SOUTHERN BELLE

As recorded by Elliott Smith

(From the 1995 Album ELLIOTT SMITH)
Transcribed by rockandrollpart3 Words and Music by Elliott Smith
Performance Notes

Tuning: Standard tuning, down one full step ( D G C F A D).

The song, as usual on the ST record, is two acoustic guitars, panned left and right playing nearly the exact same thing. As such, the
transcription is a composite arrangement.

The whole tune is played with the fingers, although you could probably adapt a picked version if you wanted to. The right hand
notations should be fairly self explanatory... Though i should probably note that i switched to downstroke and upstroke symbols in
some parts; this is to differentiate between the lighter hand motions of the intro and verses, and the full on strumming that occurs
elsewhere in the song. The strums are always with the middle finger, and the thumb is always marked "p".

One last note is that if it's easier, the index finger could substitute for all the middle finger motions. I find it much facile to use the
middle finger... and I'm guessing that this is what Elliott did too, though it's hard to say for certain from the videos I have.

A Intro p = thumb Tuning: D G C F A D

m = middle, upstroke
P = 122 d = middle, downstroke
see performance notes
N.C.(D)

1
Ie 44 V V V V V V V V 3x V V V V V V V gV V V V V V V V V
V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
Gtrs I, II * acoustic
let ring
2
T 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
B
R.H.: p m p m p m...

G5/D D `
B N.C. F C/E A7/E A7/D

V VV gV V V fV V V V V
4 e
I V VV V V VV V V V V V V V VV VV V V VV V V gVVV V V V VVV VVV
let ring let ring let ring
3 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 1
T 3 3 0 0 3 3 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2
A 0 0 3 2 0 2 2 0 0 0
0 0 0 3 2 2 2 0
B
p m d p m d m p d m p p p d m p m d mH d m p m d m

D B ` N.C. F C/E A7/E A7/D

gVV V V V f VV VV V V V V V VV V V gV V V VV VV 3x
6
Ie V V V V V V V V V V V VV V V V
let ring let ring
2 1 1 0 0 1
T 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2
A 2 2 3 2 0 2 2 0 0 0
0 0 0 3 2 2 2 0
B
p d p m d p d m p p p d m p m d mH d m p m d m

Wed, Nov 12, 2008, 11:02 PM Generated using the Power Tab Editor by Brad Larsen. http://powertab.guitarnetwork.org
 SOUTHERN BELLE - Elliott Smith Page 2 of 6

N.C.(D5)

8
Ie V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
let ring

T 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
B
p m p m p m...
B Verse 1
G5/D D B ` N.C. F C/E A7/E A7/D

V VV gV V V fV V VV V V gV V
10 e
I V VV V V VVV VV V V V V V V V
V V
V V
V V V V VV V
V VV VV
V V
let ring let ring let ring
3 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 1
T 3 3 0 0 3 3 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2
A 0 0 0 3 2 0 2 2 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 3 2 2 2 0
B
H
D B` N.C. F C/E A7/E A7/D

gVV V V V f VV VV V V V V V VV V V gV V V VV VV 3x
12
Ie V V V V V V V V V V V VV V V V
let ring let ring
2 1 1 0 0 1
T 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2
A 2 2 3 2 0 2 2 0 0 0
0 0 0 3 2 2 2 0
B
H

C Chorus 1
D5 Dm7 G5/D D Dm7 G5/D

VV V VV VV V V V V VV V VV VV gVV V VV VV VV V VV VV VV V VV VV
14
I V V V V V V VV V VV VV
e
V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
let ring let ring let ring let ring let ring let ring
5 5 5 5 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 3
T 3 3 1 1 3 3 3 3 1 1 3 3
A 2 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 2 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
B
p d p m d m p d p m d m...
G D B ` A5 G5 F A N.C.

R V
}} VV gVV }} V VV V } VV VVV VVV VVV gVV VV P V gV V
17
Ie }
} VV VV } VV VV }} VV VV VV VV} VV} VV
V V V VV
VV V V V V V V V V
let ring let ring
x 3 2 x 0 1 3 5 3 2
T x 3 3 x 3 1 1 1 1 2 3
A x 0 2 x 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 2 2
x 0 0 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 3 3 3 3 2
B 2 1 1 x 0 0 x x 3 3 3 3 0
3 3 3 1
p p sl.

