TAB: Strange by REM

Strange
REM
From the album 'Document'
Transcribed by Wayne Ellis

Intro




  G		  C	G		C

E---------------------|---------------------|

B---------------------|---------------------|					guitar1

G---------------------|---------------------|

D-----------------5-5-|-----------------5-5-|

A-5--5--5-5--5-5--3-3-|-5--5--5-5--5-5--3-3-|

E-3--3--3-3--3-3------|-3--3--3-3--3-3------|

 		      |			    |

E---------------------|---------------------|

B-------------------5-|---------------------|					guitar2

G-4--4--4-4--4-4--5-5-|-4--4--4-4--4-4--5-5-|

D-5--5--5-5--5-5--5-5-|-5--5--5-5--5-5--5-5-|

A-5--5--5-5--5-5--3-3-|-5--5--5-5--5-5--3-3-|

E----3----3----3------|----3----3----3------|

  U  D	U D  U D  D D	D  U  D U  D U	D D    





  G5   G6 G5    G6 G5   G6  G5  C5	G5   G6 G5    G6 G5   G6 G5  G6

E-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

B-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|		guitar1

G-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

D-----------------------------0-5-5-0-|-----------------------------0-5-5-0-|

A-5--5-7--5-5-5-7--5-5-5-7--5-0-3-3-0-|-5--5-7--5-5-5-7--5-5-5-7--5-0-3-3-0-|

E-3--3-3--3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3--3---------|-3--3-3--3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3--3---------|

				      |					    |

E-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

B-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|		guitar2

G-----------------------------0-5-----|-------------------------------------|

D-----------------------------0-5-----|-------------------------------5-----|

A-5--5----3h5---5--3h5---5------------|-5--5----5---5-5--5---5-5----0-3-----|

E-3--3----3-----3--3-----3------------|-3--3----3---3-3--3---3-3------------|

Verse 1




   G5			  C5		 G5			C5

E-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

B-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|		guitar1

G-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

D-----------------------0-----5-------|-----------------------0-----5-------|

A--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0-3-3-3-0-----|--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0-3-3-3-0-----|

E--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3---------------|--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3---------------|

				      |					    |

E-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

B-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|		guitar2

G-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

D-------------------------5----0------|-------------------------5----0------|

A--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0-3----0------|--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0-3----0------|

E--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3---------------|--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3---------------|

E-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

			       X				     X

Theres something strange		Theres something going 

   going on tonight			   on thats not guite right



   G5			  C5		 G5			 C

E-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

B-------------------------------------|--------------------------5--5-------|

G-------------------------------------|--------------------------5--5-------|		guitar1

D-----------------------0-----5-------|--------------------------5--5-------|

A--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0-3-3-3-0-----|--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0--3--3-------|

E--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3---------------|--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3---------------|

				      |					    |

E-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

B-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|		guitar2

G-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

D-------------------------5----0------|--------------------------5--5-------|     

A--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0-3----0------|--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0--3--3-------|

E--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3---------------|--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3---------------|

			       X				 X  X

		 

Michaels nervous and			Theres something going

 the lights are bright			   on thats not quite right

Chorus




  E5		      A5   E5		      A5    E5		

A5   E5			A5

E------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|

B------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|	guitar1

G---------------------2--|---------------------2--|---------------------2--|---------------------2--|

D-2---2-2---2--2--0---2--|-2---2-2---2--2--0---2--|-2---2-2---2--2--0---2--|-2---2-2---2-----0---2--|

A-2---2-2---2--2--0---0--|-2---2-2---2--2--0---0--|-2---2-2---2--2--0---0--|-2---2-2---2-----0---0--|

E-0---0-0---0--0---------|-0---0-0---0--0---------|-0---0-0---0--0---------|-0---0-0---0------------| rake	



E------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|

B------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|	guitar2

G---------------------2--|---------------------2--|---------------------2--|---------------------2--|

D-2---2-----2-----0---2--|-2---2-----2-----0---2--|-2---2-----2-----0---2--|-2---2-----2---------2--|

A-2---2-----2-----0---0--|-2---2-----2-----0---0--|-2---2-----2-----0---0--|-2---2-----2---------0--|

E-0---0-----0------------|-0---0-----0------------|-0---0-----0------------|-0---0-----0------------|



There's something going on  Keep your eyes glued   There's something

strange There's something going 

 that wasn't here before     to the floor	    going on tonight

      on thats not quite right

'Do Do' Interlude




   G5			  C5		 G5			 C

E----------------------------------|----------------------------------|

B----------------------------------|----------------------------------|

G------------------------5-5-5--0--|------------------------5-5-5--0--|	guitar1

D------------------------5-5-5--0--|------------------------5-5-5--0--|

A--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5----3-3-----|--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5----3-3-----|

