Song: Third of May
Artist: Robin Pecknold / Fleet Foxes
Performance: " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTQYRLK2uX8 "
TUNING: D Standard (DGCFAd) BUT ALL CHORDS ARE WRITTEN AS IF IN E (e.g. you're *technically* playing a D
chord but using an E shape)
Capo: None
Note on Chords:
Robin uses a lot of different fingerings and he really pays attention to the dynamics of the song.
Some of these chords might seem bizarre at first but try playing them and watch the video, they're actually
very easy changes (except for the breakdown!)
Also, the timing of the changes is primarily directed by his own singing. Some syllables are elongated like
crazy, some are not, so putting these chords on top of words is inherently imperfect.
(also at a certain point I stopped tabbing easy chords like G)
VERSE CHORDS:
E5 E D F#m A Asus2
e|-0------0-----2-----2-----0------0
B|-0------0-----3-----2-----2------0
G|-X------1-----2-----2-----2------2
D|-2------2-----0-----4-----2------2
A|-2------2-----x-----4-----0------0
E|-0------0-----x-----2-----x------x
CHORUS 1 CHORDS:
F#m G#m *A* Asus4(add9) B (e-barre) A (barre)
e|--------2-----4-----0-----0------|-----7------------5
B|--------2-----4-----5-----0------|-----7------------5
G|--------2-----4-----6-----7------|-----8------------6
D|--------4-----6-----7-----7------|-----9------------7
A|--------4-----6-----x-----x------|-----9------------7
E|--------2-----4-----x-----x------|-----7------------5
CHORUS 2 CHORDS
these chords kinda slide together from the *A* chord
G6 *F#m* (thumb over, and move your fingers 1,2,3 into place)
e|--------0-----x----
B|--------3-----x----
G|--------4-----2----
D|--------5-----4----
A|--------x-----4----
E|--------x-----2----
BREAKDOWN CHORDS
this sequence is difficult to pull off at first. If you can mute the A string for Em7, and unmute for Em,
that's great!
Em Em7 Em6
e|--------x-----x-----x
B|--------8-----8-----8
G|--------9-----7-----6
D|--------9-----9-----9
A|--------7-----x-----x
E|--------x-----0-----0
(select) FINAL VERSE CHORDS
Em F#m Em7(b9) F#m7(11,b9)
e|--------x-----x------x------0------
B|--------8-----10----12------0------
G|--------9-----11-----x------0------
D|--------9-----11----12------2------
A|--------7-----9------x------0------
E|--------x-----x------0------2------
[Intro]
E5 (one option, mute the G string with pinkie)
[Verse]
E D F#m A Asus2 A
Plans written in sand look so ... crystalline
E
And the light is from the east
D
It fell on the fleece
F#m A Asus2 A
Of the ...Palatine
[Chorus 1]
E
And every friend of yours
F#m G#m *A* Asus4(add9) *A*
Was just as soon a friend of mine
B (barre) A (barre)
And we stood, congregated
E5
At the firing line
[Verse 2]
E D F#m A Asus2
No way to control everyone you see
A
No ties ever holding me down
D
Silence would drown (??silenced and drowned??)
F#m A Asus2 A
Everything to be (?)
E
There's no skin around the neck
F#m G#m *A* Asus4(add9) A
That you could sendddddddd theeeeeeee Frontier
B(barre)A(barre) E A(barre)
If it's no different, I'd stay together
B(barre) A(barre) E
Toooooo young, but might roll through the heather
F#m G#m *A* Asus4(add9) *A*
With me [.......vocalizing........]
[Chorus2]
G6 *F#m*
Was it too slow?
G#m F#m
All this change in the night.
A
Second sun,
E
At the firing line
[Verse 3]
D F#m A Asus4 A
Now back in our town as a castaway
E
I'm reminded of the snow,
D
How everything flowed (fell?)
F#m A Asus4 A
On the Third of May
E
As if it were designed
F#m G#m *A*
Painted in sand and then washed away
B(barre) A(barre) E A(Barre)
Is it no more than the story you tell?
B(barre) A(barre) E A(b)
Blind chance and the fighting together
E F#m G#m *A* Asus4(add9) *A*
With me [.........Vocalizing........]
[Chorus 2]
G6 *F#m*
Was it too slow?
G#m F#m
All this change in the night.
A
Second sun,
Em (7th fret)
At the firing lineeeee
[Breakdown]
Em -> Em7 ->slide down-> Em6 -> Em7 -> Em
(3x total)
[Final Verse]
Em
I am so in sight
Em (feel free to hammer on the 7th fret of the A string)
the mask aligned (?the mastermind?)
F#m
Out of whispering night
Em7(b9)
Will you come to life
F#m
And the best that I can say
Em
'Cause you're a friend of mine
D Em F#m7(11,b9) G (this is very percussive)
And why should I waste my time
Bm A G (folk style, 3x0003)
Fighting the seasons
D Em F#m7(11,b9) G
And every day, Third of May,
Bm A
Every season
[Final verse again]
Em (7th fret)
Oh my over night
Em7
And fight again
F#m
Out of sight and of mine
Em7(b9)
Will you try again
F#m
And the best that I can say
Em
Is you're a friend to you
D Em F#m7(11,b9) G
And why should I waste my time
Bm A G
Fighting the seasons
D Em F#m7(11,b9) G
And every day, Third of May,
Bm A G
Every season
[Wrap up]
(i don't know)