👤 My Playlist

♥ Add to my Playlist

Absence Of God Tab by Rilo Kiley

Absence Of God tab by Rilo Kiley

Guitar Tab

Difficulty: Intermediate 💪

Intro:

Guitar 1
e|-------2h3p2--------------0h2p0------------2h3p2------------------5---|
B|-3-----------3------2----------------0-----------3----2-----3-------2-|
G|---2-----------2------2----------------0-----------0------------------|
D|-0---0-----------0--0---2-------0--------0----------------------------|
A|----------------------------------0-------------------0-0-0-0-0-0-----|
E|-------------------------------------3--------------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-----------------0h2--0h2--2--------------------------2--------------|
B|------------------------------------------------------------5--2-2h3-|
G|-----------------0----0----0--------------------------0--------------|
D|------------------------------------------------------------0--0-0---|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------|

0:08 intro continued
Guitar 1
e|-------2h3p2-------------0h2p0-------------2h3p2-----5-3-2-0--------|
B|-3-----------3-----2-----------2-----0-----------0-----------3-3-2--|
G|---2-----------2-----2-----------0-----0-----------0-0-0-0-0--------|
D|-0---0-----------0-----0-----------0-------------------------0-0-0--|
A|-------------------0------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------3---3--------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-------------------------------------3---------0h2-0-----0-----------|
B|-------------0-------10------------------------------3-2---3-2-0-2h3-|
G|-------------------------------------0-----------0-0-----------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------0-0-0-0-0-0-0---|
A|-------------7/9h12--12----------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------|

Verse 1: 0:14
"The absence of God will bring you comfort      baby"
Guitar 1
e|---------------------------------------3-----------------0-----|
B|-3-----3-----3---2-----2h3-2-----0-----0-0---0-2-------2-2-----|
G|---2-----------2---2---------2-----0-------0-----2---2-----2---|
D|-0---0-0-0-0-----0---0-0---0---0-----------------------------0-|
A|-----------------------------------------------0---0-----------|
E|---------------------------------3---3-3-----3-----------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|----------------------------------------------7/9--------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------10-8----10-|
G|---------------------------------------------------------11-11-|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------|

0:21 verse continued
Guitar 1
"And plannin's for the poor, so let's pretend   that we're rich"
e|-------2h3p2-----------------------------3------------2-----|
B|-3-----------3-----2-----2h3---2---0-----0-0----2-----2-2---|
G|---------------0---------------------0--------------------2-|
D|-0-0-0-----------0-0-0-0-----0---0-----0----------4---------|
A|----------------------------------------------------4-------|
E|-----------------------------------3-----3---3--2-----2-----|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-2-----------------------------------------0h2-0----------2-|
B|-------------------------------------------------3-2----2---|
G|-------------------------------------------0---0------------|
D|-0-----------------------------------------------0-0--0-----|
A|------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------|

Pre-Chorus: 0:28
   "And I'm not           my body         or how I choose to destroy it"
Guitar 1
e|--------------------------------------------------------0-------------------|
B|-------3----3---------3----3----3-----3-----3-----2-------2---2h3---3-----2-|
G|---4--------------4---------------2-----2-----2-----2-------2---------2-----|
D|--------------------------------2---2-2---2-2---2-2---2-------0---0-----0-0-|
A|-2---2-2--2---2-2---2-2--2---2----------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-7-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---0---7-----5-----5---5h7-----7---5---5---7-----5-----------5h7---|
G|---------0-----0-----0-----0-----0---0---0---0-----0---7-----------|
D|-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---0-------------------0---0-0---0---0---0---0-|
A|-----------------------------0--0--0---0---------------0---0-------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

Verse 2: 0:36
"Folk singers sing songs    for the working
baby."
Guitar 1
e|-------2h3p2--------------0h2p0------------2h3p2------------------5-|
B|-3-----------3------2----------------0-----------3----2-----3-------|
G|---2-----------2------2----------------0-----------0----------------|
D|-0---0-----------0--0---2-------0--------0--------------------------|
A|----------------------------------0-------------------0-0-0-0-0-0---|
E|-------------------------------------3------------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-0h2----------------------------------5-----0h2-0-------------------|
B|-------------5---\---2------------------0---------0-----------------|
G|--------------------------------------------0---0-------------------|
D|-0-----------0-------0----------------0---0-------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------|

0:43 verse 2 continued
"We're just recreation, for all those doctors and lawyers"
Guitar 1
e|-------2h3p2-------------0h2p0-------------2h3p2-----5-2---------2-|
B|-3-----------3-----2-----------2-----0-----------0-------3-2---2---|
G|---2-----------2-----2-----------0-----0-----------0-0-0-----------|
D|-0---0-----------0-----0-----------0---------------------0-0-0-----|
A|-------------------0-----------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------3---3-------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-------------------5-----------------7---------------0h2-0------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------3-2--|
G|-------------------------------------0----------------0--0------|
D|-------------------0---------------------------------------0-0--|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|

Pre-Chorus: 0:50
"There's no relief for the bleeding heart, cuz they'll be losing bodies tonight"
Guitar 1
e|--------------------------------------------------------------2h3p2---------------|
B|-3-----3------3-----3--------3-----3-----3-2-----2---2--3-----------3-----2--0----|
G|---4-----4--4---4-----4---4----2-----2-------2-----2------2-----------2---------2-|
D|-----------------------------2---2-2---2-2-2---2-2---2--0---0-----------0-0--0----|
A|-2---2-2--2---2---2-2---2-------------------------------------------------------0-|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-7--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---0---7---5----5h7---7--5---7-----7-5-----5h7---7---5--7--7--5h7-----------------|
G|-------------0-------------0---0-------7-6-------------------------7-----6--4--\2-|
D|-0---0-0---0----0---0-0--0-----------------0---0-0---0--0--0--0------0------------|
A|-----------------------------0---0-0-0-0-0-------------------------0---0-0--0-----|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Chorus: 1:00
"And Rob says you love, love, love, then you die"
Guitar 1
e|-------0-------------0-------------2-------------2-------|
B|---0-----0---0---2-----2---2---------2-------3-----3-----|
G|-------------------------------3-------3-------------4---|
D|---------------2---2-----2---------------4---------------|
A|-2---2-----2-------------------------------2---2---------|
E|-----------------------------2---2-----------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-0---2---3---5---7------9------5------5-------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------7----3-----3---|
G|--------------------------------------------------4-----4-|
D|-2---4---5---7---9---9-----9---7---7----7----7--4---4-----|
A|----------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------|

1:08 chorus continues
"I've watched him while sleeping and seen him cryin', with closed eyes"
Guitar 1
e|-------0-------------0------------------------0--|
B|---0-----0---0---2-----2---2--------2------2-----|
G|-------------------------------2------2-------2--|
D|---------------2---2-----2---2---2--2---2--2-----|
A|-2---2-----2-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-0---2---3---5---7---10----9-----9-----9------5-|
B|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|
D|-2---4---5---7---9---12---11--11----11---11---7-|
A|------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------|

Solo: 1:15--this is very brief
Guitar 1
e|-------2h3p2-------------0h2p0-------------2h3p2-----5-3-2-0--------|
B|-3-----------3-----2-----------2-----0-----------0-----------3-3-2--|
G|---2-----------2-----2-----------0-----0-----------0-0-0-0-0--------|
D|-0---0-----------0-----0-----------0-------------------------0-0-0--|
A|-------------------0------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------3---3--------------------------|
|
with
Guitar
e|------------5----------------------------------0h2-------------------|
B|-------5/7---------------------------7---------------3-2---------2h3-|
G|-------------------7-----------------------------0-------------------|
D|-------------------------------------0---------------0-0---------0---|
A|-------------------0-------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------|

Verse 3: 1:22
"And you're not happy but you're funny, and I'm trippin' over my joy"
Guitar 1
e|-----------------------------------------3---------------0-------|
B|-3-----2h3-3------2-----2h3-2------0-------0-----0h2-------2-----|
G|---2---------2------2---------2------0-------0-------2-------2---|
D|-0---0-0-------0--0---2-0---0---0------0-------0-0-----0-------0-|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------3-----3-----------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-----------------------------------------------------------0-----|
B|-15--------------14----------------3-------------0h2-----2---2---|
G|-----------------------------------------------------2---------2-|
D|--0---------------0----------------0-------------0-----0---------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|

1:29 verse 3 continued
    "And I just keep on getting up again"
Guitar 1
e|-------------------------------------3---------------0-------|
B|-3-----3-----3-2-----2h3-2-----0-------0-----0h2-------2-----|
G|---2-----2-------2---------2-----0---0---0-------2-------2---|
D|-0---0-0---0-0-0---0-0---0---0-----0-------0-0-----0-------0-|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------3-----------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|------------------------------------------------------5-------|
B|-15--------------14------------------3h5-3--------------5-----|
G|-------------------------------------------4----4/6-6-----6---|
D|--0---------------0------------------5---5---5--5/7-7-------7-|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------|

1:36 verse continued
"We could be daytime drunks if we wanted, we'd never get anything done that way, baby"
Guitar 1
e|-------------------------------------3---------------0-------|
B|-3-----3-----3-2-----2h3-2-----0-------0-----0h2-------2-----|
G|---2-----2-------2---------2-----0---0---0-------2-------2---|
D|-0---0-0---0-0-0---0-0---0---0-----0-------0-0-----0-------0-|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------3-----------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|---------------------------------------------7/9------------|
B|-10-----10-10-----10---10-----8-----8------------10\8--5/7--|
G|----7---------7-----------7-----7-----7---7-----------------|
D|--0---0--0--0---0--0----0---0-0---0-0---0-------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------|

1:44 verse continued
"And we'd still be ruled by our dueling perspectives"
Guitar 1
e|-2-----2-0---0h2---2-0---3-----3-------0h2-0-------2---|
B|---3-------3-----3-----3---0-----0-----------2-------2-|
G|-2---2-2-2---2-----2-2-------0-----0-----------3-------|
D|-------------------------------------0-----------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------3-----3-------0h2-0-----2-----|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-------------------------7-------------0h2-0-------2---|
B|-7-----7-5---5h7---7-5-----------------------3-2-----0-|
G|---7-------7-----------7---------------0---0-----0-0---|
D|-0---0-0-0---0---0-0-0---9-------------------0-0-------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|

Pre-Chorus: 1:51
  "And I'm not  my perspective, or the lies I'll tell you  everytime
Guitar 1
e|--------------------------------------------------------------2h3p2---------------------|
B|-3-----3------3-----3--------3-----3-----3-2-----2---2--3-----------3-----2-----0-------|
G|---4-----4--4---4-----4---4----2-----2-------2-----2------2-----------2-----0-----0---2-|
D|-----------------------------2---2-2---2-2-2---2-2---2--0---0-----------0-0---0-0---0---|
A|-2---2-2--2---2---2-2---2-------------------------------------------------------------0-|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-7--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---0---7---5----5h7---7--5---7-----7-5-----5h7---7---5----------------------------------|
G|-------------0-------------0---0-------7-6--------------------7-----7-----7-6-----6-4\2-|
D|-0---0-0---0----0---0-0--0-----------------0---0-0---0----------0-----0-------0---------|
A|-----------------------------0---0-0-0-0-0--------------------0---0-0---0-0-0---0-0-0---|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Chorus: 2:01
"And Morgan says maybe love won't let you down"
Guitar 1
e|-------0-------------0-------------2-------------2-----|
B|---0-----0---0---2-----2---2---------2-------3-----3---|
G|-------------------------------3-------3-------------4-|
D|---------------2---2-----2---------------4-------------|
A|-2---2-----2-------------------------------2---2-------|
E|-----------------------------2---2---------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-0---2---3---5---7---9-----5--------5-------------------|
B|------------------------------7--------7----7-3-----3---|
G|------------------------------------------------4-----4-|
D|-2---4---5---7---9---9-----7-----7--7-----7---4---4-----|
A|--------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------|