E--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3------------|--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3------------|

   				X  |				   X  |

E----------------------------------|----------------------------------|

B----------------------------------|----------------------------------|

G--------------------------5-------|----------------------------------|	guitar2

D--------------------------5-------|--------------------------5-------|

A--5--5--5--5----5--5------3-------|--5--5--5--5----5--5------5-------|

E--3--3--3--3----3--3--------------|--3--3--3--3----3--3------3-------|



   Do Do Do Do   Do Do     Do Do      Do Do Do Do   Do Do     Do Do

Verse 2


Palm Mute Guitar 1 heavily, giving it a sharp staccato sound.



   G5			  C5		 G5			C5

E-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

B-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|		guitar1

G-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

D-----------------------------5-0-----|-----------------------------5-0-----|

A--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0-3-3-3-0-----|--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0-3-3-3-0-----|

E--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3---------------|--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3---------------|

				X     |				      X	    |

E-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

B-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|		guitar2

G-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

D-------------------------5---5-------|-------------------------5---5-------|

A--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0-3---3-------|--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0-3---3-------|

E--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3---------------|--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3---------------|

E-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

			       				     

Theres something strange		Theres something going 

   going on tonight			   on thats not guite right



   G5			  C5		 G5			 C5

E-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

B-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

G-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|		guitar1

D-----------------------------5-0-----|------------------------------5-0----|

A--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0-3-3-3-0-----|--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0--3-3-3-0----|

E--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3---------------|--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3---------------|

				X     |				       X    |

E-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

B-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|		guitar2

G-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

D-------------------------5---5-------|--------------------------5---5------|     

A--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0-3---3-------|--5--5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0--3---3------|

E--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3---------------|--3--3--3--3-3--3--3-3---------------|

			       				 		 

Michaels nervous and			Theres something going

 the lights are bright			   on thats not quite right

Chorus




  E5		   A5      E5		    A5      E5		     A5

     E5		     A5

E------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|

B------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|	guitar1

G------------------2-----|------------------2-----|------------------2-----|------------------2-----|

D-2--2-2--2--2--0--2--0--|-2--2-2--2--2--0--2--0--|-2--2-2--2--2--0--2--0--|-2--2-2--2--2--0--2--0--|

A-2--2-2--2--2--0--0--0--|-2--2-2--2--2--0--0--0--|-2--2-2--2--2--0--0--0--|-2--2-2--2--2--0--0--0--|

E-0--0-0--0--0-----------|-0--0-0--0--0-----------|-0--0-0--0--0-----------|-0--0-0--0--0-----------|

			 |			  |		   |			    |

E------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|

B------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|	guitar2

G------------------2-----|------------------2-----|------------------2-----|------------------2-----|

D-2--2-2--2--2--0--2--0--|-2--2-2--2--2--0--2--0--|-2--2-2--2--2--0--2--0--|-2--2-2--2--2--0--2--0--|

A-2--2-2--2--2--0--0--0--|-2--2-2--2--2--0--0--0--|-2--2-2--2--2--0--0--0--|-2--2-2--2--2--0--0--0--|

E-0--0-0--0--0-----------|-0--0-0--0--0-----------|-0--0-0--0--0-----------|-0--0-0--0--0-----------|



There's something going on  Keep your eyes glued   There's something

strange There's something going 

 that wasn't here before     to the floor	    going on tonight

      on thats not quite right

Guitar Solo




  G5		      C5      G5		   C5	  G5	

      C5      G5		   C5

E---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|

B-------3-0-----3-p0---5----|--------3-0-----3-p0---5---|--------3-0----3-p0---5----|--------3-0----3-p0---5-0--|	guitar1

G-2p0----------------0---4b-|-0-2p0---------------0--4b-|-0-2p0--------------0---4b-|-0-2p0--------------0-----4|

D-----0---------------------|------0--------------------|------0--------------------|-------0-------------------|

A---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|

E---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|

			    |				|		    |		  secret secret |

E---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|

B---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|	guitar3

G---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|

D---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|

A----------5-4-0------------|----------5-4-0------------|----------5-4-0------------|----------5-4-0------------|

E---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|

			    |				|		    |				|

E---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|

B---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|	guitar2

G---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|

D-----------------------5-5-|-----------------------5-5-|-----------------------5-5-|-----------------------5-5-|

A-5-5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0-3-3-|-5-5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0-3-3-|-5-5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0-3-3-|-5-5--5--5-5--5--5-5-0-3-3-|

