My Brother Taught Me How To Swim Acoustic tab by Passion Pit

Tabs

This is an interpretation of only the main guitar part of the song. Since it features so many layers of
guitars (and/or mandolins?) it was difficult to extract the correct parts. Because of this, there may be some
notes added in that would have been played on the other instruments.

Verse 1:

  B minorBm        F minorFm        G+G         D MajorD      Dsus2Dsus2
e|-----------------|-----------------|-------3-----3---|-----2-------0---|
BB|-----3-------3---|-----2-------2---|-----------------|-----3-------3---|
G+G|-----4-------4---|-----2-------2---|-----4-----------|-------2---------|
D MajorD|-------4-------4-|-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|
A augmentedA|-2-------2-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E MajorE|-----------------|-2-------2-------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
    My brother taught me how to swim
  E minorEm        G+G         D MajorD         A augmentedA
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----2-------2---|-----0-----0-0---|
BB|-----8-------8---|-----3-------3---|-----3-------3---|-----2-----2-2---|
G+G|-----9-------9---|-----4-------4---|-------2-------2-|-------2---------|
D MajorD|-------9---------|-------5---------|-0-------0-------|-----------------|
A augmentedA|/7-------7-------|-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|
E MajorE|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
    We treaded water underneath the ocean's skin
  B minorBm        F minorFm        G+G         D MajorD      Dsus2Dsus2
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----2-----0-0---|
BB|-----3-------3---|-----2-------2---|-----3-------3---|-----3-----3-3---|
G+G|-----4-------4---|-----2-------2---|-----4-------4---|-------2---------|
D MajorD|-------4---------|-------4---------|-------5---------|-0-------0-------|
A augmentedA|-2-------2-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E MajorE|-----------------|-2-------2-------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
    And then he washed away my sins
  E minorEm        G+G         D MajorD         A augmentedA
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----2-------2---|-----0-----0-0---|
BB|-----8-------8---|-----3-------3---|-----3-------3---|-----2-----2-2---|
G+G|-----9-------9---|-----4-------4---|-------2-------2-|-------2---------|
D MajorD|-------9---------|-------5---------|-0-------0-------|-----------------|
A augmentedA|/7-------7-------|-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|
E MajorE|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
    He held me closer as the tide was coming in         But then

Pre-Chorus:

(Play through the 2 lines and repeat, using the words from "2)" the second time)
  G+G             F minorFm    E minor 7Em7            A augmentedA
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
BB|-----3-------3---|-----3-------2---|-----3-------3---|-----3-------2---|
G+G|-----4-------4---|-----4-------2---|-----0-------0---|-----0-------2---|
D MajorD|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A augmentedA|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---------0-0-----|
E MajorE|-3-3-----3-3-----|-3-3-----2-2-----|-0-0-----0-0-----|-0-0-------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
1) why,         what could I say?          What would it
2) I,          I'd give away            All the love I
  B minorBm            C# minorC#m    D MajorD
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
BB|-----3-------3---|-----3-------5---|-----7-------7---|-----7-------7---|
G+G|-----4-------4---|-----4-------6---|-----7-------7---|-----7-------7---|
D MajorD|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A augmentedA|-2-2-----2-2-----|-2-2-----4-4-----|-5-5-----5-5-----|-5-5-----5-5-----|
E MajorE|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|   x2
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
1) mean?          Ohh-oh-o-oh       o-oh     Cause then
2) feel          Woah-o-o-oa       o-oh

Chorus:

  G+G                  A augmentedA
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
BB|-----3-------3---|-----3-------3---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|
G+G|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|
D MajorD|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A augmentedA|-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|
E MajorE|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
  Just a child, I was waiting     On the line, he elevated
  B minorBm                 D MajorD         Dsus2Dsus2
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----2-------2---|-------0-----0---|
BB|-----3-------3---|-----3-------3---|-----3-------3---|-----3-----3-----|
G+G|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|-----------------|---2-------------|
D MajorD|-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|-0---------------|
A augmentedA|-2-------2-------|-2-------2-------|-----------------|-----------------|
E MajorE|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
  He stayed put while I was wandering Count so long he started wondering
  G+G             A augmentedA             (Optional Riff)
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-------10---------------|
BB|-----3-----------|-----------------|-----------------|-10-12----10----------0-|
G+G|-----4-----------|---------6-------|-----------------|-------------11-9--7----|
D MajorD|---------5---4---|-2-------7-------|-----------------|------------------------|
A augmentedA|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|------------------------|
E MajorE|-3-------3---2---|-0------/5-------|-----------------|------------------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
  Why,           I got lost

