Song: Studying Politics
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 my cover of it based on a coupled videos I’ve seen online, 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, At
the places where I have chords just strum Down-Up and go right back to scratching)
It’s like a pencil with erasers at both ends
I want it all but we’re dealing in percents
And these activities that you have engaged in
This is the politics of seeing you dance with him
We began with concluding remarks
Pick up the pieces and examine the parts
Your words always cut when they're cliché
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 chords in parentheses I play the same way I play the G octave, Just
up-down-up real quick to mimic the album version. It’s not necessary but it
sounds cool. Also on the “uh uh” part I just do two upstrokes on that beat.)
This is the way it goes
()
With you a part of it
Nervously saying words
()
That oh-so-tightly fit
( )
A mark beneath the chin (Uh Uh)
( octave)
I’ve caught you once again
()
It’s in the way you sell every word and phrase
()
And leaving me to know how much the meaning weighs
( )
Saying that but meaning this (Uh Uh)
Using hands for emphasis
(This part I play the way it is on the album with the pick scratching
[e.g., 2 & 3 & 4 &])
(Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)[x2]
[Verse 2]
(I play this weird with the Em just a “1 &” down up strum, followed by a
rest, then I strum the Bm. Again I think it adds some flavor to it, but do
whatever you want)
You’d like to think that you’re the best part of me
But I confess there is nothing left of you here (nothing left of you here)
These parallels and silly games
Hide your face and say the name
( octave)
Say the name (say the name)
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
I lead into to this thusly:
E|------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------|
G|-12-12-12-12---9-9-9---7-7-7---9-9--|
D|--x--x--x--x---x-x-x---x-x-x---x-x--|
A|-10-10-10-12---7-7-7---5-5-5---7-7--|
E|------------------------------------|
(Hit the Bm minor and start singing right after this, it’s my attempt to
mimic the album version.)
There’s that smile again
You fake it and I follow you right in
What a fool I've been
To fall for it each time
[Chorus]
(arpeggiate)
This is the way it goes
With you a part of it
Nervously saying words
That oh-so-tightly fit
(arpeggiate)
It’s in the way you sell every word and phrase
And leaving me to know how much the meaning weighs
This is the way it goes
With you a part of it
Nervously saying words
That oh-so-tightly fit
It’s in the way you sell
every word and phrase
And leaving me to know
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.)
(Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)
And that’s it! My take on Emery’s “Studying Politics” on the acoustic guitar. Enjoy!
~ Michael