Ashes Are Burning

Guitar Chords

(Michael Dunford/Betty Thatcher)
© 1973 Pytheon Music Co.
From the EMI Records LP Ashes Are Burning

Transcribed by Ofir Zwebner


ASHES ARE BURNING
(Dunford/Thatcher)

Transcribing the entire piece was very difficult, and I am inferior Guitar player, a novice Bassist and an un-experienced Tablature maker, I'm trying to give you the best I can figure out of this beautiful piece. So, there are lots of bass tab for several important lines. I also put bits of guitar tabs in some important places. I hope the timing is not bad. The guitar solo at the end (by Andy Powell) is impossible for me to tab - I just don't know all the tabbing standards, and I can't play it myself (I'm really lousy with my acoustic guitar). The bass lines can be played on the four lower strings of your guitar. Note the separation of bars, it might help you. Also, to start studying this piece, you better play it first along with the record. I'm sure there are some mistakes with the chords and I'm afraid I can't always figure out those maj7 or dim chords... so any ideas or corrections are welcome. Enjoy!

New Version!!! My friend, Raviv Reich, took this file back home and checked it out. He came back with lots of remarks and ideas, and together we sat down and made this revised edition. I'm sure it won't be the last... I hope I didn't make the notes too complex - there are so many options of doing things, and I wrote some of them. There is help about playing it with Capo - it sounds really nice! (IMHO...)

For convenience, the entire song is separated into 20 sections. In each of these sections you'll find the bass line or specific chords and so on. This separation is supposed to help things up. If it only messes everything - better tell me about it. For more convenience, there's a chords summary in the end of this document.

Each bar has time measures. The song's meter is 4/4, and the tabs are very detailed and with specific timing. just study it for a while, and I hope you'll get it right.

Some basic tablature signs I used:
        F/D  -  means F chords on C root.
        |    -  separation mark between two bars
on tab: /    -  slide up to the following note
        \    -  slide down...
        ~    -  kinda tremolo... ~6 means a fast 67646 (organ solo only)

Intro: cymbals give the rhythm and then:

1.  Intro:          
    Guitar:    F/D      G7/D     Bb/D     Dm
            E |8-------|7-------|6-------|5-------|   (*) Guitar can be 
            B |6-------|6-------|6-------|6-------|       played with Capo
            G |5-------|7-------|7-------|7-------|       whole the way 
            D |7-------|7-------|7-------|7-------|       through the piece.
            A |5-------|5-------|5-------|5-------|       Try the chords with
            E |--------|--------|--------|--------|       Capo on 5th fret.
    
2.  Repeat sequence, with bass line as follows:
    Bass:      F/D              G7/D
               1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a
            G |757------------5|7-------------0-|
            D |----------------|----------------|
            A |----------------|----------------|
            E |----------------|----------------|
               Bb/D             Dm
            G |757-------------|7---------------|
            D |----------------|--7-------------|
            A |----------------|------5---------|
            E |----------------|----------------|
            (*) alternative chords:    F/D  G7/D Bb/D Dm  
                                    E |1---|1---|1---|1---|
                                    B |3---|3---|3---|3---|
                                    G |5---|4---|3---|2---|
                                    D |0---|0---|0---|0---|
                                    A |----|----|----|----|


3.  First verse, goes with the same chord/bass line sequence. 
    
                   F/D         G7/D
    Annie:          Travel the days of freedom
                   Bb/D           Dm
                    Roads leading everywhere
                   F/D           G7/D
                    Come with me now, and
                    Bb/D         Dm
                    Show how you care

                   F/D         G7/D
                    Follow the dying embers                   
                   Bb/D          Dm
                    Cross on the path they lay
                   F/D            G7/D
                    Breath of the past
                        Bb/D         Dm  |  Dm
                    The earths yesterday
    
    
    Bass: On the last two Dm, slide down from the Bb/D into this line:
               Dm               Dm
               1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a
            G |----------------|------------5-7-|
            D |----------------|--5-----5-7-----|
            A |5-----7-----8---|----------------|
            E |----------------|----------------|


4.  Chorus:
                    G                     D           
                    Clear you mind, maybe you will find
                             Em            D         
                    That the past is still turning
                    G                  D
                    Circles away, echo yesterday
                    Em                   F/D  |  G7/D  |  Bb/D  |  Dm
                    Ashes burning, ashes burning


    Bass line on the chorus:   
               G                D
               1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a
            G |----------------|----------------|
            D |5-5-----5-5-----|4-4-----4-4-----|
            A |----------------|----------------|
            E |----------------|----------------|
                Em               D
                1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1  a  2  a  3  a  4  a
            G |----------------|------------------14\\\-|
            D |2-2-----2-2-----|------7-----12-14-------|
            A |----------------|5----------12-----------|
            E |----------------|------------------------|


                G                D
                1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a
            G |----------------|----------------|
            D |5-5-----5-5-----|4-4-----4-4-----|
            A |----------------|----------------|
            E |----------------|----------------|
                Em               
                1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  
            G |----------------|
            D |2-2-----2-2-----|... Bass continues as in the intro, the same
            A |----------------|    into the the next verse:
            E |----------------|

5.  Second Verse:
                   F/D          G7/D
                    Colours are fading starlight
                   Bb/D        Dm
                    Silver the way to find
                   F/D          G7/D
                    Walking the shadows, 
                    Bb/D         Dm
                    There in our mind

                   F/D           G7/D
                    Changing the order slowly
                   Bb/D         Dm
                    Leaving the mist of time
                   F/D          G7/D
                    Fingers are holding, 
                    Bb/D         Dm | Dm
                    Fragments of mine

6.  Chorus:
                    G                     D           
                    Clear you mind, maybe you will find
                             Em            D         
                    That the past is still turning
                    G                  D
                    Circles away, echo yesterday
                    Em                   F/D    |  G7/D
                    Ashes burning, ashes burning

7.  Instrumental:
            
    Guitar:         G | G+11 | G | G+11 
            Play this section on the top three strings:
                G   | G+11| G   | G+11
            E |-10--|-9---|-10--|-9---| (*) if you're playing with Capo 
            B |-8---|-8---|-8---|-8---|     better leave D string open
            G |-7---|-7---|-7---|-7---|
            D |-9---|-9---|-9---|-9---|
            A |-----|-----|-----|-----|
            E |-----|-----|-----|-----|


8.  Annie goes "La La La" over these chords:
       
       Chords: G        G+11     G        G+11
       Bass:   1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a
            G |--------|--------|--------|--------|
            D |--------|--------|--------|--------|
            A |5--5----|5--5----|5--5----|5--5--5\|
            E |--------|--------|--------|--------|
               
               Bb       Bb       C        D
               1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a
            G |--------|--------|--------|--------|----5---|
            D |--------|--------|--------|--------|-----5--|
            A |1--1----|1--1----|3--3----|5--5----|5-----3-|
            E |--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
               G        G+11     G        G+11
               1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a
            G |--------|--------|--------|--------|
            D |--------|--------|--------|--------|
            A |5--5----|5--5----|5--5----|5--5--5\|
            E |--------|--------|--------|--------|
               Bb       Bb       C        
               1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a 
            G |--------|--------|--------|
            D |--------|--------|--------|
            A |1--1----|1--1----|3--3----|
            E |--------|--------|--------|

9.  Instrumental:
    
    Piano, Guitar & Bass riff over these chords:
               D        D        C        C 
               1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a
            G |--------|--------|--------|--------|
            D |--------|--------|-----4-5|--------|
            A |5-------|--------|7-------|--------|
            E |--------|--------|--------|--------|
               D        D        C        C
               1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a
            G |--------|--------|--------|--------|
            D |4---5-7-|--5---4-|5---4---|----4-5-|
            A |--------|--------|------5-|7-------|
            E |--------|--------|--------|--------|
               D        D
               1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a 
            G |--------|--------|
            D |7--7--7-|--7-7-7-|
            A |--------|--------|
            E |--------|--------|

10. Then there's a Bass riff:  (Bass is Flanged, I think)
               1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a
            G |----------------|----------------|
            D |7---------------|----------------|
            A |---7--8--5--7---|---7--8--5--7---|         
            E |--------------87|5-------------87|

11. Now repeat three times, adding Piano, Harpsichords in unison and drums:
        Bass:  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a
            G |----------------|----------------|
            D |----------------|----------------|
            A |---7--8--5--7---|---7--8--5--7---|         
            E |5-------------87|5-------------87|

12. Bass riff remains the same as Piano/Harpsichord play.
    There are two sequences in this section:           
    Seq. 1:    Am Am6 Am7 Am6Am Am Am6 Am7 Am6Am  
            E |0--2---3----2-0-|0--2---3----2-0-| (*) Also playable with 
            B |1--1---1----1-1-|1--1---1----1-1-|     Capo: Play "Em" and 
            G |2--2---2----2-2-|2--2---2----2-2-|     add notes on the B 
            D |2--2---2----2-2-|2--2---2----2-2-|     String
            A |0--0---0----0-0-|0--0---0----0-0-|
            E |----------------|----------------|
    Seq. 2:    Am  sus4   sus4    sus4     sus4 
            E |0--0---0----0-0-|0--0---0----0-0-| (*) Also playable with
            B |1--3---1----3-1-|1--3---1----3-1-|     Capo: Play "Em" and 
            G |2--2---2----2-2-|2--2---2----2-2-|     add 7th fret on the
            D |2--2---2----2-2-|2--2---2----2-2-|     G string.
            A |0--0---0----0-0-|0--0---0----0-0-|
            E |----------------|----------------|
    
    Play the sequences in the following order (after the unison part):
        1. Piano                           -  repeat seq. 1 twice
        2. Piano playing high chords       -  repeat seq. 1 twice
        3. Harpsichord arpeggio            -  repeat seq. 1 twice
        4. Piano playing high chords       -  repeat seq. 2 twice
        5. Harpsichord Arpeggio            -  repeat seq. 1 twice
        6. Harpsichord playing low + Piano -  repeat seq. 1 twice
        7. Harpsichord + High piano.       -  repeat seq. 2 twice

13. Then in unison:    
               1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a 1a2a3a4a
            G |--------|--------|--------|--------|  Repeat twice, in the  
            D |7-------|--------|--------|--------|  second time go 2 frets 
            A |---7--8-|-5--7---|---7--8-|-5--7---|  up. (into Bm)       
            E |--------|------87|5-------|------87|

14. Before the Organ solo starts, Piano plays:
                    Bm | Bm | Bm | Bm
    
15. Organ Solo Section:
    Chords for Organ Solo:  
                    Bm | Bm | G | G*
                    Bm | Bm | G | G
                    Bm | Bm | G | G
                    C  | A7 | D | F#dim 
                    Em | Em | C | C
                    Em | Em | C | C
                    Bm | Bm | G | G 

        on the G* all instruments play in unison:
            E |------------3-2-|
            B |--------3-2-----|
    Guitar: G |----4-3---------|
            D |5-4-------------|
            A |----------------|
            E |----------------|
              |                |
            G |----------------|
    Bass:   D |------------5-4-|
            A |----2-1-5-4-----|
            E |3-2-------------|
        
        on the F#dim play: x-x-4-5-4-5
    

    Organ Solo - Transcribed for guitar:
          
          Bm               Bm               G                G*
          1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a
    E ---|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    B ---|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    G ---|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    D ---|----------------|----------------|----------------|------------5-4-|
    A -20|2---------------|--2-4-5-4~2-4-5-|5---------------|----2-1-5-4-----|
    E ---|----------------|----------------|--323-----------|3-2-------------|

       Bm               Bm               G                G
       1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a
    E |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    B |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    G |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    D |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    A |2-202-----------|--2-4-5-4~2-4-5-|5---------------|------------2-4-|
    E |----------------|----------------|--323-----------|----3-2-3-5-----|

       Bm               Bm               G                G
       1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a
    E |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    B |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    G |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    D |------4-5-4-----|--4-4-2-2-------|----------------|----------------|
    A |4-2-2-----------|----------5-5-4-|4-5-2---2-------|----------2-4-5-|
    E |----------------|----------------|------5---------|----------------|

       C                A7               D                F#dim
       1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a
    E |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    B |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    G |----------------|--------2-------|----------------|2---4---5---4-2-|
    D |2-------------2-|2-------------5-|5-4-4-----------|----------------|
    A |--3-3-----------|--4---4---------|--------------5-|----------------|
    E |----------------|----5-----------|----------------|----------------|
    
       Em               Em               C                C
       1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a
    E |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    B |----------------|------5-5-------|----------------|----------------|
    G |4-----454-------|--4-4---------4-|4---------------|--------------2-|
    D |----------------|----------5-5---|--2-2-0-2-------|----2-4-5-4-5---|
    A |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    E |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

       Em               Em               C                C
       1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a
    E |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    B |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    G |2-4-4-5-5-4-----|----4-----------|----------------|----------------|
    D |----------------|------5-5-4-4-5-|5-2-2---2-------|----2-4-5---4-2-|
    A |----------------|----------------|------5---------|----------------|
    E |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    
       Bm               Bm               G                G
       1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a
    E |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    B |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    G |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    D |4---------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
    A |----2-0-2-------|--2-2-5-5-2-2---|----------------|----------------|
    E |----------------|--------------5-|5-3-3-2-3-------|--3-3-2-2-3-----|
    



16. After the Organ solo there's a piano solo at almost the same chords:
                    Bm | Bm | G | G*
                    Bm | Bm | G | G
                    Bm | Bm | G | G
                    C  | A7 | D | F#dim
                

17. And then:
       Em               Em      Em/D     C                C
       1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a
    E |0---------------|--------0-------|0---------------|----------------|
    B |0---------------|--------0-------|1---------------|----------------|
    G |0---------------|--------0-------|0---------------|----------------|
    D |2---------------|--------0-------|2---------------|----------------|
    A |2---------------|--------2-------|3---------------|----------------|
    E |0---------------|--------0-------|----------------|----------------|
      |                |                | sorry, no place:    12  12  9   |
    G |--------9-------|----------------|----------------|--12--11--11----|
    D |------79------97|----------------|--------10----10|--------------12|
    A |7---------------|7-----7---------|------10-------10----------------|
    E |----------------|--------10----10|8---------------|8---------------|

       Em                       Em/D     C       C/B      Am      Am/G
       1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a
    E |0---------------|--------0-------|0-------0-------|0-------0-------|
    B |0---------------|--------0-------|1-------1-------|1-------1-------|
    G |0---------------|--------0-------|0-------0-------|2-------2-------|
    D |2---------------|--------0-------|2-------2-------|2-------2-------|
    A |2---------------|--------2-------|3-------2-------|0-------0-------|
    E |0---------------|--------0-------|----------------|--------3-------|
      |                |                |                |                |
    G |--------9---9---|----------------|--------4---5-4-|2-----2---------|
    D |------79------9-|----------------|------5---------|--------5-----5-|
    A |7---------------|7---9-7-5---7-5-|3---------------|----------------|
    E |----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

       F#dim            Em      Em/D     C       C/B      Am      Am/G
       1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a
    E |2---------------|0-------0-------|0-------0-------|0-------0-------|
    B |1---------------|0-------0-------|1-------1-------|1-------1-------|
    G |2---------------|0-------0-------|0-------0-------|2-------2-------|
    D |1---------------|2-------0-------|2-------2-------|2-------2-------|
    A |0---------------|2-------2-------|3-------2-------|0-------0-------|
    E |2---------------|0-------0-------|----------------|--------3-------|
      |                |                |                |                |
    G |----------------|----------------|----------------|2-----2---------|
    D |4-----4---2-4---|2-----2---------|----------------|--------5-----5-|
    A |--------5-----5-|--------5-----5-|3-----3-2-3-2---|----------------|
    E |----------------|----------------|--------------3-|----------------|

       F#Dim                                                            
       1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  1 a 2 a 3 a 4 a  
    E |2---------------|----------------|----------------|
    B |1---------------|----------------|----------------|
    G |2---------------|----------------|----------------|
    D |1---------------|----------------|--------5---4---|
    A |0---------------|--------2---1---|5---4-----------|
    E |2---------------|3---2-----------|----------------|
      |                |                |                |
    G |----------------|--------4---3---/7---6--/12--11--|
    D |4-----4---2-4---|5---4-----------|----------------|
    A |--------5-------|----------------|----------------|
    E |----------------|----------------|----------------|


18. 2nd part:                                     

    The F# fades away while long Em chords from organ: This is intro for the
    second part of the song
                                   
    Organ Intro: Em | Em/D | C | C                      (*) Em/D: x-x-0-0-0-0
                 Em | Em/D | C | C                      or: Em7:  0-2-0-0-3-0

19. Verse:                 
                 Em         Em/D    C      C
    Annie:      Imagine the burning embers
               Em           Em/D     C     C
                They glow below and above
               Em             Em/D    C    C6           (*) C6: x-0-2-0-1-0
                Your sins you won't remember
                    Am         Am            Em | Em/D | C | C
                And all you'll find there is love

                Em        Em/D    C       C
                Ashes are burning brightly
                    Em           Em/D      C     C
                The smoke can be seen from afar
               Em             Em/D   C      C6 
                So now you're seeing how far
                Am        Am          Em | Em/D | C | C6
                Ashes are burning the way

    Guitar Riff over the Em/D chord:
           Em | Em/D            |  C  |  C6
            E |-----------------|---
            B |----7-8-10-7-8---|---
    Guitar: G |7-9------------9-|---
            D |-----------------|---
            A |-----------------|---
            E |-----------------|---

                Am        Am          Em | Em/D | C | C
                Ashes are burning the way

20. Instrumental: 
      The sequence goes on till fade. Guitar solo is not here,  
      but the heavy bass line is something like this:
               
               Em       D        C        C
               1 2 3 4  1 2 3 4  1 2 3 4  1 2 3 4 
            G |--------|--------|------55|5-4-----|
    Bass:   D |--------|--------|--------|----7-5-|
            A |7-------|5-------|--------|--------|
            E |--------|--------|8-------|--------|


Ashes are Burning - Chords Summary:

1. F/D | G7/D | Bb/D | Dm | 2. F/D | G7/D | Bb/D | Dm | 3. F/D | G7/D | Bb/D | Dm | Travel the days... Roads leading... F/D | G7/D | Bb/D | Dm | Come with me now and show how you... F/D | G7/D | Bb/D | Dm | Follow the dying... Cross all the... F/D | G7/D | Bb/D | Dm | Dm | Breath of the... The earths yesterday 4. G | D | Em | D | Clear your mind... That the past is... G | D | Em | Circles away, echo yesterday, Ashes... F/D | G7/D | Bb/D | Dm ... burning 5. F/D | G7/D | Bb/D | Dm | Colours are fading... Silver the... F/D | G7/D | Bb/D | Dm | Walking the shadows, There in our... F/D | G7/D | Bb/D | Dm | Changing the order... Leaving the... F/D | G7/D | Bb/D | Dm | Dm | Fingers are holding fragments of mine 6. G | D | Em | D | Clear your mind... That the past is... G | D | Em | Circles away, echo yesterday, Ashes... F/D | G7/D | ... burning 7. G | G+11 | G | G+11 | 8. G | G+11 | G | G+11 | La la la... Bb | Bb | C | D | D | G | G+11 | G | G+11 | Bb | Bb | C | 9. D | D | C | C | D | D | C | C | D | D | 10. nc | nc | - Bass riff 11. nc | nc | nc | nc | nc | nc | - Unison section 12. Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (sus4) | Am (sus4) | Am (sus4) | Am (sus4) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (6-7-6) | Am (sus4) | Am (sus4) | Am (sus4) | Am (sus4) | 13. nc | nc | nc | nc | - Bass riff and unison 14. Bm | Bm | Bm | Bm | 15. Bm | Bm | G | G* | Bm | Bm | G | G | Bm | Bm | G | G | - Organ solo C | A7 | D | F#dim | Em | Em | C | C | Em | Em | C | C | Bm | Bm | G | G | 16. Bm | Bm | G | G* | Bm | Bm | G | G | Bm | Bm | G | G | C | A7 | D | F#dim | 17. Em | Em Em/D | C | C | Em | Em Em/D | C C/B | Am Am/G | F#dim | Em Em/D | C C/B | Am Am/G | F#dim | G* | G* | 18. Em | Em/D | C | C | Em | Em/D | C | C | 19. Em | Em/D | C | C | Imagine the burning embers Em | Em/D | C | C | They glow below and above Em | Em/D | C | C6 | Your sins you won't remember Am | Am | Em | Em/D | C | C | And all you find there is love Em | Em/D | C | C | Ashes are burning brightly Em | Em/D | C | C | The smoke can be seen from afar Em | Em/D | C | C6 | So now your seeing how far Am | Am | Em | Em/D | C | C | Ashes are burning the way Am | Am | Em | Em/D | C | C | Ashes are burning the way 20. Em | Em/D | C | C | - Repeat till fade.