Chord/Tab song: Sixteen Tons

Johnny Cash
SIXTEEN TONS
The song "Sixteen Tons" originally was a working song

The Intro-Riff of the Johnny Cash version of this song is played over an a-blues-scale:

(INTRO-RIFF)

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
h|--4/5-4/5--4/5--4--1-----1-----------------------------------------------------------|
g|----------------------2----2--0--1/2-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

/ means SLIDE

Just listen to the song once or twice and you easily get the timing.

After the intro-section play the following instrumental part:

(RIFF 1)
[Am]

e|---------------|
h|---1--1--1--1--|
g|---2--2--2--2--| 2 times,
D|---2--2--2--2--| then directly into 1st verse [RIFF 2]
A|-0-------------|
E|-----3--1---0--|

Verse:

(RIFF 2)
[Am]

e|-----------------|
h|---1---1---1--1--|
g|---2---2---2--2--| 2 times (1st & 2nd line of the verses),
D|---2---2---2--2--| then, for the 3rd and 4th line play:
A|-0-------0-------|
E|-----0-------0---| 

(RIFF 3)
[Am] [Dm] [Am]

e|-------------1---1--|-0x-----------| x means MUTE GUITAR (again, listen to the song
h|---1---1-----3---3--|-1x-----------| and you'll know what I mean ;-)
g|---2---2-----2---2--|-2x-----------|
D|---2---2---0--------|--------------|
A|-0-------------0----|-0x-----------|
E|-----0--------------|--------------|

Chorus:

[Am]

e|---------------|
h|---1--1--1--1--|
g|---2--2--2--2--| 2 times, then go over to RIFF 3, and after the chorus
D|---2--2--2--2--| play the INTRO-RIFF (2x) and back to Verse
A|-0-------------|
E|-----3--1---0--|
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If you've got any questions or comments, please e-mail me:
p.krickl@gmx.at