Wed, Nov 12, 2008, 11:02 PM Generated using the Power Tab Editor by Brad Larsen. http://powertab.guitarnetwork.org
 SOUTHERN BELLE - Elliott Smith Page 3 of 6

D5 B ` A5 G5 F A

VV
19
Ie V VVV VVV VVV VV V } V V V V V
VV VV }} V V V V} V} VV VVV VVV VVV VVV gVV VV VV VV VV
V V V V V V V
V V V V V V V V V V V
let ring let ring let ring
1
T 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2
A 2 2 2 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
0 0 0 0 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2
B 0 1 1 x 0 0 x x 3 3 3 3 3 0
3 3 1
p p
p p

D Verse 2, 3
TD B ` N.C. F C/E A7/E A7/D

gVV V V V f VV VV V V V V V VV V V gV V V VV VV 4x
21
Ie V V V V V V V V V V V VV V V V
let ring let ring
2 1 1 0 0 1
T 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2
A 2 2 3 2 0 2 2 0 0 0
0 0 0 3 2 2 2 0
B
H

E Chorus 2, 3
To Coda
D5 Dm7 G5/D D Dm7 G5/D

VV V VV VV V V V V VV V VV VV gVV V VV VV VV V VV VV VV V VV VV
23
Ie V V V V V V VV V VV VV V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
let ring let ring let ring let ring let ring let ring
5 5 5 5 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 3
T 3 3 1 1 3 3 3 3 1 1 3 3
A 2 2 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 2 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
B

G D B ` A5 G5 F A N.C.

R V
}} VV gVV }} V VV V } VV VVV VVV VVV gVV VV P V gV V
26
Ie }
} VV VV } VV VV }} VV VV VV VV} VV} VV
V V V VV
VV V V V V V V V V
let ring let ring
x 3 2 x 0 1 3 5 3 2
T x 3 3 x 3 1 1 1 1 2 3
A x 0 2 x 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 2 2
x 0 0 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 3 3 3 3 2
B 2 1 1 x 0 0 x x 3 3 3 3 0
3 3 3 1
sl.

Wed, Nov 12, 2008, 11:02 PM Generated using the Power Tab Editor by Brad Larsen. http://powertab.guitarnetwork.org
 SOUTHERN BELLE - Elliott Smith Page 4 of 6

D5 `
B A5 G5 F A N.C.

R V
VV P V gV V
28
Ie V VVV VVV VVV VV V } V V V V V
VV VV }} V V V V} V} VV VVV VVV VVV gVV VV
V V V VV
V V V V V V V V V
let ring let ring
1 3 5 3 2
T 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 2 3
A 2 2 2 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 2 2
0 0 0 0 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 3 3 3 3 2
B 0 1 1 x 0 0 x x 3 3 3 3 0
3 3 1
sl.

D5 `
B A5 G5 F A

VV
30
Ie V VVV VVV VVV VV V } V V V V V
VV VV }} V V V V} V} VV VVV VVV VVV VVV gVV VV VV VV VV
V V V V V V V
V V V V V V V V V V V
let ring let ring let ring
1
T 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2
A 2 2 2 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
0 0 0 0 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2
B 0 1 1 x 0 0 x x 3 3 3 3 3 0
3 3 1

F Bridge
B ` ` D F A7

32
Ie VV VV VV VV PP e e VVV VV VV VV VV
V V V V VV VV VV VV gVV VV VV VV
V V V V P e V V V VV VV
V z V V V V V V
let ring let ring let ring let ring

T 3 3 3 3 (3) 6 6 6 6 6 2 0 2 2
A 3 3 3 3 (3) 6 6 6 6 6 2 0 2 2 0 0 0 0
3 3 3 3 (3) 6 6 6 6 6 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2
B 1 4 3 3 3 0 0
1
sl. sl. p p
p p

1.
B ` ` D D5 A7

34
Ie VV VV VV VV PP e e VVV VVV VVV VVV VVV }} VV VV VV VV VV gV V V V
V V V V V Pz eV } V V V V V VV VV VV VVV VVV
let ring let ring let ring let ring

T 3 3 3 3 (3) 6 6 6 6 6 x 3 3 3 3 3 2 0 2 2
A 3 3 3 3 (3) 6 6 6 6 6 x 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0
3 3 3 3 (3) 6 6 6 6 6 x 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2
B 1 4 0 0
sl.

Wed, Nov 12, 2008, 11:02 PM Generated using the Power Tab Editor by Brad Larsen. http://powertab.guitarnetwork.org
 SOUTHERN BELLE - Elliott Smith Page 5 of 6

2.
G D B ` N.C. F C/E A7/E A7/D

VV gVV VV VV V f VV VV V V V V VV V V gV V V VV VV
36
Ie }}
}} VV VV VV V V V V V V V V V VV V V V
VV
let ring let ring
3 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 1
T x 3 3 0 0 3 3 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2
A x 0 2 0 0 3 2 0 2 2 0 0 0
x 0 0 0 3 2 2 2 0
B x 2
3
p d m p p p d m p m d mH d m d m d m

D.S. al Coda
D5 D5/A `
B N.C. F A7/E

Ie V V V VV V VV V VVV VVV VVV VVV gVV VV VV VV

V V
38

V V V V V V V V
V V V V
let ring let ring let ring

T 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2
A 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0
0 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2
B 0 1 0
3 1 1 0 0
p d m p m d m p d m p p p p p p

SD F/C G/B G D Fsus4 F G D

gV V V V V f V V V V V VV V V VV VV gVV VV V V VV VVV V VV VV V V V gVV

40
Ie V VV VV VV VV V VV VV VV VV V V V V V V V V V V VV VV VV VV V
V V V
let ring let ring let ring let ring let ring
2 2 2 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 2
T 3 3 0 1 1 0 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 3 0 0 3
A 2 2 0 2 2 0 0 0 2 2 3 3 2 0 0 0 2
0 0 2 3 0
B 3 2
3 3
p d d m d m p d d m d m p d m p m d m p d d m p p d d m d p d d m d m

G Bridge 2
G D B` A5 G5 F A N.C.

R V
}} VV gVV }} V VV V } VV VVV VVV VVV gVV VV P V gV V
43
Ie }
} VV VV } VV VV }} VV VV VV VV} VV VV
V V V VV
VV V V V V V} V V V
let ring let ring
x 3 2 x 0 1 3 5 3 2
T x 3 3 x 3 1 1 1 1 2 3
A x 0 2 x 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 2 2
x 0 0 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 3 3 3 3 2
B 2 1 1 x 0 0 x x 3 3 3 3 0
3 3 3 1
sl.

Wed, Nov 12, 2008, 11:02 PM Generated using the Power Tab Editor by Brad Larsen. http://powertab.guitarnetwork.org
 SOUTHERN BELLE - Elliott Smith Page 6 of 6

D5 B ` A5 G5 F A N.C.

R V
VV VV VV VV V } V V V V V VV VVV VVV VVV gVV VV P V gV V
45
Ie V V V V V VV VV }} V V V V} V} VV
V V V VV
V V V V V V V V
let ring let ring
1 3 5 3 2
T 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 2 3
A 2 2 2 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 2 2
0 0 0 0 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 3 3 3 3 2
B 0 1 1 x 0 0 x x 3 3 3 3 0
3 3 1
sl.

D5 `
B A5 G5 F A

VV
47
Ie V VVV VVV VVV VV V } V V V V V
VV VV }} V V V V} V} VV VVV VVV VVV VVV gVV VV VV VV VV
V V V V V V V
V V V V V V V V V V V
let ring let ring let ring
1
T 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2
A 2 2 2 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
0 0 0 0 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2
B 0 1 1 x 0 0 x x 3 3 3 3 3 0
3 3 1

H Ending
D5 B ` A5 G5 F A7

V V V VV V } V V V V V VV VVV VVV VVV VVV gVV VV VV VV VV 3x

49
Ie V VV VV VV V VV VV }} V V V V} V} VV
V V V V V V V
V V V V V V V V V V
let ring let ring let ring
1
T 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2
A 2 2 2 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 3 3 x 2 2 0 0 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2
B 0 1 1 x 0 0 x x 3 3 3 3 3 0
3 3 1

D5 D5/A `
B N.C. F A7/E D5

51
Ie V VV V V VV V VV V VVV VVV VVV VVV gVV
V
V VV
V
UU
U
V V V V V V V V
let ring let ring

T 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 2 2 2
GK3
A 0
2 2 3 2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
0
2
0
2
KK20
B 0 1 0
3 1 1 0 0

Wed, Nov 12, 2008, 11:02 PM Generated using the Power Tab Editor by Brad Larsen. http://powertab.guitarnetwork.org