Beirut – A Candle’s Fire (Chords)

Beirut – A Candle’s Fire (Chords)

The new Beirut album is finally out! I got as far into it as the first track before I decided I had to grab my uke and work it out before I moved on. He’s using his 6 string Kamaka and it sounds great.

I’ve written it up as C# tuning or capo on the first fret. But it’s somewhere between C and C# tuning. The chords themselves shouldn’t provide too many problems though.

Suggested Strumming

There are a few passing chords which you can play like this:

If you find that a bit tricky, you can just miss those chords out and play Bb – C – F – Bb with this strum once for each:

d – d u – u d u

Intro

You can transfer the accordion intro to uke like this:

View Comments

26 Comments

  1. The Captain August 30th, 2011 6:53 pm

    I was hoping you would put out some chords for The Rip Tide and here they are. I think the album turned out just fine even when some people wrote it is too pop-y. Oh, and also thanks for the Lil Rev links. I like his playing a lot, especially the St. Louis Blues and I ordered one of his CDs today.

  2. Sebaschtian August 30th, 2011 9:20 pm

    Just love it!

    I agree to the Captain and hope there are more tabs coming, would love to play all those songs :)

  3. Garce August 30th, 2011 9:28 pm

    Thank youuuuuuuu! I was sitting on the tube home today and decided that tonight was the night I tried to work out Port of Call – and instead I find this! I honestly think you can read my mind. Sort of.

  4. Woodshed August 30th, 2011 11:20 pm

    Captain and Sebaschtian: Yeah, I think you’re pretty safe assuming there’ll be more.

    Garce: You’re weeeeeeeeeelcome!

  5. tjvonp August 31st, 2011 12:16 am

    Typo in the title of the entry, I believe.

    Great song and post, though.

  6. Woodshed August 31st, 2011 7:14 am

    tjvonp: Thanks very much. Fixed it.

  7. RyRawwr August 31st, 2011 1:02 pm

    Great opening track for the album and great choice for first one to post. And yes his new 6 string sounds fantastic.
    I saw him playing it when they supported at hyde park in July and hadnt been a fan of 6 strings until then.. Think i may have to buy me one now..
    Nice post :)

  8. Woodshed August 31st, 2011 10:43 pm

    RyRawr: Yeah, I definitely think it improves his sound. And now I’m tempted too.

  9. Mander Mae September 1st, 2011 12:13 am

    No comment on Beirut chords except how do you pronounce that? I live in Hicksville USA and nobody knows. No, what I’m here to say is that I got my for dummies book today and took the day off in order to peruse it. Result: realization that I know nothing.

  10. Connor September 1st, 2011 3:09 am

    Well done, and thanks for the tab. I’m with Garce: any plans to work out Port of Call? As to The Captain’s comments: I agree, but I’m willing to trade the pop sound for his lyrics, in that I think Condon’s getting better and better at telling a story. Thanks again — yours is always the first (and usually last) email I open.

  11. Woodshed September 1st, 2011 8:00 am

    Mander: You knew enough to get the right book and that’s all that matters!

    Connor: I still can’t understand a word Zach says. So the lyrics are a bit lost on me.

  12. Redmond September 4th, 2011 6:16 am

    More from my favorite band =)

    I think I saw in an interview somewhere that Zach said he writes the music then fills in the lyrics, and if they don’t make sense then oh well. I may be wrong though… Anyways, it’d be awesome if you did East Harlem and Port of Call. Or the whole album. I’m not picky.

  13. Woodshed September 4th, 2011 11:34 am

    Redmond: I’ll probably end up doing the whole album – at least in a shortened form.

  14. Snacks September 5th, 2011 10:31 pm

    Spot on! Im loving riptide.
    I’ve been meaning to beg you for something woodshed. I understand that you are a busy man, but tell me that this tj kid isn’t intriguing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucYG5cg2L50
    If you could give those chords a shot i’d be more than grateful:)

  15. Woodshed September 6th, 2011 7:42 am

    Snacks: Thanks for the link. I love it! Might be a bit niche for tabbing though.

  16. oscar September 7th, 2011 5:50 am

    Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! Thanks!

  17. Snacks September 7th, 2011 6:30 am

    awwww I understand . I’ve been watching that video in full screen trying to figure it out for a long time.

  18. Woodshed September 7th, 2011 7:53 am

    oscar: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!You’re welcome.

  19. Erik September 19th, 2011 8:57 pm

    This is so awesome, is there any chance of you transcribing o leaozinho in the near future?

  20. Nick September 29th, 2011 5:37 pm

    I found this band by accident, I was listening to World Cafe on NPR, and immediately took a shine to these guys. I came on the interweb to try to work the songs out and here I am. Thnx to Woodshed it appears you do all the upkeepin’. Mighty fine job you do.

  21. cristina November 3rd, 2011 1:01 am

    im having a hard time matching this up when i play along with the song. i even tried the capo. what am i doing wrong? the tuning is so off :(

  22. wilder June 8th, 2012 1:40 am

    Great stuff – to echo another comment request – any chance of you transcribing o leaozinho in the near future?
    Cheers and thanks

  23. Emily June 1st, 2013 4:31 pm

    Great chords, even if its taken me a while to get round to this! It sounds really good with the capo too. Just wondered if you were planning on putting up chords for East Harlem? Its one of my favourite Beirut songs!

  24. Woodshed June 2nd, 2013 6:22 am

    Emily: I might well do.

  25. Semiphin February 7th, 2014 10:36 pm

    You say it’s somewhere in between C and C#. I think it might be C#, but with a=432 tuning, not a=440. That’s where my uke is, and it sounded pretty dead on to me. Just a thought.

  26. Woodshed February 8th, 2014 7:07 am

    Semiphin: Thanks! Makes sense.

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