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Lump Sum - Bon Iver
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Tabbed by: red_badge
Email: ben_one11@hotmail.com
This was tabbed off a live version. The chords sound the same to me on the album
though he likes to mix the composition up a bit. So the way I have it laid out below is
good
or starting point for how he plays the various parts (which I have labeled verses and
for lack of better terms), though this is not the album version verbatim. I did not
out the intro, but it is some mix of these same chords.
Tuning: Tuning (I think) on the album is to tune all the strings down one whole step
the A string (leave as an A). The faster way though is to tune the A string up one whole
up to a B. So the tuning is then E B D G B E (though you cannot play along with the
then you will be a whole step off on your guitar). I tabbed the song below in the second
but I think the guitar in the album is actually tuned D A C F A D.
He strums strings 3, 4, and 5, or all four of the bottom strings with his thumb
on the chord) in a repeating triplet pattern throughout the song.
Verse
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---4----4----4-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---4----4----4--------(repeat triplet x 3)---------------------------------|
B|---0----0----0-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---x----x----x-------------------------------------------------------------|
B
(starts singing on second strum of second triplet) Sold my cold...
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---4----4----4-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---4----4----4--------(repeat x 3)-----------------------------------------|
B|---0----0----0-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---4----4----4-------------------------------------------------------------|
G#m7
...knot...a heavy ("knot" sung on first triplet, "a heavy" sung on last triplet)
[ Tab from: http://www.guitaretab.com/b/bon-iver/178798.html ]
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---4----4----4--------------------------3-----3-----3----------------------|
D|---4----4----4--------(repeat x 3)------4-----4-----4----(repeat x 3)------|
B|---0----0----0--------------------------0-----0-----0----------------------|
E|---2----2----2--------------------------2-----2-----2----------------------|
F#sus F#
stone...
He repeats this progression for the remainder of the first verse.
Chorus
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---8----8----8--------------------------9-----9-----9----------------------|
D|---9----9----9--------(repeat x 3)------9-----9-----9-----(repeat x 3)-----|
B|---0----0----0--------------------------0-----0-----0----------------------|
E|---0----0----0--------------------------0-----0-----0----------------------|
EM7 E
...slow. Fit it all... Fit it in the doldrums...
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---8----8----8-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---6----6----6--------(repeat x 7)-----------------------------------------|
B|---4----4----4-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---4----4----4-------------------------------------------------------------|
G#m
Or so the story goes...
Then repeat this part again (beginning at the EM7) for the next half of the chorus.
he only plays the G#m 4 times, and finishes with an F#7 (held for 2 measures) followed
E
below)
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----2------------------------2--2--2---------------------------------------|
B|----2---(pause 2 measures)---0--0--0-(repeat x 3, hold, pause 2 measures)--|
E|----2------------------------0--0--0---------------------------------------|
F#7 E
Then the second verse (my mile...)
The second verse and chorus are identical to the first. He plays around with the accents
suspends chords differently at different times, but I think this is a pretty good
point.
Lyrics:
Verse 1
Sold my cold knot
A heavy stone
Sold my red horse for a venture home
To vanish on the bow
Settling slow
Chorus 1
Fit it all, fit it in the doldrums
Or so the story goes
Color the era
Film it its historical
Verse 2
My mile could not
Pump the plumb
In my arbor 'til my ardor trumped
every inner inertia
lump sum
Chorus 2
All at once
Rushing from the sump-pump
Or so the story goes
Balance we won't know
We will see when it gets warm
Feedback is appreciated. Thanks!
