Where to find the "Do You Want to Know a Secret" tab

The easiest place to find a tab for "Do You Want to Know a Secret" is Ultimate Guitar (ultimate-guitar.com), which hosts thousands of user-submitted tabs for this Beatles song. Search the song title in their search bar and you'll see multiple versions listed by difficulty — beginner, intermediate, and advanced tabs are usually available. Each tab shows a rating out of five stars, so you can pick one that other players found accurate.

Chordify (chordify.net) is another option if you want to watch a video of the song while reading the chords and tab simultaneously. You paste a YouTube link, and the site generates the chords in real time as the song plays. This helps you hear where each chord change happens, which is especially useful if you're learning by ear for the first time.

Smaller tab sites like Chordify, Tabs.Ultimate-Guitar, and even a plain Google search for "do you want to know a secret tab" will turn up PDFs and text files hosted on guitar forums and personal websites. Check the date posted — tabs from 2015 or earlier are usually reliable, since this song has been tabbed consistently for decades.

Key Takeaways

  • Ultimate Guitar is the fastest source because it lists multiple versions of the same song, each rated by players who have used it.
  • The song uses mostly open chords in the key of E major, so beginner tabs are genuinely playable for someone learning basic chord shapes.
  • Chordify lets you watch a video and read chords at the same time, which helps you hear the timing and rhythm of each change.
  • Tabs vary slightly depending on whether the transcriber used the original 1963 recording or a live version, so compare two or three before committing to one.

Understanding tab notation for this song

A guitar tab shows six horizontal lines representing the six strings of your guitar, with numbers on those lines showing which fret to press. The top line is the high E string, and the bottom line is the low E string. When numbers stack vertically, you play them at the same time (a chord). When they're spread across the lines horizontally, you play them one after another (a riff or melody).

"Do You Want to Know a Secret" is mostly chords, so you'll see vertical stacks of numbers. For example, an E major chord tab might show "0" on the low E string, "2" on the A string, "2" on the D string, "1" on the G string, "0" on the B string, and "0" on the high E string — all lined up vertically. Press all six strings at those frets at the same time, and you've played an E major chord.

The tab will also show rhythm slashes or note stems above the lines to indicate how long to hold each chord or note. A quarter note gets one beat, a half note gets two beats, and a whole note gets four beats. If the tab doesn't show timing clearly, listen to the song while reading along so you can match the rhythm by ear.

The chord progression and structure

The song is built on a straightforward three-chord progression: E major, B major, and C-sharp minor. The verse repeats this pattern, and the chorus uses the same chords in a slightly different order. Because the chords are so straightforward, this song is often recommended for players who have just learned open major and minor shapes.

The intro riff is played on the high strings and outlines the E major chord without playing all six strings at once. Most tabs show this riff as individual notes rather than a full chord, which makes it easier to follow if you're new to reading tab. Once you learn the riff, the rest of the song is mostly strumming the three chords in rhythm.

The bridge section (the part that comes after the second chorus) shifts the feel slightly but stays within the same three chords. Some tabs mark this section clearly so you know when it's coming. If your tab doesn't, listen to the song and count — the bridge usually arrives around the two-minute mark on the original recording.

Comparing different tab versions

You may notice that different tabs on Ultimate Guitar show slightly different fingerings for the same chords. This happens because there are multiple ways to play E major, B major, and C-sharp minor on a guitar. A beginner tab might use the simplest open shapes, while an intermediate tab might use barre chords or alternate fingerings that sound richer or are easier to switch between quickly.

The best way to choose is to read the comments section below each tab. Other players often note whether a tab is accurate, whether it matches the original recording, or whether the fingerings are practical. A tab with 50 positive comments is more trustworthy than one with none, even if it has fewer stars.

If you find a tab that looks right but sounds slightly off when you play it, the issue is usually timing or rhythm, not the chord names themselves. The three chords are always E, B, and C-sharp minor — the variation is in how long you hold each one and how you strum. Listening to the song while you play will fix this faster than hunting for a "better" tab.

Common mistakes when learning from tab

The most common mistake is playing the chords too fast. Beginners often rush the chord changes because they're concentrating on getting their fingers in the right place. Slow the song down using YouTube's playback speed control (click the settings gear, then "Speed") and set it to 0.75x or 0.5x. Play along at that slower speed until the changes feel automatic, then gradually speed up.

Another mistake is pressing too hard. You only need enough pressure to make the string ring clearly — pressing harder doesn't make it sound better and tires your hand faster. If a string sounds muted or buzzy, the problem is usually finger placement (your finger is too close to the fret wire) rather than pressure.

A third mistake is not muting the strings you're not playing. If you're playing an open E chord, all six strings should ring. But if you're playing a partial chord or a riff, you need to touch the strings you don't want to hear so they don't ring accidentally. Most tabs don't show this detail, so you have to listen to the song and match what you hear.

Using tab alongside video lessons

Pairing a tab with a YouTube video lesson of someone playing the song gives you both the visual roadmap (the tab) and the audio reference (the video). Search "do you want to know a secret guitar lesson" on YouTube and watch a few videos at 1.25x speed to see how different teachers approach the song. Some focus on the chords, others on the intro riff, and some teach the whole song start to finish.

A good lesson video will show the teacher's hand position and finger movement in close-up, which helps you understand not just where to put your fingers but how to move between positions smoothly. Combine this with your tab, and you have both the written reference and the physical model to learn from.

Frequently Asked Questions

What key is "Do You Want to Know a Secret" in?

The song is in E major, which is why most tabs use open E, B, and C-sharp minor chords. This key is beginner-friendly because all three chords use open strings, meaning you don't have to press every string down.

Can I play this song with just two chords?

You could play a simplified version using only E and B, but you'd miss the C-sharp minor chord that appears in the verse and gives the song its character. Learning all three chords takes only a little longer and sounds much closer to the original.

Is there a fingerstyle version of this tab?

Yes, some tabs on Ultimate Guitar show a fingerstyle arrangement where you pick individual strings instead of strumming chords. Search "do you want to know a secret fingerstyle" to find these. They're more advanced but sound beautiful if you have the finger independence to play them.

How long does it usually take to learn this song?

If you already know open chords, you can play the basic version in one or two practice sessions. The intro riff takes longer — usually a week of daily practice to play smoothly. The whole song, played cleanly with good rhythm, typically takes two to four weeks of regular practice.

What if the tab I found doesn't sound right?

Check the comments section to see if other players reported errors. If the comments are positive, the issue is usually your timing or rhythm, not the tab itself. Slow the song down and play along with the original recording to match the feel, then speed back up gradually.