The Unforgiven tab by Metallica

Guitar tabs
Metallica - Black Album - Track 4 - The Unforgiven

This song has a mix between acoustic and distortion so underneath each
subheading I’ve labelled whether it is distorted or clean. Also, with
subheadings I’ve put down whether it is played by Kirk or James. James
written as first guitar since he plays first and Kirk comes second thi
time.

Privacy /
Note that if you see one part written twice, it is usually going to be
played
a little different... so look carefully before moving on. If you are p
the song by yourself then you will probably want to select the most in
part.

Legend:
h - Hammer on
p - Pull off
s - Slide
[]- Play when advised
{}- Don’t play when advised
^ - Bend
* - Can be played but doesn’t need to be
close

Tuning: Standard (E;A;D;G;B;e)

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Intro - First Guitar - James

Clean/Acoustic

Play this four times before Kirk’s Intro...

e|---------------------------------|
B|-0-------0-----0-----0-----1-----|
G|-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
D|-------2-----2-----2-----2-----2-|
A|-0-------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|

Then, during Kirk’s Intro, play this riff twice...

e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------
B|-0-------0-----0-----1-----1-----|-0-------0-----1-----1-----1-----
G|-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2---|-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2---
D|-------2-----2-----2-----2-----2-|-------2-----2-----2-----2-----2-
A|-0-------------------------------|-0-------------------------------
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Privacy /
Intro - Second Guitar - Kirk
Clean/Acoustic

e|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|----------------|
G|-2-4-4h5--5-4-2-|-2-4-4h5--5-2---|
D|----------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|

After playing Kirk’s first riff twice, then play the following...

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|----------------|----------------|
G|-2-4-4h5----5---|-5-5-4----4-----|-----2-2h4--2---| close
D|----------------|-------5----2---|-2-2------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|------------5---|-5-3------------|-0-----0--------|
G|-2-4-4h5--------|-----4-2s1--1---|---1-2---2------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Verse - First Guitar - James

Clean/Acoustic

If you are playing on your own then I suggest playing this part instea
Kirk’s because it has Kirk’s part in it along with various other notes
makes it sound much better.

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-------0-1----1-|--1-------------|----------------|
G|-----2----------|-------0---0----|-----2-2h4--2---|
D|---2--------2---|-2----0---------|-2-2------------|
A|-0--------3-----|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----3----3------|----------------|

e|--------------0-|--0-------------|----------------|
B|-----0-1--------|-1-1-3-0---3----|-0-----0--------|
G|---2------------|------------1-1-|---1-2---2------|
D|--2---------2---|----------------|----------------|
A|-0--------3-----|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|---------3------|----------------|
^^^

NOTE: The two notes above are played at faster pace than the first tim
played it.
Privacy /
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Verse - Second Guitar - Kirk

Clean/Acoustic

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|----------------|----------------|
G|-2-4-4h5----5---|-5-5-4----4-----|-----2-2h4--2---|
D|----------------|-------5----2---|-2-2------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
^ÓWhat I’ve felt...^Ô

e|----------------|----------------|----------------| close
B|------------5---|-5-3------------|-0-----0--------|
G|-2-4-4h5--------|-----4-2s1--1---|---1-2---2------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Chorus - First Guitar - James

Distortion

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|----------------|----------------|
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|
D|-------5--------|-----7--7--7--7-|----------------|
A|-7--7--3--2--2--|-----5--5--5--5-|-7--7--[0-0]----|
E|-5--5-----0--0--|-0-0------------|-5--5-----------|

This part is played four times, however, on the fourth time he gets ri
the
two notes played inside the ^Ñ[ ]’ and moves on with the next riff...

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|----------------|----------------|
G|-5------4-------|-2------0-------|----------------|
D|--0------0------|--0------0------|-5--------------|
A|---0-0----0-0---|---0-0----0-0---|-3--5-3--5------|
E|----------------|----------------|-------5-3------|
^ÓOn and on...^Ô

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
B|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
G|-5------4-------|-2------0-------|----------------|----------------
D|--0------0------|--0------0------|-5--------------|--------2-------
A|---0-0----0-0---|---0-0----0-0---|-3--5-3--5------|-2------0-------
E|----------------|----------------|-------5-3------|-0--------------
^ÓThat never from...^Ô
Privacy /
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Chorus - Second Guitar - Kirk

Distortion

Play this right along with James’ part...

e|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|-8-8-7-7--------|
G|-7-5-4-4h5------|---------5-5----|
D|-----------5----|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------| close

When James moves onto the second part of his chorus riff, Kirk stops p
until the verse.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Interlude - First Guitar - James

Clean/Acoustic

In the background, James plays the Intro verse until the Solo...

e|---------------------------------|
B|-0-------0-----0-----0-----1-----|
G|-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
D|-------2-----2-----2-----2-----2-|
A|-0-------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Interlude - Second Guitar - Kirk

Clean/Acoustic (Lots of Reverb)

The Interlude really isn’t all that hard to play. If you’re playing on
Acoustic it’s still quite easy.

