xSong: Breathe Underwater
Artist: Placebo
Album: Battle For The Sun (2009)
Notes: I am confident about everything apart from the outro. There are several guitars
layered, and the bass and drums get very heavy so it's hard to hear what's going on. I
have tabbed the main parts, but in the outro there is at least one more guitar playing
a very high repeating part which I haven't included. The song has a very driving rhythm
which I have tried to tab. I have included a marker for every 8th beat to help. Enjoy
playing it!
Tuning: EBGDAD (Drop D)
--Intro--
EI---------------------------------I
BI---------------------------------I
GI---------------------------------I
DI---------------------------------I PLAY x 4
AI-14\--9--9-9--14-14\--9---9-9-9--I
DI---------------------------------I
8 8
--Verse 1--
EI-----------------I
BI-----------------I
GI-----------------I
DI-----------------I PLAY x 8
AI-----------------I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
'Here comes another fall from grace...'
8
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
AI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
'I try to start a song...'
8 8 8 8
EI-------------------------------------------------I
BI-------------------------------------------------I
GI-------------------------------------------------I
DI-------------------------------------------------I
AI-------------------------------------------------I
DI-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-I
'There's a fever coming on...'
8 8 8
--Pre-Chorus--
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
AI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
'It's hard to reconcile...'
8 8 8 8
EI-------------------------------------------------------I
BI-------------------------------------------------------I
GI-------------------------------------------------------I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----------------------I
AI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----------------------I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----------------------I
'...I've become'
8 8
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
AI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
'With a wounded child...'
8 8 8 8
EI-------------------------------------------------------I
BI-------------------------------------------------------I
GI-11--11--11--11--11--11--11--11--11--11--11--11--------I
DI-x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---------I
AI-9---9---9---9---9---9---9---9---9---9---9---9---------I
DI---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0-------I
'Hiding deep inside...'
8 8 8
EI--------------------------------I
BI--------------------------------I
GI-4-4-7---7-6---444-7------------I
DI-x-x-x---x-x---xxx-x------------I
AI-2-2-5---5-4---222-5------------I
DI--------------------------------I
8 8
--Chorus--
This is played on two guitars in the recording, however if you're
playing on your own you can play both parts together – just combine
the tabs below into one.
(Lead Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-I
GI-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
AI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
AI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
'Breathe underwater.....'
8 8 8 8
(Lead Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-6-6-6-I
GI-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
AI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
AI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
'Want to see another dawn...'
8 8 8 8
REPEAT CHORUS
--Bit between Chorus and Verse 2--
EI---------------------------------I
BI---------------------------------I
GI---------------------------------I
DI---------------------------------I
AI-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
DI---------------------------------I
8 8
--Verse 2--
(Clean Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2--I
DI-4-4-----4-4-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----4-4-----4-4-----I PLAY x2
AI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
'Take my ego for a ride'
8 8 8 8
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2--I
DI-2-2-----2-2-----1-1-----1-1-----2-2-----2-2-----4-4-----4-4-----I
AI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
'My weaknesses lay bare...'
8 8 8 8
EI-------------------------------------------------I
BI-------------------------------------------------I
GI------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2--I
DI-----------------0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----I
AI-2-2-----2-2-------------------------------------I
DI-------------------------------------------------I
'But it's the last time...'
8 8 8
--Pre-Chorus 2--
The rhythm guitar is more or less the same until the very end this pre-chorus,
but if you listen carefully you'll hear the clean guitar part from the verse
continues in section as well. I have tabbed this too.
(Clean Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2--I
DI-4-4-----4-4-----4-4-----4-4-------------------------------------I
AI---------------------------------2-2-----2-2-----2-2-----2-2-----I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
AI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
'It's hard to reconcile...'
8 8 8 8
(Clean Guitar)
EI---------------------------------I
BI---------------------------------I
GI------2-------2-------2-------2--I
DI-0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----I
AI---------------------------------I
DI---------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI---------------------------------I
BI---------------------------------I
GI---------------------------------I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-I
AI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-I
'...I've become'
8 8
(Clean Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2--I
DI-4-4-----4-4-----4-4-----4-4-------------------------------------I
AI---------------------------------2-2-----2-2-----2-2-----2-2-----I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
AI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
'With a wounded child...'
8 8 8 8
(Clean Guitar)
EI-------------------------------------------------I
BI-------------------------------------------------I
GI------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2--I
DI-0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----I
AI-------------------------------------------------I
DI-------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-------------------------------------------------I
BI-------------------------------------------------I (This is the rough
GI-11--11--11--13/14--14--14-14-16/18--18--18--18--I timing, as the
DI-x---x---x---x---x--x---x--x--x-/x---x---x---x---I rhythm is tricky)
AI-9---9---9---11/12--12--12-12-14/16--16--16--16--I
DI---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0-I
'Hiding deep inside...'
8 8 8
(Rhythm Guitar)
EI--------------------------------I
BI--------------------------------I
GI-4-4-7---7-6---444-7------------I
DI-x-x-x---x-x---xxx-x------------I
AI-2-2-5---5-4---222-5------------I
DI--------------------------------I
8 8
NOW PLAY CHORUS x2
--Bridge--
(Lead Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-16\11-1111-16-16\-11--111114/16-18181818181818181616161616161616I
DI-x--x--x-x--x--x---x---x-x-x-----x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-I
AI-14\9--9-9--14-14\-9---9-9-12/14-16161616161616161414141414141414I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
AI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-I
8 8 8 8
(Lead Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-16\11-1111-16-16\-11--111114/16-18181818181818181616161616161616I
DI-x--x--x-x--x--x---x---x-x-x-----x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-I
AI-14\9--9-9--14-14\-9---9-9-12/14-16161616161616161414141414141414I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-111111111111111-I
AI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-111111111111111-I
DI-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-111111111111111-I
(These are 11s, not super-fast 1s)
8 8 8 8
REPEAT BRIDGE
--Final Chorus--
Note that the rhythm part has changed – the D chord is now played an
octave higher. The bunched up notes are 12s, not 1s and 2s.
(Lead Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-I
GI-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
AI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-121212121212121212121212121212124-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
AI-121212121212121212121212121212124-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
DI-121212121212121212121212121212124-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
'Breathe underwater.....'
8 8 8 8
(Lead Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9-9-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-6-6-6-I
GI-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-I
DI-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
AI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-121212121212121212121212121212124-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
AI-121212121212121212121212121212124-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
DI-121212121212121212121212121212124-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-I
'Coming up for air...'
8 8 8 8
REPEAT FINAL CHORUS
--Outro--
'#' means tremolo pick these at 16 note per bar
(Lead Guitar)
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI---14--14/16\14----14--14/16\14----14--14/16\14----14--14/16\14--I
DI---x---x--x--x-----x---x--x--x-----x---x--x--x-----x---x--x--x---I
AI---12--12/14\12----12--12/14\12----12--12/14\12----12--12/14\12--I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
I I
I (Rhythm Guitar) I
EI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
DI-----------------------------------------------------------------I
AI--#---------------#---------------#---------------#--------------I
DI-4---------------0---------------7---------------6---------------I
'Coming up for air...'
8 8 8 8
REPEAT OUTRO
Then end on these notes:
(Lead Guitar)
EI-------------I
BI-------------I
GI-14\---------I
DI-x-----------I
AI-12\---------I
DI-------------I
I I
I (R Guitar )I
EI-------------I
BI-------------I
GI-------------I
DI-------------I
AI-------------I
DI-4\----------I
