What are We Gonna Do: Guitar TAB

This collection captures the melodic sensibility and fingerstyle sophistication that made Hansard's work resonate globally, with songs that balance accessibility and musical depth. The TAB format opens these pieces to guitarists at intermediate and advancing levels who want to work through emotionally rich material without relying solely on ear training. Programming selections from this songbook offers your students gateway material into contemporary singer-songwriter traditions while honoring the artistry of an internationally recognized composer.

These songs inhabit a space between folk tradition and indie rock sensibility, marked by introspective lyrics, unexpected harmonic turns, and the kind of guitar work that rewards close listening. The collection carries an intimate atmosphere throughout, from quietly devastating ballads to songs suffused with hope and resilience.

Intermediate to advanced guitarists seeking contemporary singer-songwriter material with genuine artistic substance. Solo performers, fingerstyle enthusiasts, and students studying modern approaches to acoustic composition will all find value in this collection.

• Pay attention to the dynamic arc within each song; Hansard's compositions often build quietly and resist over-interpretation. Resist the urge to fill space, and let silence and restraint carry as much weight as the notes you play.
• Use the TAB to learn the exact voicings and fingerings, then work away from reading it. Understanding Hansard's harmonic choices by ear will deepen your grasp of the emotional intention behind each passage.
• Experiment with alternate tunings if they appear in the transcriptions. Many of these songs rely on open and non-standard tunings to achieve their characteristic resonance and sustain.
• Listen to original recordings alongside your TAB study. The rhythmic phrasing, tone choices, and subtle dynamics in Hansard's performances often carry meaning that notation alone cannot convey.

Assign individual songs from this collection as recital or coffeehouse repertoire for guitarists at the intermediate level and above. The range of tempos and emotional content allows you to pair selections with other contemporary or classical material, and the folk-rock context makes these pieces natural companions for singer-songwriters developing their own voices.

• Reading guitar tablature and standard notation simultaneously
• Fingerstyle patterns and right-hand coordination
• Open and alternate tunings
• Harmonic analysis in contemporary songwriting contexts
• Phrasing and dynamic shaping in singer-songwriter repertoire
• Translating recorded performances into personal interpretation