Day Tripper chords

by The Beatles
  • Day Tripper was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
  • Recorded: EMI Studios, London - October 16th, 1965
  • Released: Dec 3, 1965 in the UK, and Dec 6, 1965 in the US
  • Album: 1962-1966
  • Music: Key of E Major in 4/4 time at ~ 138 bpm (♩)
  • Chords: E7, E/B, A7, A/B, B6, B7, F#7, F#m/B, G#7
Chart Legend
Numbered Circles: Fingers used to play chords   O: Optional Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings   R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open   X: Don't play string    B: Bass Note
E7 E/B A7 A/B F#m/B C#7 B7 B6 F#7 G#7 A7 B7
E7 E/B A7 A/B F#m/B C#7 B7 B6 F#7 G#7 A7 B7

Day Tripper

Tab Intro Riff:
Day Tripper Intro
Intro: 4/4 - Riff ‖     E7       ‖ x 10

   E7
1. Got a good rea-son   For tak-ing the ea-sy way out
   A7                       E7
   Got a good rea-son   For tak-ing the ea-sy way out now

                  F#7
Chorus: She was a day trip-per   One way tick-et, yeah
                   A7  G#7          C#7               B7
        It took me so  long to find out   And I found out

        
Riff: ‖     E7      ‖ x 4


   E7
2. She's a big tea-ser   She took me half the way there
   A7                    E7
   She's a big tea-ser   She took me half the way there now

                  F#7
Chorus: She was a day trip-per   One way tick-et, yeah
                   A7  G#7          C#7               B7  
        It took me so  long to find out   And I found out

Riff: ‖  B7  |  B7  |  B7  |  B7  |  B7  |  B7  ‖ 

        B7     E/B    F#m/B  B6     A/B    B7   
        Ah  _  ah  _  ah  _  ah  _  ah  _  ah

Riff: ‖     E7      ‖ x 4

   E7
3. Tried to please her    She only played one night stands
   A7                     E7
   Tried to please her    She only played one night stands now
   
                  F#7
Chorus: She was a day trip-per   Sun-day dri-ver, yeah
                   A7  G#7          C#7               B7 
        It took me so  long to find out   And I found out

Riff: ‖     E7      ‖ x 8

    E7
Outro: Day tripper  _ Day tripper, yeah
    E7
       Day tripper  _ Day tripper, yeah... (repeat and fade)  

Notes:

  • The riff played throughout the song is exactly the same pattern except one starts on string 6 (E7), and the other starts on string 5.
  • When played over E7 it starts on string 6 as shown in the Intro Tab (Strings 6, 5, 4) When played over A7 it starts on string 5 with exactly the same pattern (Strings 5, 4, 3)
  • E/B is played exactly like an E chord except you dont play string 6 as you are leading with a 'B' bass note which is on the 5th string.
  • During the choruses, it is easier to play A7 as a barre chord on the 5th fret, with an easy transition down the fretboard to G#7 and C#7 and B7 which can be played using the same shape as A7 barre except starting on the 7th fret.
  • The riff over the 6 bars of B7 after the second chorus starts on the 7th fret - 6th string (B note). I haven't written the tab for this. Using the same intervals and your ears, see if you can work it out. If you don't play the riff, it sounds better to use the B7 barre on the 7th fret while playing the 6 bars here, especially if you are using a chunky down-stroke pattern.
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