Ironic

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#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #

#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #

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Ironic - Alanis Morissette

From the album, "Jagged Little Pill"

Words and music by Alanis Morissette

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[Laboriously typed up by Mardi Gras(TNT)]

Notes: If there are spacing errors... That's because I didn't type all this up on a PC or Mac! Requires a minimum of 2 guitars. Guitar 1 plays the intro rhythm where required and the sections where the chords are shown above the lyrics. Guitar 2 handles all the rhythm figures and adds the boost in the song by accompanying Guitar 1 with some of the chords in the chorus sections. Ideally, Guitar 1 should be acoustic and Guitar 2 should have a switch between a soft neck postion sound and distortion.

The chords in verse 1 are to be played really softly and smoothly, almost sweep picking the strings. In verse 3, Guitar 1 plays the chords shown, but this time adding a lot of palm muting between chord changes (listen to the track). Later on in verse 3, on the part where "And isn't it ironic... etc..." is sung, Guitar 1 arpeggiates the chords instead of just strumming the chords (again, listen to the track).

Tablature explanation:

2^4 Hammer on from 2 to 4

4^2 Pull off from 4 to 2

2/4 Slide up from 2 to 4

42 Slide down from 4 to 2

2'(4) Bend up a whole step from 2 to 4

(4)`2 Release bend a whole step from 4 to 2

2~~~ Vibrato on 2

2^^^ Heavy vibrato/Tremelo vibrato on 2

+2 Tap on 2

2- Release tap off 2

+2/4 Tap 2 and slide up to 4

+42 Tap 4 and slide down to 2

Suggested chords: F# 244322

B 224442

G#m 466444

Intro 1:

This is played during the bit where Alanis sings "hi hi hi, la la la, hi hi"

E| 7 7 7 7 7 7 9 9 9 | 9 9 9 7 7 7 7 7 7

B| O O O O O O O O O | O O O O O O O O O

G| 8 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 | 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

D| 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 | 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

A| |

E| |

Intro 2:

E| 7 6 |

B| 7 |

G| |

D| 9~~~ |

A| |

E| |

F# B F# G#m

Verse 1: An old man turned ninety-eight

F# B F# G#m

He won the lottery and died the next day

F# B F# G#m

It's a black fly in your chardonnay

F# B F# G#m

It's a death row pardon two minutes to late

F# B F# G#m

And isn't it ironic... Don't you think?

F# B F# G#m

Chorus: It's like rain on your wedding day

F# B F# G#m

It's a free ride when you've already paid

F# B F# G#m

It's the good advice that you just didn't take

A G#m F#

And who would have thought... It figures?

Rhythm Fig 1:

E| |

B| 2^4 2 2 4 |

G| 4 1~~~ |

D| |

A| |

E| |

Rhythm Fig 2:

E| |

B| 2^4 2 2~~~~~~~~~~ |

G| 4 |

D| |

A| |

E| |

Rhythm Fig 3:

E| 2^4 2 2~~~~~~~~~~ |

B| 4 |

G| |

D| |

A| |

E| |

Rhythm Fig 4:

E| 9 7 |

B| 7/9 97 7~~~~~~~ |

G| |

D| |

A| |

E| |

F# B F# G#m

(Rhy Fig 1)

Verse 2: Mr. Play-It-Safe was afraid to fly

F# B F# G#m (Rhy Fig 2)

He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye

F# B F# G#m (Rhy Fig 3) He waited his whole damn life just to take that flight

F# B F# G#m

And as the plane crashed down he thought, "well isn't this nice?"

F# B F# G#m (Rhy Fig 4)

And isn't it ironic... Don't you think?

Chorus: (Repeat chorus as before)

Rhythm Fig 5:

E| 2^4 2 |

B| 2^4~~~~~~~~~~ |

G| |

D| |

A| |

E| |

Rhythm Fig 6:

E| 9 7~~~~~~~~~ |

B| 7/9 97 |

G| |

D| |

A| |

E| |

Bridge: (Play the intro 1 rhythm throughout this part)

Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you

(Rhy Fig 5) When you think everything is okay and everything's going right

(Rhy Fig 6)

And life has a funny way of helping you out when you think

Everything's gone wrong and everything blows up in your face

(Intro 2 rhy)

Rhythm Fig 7:

E| | |

B| 7 | |

G| 6 8~~~~~~~~~~~ | 6 8 |

D| | 9~~~~~~~~`~~ |

A| | |

E| | |

Verse 3: (Play Rhy Fig 7 throughout)

F# B F# G#m

A traffic jam when you are already late

F# B F# G#m

A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break

F# B F# G#m

It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife

(No instruments on these last two lines)

It's like meeting the man of my dreams

And then meeting his beautiful wife

(Bongo drums Fill-in)

F# B F# G#m

And isn't it ironic... Don't you think?

F# B F# G#m

A little too ironic... And yeah I really do think...

Chorus: (Repeat chorus as before)

Coda: (Play the intro 1 rhythm throughout this part)

Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you

Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out... Helping you out

(Cymbals and ending on guitars)

(I suggest you end on the intro 2 rhythm s-l-o-w-l-y)

That's about it for Ironic. There is only so much that can be explained in words. I suggest you just listen to the track. The song itself is fairly easy and sounds great when played with a band. I'm fairly sure that what I have tabbed out is accurate to the track on the album. There may be small errors here and there, so corrections are all welcome.