"About a Girl"
Bleach (SP34a)
Copyright 1989 Sub Pop
Transcribed by Chris Mosher 
-------------------------------------------------
This is a close approximation of the way I play Nirvana's
"About a Girl", which is a close approximation of how
Nirvana plays it on their Bleach album.
The chords are generally 5's (i.e., no 3rd),
not minor or major, except for the open G in the verse
(but even that omits the 3rd usually played on the
5th string and has only the 3rd on the 2nd string).
The chords played during the chorus are "power chords"
in the true sense on the phrase. In the second measure
(during "...vantage while."), note that the F#5 is
strummed twice and then the strings are muffled with the
palm of the picking hand on the second count, during
which time there is feedback. This is cool.
There are two different forms of the E5 chord played one
after the other in the chorus (during "I can't see you").
First is the "open" E5 (022xxx). He then slides up to the
alternate E5' at the 7th fret (x799xx). This is really cool.
I play the A5 at the 5th fret (577xxx). This is what it
sounds like to me on the album, although I know Kurt seems
to play an open A (x022xx) often, so it may be that way
instead. Also, I think it's easier to play (577xxx).
This stuff can all be heard clearly after the lead, when
there's no singing over top of it.
The first note in the lead is an open E (6th string) held
for a full count. There are two slides-up. The first slide,
from 7 to 9, is "slow"; play the 7, but don't slide up to
9 until the next beat. The second slide, from 9 up to 12,
is "fast"; play the 9 and slide up to the 12 right away
during that beat. On the next beat, play the 12 on the
3rd string (letting both notes ring). Play 12 on 4th string
and 12 on 3rd string again, letting them ring, and then
slide both notes down on the last up-beat in the measure.
Just before the lead starts, he turns up the distortion, and
seemingly leaves it up during the remainder of the song.
I lifted the lyrics from some other messages posted
to A.G.T. They're the best I can do; I never could
understand what Kurt was saying!
ANY CORRECTIONS OR COMMENTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
Thank you and have fun.
TAB
---
part A (verse):
beat| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
crd| E5 G | E5 G |
E|-----------0-----3--3--3-|-----0--0--0-----3--3--3-|
B|-----------0-----0--0--0-|-----0--0--0-----0--0--0-|
G|-----------x--0--0--0--0-|--x--x--x--x--0--0--0--0-|
D|--2--h--2--2--0--0--0--0-|--2--2--2--2--0--0--0--0-|
A|--2--h--2--h--x-----x----|--2--h--2--h--x-----x----|
E|--0--h--0--h--3--h--3----|--0--h--0--h--3--h--3----|
beat| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
crd| E5 G | E5 G |
E|-----0--0--0-----3--3--3-|-----0--0--0-----3--3--3-|
B|-----0--0--0-----0--0--0-|-----0--0--0-----0--0--0-|
G|--x--x--x--x--0--0--0--0-|--x--x--x--x--0--0--0--0-|
D|--2--2--2--2--0--0--0--0-|--2--2--2--2--0--0--0--0-|
A|--2--h--2--h--x-----x----|--2--h--2--h--x-----x----|
E|--0--h--0--h--3--h--3----|--0--h--0--h--3--h--3----|
part B (chorus):
beat| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
crd| C#5 G#5 | F#5 |
E|-------------------------|-------------------------|
B|-------------------------|-------------------------|
G|--6--h--6--6-------------|-------------------------|
D|--6--h--6--6--6--h--6--6-|--4--4-----4--h--4--4--x-|
A|--4--h--4--4--6--h--6--6-|--4--4-----4--h--4--4--x-|
E|--------------4--h--4--4-|--2--2-----2--h--2--2--x-|
beat| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
crd| C#5 G#5 | F#5 |
E|-------------------------|-------------------------|
B|-------------------------|-------------------------|
G|--6--h--6--6-------------|-------------------------|
D|--6--h--6--6--6--h--6--6-|--4--4-----4--h--4--4--x-|
A|--4--h--4--4--6--h--6--6-|--4--4-----4--h--4--4--x-|
E|--------------4--h--4--4-|--2--2-----2--h--2--2--x-|
beat| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
crd| E5 E5' | A5 C5 |
E|-------------------------|-------------------------|
B|-------------------------|-------------------------|
G|-----------x/-9--9--9--x-|-----------5--h--5--5--x-|
D|--2--h--2--x/-9--9--9--x-|--7--7--7--5--h--5--5--x-|
A|--2--h--2--x/-7--7--7--x-|--7--7--7--3--h--3--3--x-|
E|--0--h--0----------------|--5--5--5----------------|
part C (lead):
beat| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
