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American Idiot

by Green Day

Guitar tab submitted by: Hawk987
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Guitar Tab for American Idiot

Performed by: Green Day. Composed by: Billie Joe Armstrong, Frank Wright, Michael Pritchard.
This song is published by WB MUSIC CORP. and displayed here with permission. All rights reserved.
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Artist: Green Day
Song: American Idiot (live)
Album: American Idiot (sort of)
Tuning: Standard (EADGBe)
Tabbed by: Hawk987 (Jake)
E-mail: btfenwndm@yahoo.com

Notes: This song is played in various ways depending on which recording you're
listening to. This tab is the way I play it based on the various live versions
I've heard.  They rythms are probably wrong, but I'll try anyway. Chances are,
if you're looking for tabs of this song, you already have a good feeling of 
the rythms and timings. The lyrics are not aligned with the tabs, they're just 
there to help you figure out where you are in the song. Unless specified, there 
are 2 guitars playing the same thing.

Key:
 /  slide up
 \\  slide down
 h  hammer-on
 p  pull-off


Intro:
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------6-66-----6----------------------------------------------------------|
D|--6-66-6-66-4-4-6-6\\4------------------------------------------------------|
A|--6-66-4-44-4-4-4-6\\4------------------------------------------------------|
E|--4-44------2-2---4\\2------------------------------------------------------|
                        
e|----------------------0----------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------0----------------------------------------------------|
G|--------6-66-----6----0----------------------------------------------------|
D|--/6-66-6-66-4-4-6-6--0----------------------------------------------------|
A|--/6-66-4-44-4-4-4-6-------------------------------------------------------|
E|--/4-44------2-2---4-------------------------------------------------------|
    ^slide up from F#5  ^Mute this quickly
repeat that entire phrase again

Verse 1: sing the lyrics first, then play the guitar part.
(ok, I'm not going to do the rythms anymore, you figure them out)

  Don't want to be an American Idiot
e|-0------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-0------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-0------|--------6-6-----6--------------------------------------------------|
D|-0-or-4-|--6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6-4----------------------------------------------|
A|------4-|--6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-6-4----------------------------------------------|
E|------2-|--4-4-4-----2-2---4-2----------------------------------------------|
  ^this part just
   depends on what
   version you're
   listening to.

  Don't want a nation under the new media
e|-0------|--------------------0----------------------------------------------|
B|-0------|--------------------0----------------------------------------------|
G|-0------|--------6-6-----6---0----------------------------------------------|
D|-0-or-4-|--6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6-0----------------------------------------------|
A|------4-|--6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-6------------------------------------------------|
E|------2-|--4-4-4-----2-2---4------------------------------------------------|
                               ^again, mute this quickly

  Hey! Can you hear the sound of hysteria?
e|-0------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-0------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-0------|--------6-6-----6--------------------------------------------------|
D|-0-or-4-|--6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6-4----------------------------------------------|
A|------4-|--6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-6-4----------------------------------------------|
E|------2-|--4-4-4-----2-2---4-2----------------------------------------------|

  The subliminal Mind*** America
e|-0------|--------------------0----------------------------------------------|
B|-0------|--------------------0----------------------------------------------|
G|-0------|--------6-6-----6---0----------------------------------------------|
D|-0-or-4-|--6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6-0----------------------------------------------|
A|------4-|--6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-6------------------------------------------------|
E|------2-|--4-4-4-----2-2---4------------------------------------------------|

Chorus: play the guitar part under the vocals

Welcome to a new kind of tension, all across the alienation where everything isn't meant to be okay
e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--10\\6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6---------------------8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8----------------------|
D|--10\\6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6--|
A|--8-\\4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6--|
E|-------------------------4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4---------------------4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4--|

Television dreams of tommarow, we're not the ones who were meant to follow for thats enough to argue
e|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6---------------------8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8---|
D|--6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8---|
A|--4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6---|
E|----------------------4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-----------------------|

Verse 2:

(drums)

e|-0------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-0------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-0------|--------6-6-----6--------------------------------------------------|
D|-0-or-4-|--6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6-4----------------------------------------------|
A|------4-|--6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-6-4----------------------------------------------|
E|------2-|--4-4-4-----2-2---4-2----------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------0----------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------0----------------------------------------------------|
G|---------6-6-6-----6----0----------------------------------------------------|
D|--/6-6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6--0----------------------------------------------------|
A|--/6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-4-6-------------------------------------------------------|
E|--/4-4-4-------2-2---4-------------------------------------------------------|

