The Scientist | TAB
To play The Scientist on the acoustic guitar without any help, you need to think in the key of E, and if you want to be in the original key, place a capo on fret 1.
Let’s go through all sections using TAB, here’s the intro.
I like how the 1 and 3 are bigger, it drives the part forward.
The C#m is in a Cm shape, and the A is in the open position, with that last 8th note being sus2. The E is open, the Esus2 is a C shape.
Make sure you can see all these shapes before you move on to the verse, which looks like this:
The part is now smaller to accommodate for the vocal, the A chord moves from open to an E shape so we can go to a C shape for the E chord.
Here’s the chorus.
The A chord is now in an E shape and has an add9 extension. Compare it to the earlier Asus2 which had no 3rd.
The E chords are the same as the from the verse but with an open B string as well.
The final B chord moves up from 5 – 6 – b7, embrace the emptiness!
Here’s the first instrumental section.
Notice how the parts are recycled, this is important in hit writing. Only the E/G# is new which adds a bit of intensity to the build.
Here’s the second instrumental and outro. We now have a sus4 to 3rd for the E chord. The rhythm for C#m is the same as E/G#, and the Aadd9 as well.
Practice all sections in isolation before you play along with the original recording.
The Scientist TAB | Related Pages
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This guitar lesson by Dan Lundholm features TAB and covers The Scientist. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.
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