crd| E5 G | E5 G |
E|-------------------------|------------------------------|
B|-------------------------|------------------------------|
G|-------------------------|-----------------12--h-12--h\-|
D|--------------5--7--7--7-|/(9)-9--9--9/(12)-h-12--h--h\-|
A|--------5--7-------------|------------------------------|
E|--0--h-------------------|------------------------------|
(turn up distortion just before lead)
part D (coda):
beat| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
crd| E5 E5' | A5 C5 |
E|-------------------------|-------------------------|
B|-------------------------|-------------------------|
G|-----------x/-9--9--9--x-|-----------5--h--5--5--5-|
D|--2--h--2--x/-9--9--9--x-|--7--7--7--5--h--5--5--5-|
A|--2--h--2--x/-7--7--7--x-|--7--7--7--3--h--3--3--3-|
E|--0--h--0----------------|--5--5--5----------------|
beat| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + |
crd| C5 | |
E|-------------------------|-------------|
B|-------------------------|-------------|
G|--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5-|--5--5--5--x-|
D|--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5-|--5--5--5--x-|
A|--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3-|--3--3--3--x-|
E|-------------------------|-------------|
(slows down a bit here)
part E (coda):
beat| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
crd| E5
E|-------------------------|
B|-------------------------|
G|-------------------------|
D|--2--h--h--h--h--h--h--h-| (hold for about four measures total)
A|--2--h--h--h--h--h--h--h-|
E|--0--h--h--h--h--h--h--h-|
TAB Legend:
h=hold fretted note (or let open note ring), do not pick
m/(n)=pick note at fret m, slide up to fret n (do not pick twice)
n\=pick note at fret n, slide down (to wherever)
x=pick string, but muffle with finger so note doesn't sound
CRD chart
---------
E A D G B E
E5: 0 2 2 x 0 0
G: 3 x 0 0 0 3
C#5: x 4 6 6 x x
G#5: 4 6 6 x x x
F#5: 2 4 4 x x x
E5': x 7 9 9 x x
A5: 5 7 7 x x x
C5: x 3 5 5 x x
LYR
---
verse 1:
| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
| I need an | ea---sy friend I |
| do with a | hand to lend I |
| do think you | fit this shoe I |
| do what you | have a clue |
verse 2:
| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
| I'm stand-ing | in your light I |
| do hope you | have the time I |
| do pick up | num--ber two I |
| do keep a | date with you |
chorus:
| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
| I'll take a---ad--|-van--tage while |
| You hang me | out to dry But |
| I can't see you | ev'--ry night |
| Free | (I |
| do) | |
coda:
| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
| I'll take a---ad--|-van--tage while |
| You hang me | out to dry But |
| I can't see you | ev'--ry night No |
| I can't see you | ev'--ry nigh------------|
| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + |
| ----------(t) | |
| 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |
| Free | I |
| do | I |
| do | I |
| do | I |
| do | |
ARRANGEMENT
-----------
LYR TAB part
--- --------
intro - A A
verse verse 1 A A
chorus chorus B A
verse verse 2 A A
chorus chorus B A
lead - C C C C
chorus - B A
verse verse 1 A A
chorus/coda coda B D A A E
From: psalzman@sfsuvax1.sfsu.edu (Peter Salzman)
Subject: CRD: About A Girl
If someone emails me the lyrics, I'll turn this into a really nice TAB
(instead of a spartan CRD). I don't want to offend anyone, but I can't
imagine this taking someone more than 2 min to strumm out, unless they
don't have the album I guess. Oh well. Have no clue to the lyrics,
sorry. There doesn't seem to be any chorus.
Song: About A Girl
Artist: Nirvana written by Kurt Cobain
CRD'er: Peter Jay Salzman psalzman@stars.sfsu.edu
cut time <----
E-G back and forth 8 times |
drum roll on 4; enter on 5 |
|
E-G back and forth 8 times |
lyrics start on 1 |
| back to here
C# G# F# 2 times |
|
E A C 1 time ------------
This loop is done 4 times, then the E-G thing back and forth 8 times
while he sings (what I think is) Adieu. The drum queues apply only to
the first time the loop is played. Guitar solo is done during the 3rd
loop, on the 2nd E-G thing, for the rest of the loop. I'll transcribe
the guitar solo on the tab if someone sends me the lyrics, but the solo
is based on the i scale for the E-G thing and then goes into power chords,
following the song chords (ie- C# G# F# C# G# F# E A C).
