Lyrics

(standard tuning, no capo)

Intro
    (see "Notes & Tabs" section for the guitar tab)

Verse
    A 
    I've just seen a face, I can't forget the time or place
                  F#m 
    Where we just met... she's just the girl for me, and I want all
                         D                   E              A 
    The world to see her face... hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm mmm mmm
  
    (repeat same progression for each verse)
    
    Had it been another day, I might have looked the other way
    And I'd have never been aware, but as it is
    I'll dream of her tonight... la, la, la, la la la

Chorus
        E                 D 
        Falling, yes I am falling
                      A         D           A 
        And she keeps calling..... me back again

    I have never known the likes of this, I've been alone
    And I have missed things and kept out of sight, and other girls            
    Were never quite like this... da, da, da, da da da

        Falling, yes I am falling
        And she keeps calling..... me back again

    (instrumental verse / solo)
    
        Falling, yes I am falling
        And she keeps calling..... me back again
        
    I've just seen a face, I can't forget the time or place
    Where we just met... she's just the girl for me, and I want all
    The world to see her face... hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm mmm mmm

        Falling, yes I am falling
        And she keeps calling..... me back again
        
        (repeat chorus as desired, end on A)

Notes & Tabs

Standard Tuning, No Capo

I'm consciously choosing to transcribe this song for playing in standard tuning without a capo -- which allows you to play along with the Beatles version. Note, they may well have played this with a capo on the 2nd fret (moving the chords to the key of G), or in alternate tuning -- if either is the case, I do not know. I personally enjoy the challenge of playing this in the key of A, so that is the way I'm transcribing it. If you want to play it in the key of G (which lets you avoid the F#m barred chord), move all chords down one whole step.

Guitar Chords Used

Here are the four guitar chords used in this song. Again, if you can't play the F#m barre chord want an easier version, you can move to the key of G (A becomes G, F#m becomes Em, D becomes C, and E becomes D). Note, if you play in the key of G you'll need a capo on the 2nd fret to be able to play along with the Beatles version.

e-|---0----2----2----0----
B-|---2----2----3----0----
G-|---2----2----2----1----
D-|---2----4----0----2----
A-|---0----4---------2----
E-|--------2---------0----
      A   F#m   D    E 

Intro Guitar Tab

Here is the guitar tab for playing the intro. The trick, I find, is to always use your middle finger on the G string (i.e., the 3rd highest string). Then, use your ring finger and index finger on the high E string (depending on the shape of each particular chord). But again, the middle finger is your "anchor" and can stay constant on the G string. The bass walkdown at the start can be tricky to play if you're on your own -- don't stress if it gives you trouble (skip it).

e-|--------|----2---2---2-----5---5---5---|----9---9---9----14--14--14--|-
B-|--------|------------------------------|-----------------------------|-
G-|--------|--2---2---2-----6---6---6-----|--11--11--11---14--14--14----|-
D-|--------|------------------------------|-----------------------------|-
A-|--------|------------------------------|-----------------------------|-
E-|--5--4--|--2---------------------------|-----------------------------|-

          -|----10--10--10----12--12--12--|----14--14--14---14--14--14--|-
          -|------------------------------|-----------------------------|-
          -|--11--11--11----12--12--12----|--14--14--14---14--14--14----|-
          -|------------------------------|-----------------------------|-
          -|------------------------------|-----------------------------|-
          -|------------------------------|-----------------------------|-

          -|----12--12--12----10--10--10--|---0------------------------
          -|------------------------------|---2------------------------
          -|--13--13--13----11--11--11----|---2------------------------
          -|------------------------------|---2------------------------  etc
          -|------------------------------|---0------------------------
          -|------------------------------|----------------------------
                                             "I've just seen a face..."

Solo Guitar Tab

If you want to play the solo section on your guitar or bass, use this tab. Nice and straightforward, a good simple solo to learn if you're starting out.

e-|----------------------------------------------------|-
B-|----------------------------------------------------|-
G-|----------------------------------------------------|-
D-|------------------------------------0--0------------|-
A-|---0--0--0--2--2--0--0--4--4--0--0--------4--4--2---|-
E-|----------------------------------------------------|-

 -|----------------------------------------------------|-
 -|----------------------------------------------------|-
 -|----------------------------------------------------|-
 -|------------------------------------0--0------------|-
 -|---0--0--0--2--2--0--0--4--4--0--0--------4--4--2---|-
 -|----------------------------------------------------|-

 -|---------------------------------0---||
 -|---------------------------------2---||
 -|---------------------------------2---||
 -|---------------------------------2---||
 -|---0--------2--0--------------0--0---||
 -|------------------4----2--4----------||

Outro Guitar Tab

Here is the tab for the outro section at the end of the song.

e-|----------------------0---||
B-|----------------------2---||
G-|----------------------2---||
D-|---0------------------2---||
A-|------4--2--0-----0---0---||
E-|---------------4----------||

Playing the Verse Bassline on Guitar

If you want to get a bit more advanced, here is how I like to play the bass walkdown as I progress through the verse. I'm not showing the strum pattern here (listen along for that), but rather am showing how the bass note transitions between each chord.

e-|---0-------------------------------------------|-
B-|---2-------------------------------------------|-
G-|---2-------------------------------------------|-
D-|---2-------------------------------------------|-
A-|---0-------------------------------------------|-
E-|-----------------------------------------------|-
      A 
     "I've just seen a face, I can't forget..."

e-|---(0)--------------------------------2--------|-
B-|---(2)--------------------------------2--------|-
G-|---(2)--------------------------------2--------|-
D-|---(2)--------------------------------4--------|-
A-|---(0)------------0-------------------4--------|-
E-|------------------------------4-------2--------|-
                                         F#m 
     "...the time or place where we just met..."

e-|--(2)-----------------------------------2---------------(0)------------0--||
B-|--(2)-----------------------------------3---------------(0)------------2--||
G-|--(2)-----------------------------------2---------------(1)------------2--||
D-|--(4)----------------4--------2---------0------0--------(2)------------2--||
A-|--(4)-----------------------------------------------4----2-----0-------0--||
E-|--(2)--------------------------------------------------------------4------||
                                           D                E             A 
     "...I want all the world to see we've met... hmmm hmmm hmmm, mmm mmm mmm"

Videos

Beatles Album Version

If you want to hear the Beatles' album version of this song, refer to this video.

"Across the Universe" Film Version

I'm a late bloomer when it comes to the Beatles, and first learned of this song via the movie "Across the Universe", so I'll include that version here for sentimentality.

Recommended Guitar Lessons

For learning this on guitar in the key of A (as I have transcribed it above), I recommend this video lesson:

If you're interested in learning it in the key of G, here's a video lesson from TotallyGuitars.com you should check out:

Chord Progressions

Verse

"I've just seen a face..."

| A . . . | A . . . | F#m . . . | F#m . . . |
| D . . . | E . A . |

Chorus

"Falling, yes I am falling..."

| E . . . | D . . . | A . D . | A . . . |

Song Info

Song: I've Just Seen a Face
Artist: The Beatles
Album: Help!
Year: 1965
Label: Parlophone