2:09 chorus continued
"All of your failures are    training grounds"
Guitar 1
e|-------0-------------0-------------2-------------2-----|
B|---0-----0---0---2-----2---2---------2-------3-----3---|
G|-------------------------------3-------3-------------4-|
D|---------------2---2-----2---------------4-------------|
A|-2---2-----2-------------------------------2---2-------|
E|-----------------------------2---2---------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-0---2---3---5---7---9------------9-----------10-------10-|
B|----------------------------10-------10----10----12-------|
G|----------------------------------------------------------|
D|-2---4---5---7---9---9---11----11-------11----12----12-12-|
A|----------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------|

2:16 chorus continued
"And just as your back's turned you'll be surprised, she says
as your solitude subsides"
Guitar 1
e|-------0-------------0------------------------0--|
B|---0-----0---0---2-----2---2--------2------2-----|
G|-------------------------------2------2-------2--|
D|---------------2---2-----2---2---2--2---2--2-----|
A|-2---2-----2-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-0---2---3---5---7---10----9-----9-----9------5-|
B|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|
D|-2---4---5---7---9---12---11--11----11---11---7-|
A|------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------|

Solo: 2:23 again, super brief
Guitar 1
e|-------2h3p2--------------2---|
B|-3-----------3------3-------3-|
G|---2-----------2------2-------|
D|-0---0-----------0------------|
A|--------------------2---2-2---|
E|------------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|------------------------------|
B|------------------------------|
G|----------11-----------11-----|
D|-------12-----------12----12--|
A|----12-----------12-----------|
E|-10------------9--------------|

Bridge: 2:26
"And like I'll teach ya how to swim/
If you turn the bad in me into good again
Guitar 1
e|-2------2------2--------2-----|
B|-2------3------2--------3-----|
G|-2------4------2--------4-----|
D|-4------4------4--------4-----|
A|--------2---------------2-----|
E|------------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|------------------------------|
B|----------------------3p2-0---|
G|----------------------2---0---|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|------------------------------|

Solo: 2:34  This is actually a full solo
Guitar 1
e|-------0-------------0------------------------0-----0-------0--|
B|---0-----0---0---2-----2---2--------2------2----2-----2---2----|
G|-------------------------------2------2-------2---2-2---2---2--|
D|---------------2---2-----2---2---2--2---2--2-------------------|
A|-2---2-----2---------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-0---2---3---5---7---10----9---------9-----9--5-----5-3---0h2--5--3----|
B|-----------------------------10--------10-------7-------5------------5-|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------0--0----|
D|-2---4---5---7---9---12---11----11--11----11--7---7-7-5---0----------0-|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|

2:41 solo continued
Guitar 1
e|-------2h3p2--------------0h2p0------------2h3p2------------------5---|
B|-3-----------3------2----------------0-----------3----2-----3-------2-|
G|---2-----------2------2----------------0-----------0------------------|
D|-0---0-----------0--0---2-------0--------0----------------------------|
A|----------------------------------0-------------------0-0-0-0-0-0-----|
E|-------------------------------------3--------------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|---------------------------------------3--3--0--3--0--0---0h2--2--3/5-|
B|-10--------10--------10--7------7-----------------------0-------------|
G|-----11--------11-----------7------7---0--0-----0---------0----0--0---|
D|--0------0--0------0--0--0----0-0----0-------0-----0--0---------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------|

2:49 solo continued
Guitar 1
e|-2-----2--0------------0h2p0-------------2h3p2-----5-3-2-0-2-0----------------2-------------2-----|
B|---0---------3---2-----------2-----3-----------3---------------3-2-2h3--3-------3-----2-------3---|
G|-0---0-0--0----0---0-----------0-----2-----------2-0-0-0-0-0-0------------2-------2-----2-------2-|
D|-------------0---0---0-----------0-0---0-----------------------0-0-0----0---0-------0-0---0-------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-7-----7--5-\3---2-------2-----2---3-----3------------------------------7-----7-----7-7-----7-----|
G|---0-----------0---0-------0----------------2-----------------------------7-----7-------5-----5---|
D|-0---0-0--0------0---0---0---0-0---0-----0-----0---7-5-4-2-5-4-2--------0---0-0---0-0-0---0-0---0-|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------4-4/5----------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------0-0-0-0-0-0-0----------------------------------|

