The Cure - Boys Don't Cry - Guitar Tab

About Boys Don't Cry

At 110 BPM in A major, "Boys Don't Cry" moves at a bright, bouncy clip that catches some players off guard. The signature single-note guitar lead that opens the track is the first thing to nail: it sits in a clean, jangly tone and needs to land with rhythmic precision rather than just pitch accuracy. The Cure built their early sound on that kind of deceptively simple melodic picking, and sloppy timing here will pull the whole feel apart. Standard E tuning keeps everything accessible, but do not let that fool you into rushing through the part. The rhythm guitar underneath asks for tight, clipped strumming that sits right on the beat rather than pushing ahead of it. If the interplay between the lead line and rhythm feel is giving you trouble, use the Practice Toolbar to loop those opening bars slowed down until the two parts sit comfortably in your hands. This is a great entry point into Post-Punk guitar playing precisely because the parts sound easy but demand real control.

• The opening guitar riff is a clean single-note melodic line that requires precise rhythmic placement, not just correct pitching.
• The rhythm guitar part uses tight, clipped strumming in A major that rewards a restrained, on-the-beat picking approach.
• Playing in E Standard at 110 BPM, the song suits beginner to intermediate players but exposes any timing looseness quickly.