Preview of the intermediate acoustic guitar tab arrangement for “If I Were A Carpenter” by Tim Hardin.
The progression
Structure & dynamics
What's in the mix
Tim Hardin 2 (1967)
His second album contained 'If I Were a Carpenter', which became one of the most covered songs of the era, along with 'Red Balloon' and 'Black Sheep Boy'. It carried the same spare, confessional feel as his debut and cemented his reputation as a songwriter's songwriter.
All of Tim Hardin 2Tim Hardin
Tim Hardin was an American singer-songwriter from Eugene, Oregon, who worked in folk, blues, and jazz through the 1960s and 1970s. He wrote intimate, emotionally direct songs that many other artists covered, with 'Reason to Believe' and 'If I Were a Carpenter' becoming especially well-traveled standards. His output was small but his influence on the singer-songwriter tradition has been lasting.
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Good to know
What key is "If I Were A Carpenter" in?
"If I Were A Carpenter" by Tim Hardin is in D major.
What is the tempo of "If I Were A Carpenter"?
"If I Were A Carpenter" plays at around 81 BPM in 2/4 time.
What chords are in "If I Were A Carpenter"?
The core progression is D, C, G, Cmaj9, and D7, built around the D major tonal center.
What instruments play on "If I Were A Carpenter"?
The recording features acoustic guitar, male lead vocal, acoustic bass, and light percussion.
Can I get "If I Were A Carpenter" acoustic guitar tabs?
Yes. This is the intermediate acoustic guitar tabs arrangement of "If I Were A Carpenter" by Tim Hardin, transcribed by Songscription.
Is "If I Were A Carpenter" acoustic guitar tabs easy to play?
"If I Were A Carpenter" acoustic guitar tabs comes in beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, so there is an easy version to start with. At 81 BPM in D major with 5 core chords, the part stays friendly for newer players. You can switch levels on this page before you save it.
Is there an easy, beginner version of "If I Were A Carpenter" acoustic guitar tabs?
Yes. The beginner acoustic guitar tabs for "If I Were A Carpenter" simplifies the busiest passages and rhythms while keeping the melody, so it is the easiest way to start. The intermediate and advanced arrangements are one tap away when you want more of the original.
What album is "If I Were A Carpenter" on?
"If I Were A Carpenter" appears on Tim Hardin 2 (1967).
How does Songscription turn a song into sheet music?
Give it a recording, a YouTube link or an audio file, and its AI transcribes that performance into notation for the instrument and level you choose.
Can I get sheet music for a live or cover version?
Yes. The score is generated from whatever recording you pick, so a live take, a remix, or a cover each match that exact performance.
What instruments and formats are available?
Piano, guitar, violin, trumpet, sax, bass, drums, vocals and more, as standard sheet music, a piano roll, or guitar tabs.
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You can try it free, with no credit card needed.
Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
Yes. You get a downloadable PDF, plus in-app playback and the option to transpose or adjust the arrangement before you print.
How accurate is the transcription?
It is produced by AI trained on millions of bars of music, and you can play it back and fine-tune any details before you download.
Is this transcription licensed?
Yes. We have licensed this track from its publisher, so we are permitted to transcribe it and provide the sheet music to you.
Transcribed from licensed catalogs by AI trained on millions of bars of music.
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