No Easy Action (for borracha's liver)

[orangejubilee]

I figure it may be good to have something visual to refer to besides misaligned numbers and dots, so I'm gonna attempt to provide a basic tab guide to what's being done guitar wise in this clip:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XomIntEQemE

*note - this is written in standard tuning, but on the clip they are playing tuned down half a step (Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb). From hereon I refer to the chords/notes as though they're in standard tuning, but if you wanna play along, it's probably a good idea to tune down too!


INTRO (C#m7)

('rhythm')
E....................................................
B.................0.......................0........
G.............6......6...............6......6....
D........6...............6.......6.............6.
A....4.......................4.....................
E.................................................... etc,
then play the chord shape you're holding (without the Es) on the end

('lead')
E...4..5..4..0...........................................................4
B..................4..5..4..0..4..5.....................................5
G...........................................................................6
D........................................
A........................................
E........................................ etc, then finish with the above chord

The two rhythmic patterns are different lengths (the rhythm being 12 'half' notes long and the lead being 10), and that helps make it sound so otherworldly and cool!


THE REST

I figure you get the rhythmic gist of the tune, and I'm lazy and cross-eyed, so it's chords from hereon in (just remember it's tuned down 1/2 a step on the video!)...

EADGBE
x46600 [C#m7]
006600 [C#m7/A]
022100 [E]
x24400 [Bsus4]
244300 [F#7(add4)]
00xxxx [A/E]
079900 [E*]

When it kicks in it goes like this:
*Riff
|C#m7.................................|................................C#m7/A|

then:
[C#m7]When all is done and turned to dust [C#m7/A]
[E]And insects nest inside[Bsus4] my bones
I see[F#7(add4)]-ee [A/E]
[C#m7]I stagger in a daze outside my tent
[E]No time for being alone[Bsus4]
To blee-[F#7(add4)]-eed [A/E]
riff x1

[F#7(add4)]The hopeless [Bsus4]singing of a round[C#m7]
[F#7(add4)]That much we [Bsus4]know to do[C#m7]
[E*]Before we go back under-[F#7(add4)]ground
No easy action [C#m7]
riff x1

[C#m7]Sparks fill the air some nights [C#m7/A]
[E]Crows look for food behind[Bsus4] my skin
Benea-[F#7(add4)]-eath
[C#m7]Try our best to dig it in [C#m7/A]
[E]And keep the cold a-[Bsus4]way
I see[F#7(add4)]-ee
riff x1

That the [F#7(add4)]sky is a [Bsus4]vanishing place[C#m7]
[F#7(add4)]And yet there's [Bsus4]nothing to miss[C#m7]
[E*]No time to get out[F#7(add4)]of the ice
No easy action[C#m7]

riff x6, then
[E] [Bsus4] [F#7(add4)] [A/E]

[C#m7]When all is done and turned to dust [C#m7/A]
[E]And insects nest inside[Bsus4] my bones
I see[F#7(add4)]-ee [A/E]
[C#m7]I stagger in a daze to find what you meant
[E]Where it's good to be alone[Bsus4]
To blee-[F#7(add4)]-eed [A/E]
riff x1

[F#7(add4)]The hopeless [Bsus4]singing of a round[C#m7]
[F#7(add4)]Before that [Bsus4]vanishing place [C#m7]
[E*]Before we're back under-[F#7(add4)]ground
No easy action [C#m7]
riff repeat >out

So there's the guts of the tune. I'll tab a lead motif or two down the track in case they're of any use

[WeirdO]

Thank you for the effort

[borracha]

Thank you very very much, orange!!!!

I need my guitar now, badly. Thing is I'm away from home right now, I didn't bring it along and I'm left handed guitar-wise (I know, I'm complicated) so unless I meet a fellow lefty guitar player (that would let me borrow his/her guitar) I won't be able to practise till I go back, a couple of months from today...

Anyways, I just had a very shitty day and you made me feel a little better so, again, thank you for this.

[orangejubilee]

Much appreciated, KOQ. The effort is it's own reward though - I get to learn the song too!

By the way Borracha I'm a southpaw too, but the kind lady who taught me my first few chords as a young tacker would only teach me if I learned right handed. I'm so glad now that she did. You'd be surprised at how little time it takes though to make the adjustment, and it's well worth flipping over to right handed for the infinitely greater access to instruments - I dare you!

Anyway, I hope things have improved since your shitty experience the other day...

[borracha]

The funny thing is I'm usually right-handed but I started to play guitar by myself (with a right handed guitar) and realized it was easier for me to do the chords with my right hand and the scratching? (however it's called) with the left one so I just played like that to practice and get the motions till I got a guitar chorded for lefties and it started to sound much better

I just picked my guitar again last year, after spending 10 years of almost not playing at all. I keep my playing to myself so it was never a problem not being able to play someone else's guitar... till now that I'm kind of missing it. I'll get enough practice when I get back, I hope, maybe switch hands and all, I'll let you know!

Oh, and things are better now, thank you.

[orangejubilee]

Wow - that's exactly why I stuck with the (reverse) switch! Having a half-coordinated hand on the fretboard and the 'claw' hand to scratch at the strings seems to make more sense... ;D

[borracha]

I know! I bet the guy who invented the guitar was left handed...

[Iago]

thank you! great job!