Tuning: down one half-step OR standard tuning There are different ways of playing the arpeggio introduction to this song. The original key is B but the main guitar on the recording is tuned down one half-step and plays C-shapes. If you don't play along with the original recording, however, you will probably spare yourself the trouble of re-tuning the guitar and leave the standard tuning intact. VERSION 1 (two guitars) Use this version if you have more than one guitar playing (as it is the case on the studio recording of this song). One guitar (with capo) plays in A, the second one (without capo) plays in C. The capoed guitar plays the intro as shown here. The other (and main) guitar only starts playing in the third bar .
Guitar 1 capo: 2nd fret (if played in B; guitar 2 tuned down one half-step) 3rd fret (if guitar 2 is in standard tuning) N.C. A 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|0---------------|----------------|----0-----------|----------------| B|----0---0-----0-|----0-----------|------------2---|----------------| G|--6---6-----6---|--6-------0-----|--2---2---2---2-|-------%--------| D|----------5-----|--------7-----7-|--------2-------|----------------| A|----------------|7-----7-----7---|0---------------|----------------| E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| Guitar 2 (no capo) N.C. C 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| B|----------------|----------------|--1-------1-----|----------------| G|----------------|----------------|------0-------0-|-------%--------| D|----------------|----------------|----2-------2---|----------------| A|----------------|----------------|3---------------|----------------| E|----------------|----------------|--------3-------|----------------| VERSION 2 (adaptation for one guitar) To match original key: tuned down one half-step If that's not important: standard tuning If you play alone you will have to go a different way. Even though it does not sound as "open" as the original version, it still sounds well enough if played fluently. As far as I know, Paul Simon has never played it like that, in live versions he just skips the intro arpeggio and starts directly with bar 3. N.C. C 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|3p0---0-----0---|--0-------------|----------------|----------------| B|----3---3-----3-|----3---1-----1-|--1-------1-----|----------------| G|----------3-----|0-----0--h3-0---|------0-------0-|-------%--------| D|----------------|----------------|----2-------2---|----------------| A|----------------|----------------|3---------------|----------------| E|----------------|----------------|--------3-------|----------------|
Alternative guitar chords and tabs for The Boxer by Simon & Garfunkel