Before anyone argues with me whether it's E or Em, I'm 90% sure it's
E. The reason for the minor tonality is a pretty ingenious (or lucky?)
trick Cobain played with chords. G happens to be the minor 3rd of E.
Therefore, even though he plays an E, the tonality of the passsage is
minor. I wonder if he was aware of this...
-------
From: wolser@rpi.edu
CRD-About A Girl
>From Nirvana's Bleach
(also featured on Nirvana's 1993 MTV Unplugged performance)
Intro: i G i G i G i G
i G i G
I need an easy friend
i G i G
I do with a hand to lend
i G i G
I do think you fit this shoe
i G i G
I do what you have a clue
C# G# F#
I'll take advantage while
C# G# F#
You hang me out to dry
i A C i G i G
But I can't see you every night free
i G i G
I do
i G i G
I'm standing in your light
i G i G
I do hope you have the time
i G i G
I do pick up number two
i G i G
I do keep a date with you
C# G# F#
I'll take advantage while
C# G# F#
You hang me out to dry
i A C i G i G
But I can't see you every night free
i G i G
I do
Solo: Repeat 3x (s=slide up)
E ------------------------|-
B ------------------------|-
G ----------------7--7s9--|-
D -----5-7-7s9--9---------|-
A -7-7--------------------|-
E ------------------------|-
(Repeat verse 1)
C# G# F#
I'll take advantage while
C# G# F#
You hang me out to dry
i A C
But I can't see you every night
i A C
I can't see you every night
i G i G
Free
i G i G
I do
i G i G
I do
i G i G i
I do
Notes:
All apologies for incorrect lyrics -- this is just how I hear
them. No one knows for sure what they are, anyway.
On Bleach, they play this song in standard tuning (EADGBE),
but on Unplugged they played it a half-step down (Eb Ab Db Gb
Bb Eb).
Some say the i is actually an E or an E5. Try 'em all and see what
sounds best to you.
Robert Wolsey
wolser@rpi.edu
About A Girl (Unplugged) - Nirvana
Tabbed by Leper Messiah
This is my version, this is how i play it, feel free to send me any corrections.
I dident take time to write in the correct timing and shit in this tab so you have to
listen to the record while you play. This tab supports 2 guitars. Enjoy!
Tune down 1/2 step: Eb Bb Gb Db Ab Eb
This is the main riff in the song. Played 1 time as intro and during the verses.
Guitar 1 plays this while guitar 2 just plays the chords wich I have written with the lyrics.
1:----0----0----0-----------3----3-------|--------0------------3----3-------------|
2:----0----0----0-----------0----0----0--|--------0--0---------0----0-----0-------|
3:*---X----X----0----------------0----0--|-----------0----0---------0-----0------*|
4:*---2----2----0----------------0----0--|-----------0----0---------0-----0------*|
5:----2----2----0------------------------|--2--------0--------------------0-------|
6:----0----0----0----3-----------3-------|--0--------0----3---------3-------------|
1:--------0----------0----------3-----3---------|
2:--------0----------0----------0-----0---0-----|
3:--------X----------0-----0----0-----0---0-----|
4:--------2----2-----0-----0----------0---0-----|
5:--2----------2-----0--------------------0-----|
6:--0----------0-----------3----------3---------|
Verse 1&3 Lyrics (they are the same):
E5 Em11 G Em11 E5 Em11 G Em11 E5 Em11
I need an eas - y friend,__ I do,
G Em11 E5 Em11 G Em11 E5 Em11
with an ear to____ lend.__ I do
G Em11 E5 Em11 G Em11 E5 Em11
think you fit this shoe,__ I do,
G Em11 E5 Em11 G Em11
but you have a____ clue.__
Verse 2:
I'm stand-ing in your line.__ I do hope you have the___ time.__
I do pick a number to,___ I do, keep a date with__ you.__
Chorus riff (guitar 2 plays the chords):
C# F#7sus4
1:-------------------------------(0)---|---------0---0---------0---0---(0)--|
2:-----6-----6---6-------6--6----(0)---|---------0---0---------0---0---(0)--|
3:*----6-----6---6-------6--6----------|---------3---3---------3---3-------*|
4:*----6-----6---6-------6--6----------|--4------4---4---------4---4-------*|
5:-----4-----4---4---------------------|--4---------------4-----------------|
6:--------------------4----------------|--2---------------2-----------------|
I'll take ad - van - tage while __
you hang me _______ out to dry,____ but
E E5 E E5 A C
1:---0------0----0--------0----0---0---|--0---0---0-------------------------|
2:---0------0----0--------0----0---0---|--2---2---2----5--------5---5--(0)--|
3:---4------4----4--------4----4---4---|--2---2---2----5--------5---5--(0)--|
4:---2------2----2---------------------|--2-------2----5--------5---5--(0)--|
5:---2------2----2----2----------------|--0-------0----3--------3---3-------|
6:---0------0----0----0----------------|------------------------------------|
I can't see you ev - 'ry night__
(back to verse riff)
E5 Em11 G Em11 E5 Em11 G Em11 E5 Em11 G Em11 E5 Em11 G Em11
free. I do.
