Cannonball by Damien Rice – Guitar Tab

Why I Like This Tab
This tab for “Cannonball” by Damien Rice is straightforward, but it captures the essence of the song beautifully. What I appreciate most is its simplicity and accuracy. The chords are easy to grasp, making it accessible for beginners, yet it doesn’t sacrifice the emotion that’s central to the song. The tabbed intro riff is a nice touch, as it allows you to emulate Rice’s unique fingerpicking style and the haunting melody he creates with it.
Practice Tip
My advice when practicing this song is to focus on the rhythm and timing. Damien Rice’s songs often have a very natural, almost conversational rhythm to them. Practice strumming the chords while keeping time with the lyrics. Also, don’t rush the intro riff. It’s meant to be played slowly and with feeling, so take your time and make each note count.
Genre & Difficulty
“Cannonball” is a folk-pop song that leans towards indie. This tab is ideal for guitarists who are into softer, more acoustic music, and those who enjoy playing songs with a strong emotional core. It’s also great for beginners or intermediate players due to its simplicity and the lack of complex chord structures. That said, the fingerpicking pattern in the intro may present a slight challenge for absolute beginners.
Full Tab
[Verse 1]
Em7 G Dadd9/F#
Theres still a little bit of your taste, in my mouth
Em7 G Dadd9/F#
Still a little bit of you laced, with my doubt
Em G Dadd9/F#
It's still a little hard to say,
Am7 C Dadd11
What's going on
[Verse 2]
Em7 G Dadd9/F#
There's still a little bit of your ghost, your weakness
Em7 G Dadd9/F#
There's still a little bit of your face, I haven't kissed
Em G Dadd9/F#
You step a little closer each day, that I can't say
Am7 C Dadd11
What's going on
[Chorus]
G6 C/G Dadd9/F#
Stones, taught me to fly
G6 C/G Dadd9/F#
Love, it taught me to lie
G6 C/G Dadd9/F#
Life, it taught me to die
Am7
So it's not hard to fall
C Dadd11 Em7
When you float like a cannon - ball
(repeat intro)
[Verse 3]
Em7 G Dadd9/F#
There's still a little bit of your song, in my ear
Em7 G Dadd9/F#
Theres still a little bit of your words I long to hear
Em G Dadd9/F#
You step a little closer to me
Am7 C Dadd11
SO close that I cant see whats going on
[Chorus]
G6 C/G Dadd9/F#
Stones, taught me to fly
G6 C/G Dadd9/F#
Love, it taught me to lie
G6 C/G Dadd9/F#
Life, it taught me to die
Am7
So it's not hard to fall
C Dadd4
When you float like a cannon...
G6 C/G Dadd9/F#
Stones, taught me to fly
G6 C/G Dadd9/F#
Love, it taught me to cry
G6 C/G Dadd9/F#
So come on courage, teach me to be shy
Am7
'Cause it's not hard to fall
C Dadd9/F#
And I don't wanna scare her
Am7
'Cause it's not hard to fall
C Dadd9/F#
And I don't wanna lose
Am7
It's not hard to grow
C Dadd11 Em7
When you know that you just don't know
(repeat intro to end)
Adapted for educational use. Based on public tab formatting. The commentary on this page is autogenerated as part of an ongoing test.