Gimme Shelter
View chords used in this chart
C# B A
4
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----7---7---6-7-|-----5---5---4-5-|-----4-2---4-2---|-4-2---4-2---4-2-|
-|---6---8-----6-8-|---4---6-----4-6-|---2-----2-----2-|-4-2---4-2---4-2-|
-|-6---------6-----|-4---------4-----|-2---------------|-----2-----2-----|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C# B A
8
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----7---7-7-7-7-|-----5---5-5-5-5-|-----4-2---4-2---|-4-2-----4-2-4-2-|
-|---6---8-8-8-8-8-|---4---6-6-6-6-6-|---2-4-2-2-4-2---|-4-2---2-4-2-4-2-|
-|-6---------------|-4---------------|-2-------------2-|-----2-----------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C# B A
12
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----7---7-7-7-6-|-----5---5-5-5-4-|-----4-2---4-2---|-4-2-----4-2-4-2-|
-|---6---8-8-8-8-6-|---4---6-6-6-6-4-|---2-4-2-2-4-2---|-4-2---2-4-2-4-2-|
-|-6---------------|-4---------------|-2-------------2-|-----2-----------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C# B A
16
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-6-7-7---9-7-6---|-4-5-5---7-5-4---|-----4-2---4-2---|-4-2-----2-4-2-2-|
-|-6-8-8---8-8-6-6-|-4-6-6---6-6-4---|---2-4-2---4-2---|-4-2---2-2-4-2-2-|
-|-------6---------|-------4-------4-|-2-------2-----2-|-----2-----------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C# B A
20
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----7---9-7-6---|-----5---7-5-4---|-----4-2---4-2---|-4-2-----2-4-4-2-|
-|---6---8-8-8-6---|---4---6-6-6-4---|---2-4-2---4-2---|-4-2---2-2-4-4-2-|
-|-6-------------6-|-4-------------4-|-2-------2-----2-|-----2-----------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C# B A E A E A E B E B
24
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----7---9-7-6---|-----5---7-5-4---|-----4-2---4-2---|-----------------|
-|---6---8-8-8-6---|---4---6-6-6-4---|---2-4-2---4-2---|-----------------|
-|-6-------------6-|-4-------------4-|-2-------2-----2-|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---7---7---9---9-|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-0-5-0-5-0-7-0-7-|
Lead Guitar Intro
C# B A A
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-------------9-9>|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------12----|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C# B A A
-|>9---------9-----|-----------------|-----------------|-------------9-9>|
-|------------12-9>|>9-----------9b10|-----------------|---9-------12----|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|11---------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C# B A A
-|>9---------------|-----------------|---9-------9-----|-------------9-9>|
-|------------9b10-|-9b10r9----------|12------12-----9>|>9b10r9---12-----|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---------9-------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C# B A A
-|>9--------9------|-----------------|--------9--------|-----9------------|
-|------------12-9>|b10r9------------|--12-------------|--12--12-9b10-9b10|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-9---------------|-9----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|
C# B A A
-|-----------------|-----------------|-9---------------|-----------9---9>|
-|-9b10r9----------|-9---------9--12-|--12---------9---|-----9--12--12---|
-|-----------------|--11---------9---|----------11-----|--11-------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C# B A A
-|>9---------------|-9---------------|-----------------|---9-------------------|
-|----------9---12-|---12----9b10----|-9b10------9---9-|12--12-------12--------|
-|--------11--9----|-----------------|---------11--11--|-------9--11b13r11p9---|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|--------------------11-|-11vvv
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------------|
Verse 1
C# (sus)
Ooh a storm is threatening my very life today
If I don't get some shelter, Oh yeah I'm gonna fade away
Chorus 1,2,4
C# B A E A E A E B E B
War, Children, It's just a shot away, It's just a shot away
C# B A E A E A E B E B C#
War, Children, It's just a shot away, It's just a shot away
Verse 2
Ooh, see the fire sweepin, our very streets today
Burn like a red coal carpet, Mad bull lost its way
Chorus 2
Solo
Chorus 3
(3 times)
C# B A E A E A E B E B