Verse 2:
  B minorBm        F minorFm        G+G         D MajorD      Dsus2Dsus2
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----2-----0-0---|
BB|-----3-------3---|-----2-------2---|-----3-------3---|-----3-----3-3---|
G+G|-----4-------4---|-----2-------2---|-----4-------4---|-------2---------|
D MajorD|-------4---------|-------4---------|-------5---------|-0-------0-------|
A augmentedA|-2-------2-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E MajorE|-----------------|-2-------2-------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
   My brother taught me how to give
  E minorEm        G+G         D MajorD         A augmentedA
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----2-------2---|-----0-----0-0---|
BB|-----8-------8---|-----3-------3---|-----3-------3---|-----2-----2-2---|
G+G|-----9-------9---|-----4-------4---|-------2-------2-|-------2---------|
D MajorD|-------9---------|-------5---------|-0-------0-------|-----------------|
A augmentedA|/7-------7-------|-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|
E MajorE|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
    He spilt his love until it stretches too thin
  B minorBm        F minorFm        G+G         D MajorD
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----2-------0---|
BB|-----3-------3---|-----2-------2---|-----3-------3---|-----3-------3---|
G+G|-----4-------4---|-----2-------2---|-----4-------4---|-------2---------|
D MajorD|-------4---------|-------4---------|-------5---------|-0-------0-------|
A augmentedA|-2-------2-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E MajorE|-----------------|-2-------2-------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
    Oh how I wanna be like him
  E minorEm        G+G         D MajorD         A augmentedA
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----2-------2---|-----0-----0-0---|
BB|-----8-------8---|-----3-------3---|-----3-------3---|-----2-----2-2---|
G+G|-----9-------9---|-----4-------4---|-------2-------2-|-------2---------|
D MajorD|-------9---------|-------5---------|-0-------0-------|-----------------|
A augmentedA|/7-------7-------|-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|
E MajorE|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
    He takes away the weight before your heart gives in

[Pre-chorus]


Chorus 2:

  G+G                  A augmentedA
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
BB|-----3-------3---|-----3-------3---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|
G+G|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|
D MajorD|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A augmentedA|-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|
E MajorE|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
  Just a child, I was waiting     On the line, he elevated
  B minorBm                 D MajorD
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----2-------2---|-----5-----10----|
BB|-----3-------3---|-----3-------3---|-----3-------3---|-----3-----7-----|
G+G|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|-----------------|-----------------|
D MajorD|-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|
A augmentedA|-2-------2-------|-2-------2-------|-----------------|-----------------|
E MajorE|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
  He stayed put while I was wandering Count so long he started wondering
  G+G             A augmentedA
e|-----------------|-----------------|
BB|-----3-----------|-----------------|
G+G|-----4-----------|---------6-------|
D MajorD|---------5---4---|-2-------7-------|
A augmentedA|-----------------|-----------------|
E MajorE|-3-------3---2---|-0------/5-------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
  Why,           I  got  lost

Interlude:
(This was incredibly tricky to tab. The main guitar stops most of its playing and plays mostly bass notes.
I improvised a bit, so feel free to do the same. Just hold the chord shape and go at it.)
  G+G                  A augmentedA
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----0-----------|-----0-----------|
BB|-----3-----3-3---|---------3-------|-----2-----------|-----2-----------|
G+G|-------4---------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D MajorD|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A augmentedA|-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|
E MajorE|-3---------------|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
                                 I  got
  G+G                  A augmentedA
e|-----------------|-----------------|-0---0-----------|-0-----0---------|
BB|-3-----3---------|-3-----3---------|---2-------------|---2-------2-----|
G+G|---4-------4-----|---4-------4-----|-----------------|-----2-----------|
D MajorD|-----5-----------|-----5-----------|-----------------|-----------------|
A augmentedA|-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|
E MajorE|-3---------------|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
  lost
  G+G                  A augmentedA
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
BB|-----3-----------|-----3-----------|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|
G+G|-----4-----------|-----4-----------|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|
D MajorD|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A augmentedA|-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|
E MajorE|-3---------------|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
    If I love the way my brother loves
  B minorBm                 D MajorD         A augmentedA
e|-----2-----------|-----2-----------|----5------------|---2---0---------|
BB|-3---------------|-3---------------|----3------------|----3------------|
G+G|-4---------------|-4---------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D MajorD|-----------------|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|
A augmentedA|-2---------------|-2---------------|-----------------|-0---------------|
E MajorE|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
    None of it would happen like the way that it was       Oh then


[Pre-chorus]


[Chorus 2]

End

************************************

| /  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

************************************

Other versions of My Brother Taught Me How To Swim Acoustic

Alternative guitar chords and tabs for My brother taught me how to swim by Passion Pit