Am I darl
Am I darl
Am I darl
--------------
--------------
10-----9------
--------------
---x-------x--
---x-9-----x-9
ing to ya?
ing for ya?
ing for ya?
|--
--------------
--------------
-9h10---------
-------------0
------x-----0-
------x-9-9---
Who
Who
Who
-|
--------------
--------------
12-----10-----
--------------
----------x---
-----9----x-9-
Am I to
Am I to
Am I to
--------------
--------------
9-------10\9--
--------------
----x--------x
----x-9------x
tell you
be a
be a burden
---|
---|
---|
---|
---|
-9-|
sto-Ries
bur-Den
Who
|---|
c|------------
F|------------
G|------12----
C|-----0------
F|---11------x
C|-0---------x
Of Mine?
In Time? l
Am I darli
--------------
--------------
-10-----9-----
--------------
----x-------x-
----x-0-----x-
onely
ng to ya?
--------------
--------------
--9h10p9------
--------------
---------x----
0--------x-0-0
Who Am I?
Who Am I
Who Am I?
|---|
--------------
--------------
----12-----10-
---0----------
-11-----------
-------0-0----
to ya?
I COME A
--------------
--------------
----9-------10
--------------
x-------x-----
x-0-----x-0---
LONE HERE!!!
--------|
--------|
---12---|
--------|
--------|
--------|
|---|
c|------------
F|------------
G|-----12-----
C|----0-------
F|---0--------
C|-9--------9-
--------------
--------------
10-----9------
--------------
---x-------x--
---x-9-----x-9
-0------------
---0----------
-------------1
--------------
-----0--------
-------9-9----
--------------
--------------
2-----10------
--------------
--------------
----9-------9-
--------------
--------------
9-------10--\9
--------------
--------------
------9-------
-|
-|
-|
-|
-|
-|-0
Finish on open 6th string after a round up on 9th fret for maximum drama!
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Standard-ish Tuning Tab
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Tuning: D A D G B d (Standard tuning with both E's dropped to a D), no capo.
This tab is a transposition of what Ben plays into (near enough) standard tuning.
There are advantages to playing it in this tuning, namely that the strings have higher tension
so can sound stronger plus the outro is easier to play. The mistake I made originally is that the
F# (5th string, 9th fret) is played throughout the song when it should come swap between this and
a G as in the version above. You can play the main shapes either way but up to you to decide (or
make it easier for yourself and tune down to the original tuning)!
d|-0-------0--
B|-10------10-
G|-0-------0--
D|-0--and--0--
A|-9-------10-
D|-0-------9--
|
|
| to get the
| the G is an
|
|
right chord bu
octave off or
d|-0----
B|-10---
t G|-0----
... D|-0--an
A|-9----
D|-0----
---0--|
---10-|
---0--| where the chords are slightly
d--0--| wrong but the overall sound is
---9--| more like the original
---9--|
Intro/Verse:
For singers, note that the lines starting with 'Meet' and 'Promise' begin on an open 6th while
'Winter', 'Shelter', 'Surface' and the humming start with the 9th fret on 6th string held.
Capitalised letters indicate that the start of the word is in line with the note it is sung on.
