This song seems like it's done a whole step down or I don't know how he
does the bass line otherwise. Putting a bass guitar in would be
stupid. It's simpler and it sounds a lot nicer solo voice and guitar.
This is my insight on it:
chords: I KNOW that these are right but i'm not sure about some of the
names for them with question marks near them.
Am7(high octave type), F, C, C/B, Fm/G# ???, G, Am7/F# ???
*warning- you must be a GOOD guitarist to play this song correctly*
I'm not going to tab out an F, C, or G chord, because if you don't know
them, you shouldn't be playing this song, let alone guitar.
The bass line (picking) is fairly obvious except in chorus, which I've
shown further down. For the verse, just pick the obvious bass string in
the chord with your thumb. If you don't know what it is, then LISTEN TO
THE SONG.
Am7 (high octave type)
1 1
2 2 3
3 4
4
5
DO/SI
1 1
2 3 2
3
4
5
Fm/G# ???
x x
1 1 1 1
2
3
4 4
5
LAm7/FA#
1 1
2 t | 2 3 | |
3 4
4
5
t= thumb (if you cant do it that way, drop the 7 and do it another way)
Here's the meat:
Verse 1
LAm7
Drink up baby
FA
stay up all night
DO DO/SI
the things you could do, you won't but you might
LAm7
the potential you'll be
FA
but you'll never see
DO MI FA
the promises you'll only make
LAm7
drink up with me now
FA
and forget all about
DO DO/SI
the pressure of days, do what I say
LAm7
and I'll make you ok
FA
and drive them away
DO MI FA
the image is stuck in your head
Chorus
Here's the bass climb during the Am chord- I'm making this REALLY
specific so it should be easy to get... this is the way I do it so your
guitar fretboard size and hands may cause you to have to alter it a
little... but I hope it helps.
b= the bass string you should pluck
step 1
SI
1 1
2 2
3
4
5
step 2
SI
1 1
2 3 2
3
4
5
step 3
SI
1 1
2 2
3 3
4
5
step 4
SI
1 1
2 2
3
4
5
step 5
SI
1 1
2 3 2
3
4
5
**As I've said many times before, if you don't have big hands that
enable you to hold down the second fret with your thumb you may have to
drop the 7 on the Am so that you can hold the second fret down with a
finger. OR you could just NOT do the bass climb... but that would make
the song sound really lame...and it's not...so please don't do it.**
However, if you're REALLY slick, then try sliding your third finger from
the second fret to the third very quickly and then get it in position
for the F chord. It flows nice and I think that's what Elliot Smith
actually does.
You start the chorus plucking obvious bass strings loudly and then start
playing the bass climb I transcribed above by the first Am chord. After
you finish that then you have to play those chords with the weird
finger/thumb stretches and after that (on the third Am) you play the
bass climb again. I guarantee that this WILL take some practice.
FA SOL LAm
people you've been before
FAm/SOL# SOL LAm7/FA#
that you don't want around anymore
FA SOL LAm
that push and shove and won't bend to your will
FA FAm
I'll keep them still
LAm7
drink up baby
FA
look at the stars
DO DO/SI
I'll kiss you again between the bars
LAm7
where I'm seeing you there
FA
with your hands in the air
DO MI FA
waiting to finally be caught
LAm7
drink up one more time
FA
and I'll make you mine
DO DO/SI
keep you apart, deep in my heart
LAm7
separate from the rest
FA
where I like you the best
DO MI FA
and keep the things you forgot
Now just repeat the chorus. End on the Fm chord and just fade with it.
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