Rape, Murder, It's just a shot away, It's just a shot away
Verse 3
Mmm, the flood is threatening, my very life today
Gimme, Gimme Shelter, I'm gonna fade away
Chorus 4
Chorus 5
C# B A E A E A E B E B
Love, sister, It's just a kiss away, It's just a kiss away
It's just a kiss away, It's just a kiss away, kiss away, kiss away, yeah
Rhythm Guitar during verse
C#
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----6-----6-----|-6---7---7-6---6>|>6---6-----6-----|-----7-----------|
-|-----6-----6-----|-6---6---6-6---6>|>6---6-----6-----|-9-6-6-6-----6-4-|
-|-----6-----6-----|-6---6---6-6---6>|>6---6-----6-----|-6-6-6-6-----6-4-|
-|-----4-----4-----|-4---4---4-4---4>|>4---4-----4-----|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C#
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-6---6-----6-----|-6---7-6-------6>|>6---6-----6-----|-----7-----------|
-|-6---6-----6-----|-6---6-6-------6>|>6---6-----6-----|-9-6-6-6-----6-4-|
-|-6---6-----6-----|-6---6-6-------6>|>6---6-----6-----|-6-6-6-6-----6-4-|
-|-4---4-----4-----|-4---4-4-------4>|>4---4-----4-----|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
(3rd verse variation)
C#
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----6-----6-----|-----7-6---------|-----6-----6-6---|-----7-6---------|
-|-----6-----6-----|-9-6-8-6-----9-6-|>6---6-----6-6---|-9-6-8-6-----9-6-|
-|-----6-----6-----|-6-6-6-6-----6-6-|>6---6-----6-6---|-6-6-6-6-----6-6-|
-|-----4-----4-----|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
Rhythm Guitar Chorus
C# B A E A E A E B E B
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-6---6-666-6---6-|-4---4-444-4---4-|-2---2-222-2---2-|-----------------|
-|-6---6-666-6---6-|-4---4-444-4---4-|-2---2-222-2---2-|-----------------|
-|-4---4-444-4---4-|-2---2-222-2---2-|-0---0-000-0---0-|---7---7---9---9-|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-0-5-0-5-0-7-0-7-|
C# B A E A E A E B E B
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-6---6-667-6---6-|---------5-4-4-4-|---------3-2-2-2-|-----------------|
-|-6---6-666-6---6-|-4---4-444-4-4-4-|-2---2-222-2-2-2-|-----------------|
-|-6---6-666-6---6-|-4---4-444-4-4-4-|-2---2-222-2-2-2-|-----------------|
-|-4---4-444-4---4-|-2---2-222-2-2-2-|-0---0-000-0-0-0-|---7---7---9---9-|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-0-5-0-5-0-7-0-7-|
Lead at end of Chorus 1
C#
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|
-|-----------------|------12b14b14b14|b14r12-----9-----|----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|------11-----11--|11b13r11--------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---------9-11---|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|
Lead at end of Chorus 2
C#
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---12-----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-------------9-11|b13--b13r11-9-11-9----|
-|-----------------|------9----------|----11---9-11----|-------------------11>|
-|-----------------|-9h11--11--------|-----------------|----------------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------------|
C#
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|
-|-----------------|---12------------|--------12---12--|---12-----------|
-|--------------11>|b13--b13r11-9----|---11b13--b13--11|b13---9---------|
-|>11--------------|--------------11-|-----------------|---------11-----|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|
C# B A E A E A
E B E B
-|-----------------|-----------------|----9-----------------|------------------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|----------------------|------------------------|
-|---11b13-9-------|-9---------9---9-|11b13-13r11-9-11-9-11-|b13b13b13b13r11-9-------|
-|----------11-9-11|--11-9-11---11---|----------------------|------------------11-11>|
-|-----------------|-----------------|----------------------|------------------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|----------------------|------------------------|
C# B A E A E A E
B E B
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------------|
-|-----------------|---------9-------|-----------------|-11b13b13b13b13r11-9----|
-|>11vvvv----------|---9-11----11>>>>|>11vvvv----------|---------------------11-|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------------|
C# B A E A
E A E B E B
