xSong: Studying Politics Acoustic (THIS IS AN ACOUSTIC VERSION, I SCREWED UP WHEN
NAMING IT AND CAN'T CHANGE THE DISPLAY NAME... Sorry)
Band: Emery
Album: The Question
Tabber: DriveToNowhere
Tuning: Standard (EADGBe)
Thanks to hXc_guitarist for his version of this tab. I used it as a general guide.
***IMPORTANT NOTE***: This is not the exact version that Emery plays. This is an acoustic cover of it based
on the album version of the song, and my personal tastes. Most of the notes in parentheses are explaining
how I play it; if you don’t read them it might not make a lot of sense. If you’re lost listen to the album
version, I tried to stay fairly true to it. Thanks, Enjoy.
[Verse 1]
(Throughout verse one play all six strings on a seventh fret harmonic down-up-down-up strumming,
At the places where I have chords just strum Down-Up and go right back to harmonics)
*7th fret harmonic*
It’s like a pencil with erasers at both ends
I want it all but we’re dealing in percents
G
And these activities that you have engaged in
Em
This is the politics of seeing you dance with him
Bm
We began with concluding remarks
Bm
Pick up the pieces and examine the parts
G
Your words always cut when they're cliché
Em
But here’s my knife because I came for the buffet
(Switch to chorus with a G octave chord strum Up-Down-Up)
It looks like this:
U D U
E|------------|
B|------------|
G|-12-12-12---|
D|--x--x--x---|
A|-10-10-10---|
E|------------|
[Chorus]
(The transsition chords [A and G] are strummed the same way as the G octave above,
up-down-up real quick. Also on the “uh uh” part just do two upstrokes.)
Bm
This is the way it goes
A
With you a part of it
Bm
Nervously saying words
G
That oh-so-tightly fit
Em G G
A mark beneath the chin (Uh Uh)
Em (G octave)
I’ve caught you once again
Bm A
It’s in the way you sell every word and phrase
Bm G
And leaving me to know how much the meaning weighs
Em G G
Saying that but meaning this (Uh Uh)
Em
Using hands for emphasis
(This part I play the way it is on the album with the pick scratching)
Em Bm
(Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)[x2]
[Verse 2]
(Up until "these parallels" play the chords on the "1 &" (down-up).)
Em Em Bm Bm
You’d like to think that you’re the best part of me
Bm Em Em Bm Bm Bm
But I confess there is nothing left of you here (nothing left of you here)
(strumming)
Em Bm
These parallels and silly games
Em
Hide your face and say the name
(G octave)
Say the name (say the name)
[Chorus]
Bm
This is the way it goes
A
With you a part of it
Bm
Nervously saying words
G
That oh-so-tightly fit
Em G G
A mark beneath the chin (Uh Uh)
Em (G octave)
I’ve caught you once again
Bm A
It’s in the way you sell every word and phrase
Bm G
And leaving me to know how much the meaning weighs
Em G G
Saying that but meaning this (Uh Uh)
Em
Using hands for emphasis
[Bridge]
I lead into this thusly:
E|------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------|
G|-12-12-12-12---9-9-9---7-7-7-7/9\7--|
D|--x--x--x--x---x-x-x---x-x-x-x-x-x--|
A|-10-10-10-12---7-7-7---5-5-5-5/7\5--|
E|------------------------------------|
(Hit the Bm minor and start singing right after this)
Bm A
There’s that smile again
Em A
You fake it and I follow you right in
Bm
What a fool I've been
A
To fall for it each time
[Chorus]
(Arpeggiate the first half of this chorus like this)
E|-----2-------2-------0-------0----|
B|-----3-------3-------0-------0----|
G|-----4-------4-------0-------0----|
D|--4-44----4-44-------2-------2----|
A|-2-2-2---2-2-2----2-22----2-22----|
E|-----------------0-0-0---0-0-0----|
Bm
This is the way it goes with you a part of it
Bm
Nervously saying words that oh-so-tightly fit
Em
It’s in the way you sell every word and phrase
Em
And leaving me to know how much the meaning weighs
(back to strumming)
Bm
This is the way it goes
Bm
With you a part of it
A
Nervously saying words
Em
That oh-so-tightly fit
Bm
It’s in the way you sell
Bm
every word and phrase
A
And leaving me to know
Em
how much the meaning weighs
(Same pattern as before but after the fifth “oh ho”, just pound the Em three
times and the Bm once, same rhythm as the album.)
Em Bm Em
(Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)
End on Bm
And that’s it! An acoustic take on Emery’s “Studying Politics”. Enjoy!
~ Michael