E-3-3--3--3-3--3--3-3-------|-3-3--3--3-3--3--3-3-------|-3-3--3--3-3--3--3-3-------|-3-3--3--3-3--3--3-3-------|

Chorus




  E5		   A5      E5		    A5      E5		     A5     E5		     A5

E------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|

B------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|	guitar1

G--------------0--2------|--------------0--2------|---------------0--2-----|---------------0--2-----|

D-2---2-2---2--0--2------|-2---2-2---2--0--2------|-2---2-2---2-2-0--2-----|-2---2-2---2-2-0--2-----|

A-2---2-2---2-----0------|-2---2-2---2-----0------|-2---2-2---2-2----0-----|-2---2-2---2-2----0-----|

E-0---0-0---0------------|-0---0-0---0------------|-0---0-0---0-0----------|-0---0-0---0-0----------|



There's something going on  Keep your eyes glued   There's somethingstrange There's something going 

 that wasn't here before     to the floor	    going on tonight      on thats not quite right



I hear no guitar 2 on this chorus.

'Do Do' Outro




  G5			C5    G5		    C5	  G5		C5    G5		    C5

E---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|

B---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|	guitar1

G----------------------0----|---------------------0-----|---------------------0-----|---------------------0-----|     (play twice)

D-----------------------5-5-|-----------------------5-5-|-----------------------5-5-|-----------------------5-5-|

A-5-5--5--5-5--5--5-5---3-3-|-5-5--5--5-5--5--5-5---3-3-|-5-5--5--5-5--5--5-5---3-3-|-5-5--5--5-5--5--5-5---3-3-|

E-3-3--3--3-3--3--3-3-------|-3-3--3--3-3--3--3-3-------|-3-3--3--3-3--3--3-3-------|-3-3--3--3-3--3--3-3-------|

			    |				|		    |				|

E---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|

B---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|	guitar2

G----------------------5----|---------------------5-----|---------------------5-----|---------------------5-----|     (play twice)

D-----------------------5-5-|-----------------------5-5-|-----------------------5-5-|-----------------------5-5-|

A-5-5--5--5-5--5--5-5---3-3-|-5-5--5--5-5--5--5-5---3-3-|-5-5--5--5-5--5--5-5---3-3-|-5-5--5--5-5--5--5-5---3-3-|

E-3-3--3--3-3--3--3-3-------|-3-3--3--3-3--3--3-3-------|-3-3--3--3-3--3--3-3-------|-3-3--3--3-3--3--3-3-------|

			  X			      X			  X			      X

  Do Do Do Do  Do Do   Do Do Do etc........

 

The second time this section is played, the notes played on 'the beats'

in each bar (there are 4) are emphasised. 



  G5			C5	G5

E---------------------------|---------------------------|

B---------------------------|---------------------------|	guitar1

G----------------------0----|---------------------------|

D-----------------------5-5-|-0-------------------------|

A-5-5--5--5-5--5--5-5---3-3-|-0-5-----------------------|

E-3-3--3--3-3--3--3-3-------|---3-----------------------|

			    | X			        |			  

E---------------------------|---------------------------|

B---------------------------|---------------------------|	guitar2

G----------------------5----|---------------------------|

D-----------------------5-5-|---------------------------|

A-5-5--5--5-5--5--5-5---3-3-|---5-----------------------|

E-3-3--3--3-3--3--3-3-------|---3-----------------------|

			  X			    

				 Do Do Do Do .....

Notes




TAB Key

 

	b - bend a semitone

	X - mute with palm of hand

	U - upstroke

	D - downstroke

REM turns 'boogie band' - well not quite Lynard Skynard.

This is mainly a 2 guitar song. Guitar1 is in the right stereo channel and guitar2 is in the left. Guitar2 has a cleaner sound than guitar1.

This song is a straight forward boogie kind of thing in the key of G. The verses centre around G and C, and the chorus' centre around E5 and A5. I was a bit of a 'train spotter' and tried to include all the rhythmic variations (as well as ascii tab allows) because it sounds boring just played with a straight shuffle feel

The guitar solo has guitar1 picking out the melody, guitar2 playing the backing chords and guitar3 playing a short, descending, 'walking bassline' sequence. Guitars 1 and 3 can be included as one part quite easily but the way all the notes are left ringing I would say there are 2 guitars on the record here.

The timings between the 2 guitars, as written above, should be pretty accurate but check the record for details.

The choruses and 'Do Do' sections are filled out with an Organ (and handclaps)

Listen to the original version of this by a band called Wire, it appears on 'Pink Flag'.

Wayne's Guitar Tabs can all be found at http://www.mandy.co.uk/music/tabs/
Comments, corrections welcome e-mail Wayne Ellis

Go Back to Tabs Index