LEARN

TO PL AY

OPEN-MIC SONGBOOK
BETTER OBLIVION
COMMUNITY
CENTER
DYLAN THOMAS
Always wanted to experiment with open
tunings but never knew how to start?

B
etter Oblivion Community Village, New York City. On the original
Center feature the Los Angeles track, Phoebe Bridgers’ acoustic is
based singer-songwriting tuned to open D (D A D F# A D), while
partnership of Phoebe Bridgers Conor Oberst’s Danelectro baritone
and Conor Oberst. Dylan Thomas is guitar is tuned a 4th below standard
a single taken from their eponymously tuning (B E A D F# B). We’ve rearranged
titled debut album released in 2019. wkh#edulwrqh#lqwur#ulļ#vr#wkdw#lw#fdq#eh#
The song is an intoxicating mix of played in open D tuning, this way you
hook laden melodies and politically can strum through the song and play
charged lyrics. The band are wkdw#frro#ulļ1#Lq#rshq#G/#|rxu#jxlwdu#lv#
80 categorised as indie rock, but this song wxqhg#wr#d#G#fkrug#Ğ#vr#mxvw#klw#wkh#rshq#
has a protest vibe reminiscent of the strings or barre across any fret and
60s bohemian folk scene in Greenwich |rxġyh#jrw#d#pdmru#fkrug$#

X X O O X O O
CHORDS O O

2 2 3 4

T
2 3 4 3 4
he great thing about open tunings is that 12 5 7
you can play some very cool sounding
chords that would be impossible to fret in
standard tuning. Just moving a single shape
around the neck, as illustrated here, could be
all you need as the inspiration for your next
ulļ/#vrqj/#ru#mdpplqj#jurryh1#Sod|#wkh#odvw#
shape shown for all the D chords in the
chorus sections. D A D F# A D D A D F# A D D A D F# A D

D Gadd9 Aadd11
X O O O O O O O O O

2 3
Guitars and backing: Phil Capone

DYLAN THOMAS D A D F# A D D A D F# A D
Words and Music by Phoebe Bridgers and Conor Oberst
Photo: Getty Images

Copyright © 2019 Whatever Mom and Bedrooms Bedrooms and Spiders

All Rights for Whatever Mom and Bedrooms Bedrooms and Spiders D/F# D (chorus)
Administered by Kobalt Music Group Ltd.
All Rights Reserved Used by Permission of Hal Leonard Europe Ltd.

TOTAL GUITAR FEBRUARY 2021

 FULL TRACK + BACKING
This song comes with a full demo track and a backing
track (minus guitar) available to stream. Go to:
bit.ly/tg341audio to find your audio

hm
Verse 1 Verse 2 Gadd9
D D And buy some peace and quiet
It was quite early one morning These cats are scared and feral D Gadd9
Gadd9 Gadd9 And shut up at the silent retreat
Hit me without warning The flag pins on their lapels Aadd11
D Gadd9 D They say you’ve gotta fake it
I went to hear the general speak Gadd9
The truth is anybody’s guess Gadd9
Aadd11 Aadd11 At least until you make it
I was standing for the anthem These talking heads are saying D/F# Gadd9
Gadd9 Gadd9 That ghost is just a kid in a sheet
Banners all around him The king is only playing
D/F# Gadd9 D/F#
Confetti made it hard to see Gadd9 Chorus
A game of four dimensional chess
D D
Put my footsteps on the pavement I’m getting used to these
Gadd9 Solo Aadd11 Gadd9
Starved for entertainment di-zzy spells
D Gadd9 D
Four seasons of revolving door Verse 3 I’m taking a shower at the
Aadd11 D Aadd11 Gadd9
So sick of being honest There’s flowers in the rubble Bates Motel
Gadd9 Gadd9 D
I’ll die like Dylan Thomas The weeds are gonna tumble I’m getting greedy with this
D/F# Gadd9 D Gadd9 Aadd11 Gadd9
A seizure on the bar room floor I’m lucid but I still can’t think pri-vate hell
Aadd11 D Aadd11 Gadd9 81
I’m strapped into a corset I’ll go it alone, but that’s just as well
Chorus Gadd9
D Climbed into your Corvette
I’m getting greedy with this D/F# Gadd9
Aadd11 Gadd9 I’m thirsty for another drink Instrumental Outro
pri-vate hell D
D Aadd11 Gadd9 If it’s advertised, we’ll try it
I’ll go it alone, but that’s just as well

BETTER OBLIVION COMMUNITY CENTER DYLAN THOMAS

q =116
D Gadd 9 D Gadd 9

0:15 w/phaser
let ring throughout
D
T F#
A
0 0 0 0
D 0 0 0 0 0 0
B A
D
5 0
5
7 0 5 0
5
7
5
1

D/F #
# Aadd
11 Gadd 9 Gadd 9

let ring

T 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
B 0 0
5
7 4 4
5
7
5

This riff was originally played on baritone guitar; we’ve made a few changes to make it work in open D. Don’t let the E note (7th fret, fifth string) ring into following notes
when you play the Gadd9 chord; achieve this by releasing the pressure of your fretting finger before you pick the fourth string.

FEBRUARY 2021 TOTAL GUITAR