This is Bertha. I learned this song off the Dead's album "Grateful Dead". Its a live
album, therefore the song is live. Unfortunately, there is no studio recording of
Bertha. The good news is the recording in the album is about as good as it gets. I
strongly suggest playing along with the recording first and get your bearings strait.
Good Luck!
Main Part/ Intro
(NOTE: muting on the first note is optional. Its just a habit I got into when playing
the song.)
| G | | |
| D | 5 5 5 | 5 5 |
| A | X 5h7 7 | X 5h7 |
| E | | |
I call this part "The root". This part will be played TWO TIMES between other parts.
( It will be played once after the chorus). This part is also played in the beginning
when Lesh starts off after Jerry and Bill.
Second Part
| G | 5 5 5 | 5 5 |
| D | X 5h7 7 | X 5h7 |
| A | | |
| E | | |
This part is the same as the root, only difference is that everything moved up a
sting. You play this twice after the root/ main part. Again, mutes are optional
Third Part
| G | | |
| D | | |
| A | 3 3 3 | 3 3 |
| E | X 3h5 5 | X 5h7 |
Again, you play this part after you've played the root twice. You also play this
Part twice. If you listen to the recording, there is a tail into the chorus and its
hard for me to explain since I'm new to making TABS.
Chorus
| G | | | | |
| D | 7 | 5 | | 5 5 |
| A | 5 5 | 3 4 5 | 3 3 5 5 3 3 0 3 | 3 3 |
| E | 5 5 | 3 3 | 3 3 0 3 | 5 5 |
The two 5's at the end is a tail into the root again.
IMPORTANT NOTE: the only reason I divided the song/ parts into sections is so that
you can practice certain parts and then move on to the next one. For example, in the
Chorus, practice the first measure and get it mastered and then move on to the
second. ALSO: It is also REALLY important that you listen to the song to get an
understanding to the layout and the sound of the song.
LAYOUT
Intro
Second Part x2
Root x2
Third Part x2
Root x2
Second Part x2
Root x2
Third Part x1
Chorus
Root x1
Second Part x2
Repeat from first Root
Towards the end of the song, they (the Dead) repeat the chorus a few times and then
play the Root part until the end.