Autoscroll
1 Column
Text size
Transpose 0
Tuning:
Song: Fake Empire
Artist: The National
Tabber: Jonathan Doyle
Tuning: Standard
References:
1 - Live show with only guitars - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zowsCGy68ak
2 - Live show on the Q - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf0o5W2suTc
3 - How to with the Q - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmj5I8ME1m0
4 - Description of 4 against 3 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyrhythm
Notes:
The most difficult thing about this song for me was the rhythm. I spent an hour
playing the first chord progression with the rhythm on the wikipedia link.
Basically within the same time scale your thumb plays 3 (bass) notes while your
fingers play 4 (treble) notes. I will reproduce the wikipedia graph here:
4 against 3 polyrhythm
||-----------------------||-----------------------||
4-beat rhythm ||X| | |X| | |X| | |X| | ||X| | |X| | |X| | |X| | || (treble)
||-----------------------||-----------------------||
3-beat rhythm ||X| | | |X| | | |X| | | ||X| | | |X| | | |X| | | || (bass)
||-----------------------||-----------------------||
All chords are played with one iteration of this rhythm. To sound like the studio
recording you can omit the first treble note in the 4-beat rhythm.
Tab:
I have tabbed two guitar parts as per reference 1
I II III (Roman numerals indicate
(Intro / Verse) (Chorus) (Bridge) the chord pattern. Used
e|----------------|----------------|----------------| in lyrics/song
G1 B|---5--5--5--5---|---5--5--3--3---|---1--1--0--0---| structure below)
& G|---5--5--5--5---|---5--5--4--4---|---2--2--0--0---|
G2 D|------3---------|------3---------|----------------|
A|---3------------|---0------------|------0---------|
E|---------3--3---|---------3--3---|---1-----3--3---|
C F G G Am F G G F Am G G (used root to write the
timing with the lyrics)
IV V VI
(Bridge2) (Bridge3) (Jam/Horns)
e|---12-10-8--7---|---8--12-7--7---|----------------|
B|---13-12-10-8---|---10-10-8--8---|----------------|
G1 G|----------------|----------------|----------------|
D|---10----7--9---|------7--5--5---|----------------|
A|------10--------|---8------------|--/3------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
e|----------------|---------3--3---|----------------|
B|---17-15-13-12--|---1--1--3--3---|----------------|
G2 G|---17-16-14-12--|---2--2--0--0---|----------------|
D|----------------|---3--2--0--0---|----------------|
A|---17----12-----|------0--2--2---|----------------|
E|------15----10--|---1-----3--3---|--/8------------|
(light distortion and strumming)
Lyrics:
http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858655995/
Using progression from reference 1 and 2. Listen to the song for your the
arrangement you prefer.
[Intro 1] (x2)
[Verse 1] (x2)
CStay out super lateF tonight
GPicking apples, Gmaking pies
CPut a little something Fin our lemonadeG and take it with us G
[Chorus 2] (x2)
We're half awakeAm in a Ffake empireG G
We're half awakeAm in a Ffake empireG G
[Verse 1] (x2)
CTiptoe through our Fshiny city
GWith our diamond slippers onG
CDo our gay ballet oFn ice, Gbluebirds on our shoulders G
[Chorus 2] (x2)
We're half awakeAm in a Ffake empireG G
We're half awakeAm in a Ffake empireG G
[Bridge 3] (x2)
[Bridge 4] (x2)
[Verse 1] (x3)
CTurn the light, out Fsay goodnight
No Gthinking for a little while G
CLet's not try to Ffigure out Geverything at once G
It's Chard to keep Ftrack of you Gfalling through the sky G
[Chorus 2] (x2)
We're half awakeAm in a Ffake empireG G
We're half awakeAm in a Ffake empireG G
[Bridge/End]
III x 1, V x 1, VI until end fade out / horn solo (one guitar can do
G2 VI or III, or any combination you wish)
Final Notes:
If you wish to play the song solo you can cut the bridge short or just play III in
place of IV. If you want to play completely in open you can play just I, II, and
III as follows. (The fingering can be a bit tricky, I will indicate how I play it
in the column below the chord with the number corresponding to the left hand
finger. The capitol letter “O” represents open)
I II IV
(Intro / Verse) (Chorus) (Bridge)
e|---0--0--0--0---|---0--0---------|----------------|
G1 B|---1--1--1--1---|---1--1--3--3---|---1--1--0--0---|
& G|----------------|---------4--4---|---2--2--0--0---|
G2 D|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|---3------------|---0------------|------0---------|
E|------1--3--3---|------1--3--3---|---1-----3--3---|
C F G G Am F G G F Am G G
O O O O O O 2 2 2 2 O O
2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 O O
4 1 4 4 O 1 1 1 1 O 3 3
************************************
| / Slide up
************************************