"Misery" by Soul Asylum
for one guitar
Most of the tab sheets I've seen have reduced this thing to a simple four chord number,
it doesn't do the song justice. There are actually two guitar parts which I may guitar
at some point, but for you solo acoustic people (like me) this is a good cover version.
the end for some partial tab and notes on how I play stuff.
[intro]
Csus2/4 C Csus2/4 C
[verse]
C G/B Am F
They say misery loves company
C Em Am (G/B)
We could start a company and make misery
[frustrated]
C G F
Frustrated Incorporated
[prechorus]
F C
I know just what you need
F C
I might just have the thing
F C G
I know what you'd pay to see
[chorus]
C G F
Put me out of my misery
C G Am F
I'd do it for you, Would you do it for me?
C G Am F
We will always be busy
C G F
Making misery
[verse]
We could build a factory, and make misery
We'll create the cure, we made the disease
[frustrated]
Frustrated Incorporated
Frustrated Incorporated
[prechorus]
I know just what you need
I might just have the thing
I know what you'd pay to feel
[chorus]
Well, put me out of my misery
All you suicide kings and and you drama queens
Forever after happily making misery
[solo]
A E D
A E F#m
[verse]
Did you satisfy your greed, get what you need?
Was it only envy? So empty.
[frustrated]
Frustrated Incorporated [repeat until done, then...]
C
-----Notes and tabs-----
The following is how I do it. Ignore it or use it, it's up to you.
[intro]
this part is actually two guitars, and it's complicated. it's impossible to play all the
notes with five fingers and six strings. fake it. here's a guideline.
| 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . | 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . |
e|-------3---------|-----------------|
b|-3p1---1---------|-3p1---3---1-----|
G|-0---0-0---------|-0---0-0-----0---|
D|-3-----2---------|-3-----2-------2-| x2
A|-3-----3---------|-3-----3---------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|
Csus2/4: x3303x
C: x32013
[verse]
Hammer on the b string in the Am. Listen to the song, you'll hear it.
Both G/B chords are in there for the effect of a walking bassline. The first one is a
chord, but can be played as a straight G. The second one is a passing chord and could be
entirely.
[frustrated]
Palm mute this entire section, and only play the lower two or three notes of the chord
the last F where you can really build it into full chords for the chorus.
[prechorus]
The first two lines are one measure each, in 5/4. Alternate downstrokes and upstrokes on
beat / offbeat so that the beat is always a downstroke. You don't hit the strings every
and every time isn't a chord. Oh, and play the F with your thumb on the bass and your
on the high e and b strings. That way you can go from a psuedobarre to a note and
string, and then pick up your fingers so you're just muting the strings when necessary.
the partial tab is this:
| 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . |
e|-1-0---1---x-1---0---|
b|-1-1---1---x-1---1---|
G|-2-2---2---x-2---0---|
D|-3-3---3---x-3---2---|
A|-3-3---3---x-3---3---|
E|-1-1---1---x-1-------|
F C
The whole section is the measure of 5/4 tabbed above, played twice, then one full 4/4
of F, one full 4/4 bar of C, and two full 4/4 bars of G. Then into the chorus.
[chorus]
Straight chords. Nothing fancy. Listen to the record for the rhythm or whatever else you
need to hear.
-----END-----
