Downpour: Guitar TAB

This collection captures 35 songs exactly as Carlile recorded them, giving guitarists direct access to her original arrangements rather than simplified reductions. The span across three albums lets students explore how a songwriter's voice develops and deepens, and the TAB format makes complex fingerpicking patterns and unconventional tunings accessible without requiring fluent sight-reading.

These songs move between intimate, fingerpicked confessionals and fuller, alt-rock arrangements that build intensity without losing their folk roots. The overall collection feels grounded and honest; there's no artifice, just well-crafted songs that use the guitar as both a rhythmic anchor and a vehicle for storytelling.

Intermediate to advanced guitarists who want to learn songs beyond simple chord charts and are ready to tackle varied tunings and fingerpicking techniques. Singer-songwriters and folk-influenced musicians will find direct models for arrangement and composition, and guitar students looking to expand beyond classical or blues-rock traditions will discover a rich contemporary songwriter to study.

• Pay attention to alternate tunings and capo positions noted in the TAB; several songs rely on these choices for their harmonic color, and matching Carlile's tuning will make the songs sound distinctly right.
• Study the dynamic arc within each song by listening to the original recordings; Carlile's arrangements often build texture gradually, and understanding the emotional shape helps you know when to sit back and when to fill the space.
• Work through the fingerpicking patterns slowly and deliberately before attempting full tempo; her guitar work involves precision, and rushing through these sections loses the intimacy that makes her songs compelling.

Use individual songs as recital repertoire or performance projects in a private studio setting, selecting pieces that match a student's current technique level and musical interests. The variety across 35 songs means you can assign different pieces at different points in a student's development, returning to the collection multiple times as their skills deepen.

• Fingerpicking patterns in varied tuning systems
• Reading and executing alternate capo positions
• Translating recorded arrangements into playable guitar voicings
• Phrase phrasing and dynamic control in singer-songwriter contexts
• Understanding how arrangement choices affect emotional impact