#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE-------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship or research.#
#----------------------------------------------------------------------------#

Song title:      How To Save A Life
Original Album:  How To Save A Life

Words and Music by Isaac Slade and Joe King
Copyright © 2005 Epic Records
Published by Sony Music Publishing

Transcribed by Gavin Chart (www.gartfrets.net)


NOTES:
Capo on 3 if you want to play along with the boys! Chords are relative to the capo.
On the recording, the "How to save a life" refrain is repeated after the final
two choruses, but ending directly on an arpeggioed G is a bit more dramatic
if you're a solo acoustic guitar. (Let your audience sing it with you.)





INTRO:
Notes:
The way to play this is to keep your 3rd and 4th fingers on the first two
strings at the 3rd fret from the capo and move your first two fingers to
fret the other two chords. Timing is 4/4.

Chords:
G         320033
Dsus4/F#  2x0233
Em7       022033

[play: 4/4| G | Dsus4/F# | Em7 | Dsus4/F# |]





VERSE1:
Chords:
G         320033
Dsus4/F#  2x0233
Em7       022033


    | G              | Dsus4/F#
Step  one, you say we  need     to talk

  | Em7                | Dsus4/F#            | G
He  walks, you say "Sit  down,    it's just a  talk"

             | Dsus4/F#        | Em7               | Dsus4/F#         | G
He smiles po - litely   back at  you, you stare po - litely   right on  through

            | Dsus4/F#        | Em7              | Dsus4/F#             | G
Some sort of  window   to your  right, as he goes  left     and you stay  right

           | Dsus4/F#            | Em7                   | Dsus4/F#        | C
Between the  lines    of fear and  blame and you begin to  wonder   why you  came





CHORUS:
Notes:
The * chords are just alt. bassy versions.

Chords:
C     x32010    C* 332xxx    G     320033
Cmaj9 x20010    D* 554xxx    Em    022000
Gadd9 x252xx                 D/F#  2x023x


| C             | Cmaj9          | Gadd9              | C*         | D*
  Where did I go  wrong, I lost a  friend somewhere a - lone in the  bitterness

   | C                  | Cmaj9      Gadd9                     | Em     D/F#  | G
And  I would have stayed  up    with you all night, had I known  how to save a  life




[play: 4/4| G | Dsus4/F# | Em7 |]





VERSE2:
Chords:
G         320033
Dsus4/F#  2x0233
Em7       022033


| G                | Dsus4/F#          | Em7                | Dsus4/F#         | G
  Let him know that  you      know best 'cause after all you  do      know best

                | Dsus4/F#        | Em7              Dsus4/F# | G
Try to slip past  his      defence  without granting innocence

          | Dsus4/F#           | Em7                     | Dsus4/F#            | G
Lay down a  list     of what is  wrong, the things you've  told      him all a - long

   | G             | Dsus4/F#         | Em7           | Dsus4/F#
And  pray to God he  hears    you, and  pray to God he  hears    you




[repeat CHORUS]




[play: | G | Dsus4/F# | Em7 |]




VERSE3:
Chords:
G         320033
Dsus4/F#  2x0233
Em7       022033


| G              | Dsus4/F#            | Em7            | Dsus4/F#             | G
  As he begins to  raise his voice, you  lower yours and  grant    him one last  choice

               | Dsus4/F#            | Em7                    | Dsus4/F# | G
Drive until you  lose     the road or  brake with the ones you  follow

          | Dsus4/F#              | Em7             | Dsus4/F#
He will do  one      of two things, he will admit to  everything

| G                     | Dsus4/F#             | Em7            | Dsus4/F#        | C
  Or he'll say he's just  not      the same and  you'll begin to  wonder   why you  came



[repeat CHORUS]  [x2]



REFRAIN:
Chords:
G     320033
D/F#  2x023x
Em    022000


[play: 4/4| G | Em |]


(Em)  | D/F#   G   |  Em
How to  save a life

      | D/F#   G
How to  save a life



[repeat CHORUS]  [x2]



[end on an arpeggioed G]