Chorus: 2:59
"And I say there's trouble when everything is fine"
Guitar 1
e|-------0-------------0-------------2-------------2-------|
B|---0-----0---0---2-----2---2---------2-------3-----3-----|
G|-------------------------------3-------3-------------4---|
D|---------------2---2-----2---------------4---------------|
A|-2---2-----2-------------------------------2---2---------|
E|-----------------------------2---2-----------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-0---2---3---5---7------9------5------5-------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------7----3-----3---|
G|--------------------------------------------------4-----4-|
D|-2---4---5---7---9---9-----9---7---7----7----7--4---4-----|
A|----------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------|

3:06 chorus continued
"The need to destroy things creeps up on me everytime"
Guitar 1
e|-------0----------------0---------------2---------------2-------|
B|---0-------0---0----2-------2---2-----------2-------3-------3---|
G|------------------------------------3---------3---------------2-|
D|------------------2---2-------2-----------------4---------------|
A|-2---2-------2------------------------------------2---2---------|
E|----------------------------------2---2-------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-0---2---3---5---7-----9-------------9----------10-------10----------|
B|-------------------------------10------10----10----12-------12----12-|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-2---4---5---7---9---9---9--11----11------11----12----12-12----12----|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------|

3:13 chorus continued
"And just as love's silhouette appears I close my eyes and
disappear tonight"
Guitar 1
e|-------0-------------0-------------------------0-|
B|---0-----0---0---2-----2---2--------2------2-----|
G|-------------------------------2------2--------2-|
D|---------------2---2-----2---2---2--2---2--2-----|
A|-2---2-----2-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-0---2---3---5---7---10----9-----9--------9----5-|
B|-----------------------------10----10------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|-2---4---5---7---9---12---11----11----11--11---7-|
A|-------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|

Solo: 3:20 very brief
Guitar 1 only
e|-------2h3p2-------------2-----2---|
B|-3-----------3-----2-------2-----2-|
G|---2-----------2-----2-------------|
D|-0---0-----------0-0---0-----0-----|
A|-----------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------|

Outro: 3:24
"And something's gotta change,
Cuz our love's the slowest moving train"
Guitar 1
e|-2------2------2--------2-----|
B|-2------3------2--------3-----|
G|-2------4------2--------4-----|
D|-4------4------4--------4-----|
A|--------2---------------2-----|
E|------------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|------------------------------|
B|----------------------3p2-0---|
G|----------------------2---0---|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|------------------------------|

3:32 outro continued
Guitar 1
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------2--|
B|-3-----3-----3---3-----2-----0-----------------------------------------------3--|
G|---4-----4-----4---0-----0-----0-2-----4-----7---9-----11\9--9---9----6------2--|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------0--|
A|-2---2-2---2-2---0---0-0---0-0---0-0-0-2-2-2-5-5-7-7-7--9\7-7--7------4---------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|
with
Guitar 2
e|-12----10-----9---7----5----3----0----2----3----5---7--10--9---9---9--5------5---|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------------5------7---|
G|----------------------------------------------------------------------7------7---|
D|-14----12----11---9----7----5----2----4----5----7---9--12-11--11--11---------7---|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------5---|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

************************************
| x   Dead note
| h   Hammer-on
| p   Pull-off
| /   Slide up
| \   Slide down
************************************

Published: August 22, 2024

Last updated: September 10, 2025

Please rate for accuracy!

🎸

Accuracy Rating: - Votes: -

Rilo Kiley tabs for Absence of god

What is this?

Learn how to play "Absence Of God" by Rilo Kiley with our easy-to-follow guitar tabs guide. Build confidence, sharpen your technique, and enjoy playing guitar.

Who Is This Page For?

This guitar tabs tutorial for "Absence Of God" by Rilo Kiley is crafted for Intermediate players ready to learn and grow. Whether you're just starting or refining your skills, this guide meets you where you are.

Why This Page Is Perfect for You

Intermediate players can explore new challenges and boost their technique with a deeper dive into "Absence Of God."

What You Will Gain

By using our guitar tabs, you’ll not only learn to play "Absence Of God" by Rilo Kiley with accuracy and style, but you'll also elevate your overall musicianship. Explore our full archive of guitar tabs for more songs, skills, and inspiration.

Your last visited songs

×