next verse begins here.
Ok thats the song, here is the solo, I dont know exactly between wich verses he plays it but I think
it's between 2 and 3, listen to the record to find, guitar 2 plays the verse riff.
1:--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
2:------------------------------9/12--12--12--|-------------------------------9----12----12-----|
3:-----------------7--7/9-------9/12--12--12--|-----------------7--7--7/9-----9----12----12-----|
4:--------------5--7--7/9---9---9/12--12--12--|--------------5--7--7--7/9-----9----12----12-----|
5:--------5h7---------------------------------|--------5h7-----------------0-----0-----0----0---|
6:----0---------------------------------------|----0--------------------------------------------|
1:--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
2:------------------------7/9---9----12----12-|----------------------7/9--9--9--9/12--12--12----|
3:---------------------7--7/9-9-9----12-12-12-|----------------------7/9--9--9--9/12--12--12----|
4:---------------5--7--7--7/9-9-9----12-12-12-|-------------5--7--7--7/9--9--9--9/12--12--12----|
5:---------5h7--------------------------------|-------5h7---------------------------------------|
6:----0---------------------------------------|---0---------------------------------------------|
Well thats the solo, it's pretty easy, listen to the record for timing.
After the solo they play something play this before they go back to the song (both guitars):
C# F#7sus4 C# F#7sus4 E5 A C Em11
You have to listen to the record, i'm not quite sure about this chords but the sound quite right
atleast.
The end of the third chorus is like this:
but I can't see you every night, for I can't see you every night.... free... i do.. i do.. i do.. i do.
You play it something like this:
E E5 E E5 A C
1:---0------0----0--------0----0---0---|--0---0---0-------------------------|
2:---0------0----0--------0----0---0---|--2---2---2----5--------5---5--(0)--|
3:---4------4----4--------4----4---4---|--2---2---2----5--------5---5--(0)--|
4:---2------2----2---------------------|--2-------2----5--------5---5--(0)--|
5:---2------2----2----2----------------|--0-------0----3--------3---3-------|
6:---0------0----0----0----------------|------------------------------------|
I can't see you ev - 'ry night__ for
E E5 E E5 A C
1:---0------0----0--------0----0---0---|--0---0---0-------------------------|
2:---0------0----0--------0----0---0---|--2---2---2----5--------5---5---5---|
3:---4------4----4--------4----4---4---|--2---2---2----5--------5---5---5---|
4:---2------2----2---------------------|--2-------2----5--------5---5---5---|
5:---2------2----2----2----------------|--0-------0----3--------3---3---3---|
6:---0------0----0----0----------------|------------------------------------|
I can't see you ev - 'ry night_
C Em11
1:------------------------------------0--|
2:--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5---0--|
3:--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5---0--|
4:--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5---0--|
5:--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3---0--|
6:------------------------------------0--|
(back to verse riff)
E5 Em11 G Em11 E5 Em11 G Em11 E5 Em11 G Em11 E5 Em11
free.___________________ I do.
G Em11 E5 Em11 G Em11 E5 Em11 G Em11 E5 Em11 G Em11 E5 Em11
I do._____________ I do.______________
G Em11 E5
I do.
(end of song)
This might seem a bit weird but listen to the song and you'll understand.
Well that's it, the complete songs.
I've included the chords too for those who dont know 'em.
EADGBE
E5 022x00
Em11 000000
G 3x0003
C# xx3331
F#7sus4 244300
A x02220
C x3555x
I hope you enjoyed this one, look out for other tab's by me.
/ Leper Messiah