2-12-09 Tab File, Brilliant Mind
When David came round to play the other day, and when my son James came to stay and brought a borrowed guitar, I tried to learn from them and then when it was my turn I gave them the tab files.
For non-guitar players, ‘tab’ is just the lyrics with the chord-changes written over the top so you have an idea of when to move your fingers. [it comes from ‘tablature’, an alternative to the five-line stave displaying a tune on six lines representing the six strings, plus the number of the fret].
The tab-files are two ring-binders of assorted lyrics I’ve played or need to practice, found at various sites on the web and printed out. By far the best source is chordie.com, which lets you search alphabetically by artist or song and if the chords look a bit daunting you can transpose them up or down in pitch to see if there are easier ways to play.
Most of us guitar-owners hover around intermediate busker-level; picking songs to play isn’t about stunning performance, just the pleasure of being your own juke-box or playing together.
There’s controversy about the role of tab-sites and several, including my previous favourite, Utimate Guitar, were closed down a couple of years ago for copyright infringement.
My take on this was that there was always one clever kid in the neighborhood who could work out chord arrangements by ear and these sites are a compilation of these versions gathered from neighborhood kids worldwide. If you in turn can do a good enough version to record it then you pay your dues; if you perform the songs as an amateur you direct your audience’s attention back to the original, so if anything this is direct marketing, free advertising.
Mostly, though, you just play the chords, find out how a song is put together and probably finally learn the words to songs you thought you knew. A lot of the pleasure of playing clubs is that you get a chance to air rescued lyrics.
I’ll probably return to this topic because over the years I’ve really grown to appreciate the economy and unfussiness, the art that conceals art, in the good lyric.
The one vid I’ve found of this song, Brilliant Mind by the one-hit Stiff Records band Furniture is heavy with the doomed dystopian modernism of its time, but as long as there are huckster-gurus the lyric will find a target. Credit to Jim Irvin, singer and writer.
This works pretty well as an acoustic strum, though the original production is a pretty durable example of the synths-and-sax school of 80’s post-ironic pop.
Here are my busker’s chords:-
C
I’m at the stage
Dm
Where everything I thought meant something
C
Seems so unappealing
Dm G
I’m ready for the real thing but nobody’s selling
Dm G
Except you and yours saying open up your eyes and ears
Am
And let me in
C Dm
You must be out of your brilliant mind
C
You’re at the stage
Dm C
You want your empty words heard and everybody’s ready
Dm G
They want to know your secret but you’re not telling
Dm G
You’re just gesturing, saying open up your arms and hearts
Am
And let me in
You must be out of your brilliant mind
C
I’m at the stage
Dm G
Where I want my words heard but no one wants to listen
Dm G
No one wants to listen because everybody’s yelling
Dm
About you and yours
G Dm Am G
And how I’d have the answer if I’d only open up, up, up
Am
And let you in
They must be out of their brilliant minds
I said shame
Shame on you
Shame
Shame on you
Shame
Shame on you
You must be out of your brilliant mind
And they must be out of their brilliant minds
Everyone out of their brilliant minds
I must be out of my brilliant mind
My brilliant mind