Yellow Ledbetter Guitar Tab

		
		Ver 1 Ver 2 Ver 3 Ver 4 Ver 5 Ver 6 Ver 7 
	

Jeremy (Single Version) (s) Tabs:

Jeremy
Yellow Ledbetter »

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key:
*- harmonic
/- slide down
- slide up
h- hammer on
p- pull off
b- bend up
br- pluck the string while it\'s bent and return it down
r- return from bend
w- whammy bar
v- vibrato

The main riff of the song follows: E B A E

for the rythim that normally plays, it follows this:

 INTRO     
|-------------------9----------------9p7-------7-9---7p5-----5h7-5------5h7p5------------12--13p12--12/-|
|--------------x----9--------------------7-----7-7---5-------5---5------------5----------12--13p12--12/-|
|-----------9--x----9h11p9-----------------8---8-8---6-------6---6--------------6-----------------------|
|-----------9--x----9-------11/----------------9-9---7----7--7---7---7----------------------------------|
|-----9h11----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-0------------------------------7-------------------------------------------------0--------------------|

|---------------------9---9--9------------9p7--9-7-----9p7-9----7p5--5h7--7----5h7--7---------12/-|
|--------------x-x----9---9--9-------7----7----7-7---7-7---7----5----5----5----5----5---------12/-|
|-----------9--x-x----9--11--9---------8--8----8-8---8-8---8----6----6----6----6----6-------------|
|-----------9--x-x----9---9--9------------9----9-9-----9---9----7----7----7----7----7-------------|
|-----9h11----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-0------------------------------7------------------------------------------------------0---------|

That was the intro, it\'s hard to tell exactly what he does 
especially for the one chord in the begining of the rythim:

|-9--|
|-9--|
|-9--|
|-9--|
|----|
|----|

The verse follows the same pattern, ill tab it out, but it\'s 
harder to tell what he does

VERSE
|-------------------9----------------9p7-------7-9---7p5----5h7-5---5h7--7------------*12---------*5----|
|--------------x----9--------------------7-----7-7---5------5---5---5----5--------*12-----*12--*5----*5-|
|-----------9--x----9h11p9-----------------8---8-8---6------6---6---6----6------------------------------|
|-----------9--x----9-------11/----------------9-9---7---7--7---7---7----7------------------------------|
|-----9h11----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-0------------------------------7-------------------------------------------0--------------------------|

|-------------------9---9--9---------9p7-------7-9---7p5---5h7-5---5h7--7-----------|
|--------------x----9---9--9-------------7-----7-7---5-----5---5---5----5-----------|
|-----------9--x----9--11--9---------------8---8-8---6-----6---6---6----6-----------|
|-----------9--x----9---9--9-------------------9-9---7-----7---7---7----7-----------|
|-----9h11--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-0------------------------------7------------------------------------------0----7/-|

|---------------------9---9--9------------9p7--9-7-----9p7-9----7p5--5-5--5-5---7/9----------9---9/-|
|--------------x-x----9---9--9-------7----7----7-7---7-7---7----5----5-5--5-5---5------------9---9/-|
|-----------9--x-x----9--11--9---------8--8----8-8---8-8---8----6----6-6--6-6---6------------9--11/-|
|-----------9--x-x----9---9--9------------9----9-9-----9---9----7----7-7--7-7---7/9----------9---9/-|
|-----9h11------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-0------------------------------7-----------------------------------------------------0------------|

|---------------------9---9--9------------9p7--9-7-----9p7-9----7p5--5-5--5-5---7-------------|
|--------------x-x----9---9--9-------7----7----7-7---7-7---7----5----5-5--5-5---5-------------|
|-----------9--x-x----9--11--9---------8--8----8-8---8-8---8----6----6-6--6-6---6-------------|
|-----------9--x-x----9---9--9------------9----9-9-----9---9----7----7-7--7-7---7-------------|
|-----9h11------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-0------------------------------7---------------------------5----------------------5-0----7/-|

This isn\'t too accurate, because the guitar is too quite 
during the verse. then the chorus comes in:
do the the chorus 2X

CHORUS
  E  B  A  E
|-7--7--5--0-|
|-9--7--5--0-| (improvise riffs with the chords dont just play them
|-9--8--6--1-|  He usually does some hammer ons and wat not)
|-9--9--7--2-|
|-7--9--7--2-|
|----7--5--0-|