d|------------
B|---------10-
G|------------
D|-----0------
A|---9--------
D|-0-----0----
--------------
--------------
--------------
----0-----0---
--9-----9-----
0-----0-----0-
--------------
10------------
--------------
-------0-----0
-----9-----9--
---0-----0----
--------------
--10----------
--------------
---------0----
-------9-----9
0----0-----0--
--------------
-----10-------
--------------
-0----------0-
----------9---
---0----0-----
|
|
|
|
|
|
oh Meet
nd Promise
d|------------
B|---------10-
G|------------
D|-----0------
A|---9--------
D|-9-----9----
--------------
--------------
--------------
----0-----0---
--9-----9-----
9-----9-----9-
--------------
10------------
--------------
-------0-----0
-----9-----9--
---9-----9----
me
me
-----------|
--10-------|
-----------|
---------0-|
-------9---|
9----9-----|
There
This
d|------------
B|---------10-
G|------------
D|-----0------
A|---9--------
D|-0-----0----
with Bundles
You'll w
--------------
--------------
--------------
----0-----0---
--9-----9-----
0-----0-----0-
of flowers we'
ait for me onl
--------------
10------------
--------------
-------0-----0
-----9-----9--
---0-----0----
ll wade throug
y scared of th
--------------
--10----------
--------------
---------0----
-------9-----9
0----0-----0--
h the hours of
e lonely
--------------
-----10-------
--------------
-0----------0-
----------9---
---0----0-----
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cold
Arms
d|------------
B|---------10-
G|------------
D|-----0------
A|---9--------
D|-9-----9----
--------------
--------------
--------------
----0-----0---
--9-----9-----
9-----9-----9-
--------------
10------------
--------------
-------0-----0
-----9-----9--
---9-----9----
-----------|
--10-------|
-----------|
---------0-|
-------9---|
9----9-----|
Winter s
(skip to 'Su
d|------------
B|---------10-
G|------------
D|-----0------
A|---9--------
D|-0-----0----
Time
he'll Howl @ t
rface...' for
--------------
--------------
--------------
----0-----0---
--9-----9-----
0-----0-----0-
he walls Teari
the second ver
--------------
10------------
--------------
-------0-----0
-----9-----9--
---0-----0----
ng down doors
se)
--------------
--10----------
--------------
---------0----
-------9-----9
0----0-----0--
of
--------------
-----10-------
--------------
-0----------0-
----------9---
---0----0-----
|
|
|
|
|
|
d|------------
B|---------10-
G|------------
D|-----0------
A|---9--------
D|-9-----9----
Shelter
Surface
--------------
--------------
--------------
----0-----0---
--9-----9-----
9-----9-----9-
--------------
10------------
--------------
-------0-----0
-----9-----9--
---9-----9----
--------------
--10----------
--------------
---------0----
-------9-----9
9----9-----9--
As
Far
--------------
-----10-------
--------------
-0----------0-
----------9---
---9----9-----
w
below these
|
|
|
|
|
|
e go
birds
Bridge (part 1):
d|------------
B|-----------1
G|------------
D|------0-----
A|----7-------
D|-11-----11--
nd Maybe
--------------
0-------------
--------------
-------0------
-----7------7-
--11-----11---
--------------
-----10-------
--------------
0------------0
-----------7--
--11----11----
just
--------------
-----------10-
--------------
------0-------
----7---------
-11-----11----
Maybe
--------------
--------------
--------------
-----0------0-
---7------7---
11-----11-----
-------------|
---10--------|
-------------|
-----------0-|
---------7---|
11----11-----|
i'll come
Home
This is an alternative version if can't make that tricky shape needed above, it doesn't sound
quite as nice but most people probably won't notice the difference:
d|-----------0
B|------------
G|------------
D|------0-----
A|----7-------
D|-11-----11--
--------------
--------------
--------------
------0------0
----7------7--
-11-----11----
----0---------
--------------
--------------
-----------0--
---------7----
-11---11-----1
---------0----
--------------
--------------
----0---------
--7-----------
1-----11---11-
--------------
--------------
--------------
--0------0----
7------7------
----11-----11-
0--------| (th
---------| an
---------| no
-------0-| fr
-----7---| fo
--11-----| mo
ere is also
A (the right
te) at 14th
et 3rd string
r those with
nster hands)
Bridge (part 2):
Exactly the same fingering shape as in the Intro/Verse part. I have used the marking
|--| to denote a rolled triplet in the tab directly below it.