-|-----------------|----------------------------|------------------|--------------------|
-|-----------------|12b14b14b14b14b14r12-12-----|------------------|--------------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------------11-9-|-------------9-11-|b13----------9-11b13|
-|-11vvvv----------|----------------------------|-11vvv--9-11------|----11--9-11--------|
-|-----------------|----------------------------|------------------|--------------------|
-|-----------------|----------------------------|------------------|--------------------|
Other leads are based on the C#m pentatonic scale (C# E F# G# B C#)
Most of the tabs include 8th note rhythms,
i.e. |-9-9---9-1-2-3-44-|
is 8th note, 4th note, 8th note, 8th, 8th, 8th, 16th, 16th
@
From: Paul Zimmerman <AUDSM@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU>
Subject: CRD: Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones
"Gimmie Shelter"
by the Rolling Stones
C# B A C# B A C# B A C# B A ,(rock it) C# B A
C#
OH the storm is threaten'in, out on the street today
if I don't get some shelter, oh I gonna fade away
C# B A B
oh children , its just a shot away , its just a shot away
C# B A B
oh children , its just a shot away , its just a shot away
C#
Oh the fires is a sweepin , out the street today
Burns like a red coat dog, lets put the logs away
C# B A B
oh children , its just a shot away , its just a shot away
C# B A B
oh children , its just a shot away , its just a shot away
C# B A B
oh sister, its just a kiss away , its just a kiss away
C# B A
its just a kiss away its just a kiss away its just a kiss away
A B C#
Main Chords:
C# B A (played as E-shape bar/power chords)
or in notes:
D|------11------9-------7----
Intro(Rhythm Guitar):
e|----------------------------------------------------------
B|----------------------------------------------------------
G|---------------------------------------------------------- ad lib...
D|----------9-9--9-----------7-7--7------7---7---7---7------ then goto power
A|-------11--------11------9--------9----------------------- chords.
E|-----9-----------------7-------------5---5---5---5---5/9/-
Intro Riff I (Lead Guitar):
e|---9---------------------------------------
B|------9^10^9----9^10^9----7-9--9--7h9p7----
G|----------------------------------------9-- (x3)
D|-------------------------------------------
A|-------------------------------------------
E|-------------------------------------------
----------------------------------
----------------------------------
End the third time with... -6-66-66--6--4-44-44--------------
Followed by Riff II. ---------------------7-77-77--4---
----------------------------------
----------------------------------
Riff II:
e|---------------
B|---7h9p7-------
G|---------9--6-- (Played at the start of each line in the verse)
D|--------------- NB: h=hammer-on p=pull-off
A|---------------
E|---------------
The Chorus is a variation of Main Riff and Riff I but ends with something like:
e|---9--7-7-7-7-7-7-7------7------------------------------
B|-------------------10-10---10--9-10-9-7-9--7h9p7--------
G|--------------------------------------------------9--6--
D|--------------------------------------------------------
A|--------------------------------------------------------
E|--------------------------------------------------------
Oh I see the storm is threatening, my very life today
If I dont get some shelter, Yeah I'm gonna fade away
War children, its just a kiss away, its just a kiss away
War children, its just a kiss away, its just a kiss away
Yeah...
Oh I see the fire is sweeping, out on the streets today
Burn me like a blood red carpet, the fool lost the way
Rape, Murder, its just a kiss away , its just a kiss away
Rape, Murder, its just a kiss away , its just a kiss away
Yeah...
Oh I see the storm is threatening, my very life today
Gimmie gimmie shelter, yeah I'm gonna fade away
Love, sister, its just a shot away, it's just a shot away
Love, sister, its just a shot away, shot away, shot away
War children, its just a kiss away, its just a kiss away
War children, its just a kiss away, its just a kiss away
Rape, Murder, its just a kiss away , its just a kiss away
Rape, Murder, its just a kiss away , its just a kiss away
(Repeat to fade...)
How to play Gimme Shelter
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is C#. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.