  Well maybe I'm the faggot America
e|-0------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-0------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-0------|--------6-6-----6--------------------------------------------------|
D|-0-or-4-|--6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6-4----------------------------------------------|
A|------4-|--6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-6-4----------------------------------------------|
E|------2-|--4-4-4-----2-2---4-2----------------------------------------------|

  I'm not a part of a redneck Agenda (sometimes he replaces "agenda" with "America")
e|-0------|--------------------0----------------------------------------------|
B|-0------|--------------------0----------------------------------------------|
G|-0------|--------6-6-----6---0----------------------------------------------|
D|-0-or-4-|--6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6-0----------------------------------------------|
A|------4-|--6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-6------------------------------------------------|
E|------2-|--4-4-4-----2-2---4------------------------------------------------|

  Now everybody do the Propagenda!
e|-0------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-0------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-0------|--------6-6-----6--------------------------------------------------|
D|-0-or-4-|--6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6-4----------------------------------------------|
A|------4-|--6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-6-4----------------------------------------------|
E|------2-|--4-4-4-----2-2---4-2----------------------------------------------|

  And sing along in the age of paranoia
e|-0------|--------------------0----------------------------------------------|
B|-0------|--------------------0----------------------------------------------|
G|-0------|--------6-6-----6---0----------------------------------------------|
D|-0-or-4-|--6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6-0----------------------------------------------|
A|------4-|--6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-6------------------------------------------------|
E|------2-|--4-4-4-----2-2---4------------------------------------------------|


Chorus: play the guitar part under the vocals

Welcome to a new kind of tension, all across the alienation where everything isn't meant to be okay
e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--10\\6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6---------------------8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8----------------------|
D|--10\\6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6--|
A|--8-\\4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6--|
E|-------------------------4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4---------------------4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4--|

Television dreams of tommarow, we're not the ones who were meant to follow for thats enough to argue
e|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6---------------------8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8---|
D|--6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8---|
A|--4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6---|
E|----------------------4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-----------------------|

Bridge 1:

(drums)

e|-0------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-0------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-0------|--------6-6-----6--------------------------------------------------|
D|-0-or-4-|--6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6-4----------------------------------------------|
A|------4-|--6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-6-4----------------------------------------------|
E|------2-|--4-4-4-----2-2---4-2----------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------0----------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------0----------------------------------------------------|
G|---------6-6-6-----6----0----------------------------------------------------|
D|--/6-6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6--0----------------------------------------------------|
A|--/6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-4-6-------------------------------------------------------|
E|--/4-4-4-------2-2---4-------------------------------------------------------|

e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------6-6-6-----6----------------------------------------------------------|
D|--6-6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6\\4------------------------------------------------------|
A|--6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-4-6\\4------------------------------------------------------|
E|--4-4-4-------2-2---4\\2------------------------------------------------------|
                        
e|------------------------0----------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------0----------------------------------------------------|
G|---------6-6-6-----6----0----------------------------------------------------|
D|--/6-6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6--0----------------------------------------------------|
A|--/6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-4-6-------------------------------------------------------|
E|--/4-4-4-------2-2---4-------------------------------------------------------|

Solo:
(this is my interpretation of the solo)

Other guitar plays the chorus chords under the solo

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10\\8-8-8\\6------------------------------------------|
D|--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x-\\x-x-x\\x------------------------------------------|
A|--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8-\\6-6-6\\4------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
                            ^I play this
                             as a fast
                             triplet   

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8/10\\8\\6\\5-------------------------------------------------|
D|--x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x/x-\\x\\x\\x-------------------------------------------------|
A|--6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6/8-\\6\\4\\3-------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------------8-----------------------------------|
B|--------------------------9-----11-------11-9-8~---------------------------|
G|--3-3-3-3-5h6p5-3/8---8-8---8-8----8-8-------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10\\8-8-8\\6------------------------------------------|
D|--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x-\\x-x-x\\x------------------------------------------|
A|--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8-\\6-6-6\\4------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8/10\\8\\6\\5-------------------------------------------------|
D|--x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x/x-\\x\\x\\x-------------------------------------------------|
A|--6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6/8-\\6\\4\\3-------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--3-3-3-3-5h6p5-3/8--------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Bridge 2:

