OPERATOR (Jim Croce)

Written by Jim Croce in the key of G in 4/4 time
Released on the album: You Don't Mess Around with Jim (1972)
Released as a single in 1972 (ABC/Vertigo)
Fingerstyle version for single acoustic guitar
Operator on Wikipedia | Lyrics

 Studio Version

thumb: x             Hammer on: h             Bend up: V                   Play or don't: ()
index: a             Pull off: p              Bend down: Λ                 Break: b
dirty: b             Slide up: /              Fret but don't pick: !       Downward stroke: ↑
ring: c              Slide down: \            Staccato: :                  Upward stroke: ↓
pinky: d             Arpeggio: ~~~            Mute: m

To stabilize your picking hand, put your ring on the e-string in the red marked part
Red colored exclamation marks offer additional fretting information
Keep 1a pressed in the green marked part

chord image legend: x = fretted and played
                    o = fretted but not played

Picking patterns that fit most Croce songs in 4/4 time:
x - a - bc - a - x - a - bc - a
x - a - bc - x - a - bc - x - a
x - a - b - (x)c - b - a - x - a
x - a - b - x - c - b - x - a


INTRO

    G                                          Bm
e------------------------------------------|------------------2a-----------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------3a-------------3a-------------|-------------3b--------3b------------------|  x - a - b - x - a - b - x - x
g-------4b-------------4b------------------|--------4d------------------4d--------4d---|  x - a - b - xc - b - a - x - a
D-----------------5d-----------------------|------------------4c-----------------------|
A--------------------------------5c---0----|---2a----------------------------2a--------|
E---3a-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
    <--------- full barré -------->            <----------- full barré ------------>

    Am                                         C    G/B   Am7  Dsus2/F#
e------------0--------------0--------------|---0-------------------------0---------|  picking pattern:
b------------1a-------------1a-------------|--------3d:---1a-------------3d--------|  x - a - bc - x - a - bc - x - a
g-------2c-------------2c-------------0----|------------------------2c-------------|  xc - xb - xb - x - a - bc
D-----------------2b-----------------------|---------------------------------------|
A---0----------------------------0---------|---3c---2b:---0------------------------|
E------------------------------------------|-------------------2b--------------/---|
                                                    ¼    ¼

    G                                          Bm
e------------3c-------------3c-------------|------------------2a-----------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------0--------------0--------------|-------------3b--------3b------------------|  x - a - bc - x - bc - a - x - a
g-------0--------------0--------------0----|--------4d------------------4d--------4d---|  x - a - b - xc - a - b - x - a
D-----------------0------------------------|------------------4c-----------------------|
A------------------------------------------|---2a----------------------------2a--------|
E---3b---------------------------3b--------|-------------------------------------------|
                                               <----------- full barré ------------>

    Am                                         C    G/B   Am7  Dsus2/F#
e------------0--------------0--------------|---0-------------------------0---------|  picking pattern:
b------------1a-------------1a-------------|--------3d:---1a-------------3d--------|  x - a - bc - x - a - bc - x - a
g-------2c-------------2c-------------0----|------------------------2c-------------|  xc - xb - xb - x - a - bc
D-----------------2b-----------------------|---------------------------------------|
A---0----------------------------0---------|---3c---2b:---0------------------------|
E------------------------------------------|-------------------2b--------------/---|
                                                    ¼    ¼
1ST VERSE

||:

... Operator, well could you ...
    G                                          Bm
e------------3c-------------3c-------------|-------------2a-------------2a-------------|  picking pattern:
b------------0--------------0--------------|-------------3b-------------3b-------------|  x - a - bc - x - a - bc - x - a (2x)
g-------0--------------0--------------0----|--------4d-------------4d-------------0----|
D-----------------0------------------------|------------------4c-----------------------|
A------------------------------------------|---2a----------------------------2a--------|
E---3b---------------------------3b--------|-------------------------------------------|
                                               <--------- full barré --------->
... help me place this call? ...
    C        G/B      Am7      G            C             G
e---0-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------|  picking pattern:
b---!--------3d-------1a-------0--------|------------1a------------0-----------|  xc - a - xb - a - xb - a - xb - a
g-------0---------0--------0--------0---|--------0-------------0-----------0---|  x - a - b - x - a - b - x - a
D---------------------------------------|---!--------------------------0-------|
A---3c-------2b-------0-----------------|---3d------------!--------------------|
E------------------------------3c-------|---!-------------3c-------------------|

alternative tab

... see, the number on the matchbook is old and ...
    Am                                        Dsus2/F#
e-----------------0-----------------------|------------------0-----------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------1a--------1a-----------------|------------3d-------3d-------------------|  x - a - b - xc - b - a - x - a (2x)
g-------2c------------------2c-------2c---|--------2c-----------------2c--------2c---|
D-----------------2b----------------------|--------------------------------0---------|
A---0----------------------------0--------|------------------0-----------------------|
E-----------------------------------------|---2b-------------------------------------|