e|----------------|----------------|-0-0-0-0-0-0----|
B|----------------|----------------|-0-1-3-5-3-1-1h3|
G|---4-5-7----5---|-4h5p4---4------|----------------|
D|-7--------------|-------7---5-7--|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|

e|-3h5-3---2------|----------------|----------------|----------------
B|-3h5-3---3--3h5-|-3-----3--------|----------------|----------------
G|----------------|---5-4---4------|--------------5-|----------------
D|----------------|-----------5----|------------5---|-5-5h6----------
A|----------------|----------------|----3s5-6-7-----|----------------
Privacy /
E|----------------|----------------|-3-5------------|----------------

e|----------------|-7-7--10------12|---------14-----|-15--17---------
B|-8-7h8p7--7-8-10|--8--8--8-8s10--|-10-10s12--12-12|---14-----------
G|---------9------|----------------|----------------|----------------
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Solo - First Guitar - James

Distortion
close
James continues playing his power chords in the background. Play this
times... by then Kirk should be playing the parts indicated in his par
below... and James will move onto his next riff.

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|----------------|----------------|
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|
D|-------5--------|-----7--7--7--7-|----------------|
A|-7--7--3--2--2--|-----5--5--5--5-|-7--7--[0-0]----|
E|-5--5-----0--0--|-0-0------------|-5--5-----------|

Play six times and then move on to...

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|----------------|----------------|
G|-5------4-------|-2------0-------|----------------|
D|--0------0------|--0------0------|-5--------------|
A|---0-0----0-0---|---0-0----0-0---|-3--5-3--5------|
E|----------------|----------------|-------5-3------|

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
B|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
G|-5------4-------|-2------0-------|----------------|----------------
D|--0------0------|--0------0------|-5--------------|--------2-------
A|---0-0----0-0---|---0-0----0-0---|-3--5-3--5------|-2------0-------
E|----------------|----------------|-------5-3------|-0--------------

Then the solo fades out...

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Solo - Second Guitar - Kirk

Distortion

Unfortunately, you will need to be able to hit the 22nd fret on the fi
string to be able to play this properly. An easier way (if you don’t h
frets) would be to tune your guitar down a step or two and you will be
Privacy /
to
play it around the 20th fret... but that would mean changing the rest
tab...

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
B|-7^^7^^---------|----------------|----------------|-5---5-7--5-7-8-
G|-7^^7^^--5------|----------------|--------5--7-5-7|---7------------
D|----------7^^-7-|-5--------------|------7---------|----------------
A|----------------|--7-5-3-5-3-----|-3^-------------|----------------
E|----------------|-----------5-3-5|----------------|----------------

e|-----12---10-12-|---8-----10---8-|-15^^15^15^15^^-|-12-22^^-22^^22^
B|-7-8------------|-10-10-10--10---|----------------|----------------
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
close
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------

e|-17-17-20-15-17-|-15^^------10-9-|-7-8---7--------|----------------
B|----------------|-------8--------|----10---8-7-5--|-7-5------------
G|----------------|---------9------|----------------|-----7-5-7-5-4-5
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------

e|----------------|-12---12---12---|-12---12---12---|-12-------------
B|-------------13-|--13---13---13--|--13---13---13--|--13---15^^-15^^
G|-4--------14----|---14---14---14-|---14---14---14-|---14-----------
D|---7------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
^^^^^^^^^^^^
James moves to his next riff around this point in Kirk’s solo.

e|----15^^-15^^---|-17--19-20-19-17|-19-17h19p17-15-|---17-15-12-10--
B|-13-------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------

e|-15-12-10-10--8-|-10-8-10^^-10-8-|-15^^--13h15p13-|-12-----13p12---
B|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------

Then they play the verse riff...

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Privacy /
Ending Part - First Guitar - James
Clean/Acoustic

During the final verse riff you can hear James playing a few chords..
are as follows...

e|-0---0-0---0----|*3*3--*3*3*-*3*-|-3-3---3-3---3--|-0-0-0-0-0---0--
B|-1---1-1---1----|-1-1---1-1---1--|*3*3*-*3*3*-*3*-|-0-0-0-0-0---0--
G|-2---2-2---2----|-0-0---0-0---0--|-0-0---0-0---0--|-0-0-0-0-0---0--
D|-2---2-2---2----|-2-2---2-2---2--|-0-0---0-0---0--|-2-2-2-2-2---2--
A|-0---0-0---0----|-3-3---3-3---3--|-2-2---2-2---2--|-2-2-2-2-2---2--
E|----------------|----------------|-3-3---3-3---3--|-0-0-0-0-0---0--
Am C G

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x close
x x x x x x x x

Ending Part - Second Guitar - Kirk

Distortion

Right at the end of the final verse riff, Kirk plays a short riff whil
James
does some chords...

e|------------0---|-0-3-5----7-----|-8--------------|
B|--------1-3-1---|-1-3-5----------|----------------|
G|-2-2h4--2-------|----------7-----|-5--------------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Ending - Second Guitar - Kirk

Clean/Acoustic

Instead of playing the riff near the Intro, Kirk plays a new riff simi
the first...

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
B|--0-1--1-1-1-0--|-0--------------|--0-1--3h5--5-5-|3---------------
G|-2------------0-|---1-1-2-2h4-2--|-2--------------|-4-4s1-1-2-2h4-2
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

And that’s the whole song... Everything should be quite easy unless yo
trying to do the solo on an Acoustic guitar... Enjoy!

Privacy /
close