Logo for GuitarTabsExplorer
🔎︎ Search
If Only by Tara Maclean

If Only tab by Tara Maclean

Guitar tabs

Song Title: If Only
Artist: Tara MacLean
Album: If You See Me (1997)

Transcribed By: Laura
Contact Email: bsbgal82@hotmail.com

Tuning: C# F# A# F# A# C#
Capo: 4th fret

This is my first attempt at 'tabbing' so please don't be too mean if its
wrong! And so far I its the only tab I have ever seen of this song, so
it is all mine! It's also very rough, I haven't listened to the song
all that closely yet, but play around with this and it *should* be
fine. I've aligned some of the lyrics with the tab so you get an idea
of the bits I'm talking about, so I hope that doesn't wreck the
formatting!
🎸
Accuracy Rating: - Votes: -
I saw a video of Tara playing this with a capo on the fourth fret, so I
think the tuning's right...

It's not a hard song to play, its just the timing at times you have to watch
out for - just listen to the recording.

Intro: (this is played twice)

C#|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#|---------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3-----3--0-|
F#|------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0-------------|
A#|------------3-----------------3-----------------0--------3--------0-------|
F#|--0-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------------------4-----------------2----------------------------------|

For the verses, its just the same as the intro:

ie:
       "...Old ballet shoes tossed in the corner..."
C#|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#|---------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3-----3--0-|
F#|------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0-------------|
A#|------------3-----------------3-----------------0--------3--------0-------|
F#|--0-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------------------4-----------------2----------------------------------|


      "... I put my ...........," (etc - nice and easy!)
C#|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#|---------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3-----3--0-|
F#|------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0-------------|
A#|------------3-----------------3-----------------0--------3--------0-------|
F#|--0-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------------------4-----------------2----------------------------------|


Then when it gets to the chorus bits ("If only I could see past myself..."):


   "...If only       I could       see  past myself, these..."
C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------1--------1--------0--------0--------1--------1--------0--------0-|
F#|-----0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0----|
A#|--1--------3--------0--------3--------1--------3--------0--------3-------|
F#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|


     "...ankles .................,"
C#|---------------------------------------|
A#|--------1--------1--------0--------0---|
F#|-----0--------0--------0--------0------|
A#|--1--------3--------0--------3---------|
F#|---------------------------------------|
C#|---------------------------------------|

(I don't think this bit's right, partly coz its awkward to play! - its
pretty hard to hear on my recording so I can't be sure about
it... Email me (bsbgal82@hotmail.com) if you find a better way to play
this bit!)

C#|----------------------------------------|
A#|----------------------------------------|
F#|----------------------------------------|
A#|-----0-h5-----0-h5-----0-h5-----0-h5----|
F#|--2--------2--------2--------2----------|
C#|----------------------------------------|


"...And the older I get,       the more      things............."
C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------1--------1--------0--------0--------1--------1--------0--------0-|
F#|-----0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0----|
A#|--1--------3--------0--------3--------1--------3--------0--------3-------|
F#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|


    "...to blame..."
C#|--------------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--|
F#|-----0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0-----|
A#|-----------------------------0--------3--------0--------|
F#|--0-----------------------------------------------------|
C#|-----------4--------2-----------------------------------|


(here's where the timing's a bit different)
  "...same old God,
  ...same old prayer,
  ...I keep repeating myself,"
C#|---------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------3-----------3-----------3--------3-----3---|
F#|-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--------0------------|
A#|-----------------------------------0--------3------|
F#|--0------------------------------------------------|
C#|--------------4-----------2------------------------|


   "... but I'm ............."
C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------3-----------3-----------3--------3-----3--------3--------3------3|
F#|-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--------0--------------0--------0----------|
A#|-----------------------------------0--------3--------------3---------0---|
F#|--0----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|--------------4-----------2-----------------------2----------------------|


Instrumental interlude (same as intro)

C#|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3--------3-|
F#|-----0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0--------0----|
A#|-----------3-----------------3-----------------0--------3--------0-------|x2
F#|--0----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|--------------------4-----------------2----------------------------------|


then into the second verse then chorus. Then it goes into her 'If only I'
bit:

    "If only I -------------"
C#|---------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------1--------3-----1--------0--------3-----0---|
F#|-----0--------0--------------0--------0------------| x6
A#|--1--------3--------1-----0--------3--------0------|
F#|---------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------------------------------------------------|


   "Keep talking to that same old God"
C#|---------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------3-----------3-----------3--------3-----3---|
F#|-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--------0------------|
A#|-----------------------------------0--------3------| x3
F#|--0------------------------------------------------|
C#|--------------4-----------2------------------------|



C#|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A#|-------3-----------3-----------3--------3-----3--------3--------3------3|
F#|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--------0--------------0--------0----------|
A#|----------------------------------0--------3--------------3---------0---|
F#|-0----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|-------------4-----------2-----------------------2----------------------|


   "If only I --------"
C#|---------------------------------------------------|
A#|--------1--------3-----1--------0--------3-----0---|
F#|-----0--------0--------------0--------0------------| x7
A#|--1--------3--------1-----0--------3--------0------|
F#|---------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------------------------------------------------|



   "Keep talking to that same old God"
C#|----------------------------------|
A#|--------3-----------3-------------|
F#|-----0-----0-----0-----0----------|
A#|----------------------------------|
F#|--0-------------------------------|
C#|--------------4-----------2-------|


Whew! There you go! I hope there aren't *too* many dodgy bits in there!
Please keep in mind that it is my first tab (I'm pretty proud of
myself :)) and email me back any comments or suggestions, coz I love
this song and I'd love it if anyone has a more accurate
tab... anyways, have fun with it!

If Only tab

Tara Maclean tabs for If only

What Is This?

If Only by Tara Maclean guitar tabs playing instructions.

Who Is This Page For?

Welcome to the guitar tabs guide for "If Only" by Tara Maclean! This page is perfect for musicians of any skill level. Dive in and master your favorite tunes with ease by using our guitar tabs.

What You Will Gain

By following this guide, you’ll not only learn to play "If Only" by Tara Maclean with confidence but also improve your overall musicianship. Our comprehensive archive of guitar tabs are tailored to boost your skills and inspire your musical journey.

Find guitar tabs and chords

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #