Day Tripper Guitar Tab: Learn to Play The Beatles Classic

“Day Tripper” by The Beatles is instantly recognizable thanks to its iconic and catchy guitar riff. Released in 1965 as a double A-side single with “We Can Work It Out,” this track showcases the band’s evolving sound and John Lennon’s sharp songwriting. For guitar players, “Day Tripper” is a must-learn riff and a fantastic addition to your repertoire. This guitar tab breaks down the song into easy-to-follow sections, allowing you to master this classic tune.

Decoding the “Day Tripper” Riffs

The song revolves around several key riffs that are repeated throughout the verses, choruses, and bridge. Let’s break down each riff step-by-step:

Riff 1 (Verse)

This is the main verse riff, instantly recognizable and the foundation of the song. It’s based around the E and A strings and uses a distinctive descending and ascending pattern.

E--------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------
D-----------2--0-----4----0-2----------------
A---------2-------2-----2--------------------
E--0--3-4------------------------------------

Playing Tips:

• Start by playing slowly to get the finger movements smooth.
• Focus on the timing between notes. The rhythm is crucial for this riff.
• Use your index finger for the 2nd fret on the D and A strings, and your ring finger for the 4th fret on the D string.
• Ensure the open E string at the beginning rings clearly.

Riff 2 (Verse Variation)

This riff is a slight variation of Riff 1, used in the verses to add a bit of dynamic change. Notice the subtle difference on the lower strings.

E--------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------
G-----------2--0-----4----0-2----------------
D---------2-------2-----2--------------------
A--0--3-4------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------

Playing Tips:

• Compare this riff to Riff 1 and identify the changes.
• The main difference is the starting position on the A string instead of the E string in Riff 1.

Riff 3 (Chorus)

The chorus riff introduces chords and a more driving feel. It uses power chords and a classic rock rhythm.

F#          A           G#          C#     B
E----------------------------------9--9-----9--------7-7---7-------------
A---x8-------x2--------x2----------9--9--9--9--9-----7-7-7-7-7-----------
D-------------------------------10-10-10-10-10-10--8-8-8-8-8-8-----------
G--4---------7---------6--------11-11-11-11-11-11--9-9-9-9-9-9-----------
B--4-4-4-4-/-7-7-7-7-/-6-6-6-6--11-11-11-11-11-11--9-9-9-9-9-9-----------
E--2-2-2-2-/-5-5-5-5-/-4-4-4-4--9--------9-----9---7-----7---7-----------
p.m.

Chord Shapes:

• F#: 244322
• A: 577655
• G#: 466544
• C#: 9-11-11-10-9-9
• B: 799877

Playing Tips:

• Use power chords for F#, A, and G#.
• The / indicates a slide. Slide smoothly between the F# and A, and A and G#.
• The p.m. indicates palm muting. Lightly rest the edge of your palm on the bridge to create a chunkier, muted sound on the C# and B chords.
• Count the rhythm carefully to get the timing of the chord changes right.

Riff 4 (Bridge)

The bridge riff provides a contrasting melodic section, building tension before returning to the verse.

E--------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------
D-----------5--------6------5----------------
G---------5----7--5-----5-7------------------
B--2---5-6-----------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------

Playing Tips:

• This riff is more melodic and less rhythm-focused than the verse riffs.
• Focus on the smooth transitions between notes.
• Use your index finger for the 5th fret on the D and G strings, middle finger for the 6th fret on the D string, and ring finger for the 7th fret on the G string.

Riff 5 (Solo)

This is a simplified representation of the guitar solo. The original solo is more complex, but this tab captures the main melodic ideas.

BU BD
E------------------------------------------12-14(15)(15)14-12------------
A---PB-------BU---10--BD----13-13-15-13-15--------------------13---------
D--(8)7---7-9(11)----(11)9---------------------------------------9-9-9-9-
G-------9--------------------------------------------------------9-9-9-9-
A------------------------------------------------------------------------
E------------------------------------------------------------------------

Legend:

• BU: Bend Up
• BD: Bend Down
• PB: Pre-Bend
• ( ): Ghost Note (play very lightly)

Playing Tips:

• This solo is based on bluesy bends and releases.
• Practice the bends slowly and accurately.
• The numbers in parentheses are ghost notes, played very softly and almost implied rather than fully sounded.
• This tab is a starting point; listen to the original solo to capture the nuances and phrasing.

Song Structure

Understanding the song structure helps you piece together the riffs and play the song in its entirety.

• Intro: Riff 1 (x3)
• Verse 1: Riff 1 (X4), Riff 2, Riff 1
• Chorus: Riff 3
• Verse 2: Riff 1 (X4), Riff 2, Riff 1
• Chorus: Riff 3
• Bridge: Riff 4 (x3), Riff 5 (Solo)
• Verse 3: Riff 1 (X4), Riff 2, Riff 1
• Chorus: Riff 3
• Outro: Riff 1 (x9 Fade out)

Lyrics and Rhythm Guitar Chords

For playing along with the song and singing, here are the lyrics with the basic rhythm guitar chords:

Verse 1:

E7
Got a good reason
A7
For taking the easy way out
E7
Got a good reason
A7          E7
For taking the easy way out now

Chorus:

F#
She was a day tripper
A7          G#7
One way ticket yeah
C#     B
It took me so long
      E7
To find out, and I found out

Verse 2:

E7
She's a big teaser
A7
She took me half the way there
E7
She's a big teaser
A7          E7
She took me half the way there now

Chorus:

F#
She was a day tripper
A7          G#7
One way ticket yeah
C#     B
It took me so long
      E7
To find out, and I found out

Bridge:

B
Ahh ahh ahh, ahh ahh, ahh

Verse 3:

E7
Tried to please her
A7
She only played one night stands
E7
Tried to please her
A7          E7
She only played one night stands now

Chorus:

F#
She was a day tripper
A7          G#7
Sunday driver yeah
C#     B
It took me so long
      E7
To find out, and I found out

Outro:

E7
Day tripper Day tripper yeah
Day tripper Day tripper yeah
Day tripper

Conclusion

Learning “Day Tripper” on guitar is a rewarding experience for any guitarist. By breaking down the song into these riffs and sections, you can approach it methodically and build your skills. Practice each riff individually, then piece them together according to the song structure. Soon, you’ll be playing this iconic Beatles riff and enjoying this classic track. Grab your guitar and start learning today!