a-ha - Take On Me

i couldnt find A 100% correct tab for the chords or the riffs in this great song , so heres my
attempt!!

notes :

– you really need two guitars , one for the chords and one for the various riffs , but if
youre singing then you can leave the riffs out and concentrate on the chords .

– all the riffs have been tabbed out for a non – capoed guitar – this makes it clearer and
easier to understand – ive put a note above each riff just to remind readers .

– for those of you without a capo and/or limited upper – fret access ( if youre using A
traditional acoustic , for example ) , there is a separate tab catering for this at the bottom
( the capoed version sounds so much better though ) .

– ive tabbed out the riffs the way i play them – obviously you can change them by playing
the same notes on different strings etc , but theyre probably easiest to play in the form
ive put them in .

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

capo on 2nd fret

Am D G C C/B D/F# Em Bm F Cadd9

0 2 3 0 0 2 0 2 1 3
1 3 3 1 1 3 0 3 1 3
2 2 0 0 0 2 0 4 2 0
2 0 0 2 2 0 2 4 3 2
0 x 2 3 2 x 2 2 3 3
x x 3 x x 2 0 x 1

xintro chords ( played over the riff below ) :

Am D G C C/B x2

Am D Am D

intro riff ( synth , tabbed out for guitar ) :

* not relative to the capo *

E | – 14 – 14 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 16 – 16 – 17 – 19 – 17 – 17 – 17 – – – – – – – 14 – 14 – 14 – – – – – – – 14 – – – – |
B | – – – – – – – 15 – – – – – – – 17 – 17 – 17 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 17 – 15 – – – – – – – – – – 17 – 17 – – – – 17 – |
G | – – – – – – – – – – 16 – 16 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – | x2
D | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
A | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |

E | – 14 – 14 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 16 – 16 – 17 – 19 – 17 – 17 – 17 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
B | – – – – – – – 15 – – – – – – – 17 – 17 – 17 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 15 – – – – 17 – 17 – 17 – 15 – 15 – 15 – – – – |
G | – – – – – – – – – – 16 – 16 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 16 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
D | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
A | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |

verse :

Am D
we’re talking away

G C C/B
well i dont know what im to say

Am D
ill say it anyway

G C C/B
today’s another day to find you

Am D
shying away

Em C
ill be coming for your love , ok?

chorus :

G D/F# Em C
take on me ( take on me )

G D/F# Em C
take me on ( take on me )

G D/F# Em C
ill be gone

G D/F# Em C
in a day or two . . .

verse :

Am D
so needless to say

G C C/B
im odds and ends , but ill be

Am D
stumbling away

G C C/B
slowly learning that life is ok

Am D
say after me

Em C
its no better to be safe than sorry

chorus :

G D/F# Em C
take on me ( take on me )

G D/F# Em C
take me on ( take on me )

G D/F# Em C
ill be gone

G D/F# Em C
in a day or two . . .

bridge :

Bm F Bm F Am D

theres an arpeggio played on the synth over the second Bm . its quite tricky so if you cant
play it , just play the chords . here it is in tab :

* not relative to the capo *

E | – 16 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 16 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 16 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
B | – – – – 17 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 17 – – – – 17 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 17 – – – – 17 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 17 – |
G | – – – – – – – 18 – – – – – – – – – – 18 – – – – – – – – – – 18 – – – – – – – – – – 18 – – – – – – – – – – 18 – – – – – – – – – – 18 – – – – |
D | – – – – – – – – – – 18 – – – – 18 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 18 – – – – 18 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 18 – – – – 18 – – – – – – – |
A | – – – – – – – – – – – – – 16 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 16 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 16 – – – – – – – – – – |
E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |

repeat , and fade out over the second F . then fade back in over the D , and stop just before
the pre – verse .

pre – verse chords :

Am D Am D

Am D G C C/B x2

Am D Am D

pre – verse riff :

* not relative to the capo *

E | – 14 – 14 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 16 – 16 – 17 – 19 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 16 – 16 – 17 – 19 – |
B | – – – – – – – 15 – – – – – – – 17 – 17 – 17 – – – – – – – – – – – – – 19 – 19 – – – – – – – – – – 17 – 17 – 17 – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
G | – – – – – – – – – – 16 – 16 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 19 – 16 – 16 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
D | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
A | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |

E | – 14 – 14 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 16 – 16 – 17 – 19 – 17 – 17 – 17 – – – – – – – 14 – 14 – 14 – – – – – – – 14 – – – – |
B | – – – – – – – 15 – – – – – – – 17 – 17 – 17 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 17 – 15 – – – – – – – – – – 17 – 17 – – – – 17 – |
G | – – – – – – – – – – 16 – 16 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – | x2
D | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
A | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |

E | – 14 – 14 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 16 – 16 – 17 – 19 – 17 – 17 – 17 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
B | – – – – – – – 15 – – – – – – – 17 – 17 – 17 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 15 – – – – 17 – 17 – 17 – 15 – 15 – 15 – – – – |
G | – – – – – – – – – – 16 – 16 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 16 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
D | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
A | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |

verse :

Am D
oh , the things that you say

G C C/B
yeah , is it life or just to play

Am D
my worries away?