... faded ...
    Em                                    D        D/C      D/B      D/A
e---------------0---------------------|---------------------------------------|  picking pattern:
b-----------0--------0----------------|---3d-------3d-------3d-------3d-------|  x - a - b - xc - b - a - x - a
g-------0----------------0--------0---|-------2b-------2b-------2b-------2b---|  xb - a - xb - a - xb - a - xb - a
D----------------------------2c-------|---0-----------------------------------|
A---------------2b--------------------|------------3c-------2a-------0--------|
E---0---------------------------------|---------------------------------------|

... she's living in L.A. with my ...
    G                                       Bm
e------------3d-----------3d------------|-------------2a-------------2a-------------|  picking pattern:
b------------0------------0-------------|-------------3b-------------3b-------------|  x - a - bc - x - a - bc - x - a (2x)
g-------0-------------0------------0----|--------4d-------------4d-------------0----|
D----------------0----------------------|------------------4c-----------------------|
A---------------------------------------|---2a----------------------------2a--------|
E---3c------------------------3c--------|-------------------------------------------|
                                            <--------- full barré --------->

... best old ex-friend Ray ...
    C        G/B      Am7      G            C             G
e---0-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------|  picking pattern:
b---!--------3d-------1a-------0--------|------------1a------------0-----------|  xc - a - xb - a - xb - a - xb - a
g-------0---------0--------0--------0---|--------0-------------0-----------0---|  x - a - b - x - a - b - x - a
D---------------------------------------|---!--------------------------0-------|
A---3c-------2b-------0-----------------|---3d------------!--------------------|
E------------------------------3c-------|---!-------------3c-------------------|

... a guy she said she knew well and sometimes ...
    Am                                        Dsus2/F#
e----------------------0------------------|----------------------0-------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------1a-------------1a------------|-------------3d------------3d-------------|  x - a - b - x - c - b - x - a (2x)
g-------2c---------------------------2c---|--------2c---------------------------2c---|
D-----------------2b----------------------|--------------------------------0---------|
A---0----------------------------0--------|------------------0-----------------------|
E-----------------------------------------|---2b-------------------------------------|

... hated ...
    Em                                     Dsus2    Dsus2/C  Dsus2/B   Dsus2/A
e--------------------0-----------------|-------0--------0---------0--------0----|  picking pattern:
b-----------0------------0-------------|-------3d-------3d--------3d-------3d---|  x - a - b - x - c - b - x - a
g-------0-------------------------0----|-------2b-------2b--------2b-------2b---|  x - abc (4x)
D----------------------------2c--------|---0------------------------------------|
A---------------2b---------------------|------------3c-------2a--------0--------|
E---0----------------------------------|----------------------------------------|

:||

CHORUS

... Isn't that the way they say it ...
    G                                         C
e------------3d------------3d-------------|------------0-------------0-------------->|  picking pattern:
b------------0-------------0--------------|------------1a------------1a-------------|  x - a - bc - x - a - bc - x - a (2x)
g--------0------------0--------------0----|--------0-------------0-------------0----|
D-----------------0-----------------------|-----------------2b----------------------|
A-----------------------------------------|---3d--------------------------3d--------|  !: fret 2b and keep 3c pressed
E---3c--------------------------3c--------|---!-------------------------------------|

... goes? ... well, let's forget all that ... and ...
    G                                         C             Dsus2
e------------3d------------3d-------------|------------0-------------0--------------|  picking pattern:
b------------0-------------0--------------|------------1a------------3d-------------|  x - a - bc - x - a - bc - x - a (2x)
g--------0------------0--------------0----|--------0------------2b-------------2b---|
D-----------------0-----------------------|-----------------0-----------------------|
A-----------------------------------------|---3d--------------------------0---------|
E---3c--------------------------3c--------|---!-------------------------------------|

... give me the number if you can find it ... so ...
    G                                         Am
e------------3d------------3d-------------|------------0--------------0-------------|  picking pattern:
b------------0-------------0--------------|------------1a-------------1a------------|  x - a - bc - x - a - bc - x - a (2x)
g--------0------------0--------------0----|-------2c-------------2c-------------0---|
D-----------------0-----------------------|-----------------2b----------------------|
A-----------------------------------------|---0----------------------------0--------|
E---3c--------------------------3c--------|-----------------------------------------|

