If you picked up a guitar between 2006 and, well, yesterday, you’ve probably spent an hour or two hunched over a laptop screen trying to figure out that opening riff. It’s iconic. It’s loud. It’s basically the anthem of mid-2000s indie rock. But here’s the thing: finding a truly accurate when you were young the killers tab is actually harder than it looks because Dave Keuning doesn’t play it the way most people think he does.
Most tabs online tell you to just bar some power chords and call it a day. That's a mistake.
The Anatomy of a Modern Classic
The song dropped in 2006 as the lead single for Sam’s Town. It was a massive pivot from the synth-heavy glitter of Hot Fuss. Instead of New Order vibes, we got Bruce Springsteen-inspired desert rock. That shift changed everything for the guitar work. When you're looking at a when you were young the killers tab, you aren't just looking for notes; you're looking for that specific, chimey, overdriven "wall of sound" that defines the era.
Keuning uses a lot of open strings.
If your tab just shows you 6th-string power chords for the intro, close the tab. You’re missing the "drone" effect. The song is in the key of B major, but it’s often played with the guitar tuned down a half-step (Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Bb, eb). This is the first hurdle. If you try to play along to the studio recording in standard tuning, you’re going to sound like a mess. You’ll be a semitone sharp, and your fingers will be screaming.
Tuning and the Half-Step Trap
Listen to the record. It has this thick, heavy resonance. That comes from the slack in the strings when you tune down. Many amateur transcriptions of the when you were young the killers tab ignore this and try to transpose the whole thing to standard E tuning. Sure, it "works," but it loses the soul of the track. You want those ringing open notes.
Let’s talk about that intro riff. It’s a lead line played over a shifting bass note. Honestly, most people mess up the rhythm more than the notes. It’s a driving, straight-eighth-note feel, but you have to accent the changes. If you’re looking at a tab that doesn't emphasize the syncopation in the bridge, you're going to sound like a robot.
Why Most Digital Tabs Fail the Bridge
The bridge—the "He doesn't look a thing like Jesus" part—is where the wheels usually fall off for beginners.
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A lot of the popular sites like Ultimate Guitar or Songsterr have versions that are "community-verified," which sounds great until you realize "the community" is often just people copying other people's mistakes. In the bridge, the chords are actually quite lush. We’re talking about moving from a B major to an Eb minor, then into an Ab minor and E major.
But Keuning plays these with specific voicings.
If you just play standard "cowboy chords" or basic barre chords, it sounds too "thick." You need to focus on the top four strings. That’s where the "shimmer" lives. A high-quality when you were young the killers tab will show you the inversions. It’s not just about the root note; it’s about how the melody moves within the chord.
The Gear Factor
You can have the best when you were young the killers tab in the world, but if your gain is cranked to 10, it'll sound like garbage. This isn't heavy metal. It's "stadium rock."
- Use a bridge humbucker.
- Keep the gain at about 6.
- Boost the mids.
- Add a touch of reverb—but don't drown it.
Keuning famously used a Fender Hot Rod Deville and a Gibson ES-335 or an Ibanez Destroyer. The hollow-body nature of the 335 adds a certain "air" to the chords. If you’re playing on a Squier Strat, you’ll need to work the tone knob to get that warmth.
Common Mistakes in the Solo
Wait, is there a solo? Sort of. It’s more of a melodic refrain.
The solo section in a typical when you were young the killers tab is often over-tabbed. People try to add too many flourishes. Dave Keuning is a master of the "less is more" philosophy. He plays for the song, not for the shred. The solo is essentially a variation of the vocal melody.
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One big mistake: ignoring the vibrato.
The notes are sustained. If you just hit the fret and let it sit there, it sounds dead. You need a wide, slow vibrato to mimic Brandon Flowers’ vocal delivery. Think about it as singing through your fingers. Also, watch out for the slide-outs. Almost every phrase in the lead section ends with a quick slide down the neck. It’s a small detail, but it’s the difference between sounding like a student and sounding like a pro.
Breaking Down the Rhythm Patterns
The rhythm guitar is the engine of this track. It never stops.
If you look at a when you were young the killers tab, the rhythm part looks boring on paper. It’s just rows and rows of eighth notes. But the "Killers sound" is all about the palm muting. During the verses, you aren't just flailing away. You’re choking the strings slightly at the bridge of the guitar. This creates a percussive "chug" that lets the bass and drums drive the song forward.
Then, when the chorus hits, you open it all up.
That dynamic shift—from the tight, muted verse to the wide-open, ringing chorus—is why the song was a hit. If your tab doesn't have "P.M." (palm mute) markings, you’re missing the roadmap. You’ve gotta feel that tension and release.
Where to Find a Reliable Tab
Let’s be real: the "official" sheet music is usually the most accurate, but it’s written for piano or general arrangement. For guitarists, you’re often stuck with the internet.
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- Avoid: Quick-fix "Easy" versions. They strip out the interesting chord voicings that make the song work.
- Look For: Tabs that specify "Half-Step Down" tuning. This is the biggest indicator that the transcriber actually listened to the song.
- Check the Comments: On sites like Ultimate Guitar, the gold is usually in the comments section where someone says, "Actually, he plays the F# on the 9th fret of the A string."
I’ve spent years looking at these. The best when you were young the killers tab is usually one that includes the "overdub" parts. Live, the Killers often have a second touring guitarist or use tracks to fill out the sound. If you're the only guitarist in your band, you have to find a way to merge the lead "tinkly" bits with the heavy rhythm chords. It’s a bit of a balancing act.
Practical Practice Tips
Don't just start at the beginning.
Start with the chorus. Get those big, open chords ringing perfectly. Make sure every string is clear. Then, move to the intro riff. Slow it down. Use a metronome. The timing on the intro is slightly "behind the beat," which gives it that laid-back, desert feel. If you play it too fast, it sounds like pop-punk. This isn't Blink-182. It's grander than that.
Actionable Steps for Mastering the Song
To really nail the song using a when you were young the killers tab, follow this workflow:
- Step 1: Tune down. Don't try to be a hero in standard tuning. Drop every string by one semitone: Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Bb, eb.
- Step 2: Focus on the "D-G-B" strings. For the verses, don't worry about the heavy E and A strings. Focus on the middle of the guitar to keep the sound "bright."
- Step 3: Master the "Sus" chords. The Killers love sus2 and sus4 chords. When you see a "B" chord in the tab, try playing it as a Bsus2 (adding that open C# string sound). It adds that "Killers" sparkle.
- Step 4: Record yourself. Play along to the original track. If you sound "separate" from the music, check your timing. Usually, you’re playing too "on the nose." Relax into the groove.
- Step 5: Watch live footage. Go to YouTube and find a high-def video of Dave Keuning playing the song live. Watch his left hand. You'll see he uses a lot of "thumb-over-the-neck" positions to mute the low strings while letting the high ones ring.
The when you were young the killers tab isn't just a list of numbers on a line. It’s a guide to one of the most emotional rock songs of the 21st century. Treat the tab as a starting point, but let your ears do the final editing. That’s how you get the "Sam’s Town" sound.
Stop searching for the "perfect" file and start listening to the nuances of the pick attack. That's where the secret is. If you want to play it like the record, you have to feel the nostalgia baked into those notes. It’s a song about looking back, so don’t be afraid to play with a bit of grit and a lot of heart.
Once you have the tuning down and the intro riff memorized, focus entirely on your right-hand technique. The consistent, driving downstrokes are what give the song its relentless energy. Without that steady "heartbeat" in your strumming, even the most accurate notes will fall flat. Master the palm-mute-to-open transition, and you'll have the song nailed.