G C C/B
you’re all the things ive got to remember

Am D
you’re shying away

Em C
ill be coming for you anyway

chorus :

G D/F# Em C
take on me ( take on me )

G D/F# Em C
take me on ( take on me )

G D/F# Em C
i’ll be gone

G D/F# Em C
in a day . . .

outro :

G D/F# Em C
( take on me ) take on me

G D/F# Em C
( take me on ) take on me

G D/F# Em C
ill be gone

G D/F# Em C
in a day . . .

G D/F# Em Cadd9

* strum the Cadd9 slowly . . . *

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

no capo version

Bm E A D D/C# F#m C#m G D5

2 0 0 2 2 2 4 3 5
3 0 2 3 3 2 5 3 3
4 1 2 2 2 2 6 4 2
4 2 2 0 4 4 6 5 0
2 2 0 x 4 4 4 5 0
x 0 x x x 2 x 3

xintro chords :

Bm E A D D/C# x2

Bm E Bm E

intro riff :

E | – 2 – 2 – – – – – – – – – – – – – 4 – 4 – 5 – 7 – 5 – 5 – 5 – – – – – 2 – 2 – 2 – 0 – 0 – 2 – 0 – |
B | – – – – – 3 – – – – – 5 – 5 – 5 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 5 – 3 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
G | – – – – – – – 4 – 4 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – | x2
D | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
A | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |

E | – 2 – 2 – – – – – – – – – – – – – 4 – 4 – 5 – 7 – 5 – 5 – 5 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
B | – – – – – 3 – – – – – 5 – 5 – 5 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 3 – – – 5 – 5 – 5 – 3 – 3 – 3 – – – |
G | – – – – – – – 4 – 4 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 4 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
D | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
A | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |

verse :

Bm E
we’re talking away

A D D/C#
well i dont know what im to say

Bm E
ill say it anyway

A D D/C#
today’s another day to find you

Bm E
shying away

F#m D
ill be coming for your love , ok?

chorus :

A E F#m D
take on me ( take on me )

A E F#m D
take me on ( take on me )

A E F#m D
ill be gone

A E F#m D
in a day or two . . .

verse :

Bm E
so needless to say

A D D/C#
im odds and ends , but ill be

Bm E
stumbling away

A D D/C#
slowly learning that life is ok

Bm E
say after me

F#m D
its no better to be safe than sorry

chorus :

A E F#m D
take on me ( take on me )

A E F#m D
take me on ( take on me )

A E F#m D
ill be gone

A E F#m D
in a day or two . . .

bridge :

C#m G C#m G Bm E

heres a simplified version of that arpeggio ( see above for full explanation ) :

E | – 4 – – – – – – – 4 – – – – – – – 4 – – – – – – – 4 – – – – – – – 4 – – – – – – – 4 – – – – – – – |
B | – – – 2 – – – 2 – – – 2 – – – 2 – – – 2 – – – 2 – – – 2 – – – 2 – – – 2 – – – 2 – – – 2 – – – 2 – |
G | – – – – – 1 – – – – – – – 1 – – – – – – – 1 – – – – – – – 1 – – – – – – – 1 – – – – – – – 1 – – – |
D | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
A | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |

pre – verse chords :

Bm E Bm E

Bm E A D D/C# x2

Bm E Bm E

pre – verse riff :

E | – 2 – 2 – – – – – – – – – – – – – 4 – 4 – 5 – 7 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 4 – 4 – 5 – 7 – |
B | – – – – – 3 – – – – – 5 – 5 – 5 – – – – – – – – – 7 – 7 – – – – – – – 5 – 5 – 5 – – – – – – – – – |
G | – – – – – – – 4 – 4 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 7 – 4 – 4 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
D | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
A | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |

E | – 2 – 2 – – – – – – – – – – – – – 4 – 4 – 5 – 7 – 5 – 5 – 5 – – – – – 2 – 2 – 2 – 0 – 0 – 2 – 0 – |
B | – – – – – 3 – – – – – 5 – 5 – 5 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 5 – 3 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
G | – – – – – – – 4 – 4 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – | x2
D | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
A | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |

E | – 2 – 2 – – – – – – – – – – – – – 4 – 4 – 5 – 7 – 5 – 5 – 5 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
B | – – – – – 3 – – – – – 5 – 5 – 5 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 3 – – – 5 – 5 – 5 – 3 – 3 – 3 – – – |
G | – – – – – – – 4 – 4 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 4 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
D | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
A | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |

verse :

Bm E
oh , the things that you say

A D D/C#
yeah , is it life or just to play

Bm E
my worries away?

A D D/C#
you’re all the things ive got to remember

Bm E
you’re shying away

F#m D
ill be coming for you anyway

chorus :

A E F#m D
take on me ( take on me )

A E F#m D
take me on ( take on me )

A E F#m D
i’ll be gone

A E F#m D
in a day . . .

outro :

A E F#m D
( take on me ) take on me

A E F#m D
( take me on ) take on me

A E F#m D
ill be gone

A E F#m D
in a day . . .

A E F#m D5

* strum the D5 slowly . . . *

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

and there you have it , enjoy!!