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Why is this song so gooood? It's so simple. There's no chorus. Let's reverse engineer this creation.
Use this handy doo-dah to play the chords and melody in your browser https://www.apronus.com/music/onlineguitar.htm
What key is Nothin by Townes Van Zandt? A minor
but he uses a capo to play it in C# minor when performing live such as here:
3 chords used:
Am (1)
F (6)
Em (5)
The first chord is Am, but the melody starts on D (which is not a note in this chord) this gives an uncomfortable tone. He also bends up to this note on the guitar riff for added angst. Then the melody goes back down to A at the end of the first line. 2nd line basically the same. Change to chord F in the 3rd line (feeling a bit of hope) then back to Aminor. Change to Eminor in the 4 line (more sadness) then back to Aminor. The melody and chords reflect perfectly the lyrics, it's like: I was born sad, then i got a bit of hope(or pretended), then it was gone, sad again, sad it always is.
[Verse 1]
Am
Hey mama, when you leave
Am
Don't leave a thing behind
F ........... Am
I don't want nothing
Em .......... Am
I can't use nothing
[Verse 2]
Am
Take care into the hall
Am
And if you see my friends
F ....... Am
Tell em I'm fine
Em ........ Am
Not using nothing
[Verse 3]
Am
Almost burned out my eyes
Am
And threw my ears down to the floor
F ............ Am
I didn't see nothing
Em ........... Am
I didn't hear nothing
Use this handy doo-dah to play the chords and melody in your browser https://www.apronus.com/music/onlineguitar.htm
What key is Nothin by Townes Van Zandt? A minor
but he uses a capo to play it in C# minor when performing live such as here:
3 chords used:
Am (1)
F (6)
Em (5)
The first chord is Am, but the melody starts on D (which is not a note in this chord) this gives an uncomfortable tone. He also bends up to this note on the guitar riff for added angst. Then the melody goes back down to A at the end of the first line. 2nd line basically the same. Change to chord F in the 3rd line (feeling a bit of hope) then back to Aminor. Change to Eminor in the 4 line (more sadness) then back to Aminor. The melody and chords reflect perfectly the lyrics, it's like: I was born sad, then i got a bit of hope(or pretended), then it was gone, sad again, sad it always is.
[Verse 1]
Am
Hey mama, when you leave
Am
Don't leave a thing behind
F ........... Am
I don't want nothing
Em .......... Am
I can't use nothing
[Verse 2]
Am
Take care into the hall
Am
And if you see my friends
F ....... Am
Tell em I'm fine
Em ........ Am
Not using nothing
[Verse 3]
Am
Almost burned out my eyes
Am
And threw my ears down to the floor
F ............ Am
I didn't see nothing
Em ........... Am
I didn't hear nothing
Last edited by Wombat on Sat Jun 27, 2020 3:07 pm; edited 1 time in total
