THE HARD WAY EVERY TIME (Jim Croce)

Written by Jim Croce in the key of D in 4/4 time
Released on the album: I Got A Name (1973)
Fingerstyle version for single acoustic guitar
The Hard Way Every Time 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 3d 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 (Mind the exact finger positions)

    D                D/B                             A7sus4
e-----------2c-----------------------|---------------------0--------|  picking pattern:
b-----------3d-----------------------|---------------------3dp2b----|  x - a - bc - a
g-------2b------2b-------------------|---------------------0--------|  x - x - x - x - x - x - x - (x)abc
D---0-----------------------0--------|--------------------(2a)------|
A--------------------0h2a-------2a---|---------------0--------------|
E------------------------------------|---0--2b--3c------------------|
                      ¼                             ¼     ⅜
... Well, I've ...
    D                D/B                             A7sus4
e-----------2c-----------------------|---------------------0--------|  picking pattern:
b-----------3d-----------------------|---------------------3dp2b----|  x - a - bc - a
g-------2b------2b-------------------|---------------------0--------|  x - x - x - x - x - x - x - (x)abc
D---0-----------------------0--------|--------------------(2a)------|
A--------------------0h2a-------2a---|---------------0--------------|
E------------------------------------|---0--2b--3c------------------|
                      ¼                             ¼     ⅜
1ST VERSE

||:

1... had my share of broken dreams ... and ...
2... chasing what I thought were moonbeams ... I had ...
    D                  Bm                   F#m               G
e-----------2b-----------------2a-------|-----------2a---------------3c------|  picking pattern:
b-----------3c-----------------3b-------|-----------2a---------------0-------|  x - a - bc - x
g-------2a-----------------4d------4d---|-------2a-------2a-------0------0---|  x - a - bc - a (3x)
D---0------------------!----------------|---!--------------------------------|
A----------------4d----2a---------------|---!--------------------------------|
E---------------------------------------|---2a----------------3b-------------|
                       <---------- full barrés ----------->

1... more than a couple of falls ... and in ...
    Bm                A                    G          D
e-----------2a----------------0--------|---------3d----------2b----------|  picking pattern:
b-----------3b----------------2b-------|---------0-----------3c----------|  x - a - bc - a (2x)
g-------4d------4d--------2a------2a---|------0----------2a---------2a---|  x - a - bc
D---!-----------------!----------------|--------------0------------------|  x - a - bc - x - a
A---2a----------------0----------------|-------------------------0-------|
E--------------------------------------|---3c----------------------------|
    < full barré >

2... run into a couple of walls ... But in ...
    Bm                A                    G          D
e-----------2a----------------0--------|---------3d-----------2c----------|  picking pattern:
b-----------3b----------------2b-------|---------0------------3d----------|  x - a - bc - a (2x)
g-------4d------4d--------2a------2a---|------0-----------2b---------2b---|  x - a - bc
D---!-----------------!----------------|--------------0-------------------|  x - a - bc - x - a
A---2a----------------0----------------|--------------------------0-------|
E--------------------------------------|---3c-----------------------------|
    < full barré >

:||

CHORUS

... lookin' back at the places I've been ... and the ...
    Bm                                    A
e-------------------2a----------------|-------------------0---------------|  picking pattern:
b-----------3b-----------3b-----------|-----------2b----------2b----------|  x - a - b - x - c - b - x - a (2x)
g-------4d-----------------------4d---|-------2a---------------------2a---|
D---------------4c--------------------|---------------2a------------------|
A---2a-----------------------2a-------|---0-----------------------0-------|
E-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
    <--------- full barré -------->

... changes that I've left behind ... I just ...
    Em            F#m                  G
e-----------0-------------2a-------|---------------3c----------------|  picking pattern:
b-----------0-------------2a-------|-----------0-------0-------------|  x - a - bc - a (2x)
g-------0------0------2a------2a---|-------0--------------0------0---|  x - a - b - xc - b - a - x - a
D----------------------------------|---------------0-----------------|
A----------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E---0-------------2a---------------|---3b--------------------3b------|
                  < full barré >

... look at myself to find ...
    Em                                      G
e-----------0-----------0---------------|-----------3c---------3c---------|  picking pattern:
b-----------0-----------0---------------|-----------0----------0----------|  x - a - bc - x - a - bc - x - a (2x)
g-------0-----------0----------2c-------|-------0-----------0---------0---|
D---------------2c----------------------|---------------0-----------------|
A---!-----------------------------------|---!-----------------------------|
E---0----------------------2b-------/---|---3b--------------------3b------|

... I've learn the hard way ev'ry time ...
    A                                    Bm
e---------------0--------------------|--------------2a-------------------|  picking pattern:
b-----------2d------2d---------------|----------3b------3b---------------|  x - a - b - xc - b - a - x - a (2x)
g-------2c--------------2b------2b---|-------4d-------------4d------4d---|
D---------------2b-------------------|--------------4c-------------------|
A---0-----------------------0--------|---2a---------------------2a-------|
E------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|  info
                                         <------- full barré -------->
... Yeah, I've ...
    A
e-----------0-----------0------------|  picking pattern:
b-----------2b----------2b-----------|  x - a - bc - x - a - bc - x - a
g-------2a----------2a---------2a----|
D---------------2a-------------------|
A---0----------------------0---------|
E------------------------------------|

2ND VERSE (same tab as 1st verse)

... had my share of good intentions ... and I've ...
... made my share of mistakes ... and I've ...
... learned at times it's best to bend ... 'cause if you ...
... don't well those are the breaks ... Should have ...

CHORUS (same tab)

... listened to all the things I was told ... but I was ...
... young and too proud at the time ... now I ...
... look at myself to find ...
... I've learn the hard way ev'ry time ...

INSTRUMENTAL

    D                  Bm                   F#m               G
e-----------2b-----------------2a-------|-----------2a---------------3c------|  picking pattern:
b-----------3c-----------------3b-------|-----------2a---------------0-------|  x - a - bc - x
g-------2a-----------------4d------4d---|-------2a-------2a-------0------0---|  x - a - bc - a (3x)
D---0------------------!----------------|---!--------------------------------|
A----------------4d----2a---------------|---!--------------------------------|
E---------------------------------------|---2a----------------3b-------------|
                       <---------- full barrés ----------->
... But in ...
    Bm                A                    G          D
e-----------2a----------------0--------|---------3d-----------2c----------|  picking pattern:
b-----------3b----------------2b-------|---------0------------3d----------|  x - a - bc - a (2x)
g-------4d------4d--------2a------2a---|------0-----------2b---------2b---|  x - a - bc
D---!-----------------!----------------|--------------0-------------------|  x - a - bc - x - a
A---2a----------------0----------------|--------------------------0-------|
E--------------------------------------|---3c-----------------------------|
    < full barré >

CHORUS (same tab)

... looking back at the lessons I've learned ... and the ...
... mountains I wanted to climb ... I just ...
... look at myself to find ...
... I've learned the hard way ev'ry time ... Cause I've ...

3RD VERSE (same tab as 1st verse)

... had my share of broken dreams ... and ...
... more than a couple of falls ... and in ...
... chasing what I thought were moonbeams ... I have ...
... run into a couple of walls ... But in ...

CHORUS (same tab)

... looking back at the faces I've been ... I would ...
... sure be the first one to say ... when I ...
... look at myself today ...
... I wouldn've done it any other way ...

OUTRO (same tab as intro)

Finish the song with a strummed D chord [002a3c2b]