Where the Streets Have No Name by U2 (Live Version)
Transcribed by Richard Zangoli.
This is a transcription to the Rattle and Hum video version of the song
though the album version is reasonably similar.
While Larry is hitting his drumsticks together Edge plays some harmonics-
E----12--------------------12--12----------------------------------
B----------7----------------------------7---------------------------
G---------------7--------------------------------7------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------7----------
A--------------------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------------------
For the intro, most professional transcriptions suggest that this is what
Edge plays-
E-------10-------------------------------------10--------------
B-------------10-----------------------10---------------10----
G----------------------12--11--12------------------------------
D-----------------------------------------------------------------
A------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------
but to approximate Edge's sound (at least for the live version) I first
have to set my delay at about 420ms and then play this-
let this high note ring out
E-------10----------------------------------------10------------
B-------------10--------------------------10---------------10---
G------------ --------12--11--12p11-----------------------------
D------------------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------------------------------
Edge plays that for a while (or at least something close) and then plays this-
E----10---------------------10--------------------------------10---------------
B-----------10------------------------10-------------------------------10---
G------------------12-----------------------------12-------------------------12-
D-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RIFF 1
E---10--10--10--10--10--10------10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--
B---10--10--10--10--10--10------10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--10--
G---12--12--12--12--12--12------12p 11--12--12p-11--12--12p 11--12--12p-11--12
D-----------------------------------12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12--
A------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E------------------------------------------------------------------------------
etc...etc..
So Riff 1 is basically a D chord with a lot of pulling off on the G string.
Finish off with this -
RIFF2
E----------10--10--10--10--10----10--12--12--12--12--12--12--
B-----------8---8---8---8----8----8--10--10--10--10--10--10--
G-----------7---7---7---7----7----7--12--12--12--12--12--12--
D-------------------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------------------------------
For the verses Edge initially plays some mute string (sliding his hand up
and down the fretboard) and some chords. Don't play the first D chord here
but play mute strings instead-
D G
I want to run I want to hide, I want to tear down the walls that hold me inside
Bm A
I want to reach out and touch the flame where the streets have no name
After the A chord play Riff 2 as above. And with the A chord you might want
to do something like this (because I think I can hear Edge doing it)-
E----0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--
B----2--2--2--2--2--3--2--2--2--2--
G----2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--
D----2--2--2--2--2--0--2--2--2--2--
A--------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------
For the next verse, play some mute strings and then play something like-
E--------------0-------------------x---x----0--0--0--0--0-------x--x--x-----
B----3---3------------3------------x---x----3--3--3--3--3-------x--x--x-----
G----2-----------------------2-----x---x----2--2--2--2--2------x--x--x-----
D----0------------------------------x---x---0--0--0--0--0------x--x--x------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
without a trace....
E-------------0-------------0---------------------------------------------------
B---------3----------3-------------------------------3-------------------3-----
G---0-----------------------------------------0-----------------0---------------
D-------------------------------------4-----------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Then play Bm and A chords and then Riff 2 again.
For the chorus, the basic idea is-
E---5--5--5--5--5--5--3--3--3--3---2--2--2--2-----
B---3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3---3--3--3--3----- you might want to play
G----------------------------------2--2--2--2------ around with the D chord
D------------------------------------------------------- and do something like
A------------------------------------------------------- this
E-------------------------------------------------------
E---2--3--2--3-- E--2--0--2--2--
B---3--3--3--3-- B--3--3--3--3--
G---2--2--2--2-- or G--2--2--2--2--
D----------------- D---------------
A----------------- A-----------------
E------------------- E-----------------
The chorus finishes off with-
E--5--5--5--5--5--3--3--3--3--2--2--0--0--0--0--0--0--
B--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--
G--------------------------------2--2--2--2--2--2--2----
D-----------------------------------------------------------
A------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------
Edge then plays some mute strings and then goes back to Riff 1
In the next verse Edge plays the D, G, Bm, A verse chords loudly and fiddles
around with the tremolo. After the A chord he plays Riff 2. The chorus is
repeated, some mute strings are played, and then Riff 1 again.
The song ends with a similar lick on the D chord as in the beginning and in
the last few bars he plays-
E-----10---------------10------------------------------10---------------
B------------10-----------------10----------------------------------10-
G------------------12---------------------12-------------------------------12---
D-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E---10--------------------10-------------------10-----------------------------
B------------10----------------------10--------------------10-------------------
G---------------------11---------------------------11--------------11---------
D-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That should have all the guitar parts to the song, even if it is set out a
little messily. Note that if don't have a delay pedal this song just wont
sound right (especially the intro).
Richard Zangoli (ahowden@magna.com.au)
Where the Streets Have No Name
----- --- ------- ---- -- ----
tabbed by: Scott Yanoff, yanoff@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Intro: it's just a nice lick on a D chord:
E-------------10----------------10----
B-----------10--10------------10--10--
G--12-11-12----------12-11-10---------
D-------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------
D
I want to run, I want to hide
G
I want to tear down the walls that hold me inside
Bm
I want to reach out
A
And touch the flame
Csus9
Where the streets have no name
I want to feel, sunlight on my face
See that dust cloud disappear without a trace
I want to take shelter from the poison rain
Where the streets have no name
D
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
G
We're still building then burning down love
Burning down love
Bm A
And when I go there, I go there with you...
D
It's all I can do
The city's a flood
And our love turns to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind, trampled in dust
I'll show you a place high on the desert plain
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
Still building then burning down love
Burning down love
And when I go there, I go there with you
It's all I can do
D
Our love turns to rust
G
And we're beaten and blown by the wind
D
Blown by the wind, oh and I see love
See our love turn to rust
G
And we're beaten and blown by the wind
Bm
Blown by the wind, oh when I go there
A
I go there with you, it's all I can do
Chord formations:
-----------------
D x x 0 2 3 2 or x x x 11 10 10 (for intro)
Bm x x 4 4 3 2 Csus9 x x x 7 8 10