... I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine and to ...
    C                 G                    Bm
e--------------------------------------|------------------2a----------------------|  picking pattern:
b---1a----------------0----------------|-------------3b--------3b-----------------|  xb - a - x - a (2x)
g--------0--------0-------0-------0----|--------4d------------------4d--------0---|  x - a - b - xc - b - a - x - a
D------------2b---------------0--------|------------------4c----------------------|
A---3c----------------!----------------|---2a----------------------------2a-------|
E---------------------3c---------------|------------------------------------------|  info
                                           <----------- full barré ----------->
alternative tab

... show ... I've overcome the ...
    Am                                       Dsus2
e------------0--------------0------------|----0--------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------1a-------------1a-----------|----3d-------------------|  x - a - bc - x - a - bc - x - a
g-------2c-------------2c------------0---|----2b---------b----b----|  xabc
D-----------------2b---------------------|----0--------------------|
A---0----------------------------0-------|--- ( let ring ) --------|
E----------------------------------------|-------------------------|
                                              ½         ¼   ¼

... blow, I've learned to take it well ... I only wish my ...
    C                                        G/B
e-----------------0----------------------|-----------------0----------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------1a--------1a----------------|------------3d-------3d-----------------|  x - a - b - xc - b - a - x - a (2x)
g--------0------------------0--------0---|--------0-----------------0--------0----|
D-----------------2b---------------------|-----------------0----------------------|
A---3c--------------------------3c-------|---2b-------------------------2b--------|
E----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|

... words could just convince myself ... that it just wasn't ...
    Am                                       Am7/G
e-----------------0----------------------|-----------------0----------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------1a--------1a----------------|------------1a--------1a----------------|  x - a - b - xc - b - a - x - a (2x)
g-------2c------------------2c------2c---|--------0------------------0-------0----|
D-----------------2b---------------------|-----------------2b---------------------|
A---0---------------------------0--------|----------------------------------------|
E----------------------------------------|---3d--------------------------3d-------|

... real ... but that's not the way it feels ...
    Dsus2                                    C
e------------0-------------0-------------|----0--------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------3d------------3d------------|----1a-------------------|  x - a - bc - x - a - bc - x - a
g-------2b------------2b------------0----|----0----------b----b----|  xabc
D---0---------------------------0--------|----!--------------------|
A-----------------0----------------------|----3c-------------------|
E----------------------------------------|--- ( let ring ) --------|
                                              ½         ¼   ¼
INTERLUDE

    G                                          Bm
e------------3d-------------3c-------------|------------------2a-----------------------|  picking pattern:
b------------0--------------0--------------|-------------3b--------3b------------------|  x - a - bc - x - bc - a - x - a
g-------0--------------0--------------0----|--------4d------------------4d--------4d---|  x - a - b - xc - a - b - x - a
D-----------------0------------------------|------------------4c-----------------------|
A------------------------------------------|---2a----------------------------2a--------|
E---3c---------------------------3b--------|-------------------------------------------|
                                               <----------- full barré ------------>

    Am                                         C    G/B   Am7  Dsus2/F#
e------------0--------------0--------------|---0-------------------------0---------|  picking pattern:
b------------1a-------------1a-------------|--------3d:---1a-------------3d--------|  x - a - bc - x - a - bc - x - a
g-------2c-------------2c-------------0----|------------------------2c-------------|  xc - xb - xb - x - a - bc
D-----------------2b-----------------------|---------------------------------------|
A---0----------------------------0---------|---3c---2b:---0------------------------|
E------------------------------------------|-------------------2b--------------/---|
                                                    ¼    ¼
2ND VERSE (same tab as 1st verse)

... Operator, well could you ...
... help me place this call? ...
... well, I can't read the number that you just ...
... gave me ...
... there's something in my eyes, you know it ...
... happens every time ...
... I think about a love that I thought would ...
... save me ...

CHORUS (same tab)

INTERLUDE (same tab)

I tend to play the same interlude twice.
In the original song, a different chord sequence is played this time, adding some vocals:
... no, no, no, no ...
   G            C
... that's not the way it feels ...
   G            C

3RD VERSE (same tab as 2nd verse)

... Operator, well let's for- ...
... get about this call ...
... there's no one there I really wanted to ...
... talk to ...
... thank you for your time, ah, you've been ...
... so much more than kind ...
... and you can keep the dime ...

CHORUS (same tab)

OUTRO (same tab as intro)

Stay on the Dsus2/F# chord and let it ring