repeat this phrase multiple times
guitar 2 keeps playing even after guitar 1 ends

  guitar 1 (Billie Joe)    guitar 2 (jason white)
e|------------------------|----------------------0----------------------------|
B|------------------------|----------------------0----------------------------|
G|--13--13--13--13~-------|--------6-6-6-----6---0----------------------------|
D|----13--13--13----------|--6-6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6-0----------------------------|
A|------------------------|--6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-4-6------------------------------|
E|------------------------|--4-4-4-------2-2---4------------------------------|
  vibrato on the last time

guitar 2 continues until chorus

Guitar 1
e|--0------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--0------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--0------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--0------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
play in unicin with guitar 2, quit when lyrics start

guitar 2 continues

Don't want to be an American Idiot
One nation controlled by the media
Information, age of hysteria
(no music)
This is calling out to idiot America

Chorus: play the guitar part under the vocals

Welcome to a new kind of tension, all across the alienation where everything isn't meant to be okay
e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--10\\6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6---------------------8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8----------------------|
D|--10\\6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6--|
A|--8-\\4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6--|
E|-------------------------4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4---------------------4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4--|

Television dreams of tommarow, we're not the ones who were meant to follow for thats enough to argue
e|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6---------------------8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8---|
D|--6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8---|
A|--4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6---|
E|----------------------4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-----------------------|

Outro:

e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------6-6-6-----6----------------------------------------------------------|
D|--6-6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6\\4------------------------------------------------------|
A|--6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-4-6\\4------------------------------------------------------|
E|--4-4-4-------2-2---4\\2------------------------------------------------------|

e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------6-6-6-----6----------------------------------------------------------|
D|--6-6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6\\4------------------------------------------------------|
A|--6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-4-6\\4------------------------------------------------------|
E|--4-4-4-------2-2---4\\2------------------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------0----------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------0----------------------------------------------------|
G|---------6-6-6-----6----0----------------------------------------------------|
D|--/6-6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6--0----------------------------------------------------|
A|--/6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-4-6-------------------------------------------------------|
E|--/4-4-4-------2-2---4-------------------------------------------------------|

e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------6-6-6-----6----------------------------------------------------------|
D|--6-6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6\\4------------------------------------------------------|
A|--6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-4-6\\4------------------------------------------------------|
E|--4-4-4-------2-2---4\\2------------------------------------------------------|

guitar 2 only:
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------6-6-6-----6-6--------------------------------------------------------|
D|--6-6-6-6-6-6-4-4-6-6--6-----------------------------------------------------|
A|--6-6-6-4-4-4-4-4-4-4--6-----------------------------------------------------|
E|--4-4-4-------2-2------4-----------------------------------------------------|
                         ^sometimes uses
                          whammy effect
                          here (Grammy's)

Yay! I finished my second tab! This song is very simple, and easy to play.
The length of the bridge after the solo depends of which recording you have
and whether of not BJ talks to the crowd, or just keeps playing.
Any, questions, comments, corrections, insults, or thoughts should be sent to
btfenwndm@yahoo.com
please don't send any lyrical or rythmic corrections.
Feel free to use this tab in anyway you like as long as you leave my name(s)
and e-mail address on it. and don't do anything illegal with it either.
(ya, no, like, you can't make a profit off it or anything...)
I also have a couple of mp3's of this song (live) that i could send 2 u, if u
ask for them.
Think you can do better? Submit your own tab for this song!

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Comments on this version of the 'American Idiot' guitar tabComments on this version of the 'American Idiot' guitar tab

claptonandslashclaptonandslash Unknown Date
dude thats pretty damn good, finaly someone has tabed that like Extra solo bja does,, live,, great tab,thx








but it think the verse thing goes





-----------------0


-----------------0


------66-----6---0--


--660-660-44-6-6----


--660-440-44-4-6----


--440---0-22---4----
luke1010luke1010 Unknown Date
yo claptonandslash , the end bit of the solo is easy enough any wayz!!! to figure out on ur own!!!!!!!!!
viktoree101viktoree101 June 10, 2008 at 9:30 am
yo hawk987 this tab is HORRIBLE me and my friend dylan could figure this out on our own better

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