Then comes the solo which i love... this is very accurate:
   SOLO
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|-------------12------------------------------------------------------------------------
|-------9---9----11b--br11-p9--11~---9--------------------------------------------------
|-9h11---------------------------------11-9---------------------------------------------
|-------------------------------------------11/9--7-9-7---7-9-7-----7---7-9b-----9r-----
|-------------------------------------------------------9---------9---9-----------------

|-----------9---------------------------------------------------------------------------
|-12b--12r----12-9--------------------------------------12----12-14---14p12-14p12-14p12-
|------------------11b--11br--9--11w---11-9-------11/13----13---------------------------
|-------------------------------------------11-9----------------------------------------
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|-14b--12----12-14-12/----------9-------9-----------------------------------------------
|---------14------------------9---12b-----12-9------------------------------------------
|-------------------------11b------------------11--br11-p9h11p9----9~----11-9----9-11-9-
|---------------------------------------------------------------11------------11--------
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-9b-9r---------------------12----14---12h14-12h14-12h14-12h14-12h14-12h14-12h14-12h14/-|
|--------9----9-11-9--11/13----13-------------------------------------------------------|
|----------11---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

that\'s the awesome solo, next you play two more riffs of 
the verse which go:

 VERSE 2
|-----------9---9---9------9p7--9-7--9p7--9----7p5---5h7--5--5h7--7------------*12---------*5----|
|-----------9---9---9------7----7-7--7----7----5-----5----5--5----5--------*12-----*12--*5----*5-|
|------9----9--11---9------8----8-8--8----8----6-----6----6--6----6------------------------------|
|------9----9---9---9------9----9-9--9----9----7-----7----7--7----7------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-0---------------------7---------------------------------------------0--------------------------|

|---------------------9---9--9------------9p7--9-7-----9p7-9----7p5--5-5--5-5---7----------9---9/-|
|--------------x-x----9---9--9-------7----7----7-7---7-7---7----5----5-5--5-5---5----------9---9/-|
|-----------9--x-x----9--11--9---------8--8----8-8---8-8---8----6----6-6--6-6---6----------9--11/-|
|-----------9--x-x----9---9--9------------9----9-9-----9---9----7----7-7--7-7---7----------9---9/-|
|-----9h11----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-0------------------------------7---------------------------------------------------0------------|

Then repeat the chorus
do the chorus 2X, dont play the last chord (E) on the second time 
you play the chorus,
start this riff in it\'s place, play riff 4X:

  RIFF
  E  B  A
|-0--7--5-|
|-0--7--5-|
|-1--8--6-|
|-2--9--7-|
|-2--9--7-|
|-0--7--5-|

Then you play somthing like this 4X:

|--------------------|
|--------------------|
|--------------------|
|--------------------|       
|-6--7------6--7-----|
|-------7---------5--|

somtimes he plays chords with this, they would be:

|---------------------|
|---------------------|
|-8--9-------8--9-----|
|-8--9--9----8--9--7--|
|-6--7--9----6--7--7--|
|-------7----------5--|

Then you play the outro:

OUTRO
|-------------------9----------------9p7-------7-9---7p5-----5h7-5------5h7p5------------12--13p12--12/-|
|--------------x----9--------------------7-----7-7---5-------5---5------------5----------12--13p12--12/-|
|-----------9--x----9h11p9-----------------8---8-8---6-------6---6--------------6-----------------------|
|-----------9--x----9-------11/----------------9-9---7----7--7---7---7----------------------------------|
|-----9h11----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-0------------------------------7-------------------------------------------------0--------------------|

|--------------------9-----------------9-7--7--9/------------7--5--5--7----------------*12---------*5----|
|--------------x/----9----------------------7--7/------------------5--5------------*12-----*12--*5----*5-|
|-----------9--x/----9h11p9-----------------8--8/------------------6--6----------------------------------|
|-----------9--x/----9-------11/------------9--9/------------------7--7----------------------------------|
|-----9h11-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-0-------------------------------7--7-------------7/5-5--5---------------5--0---------------------------|

|-------------------9----------------9p7--9-7---7h9--7---7p5-------5h7p5--5--------------*12-----|
|--------------x----9----------------7----7-7---7----7---5----5-5--5------5----------*12-----*12-|
|-----------9--x----9h11p9-----------8----8-8---8----8---6----6-6--6------6----------------------|
|-----------9--x----9-------11/------9----9-9---9----9---7---------7------7/9--------------------|
|-----9h11---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-0------------------------------7---------------------------------------------0-----------------|

That\'s the end... the main riffs aren\'t 100% accurate, 
but i tried gettin them close, enjoy!

Source: GuitarMasta.net
http://www.guitarmasta.net/p/pearl_jam/.html

Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques


No Picture Sara Average	#1 by Sara Sunshine at Jul 17, 2006 at 10:40 PM EST
	For the most part the lyrics in this song are irrelevant. The song was written by Mike McCready and Eddie just made up the words as he went along. Eddie's voice is supposed to be more of an instrument by using improvised words, the words are never the same in concert. Ledbetter refers to Eddie's friend from Chicago named Tim Ledbetter. If there is any meaning to the lyrics I think the letter in the beginning of the song refers to the telegrams that we sent to the families of soldiers KIA in WWII. The telegrams were so distinct that many families didn't have to open them to know what they said. In the song I see a family sitting on a porch when a man comes to deliver a telegram and the family is so devestated about their loss that they cannot even bear to open it.

