View chords used in this chart
Tabbed by Paul Fivey with a little help from
a very mixed up tab which appears on a BF5 fan site.
 
Verse:
 
G-----------------------------------
D---------------3--------------3----
A----------3--5------------3--5-----
E--1---4-5---------1---4-5----------
(Three times @ first verse)
 
G-----------------------------------
D-----------------------------------
A----------5--7-8----------5--7-8---
E--3---5-6---------3---5-6----------
 
G-----------------------------------
D----------3--5-7----------3--5-7---
A------3-5-------------3-5----------
E--6---------------6----------------
 
G-----------------------------------
D---------------3--------------3----
A----------3--5------------3--5-----
E--1---4-5---------1---4-5----------
 
Chorus:
 
G----------------------------------------------
D--------7----7---------6----6----------------- *** See note
A----------------------------------------------
E---5-5----5----5--4-4----4----4--3-----3---3--
 
G-----------------------------
D-----------------------------
A-----------------------------
E--X--3--5--6----8-----8-8-8-8
 
G-----------------------------------
D---------------3--------------3----
A----------3--5------------3--5-----
E--1---4-5---------1---4-5----------
 
Then after a while there's a bridge, where the lyrics go:
"Down by the...."
 
G----------------------------------------------------------------
D--------10----10----------8---8--------8----8---------6----6----
A----------------------------------------------------------------
E---8-8-----8------8--6-6----6---6-6-6----6----6--4-4----4----4--
 
G------------------------10---10------------------------
D--------6----6-----/8-8----8---------5---5-------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E---4-4----4----4-4--------------3-3----3---3-3--1------
 
G-----------------------
D------------------8----
A--8-------8------------
E-----------------------
 
BASS SOLO:
 
G----------------------------------------------
D----------------------------------------------
A----------------------------------------------
E---1-1-/13-13-13-13-13-----1-1-/13-13-13-13-13
 
G----------------------------------------------
D----------------------------------------------
A----------------------------------------------
E---3-3-/13-13-13-13-13-----3-3-/13-13-13-13-13
 
G----------------------------------------------
D----------------------------------------------
A----------------------------------------------
E---6-6-/13-13-13-13-13-----6-6-/13-13-13-13-13
 
G----------------------------------------------------
D----------------------------------------------------
A----------------------------------------------------
E---1-1-/13---13-13-13--13-13-13--13-13-13--13-13-13-
 
G---------------------
D---------------------
A---------------------
E-13-13-13--13-13-13--
 
Play this solo through twice then go to the bridge
which this time round contains a cool little fill.
 
At the point of the three stars *** play:
 
G------------------
D--5-5-5----5-5-5--
A------------------
E------------------
 
This is played after the two low G notes in the gap
you'd normally leave.
 
The last chorus does the whole "I wanna be" part
then goes to the "Kate" parts normally but then things
start to vary. So, on the first "Kate"
break off from the normal chorus and play what's below
then end.
 
G-----------------------------------
D---------------3--------------3----
A----------3--5------------3--5-----
E--1---4-5---------1---4-5----------
 
G-----------------------------------
D---------------3----------3--5-6---
A----------3--5--------3-4----------
E--1---4-5---------6---------------- This section
is played twice, then
 
G------------------
D---------3--5-6---
A-----3-4----------
E-6---------------- This line is played three times
then the song ends.
 
Whew! That's a big tab, but certainly better than any
I've found on the net so far. If you have a BF5 site
feel free to steal it, I don't care.
 
The only tricky bit of this song is the transition
from the chorus to the verse, but if you listen to
the song and try to imagine playing the line, it
helps (try hurrying the first two notes of the walk
that follows if that helps.)
 
As usual, any questions, problems or anything,
just email me.

How to play Kate

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 G. 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.

More chords by Ben Folds Five

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