Tabs
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MESA, AZ - Bad Books
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Tabbed by: Corey Mahoney
E-mail: [email protected]
Tuning: Standard
Just missing the solo and a few riffs in between stuff. I use some different chords than the other tab for this
song by ytomk, who did an excellent job and I stole his or her formatting for the verses. Thanks ytomk!
INTRO:
e|-------------0------------|
BB|----------3-----3---------|
G+G|-------5--------------0---|
D MajorD|--2/4--------------4------|
A augmentedA|--------------------------|
E MajorE|--------------------------|
CHORDS USED (SOME ARE UNCONVENTIONAL):
G+G 
C/GC/G G/F# 
E minorEm A augmentedA 
A7A7 D MajorD
E MajorE -3---0----3----0---------0----0--|
BB -0---1----0----0---------2----3--|
G+G -0---0----0----0----0----0----0--|
D MajorD -0---2----0----2----0----2----4--|
A augmentedA -x---3----x----2----4----0----5--|
E MajorE -3---3----2----0----5------------|
VERSE:
G+G C/GC/G G+G
We passed 800 miles talking circles about living with loss
C/GC/G G+G
You said your sense of humor's always helped you get above & across
G+G C/GC/G G+G
Every hurdle, every chasm, every shocking & unspeakable blow
C/GC/G
Just proves the universe is chaos so you laugh to clear the lump from your
G+G G+G G/F#
throat
[PRETTY BIG EMPHASIS ON THIS G+G - G/F# - E minorEm TRANSITION OF BASS NOTES]
E minorEm A augmentedA
But if you're fixed on being bitter
G+G A7A7
Go be bitter on your own
C/GC/G
We're still two hours from El Paso
D MajorD G+G
Arizona's such a long way to go
Then play this very slight variation of the INTRO (with a
quicker opening slide and one extra note toward the end):
e|-------------0---------------|
BB|----------3-----3------------|
G+G|-------5-----------5-----0---|
D MajorD|--2/4-----------------4------|
A augmentedA|-----------------------------|
E MajorE|-----------------------------|
Then back to another VERSE:
The chemicals were coursing through our bloodstreams at incongruous rates
I was time-traveling inward through a past life I can never erase
You were hanging out the window, you said: 'We're just a beggar's banquet in space'
Then you were laughing at the moon and you were cursing it for wearing your face
Me & New Mexico are orphans
Or is it bastards? Either way:
I think I know a guy in Roswell
We'll hitch a moonride, steal you back your face
INTERLUDE: Repeat VERSE, and make sure you play that G+G - G/F# - E minorEm transition into the next part,
E minorEm A augmentedA
You sleep and whistle 'Blackbird' backwards
G+G A7A7
while my eyes cut her name in clay.
C/BC/B
You wake to Mesa, Arizona
D MajorD G+G
Say, 'Let it go. She'll change her mind someday.'
C/BC/B
You took the wheel in Mesa, Arizona.
D MajorD
Said, 'I got the rest, man.
G+G
You can drift away.'
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I've heard Kevin plays it a half step down live if you want to try it, but the recording is definitely in
standard. Also, when he plays it he will occasionally throw in stuff like this on the G:
e|--3-------|
BB|--0-------|
G+G|--0--2--0-|
D MajorD|--0-------|
A augmentedA|--x-------|
E MajorE|--3-------|
and even more occasionally follow that up with:
e|--------|
BB|--------|
G+G|------0-|
D MajorD|--0h2---|
A augmentedA|--------|
E MajorE|--------|
************************************
| / slide up
| \ slide down
| h hammer-on
| p pull-off
| ~ vibrato
| + harmonic
| x Mute note
| b Bend
| pb Pre-bend
| br Bend release
| pbr Pre-bend release
| brb Bend release bend
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