|--|
d|----------0-
B|-----10-----
G|------------
D|----0-------
A|---9--------
D|-0------0---
--------------
--------------
----0---------
----------0---
--9-----9-----
0-----0-----0-
0-------------
--------------
------0-------
------------0-
----9-----9---
--0-----0-----
--0-----------
--------------
--------0-----
--------------
------9-----9-
0---0-----0---
----0-------|
------------|
----------0-|
0-----------|
--------9---|
--0---0-----|
|--|
d|----------0-
B|-----10-----
G|------------
D|----0-------
A|---9--------
D|-9------9---
--------------
--------------
----0---------
----------0---
--9-----9-----
9-----9-----9-
0-------------
--------------
------0-------
------------0-
----9-----9---
--9-----9-----
--0-----------
--------------
--------0-----
--------------
------9-----9-
9---9-----9---
----0-------|
------------|
------0-----|
0-----------|
--------x---|
--9-----x---|
|--|
d|----------0-
B|-----10-----
G|------------
D|----0-------
A|---9--------
D|-0------0---
--------------
--------------
----0---------
----------0---
--9-----9-----
0-----0-----0-
0-------------
--------------
------0-------
------------0-
----9-----9---
--0-----0-----
--0-----------
--------------
--------0-----
--------------
------9-----9-
0---0-----0---
----0-------|
------------|
------0-----|
0-----------|
--------x---|
--0-----x---|
|--|
d|----------0-
B|-----10-----
G|------------
D|----0-------
A|---9--------
D|-9------9---
--------------
--------------
----0---------
----------0---
--9-----9-----
9-----9-----9-
0-------------
--------------
------0-------
------------0-
----9-----9---
--9-----9-----
--0-----------
--------------
--------0-----
--------------
------9-----9-
9---9-----9---
----0-------|
------------|
------0-----|
0-----------|
--------x---|
--9-----x---|
Chorus/Outro:
Each round Ben plays it slightly differently, improvise and add your own flair.
Nonetheless, I've tabbed out a guideline with a few variations to get you going.
Towards the end he starts slowing it down and dropping notes, bringing back to the basics.
Listen to the song to get the jist and carry on grooving as long as you want!
|--|
d|------------
B|-----10-----
G|------------
D|----0-------
A|---9------9-
D|-0------0---
--------------
8-----7-------
--------------
--------------
--x-------x---
--x-0-----x-0-
|-
--------------
7h8p7---------
--------------
-------------0
------x-----9-
------x-0-0---
-|
--------------
10-----8-----7
--------------
--------------
---------x----
-----0---x-0--
--------------
-------7h8p7--
--------------
--------------
---x---------x
---x-0-------x
---|
---|
---|
---|
---|
-0-|
Who
Who
Who
|--|
d|------------
B|-----10-----
G|------------
D|----0-------
A|---9--------
D|-9------9-9-
Am I darling
Am I darling
Am I darling
--------------
8-----7-------
--------------
--------------
--x-------x---
--x-9-----x-9-
to ya?
for ya?
for ya?
|-
--------------
7h8p7---------
--------------
-------------0
------x-----9-
------x-9-9---
Who Am I
Who Am I
Who Am I
-|
--------------
10-----8-----7
--------------
--------------
---------x----
-----9---x-9--
to tell you
to be a
to be a bur
--------------
-------8\7----
--------------
--------------
---x-------x--
---x-9-----x-9
den
-|
-|
-|
-|
-|
-|
sto-Ries
bur-Den
Who
|--|
d|------------
B|-----10-----
G|------------
D|----0-------
A|---9------x-
D|-0--------x-
Of Mine?
In Time? lo
Am I darlin
--------------
8-----7-------
--------------
--------------
--x-------x---
--x-0-----x-0-
nely
g to ya?
|-
--------------
7h8p7---------
--------------
-------------0
------x-----9-
------x-0-0---
Who Am I?
Who Am I
Who Am I?
-|
--------------
10-----8-----7
--------------
--------------
---------x----
---0-0---x-0--
to ya?
I COME AL
--------------
-------8---10-
--------------
--------------
---x----------
---x-0--------
ONE HERE!!!
--|
--|
--|
--|
--|
--|
|--|
d|------------
B|-----10-----
G|------------
D|----0-------
A|---9--------
D|-9--------9-
--------------
8-----7-------
--------------
--------------
--x-------x---
--x-9-----x-9-
0-------------
------------10
--0-----------
--------------
----9---------
------9-9-----
--------------
-----8-----7--
--------------
--------------
--------------
---9-----9----
-----------|
-----8--\7-|
-----------|
-----------|
-----------|
---9-------|-0
Finish on open 6th after a round up on 9th fret for maximum drama!
************************************
| \ slide down
| h hammer-on
| p pull-off
| x thumb slap or stopped strum
************************************