Idle Days: A Guitar Tab for Idler's Dream
If you're a fan of the music of Oasis, you're probably familiar with Noel Gallagher's signature blue Epiphone casino guitar, which he famously used to write and perform some of the band's biggest hits. But as any true Oasis fan knows, Noel's talents extend far beyond that one beloved guitar. One of the best examples of his diverse musical chops is his haunting solo track, Idler's Dream, which features a beautiful acoustic guitar melody that is both mesmerizing and challenging. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the guitar tab for Idler's Dream, breaking it down into easily-digestible segments so that you can learn to play this unforgettable song yourself!
The Intro
The intro to Idler's Dream is simple but incredibly evocative, setting the stage for the rest of the song. The guitar pattern is a repeating sequence of arpeggios that gradually increase in intensity until the first verse begins.
E|------3------------3--------3----------3--------|
B|----0---0--------0---0-----0---0-------0---0-----|
G|--0------------0--------0----------0--------0---|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
Start by picking the lowest E string, then moving to the G, and then the B. It helps to use fingerpicks or even your fingernails to get a clear and bright sound. Repeat this pattern for six measures, increasing your speed slightly with each repetition until the seventh measure, which ends with a quick D chord.
The Verse
The verse of Idler's Dream follows a simple pattern of G - D - Cadd9 - G, with each chord taking up one measure of time. The key to playing this section well is to strum each chord gently, letting the notes ring out and keeping the rhythm steady.
G D Cadd9 G
There's nothing left for you to say, soon you're gonna run out of ways
G D Cadd9 G
No point in holding on to yesterday, you're lost in every way
For the Cadd9 chord, which is essentially a C chord with an added note, place your ring finger on the third fret of the B string while keeping the other strings open. This adds a rich and melancholy sound to the chord that perfectly matches the introspective mood of the song.
The Chorus and Outro
The chorus of Idler's Dream is the most challenging part of the song to play, but also the most rewarding. It features fast and complex fingerpicking patterns that require a high level of skill and dexterity to execute well.
Em7 D
Everything that you've ever known
Cadd9 G
Is just perfect for the person you've become
Em7 D
And every stop that you've ever made
Cadd9 G
Is just part of your own silly little parade
As you can see, the chord progression is Em7 - D - Cadd9 - G, which is similar to the verse but with a few subtle changes. To play the chorus, start by picking the lowest E string on the Em7 chord, then move to the G string, then the B string, and finally the high E string. Repeat this pattern twice, then switch to the D chord and repeat the pattern again. Do the same thing for the Cadd9 and G chords, gradually increasing your speed with each repetition.
The outro to Idler's Dream returns to the same simple arpeggio pattern as the intro, gradually fading out and bringing the song to a gentle close.
E|------3------------3--------3----------3--------|
B|----0---0--------0---0-----0---0-------0---0-----|
G|--0------------0--------0----------0--------0---|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
Learning to play Idler's Dream is a challenging but immensely rewarding experience for any guitar player, offering a chance to explore Noel Gallagher's unique and multi-faceted musical style. With these basic tabs and a lot of practice, you'll be able to master this iconic song and add it to your repertoire of impressive guitar-playing skills!