No Picture quinn almann ' Wanna Be	#2 by quinn almann ' jk carson at Aug 29, 2006 at 7:29 AM EST
	Words from Mr Vedder himself: "it's an Anti-Patriotism song". Take from that what you will

No Picture kostas Rhythm Player	#3 by kostas kouveliotis at Oct 30, 2006 at 6:26 AM EST
	Generally, the explanation about the letter being sent to a family/mother/whoever saying their son/brother/friend/whoever KIA is correct. Yellow Ledbetter. Switch the 'L' and 'b' and you get Yellow Bedletter, which explains the song. At this time, PJ was their most popular and they thought that the public would swollow up anything because of their pop status. They wrote this song inpromptly without any officila lyrics so kind of play with everyone. This song is one of their most popular yet the lyrics dont really make any sense and it is written very roughly.

No Picture Joey Wanna Be	#4 by Joey at Nov 13, 2006 at 7:45 AM EST
	Where do you people hear this stuff? This song was made up on the fly, it means nothing. Even some of the lyrics on this page are wrong. As far as being anti-patriotic, or making a song to screw with everyone is pretty idiotic. But he did name it after a friend named Tim Ledbetter. Lucky guy!

No Picture Turd Fergeson Lead Player	#5 by Turd Fergeson Fergeson at Nov 20, 2006 at 5:52 PM EST
	man, that makes perfect sense! i never really knew what the words said, and it didn't matter, cause the song rocks. but your explaination makes alot of sense. thanx!

No Picture LJ Average	#6 by LJ at Jan 7, 2007 at 9:50 AM EST
	the letter is opened "unsealed" and i think it is about a broken relationship or someone's death but he doesn't know if it was his fault or not "I don't, I don't know wheather I was the boxer or the bag"

No Picture Mark Wanna Be	#7 by Mark masta at Feb 23, 2007 at 2:41 PM EST
	Of course to say the song was written by Mike McCready is a stretch. I think Little Wing came before it. It is written as a tribute to Hendrix in that sense. But obviously the words are uniquely Eddie's.

No Picture James Average	#8 by James Davison at Mar 1, 2007 at 10:28 AM EST
	these lyrics seem to deep, seem like they have way too much meaning to be made up on the spot.... this song deffinetly means something, so far i cant buy into anything that you guys have said about it.

No Picture Crystal Average	#9 by Crystal at Apr 13, 2007 at 2:58 PM EST
	matzy's interpretation is the correct one. How the families of soldiers would wait on their porch for the letters. Sounds good Claires advocate but not correct

No Picture Rockstar Professional	#10 by Rockstar at Jul 9, 2007 at 1:12 PM EST
	i think matzy said it best, about the whole letter thing. For a while i thought he said "i don't know whether it was a box or a bag"..which i saw as 'he didnt know how they brought the body back over to the states'. But now i think the "boxer or the bag" makes sense, cuz its like, in any war..are you the victim or the aggressor? if you think this song means nothing, your ignorant because mr. vedder and pearl jam wouldnt attach their names to anything that is empty of meaning or thought.

No Picture Dominic Badass	#11 by Dominic Smith at Sep 25, 2007 at 4:46 AM EST
	I believe(my opinion)Eddie Vetter used this songs lyrics to launder his own more personal lyrics through. That is, I believe, the reason for his slurring of the original lyrics. His friend Tim Ledbetter is who this song talks about in the hidden lyrics. Since, the song isn't named Tim Ledbetter, it would bring attention to Yellow since Tim isn't of asian descent I don't think Eddie is talking about his complextion but, rather his personality, which yellow can be translated as-cowardly. Here is what I believe to be the hidden lyrics: I WANT TO SEE THAT A VOICE THAT LET OUT SAID LET ME SEE HIM I WANT TO LEAVE IT AGAIN ONCE I SAW HIM ON A BEACH OF WEATHERED SAND I DON'T WANT TO SEE HIM, I WANT TO LEAVE HIM AGAIN I WANT TO LEAVE HERE, I WANT TO GET WASTED ON THE-WAY AND HE CALLED AND I SAID AND I KNOW WHAT I SAID AND I CALLED OUT AGAIN AND THE REASON I'M GOING TO LEAVE HER GONE I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO LEAVE IT IN THE BOX OR THE BAG CAN YOU SEE THEM OUT ON THE PORCH BUT THEY DON'T WAVE I SEE THEM ROUND DIFFERENT WAYS AND I KNOW AND I KNOW I DON'T WANT TO SAY This I know is choppy but, if your sitting around thumbing your ass hole with nothing better to do listen to it again. I'm sure it makes more since to Vetter.

No Picture Spanky Lead Player	#12 by Spanky Man at Sep 27, 2007 at 5:52 AM EST
	Yeah, in concert he just makes stuff up as he goes along. Most of the time not even words, just mumbling.