Chemical World Tab

Song:      Chemical World
Artist:    Blur
Album:     Modern Life Is Rubbish 1993
Guitarist: Graham Coxon
 
Intro - Distortion
e|---5----5--------2-------------|
B|---5----5--------3-------------|
G|---6----6--------2--4p2-4p2----|  x2
D|---7----7--------0----------3--|
A|---7----7----------------------|
E|---5----4----------------------|
     A   A/G#      D
 
Then the bass and drums stop and another guitar plays this:
 
Verse/Bridge Guitar 1 - light distortion, flanger (Boss BF-2).
Play on neck humbucker for that warm slightly cleaner tone.
e|----------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------14--------14h15-14---------------------------------|
G|-----14--14----14--------14--------7~-4h5-4--2h4p2-0------|
D|-----------------------------6h7--------------------------|
A|---12--------11------------------5------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------|
     A        A/G#           D
 
You can also play the D part like this:
e|---------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------|
D|---------0-12-12-9h10p9-\7h9p7--\5~----|
A|---11h12-------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------|
     D
 
After Guitar 1  plays that riff once, Guitar 2 (Electric) and Guitar 3 (Acoustic) enters:
 
Guitar 2 and 3 play these chords
e|---5---5----2---0---3---|
B|---5---5----3---1---0---|
G|---6---6----2---0---0---|
D|---7---7----0---2---0---|
A|---7---7--------3---2---|
E|---5---4------------3---|
     A   A/G# D   C   G
This continues through verse until chorus
 
Chorus Guitar 1 - Distortion
e|-----------------------------------------------2-----------------|
B|-------5----------5--2p0------------5----------3-----------------|
G|-----6---6----6-6----------2----4/6---6--4-----2----4p2-4p2------|
D|---7-------6-----------------4--4/6---6----4---0-------------3---|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
     A       Amaj7  F#m        C#m         Bm    D    F
 
 Chorus Guitars 2 and 3 play these chords
e|---0----0----2-----4-----2----2---1---|
B|---2----2----2-----5-----3----3---1---|
G|---2----1----2-----6-----4----2---2---|
D|---2----2----4-----6-----4----0---3---|
A|---0----0----4-----4-----2--------3---| Repeat these through chorus
E|-------------2--------------------1---|
     A   Amaj7 F#m   C#m   Bm   D   F
 
After 1st chorus guitar 1 plays this fill
e|---5~---4-4/555-4/555---|
B|---5~---4-4/555-4/555---|
G|---6~-------------------|
D|---7~-------------------|
A|---7~-------------------|
E|---5~-------------------|
     A
 
The Bridge is just the intro and verse guitar 1 guitar parts repeated. At final chorus
repeat the chorus guitar parts until fade out.
 
I think that's pretty much Chemical World by Blur. A great song and a good showcase for
Coxon's guitar techniques.
 
Song Lyrics
 
Verse 1
The pay-me girl has had enough of the bleeps
So she takes a bus into the country
Although she got herself rosy cheeks
She didn't leave enough money to pay the rent
The landlord says that she's out in a week
What a shame she was just getting comfy
Now she's eating chocolate to induce sleep
In a chemical world it's very, very, very cheap
 
Chorus
And I don't know about you
They're putting the holes in, yes, yes
It's been a hell of a do
They've been putting the holes in, yes, yes
 
Verse 2
Peeping Thomas has a very nice view
Across the street at the exhibitionist
These townies they never speak to you
Just stick together so they never get lonely
Feeling lead, feeling quite light-headed
Had to sit down and have some sugary tea
In a chemical world, in a chemical world
it's very, very, very cheap
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