Breakin Up
View chords used in this chart
"Breakin' Up"(Gordon Gano)
Performed by the violent femmes on "New Times"(1994).
Guitar solo and lead-in transcribed by Bryson Meunier
chorus(acoustic)-
"...easy to do" "...easy to do"
E------------------------------|--8--7---5-------------|
B-------3---------------x6-x5--|------------6-6-6-5----|
G---5--------5--2--------------|------------5-5-5-4----|
D------------------5-----------|------------7-7-7-6----|
A------------------------------|-----------------------|
E------------------------------|-----------------------|
"...breakin up..." "It's easy to do you know I"
A
E------------------------------------------------------|
B--2-2-2--------7--5--7--5--------6--6--6--5--5-5-5p0--|
G--2-2-2--------7--5--7--5--------5--5--5--4--4-4-4p0--|
D--2-2-2--------------------7--5--7--7--7--6--6-6-6p0--|
A------------------------------------------------------|
E------------------------------------------------------|
"Break up... Time I Break up with you
A Fm Em
E--------------1--1--1--1------0-----------------------|
B----2-2-2-2---1--1--1--1------0-----------------------|
G----2-2-2-2---1--1--1--1------0-----------------------|
D----2-2-2-2---3--3--3--3---2--2-----------------------|
A--------------3--3--3--3---2--2-----------------------|
E--------------1--1--1--1---0--0-----------------------|
Guitar 2(played overtop of last acoustic chord(Em))
(distorted electric)
A(volume swell)
E------------------------------------------------------|
B-------------------------------2~~~~~~~~~~~~----------|
G-------------------------------2~~~~~~~~~~~~----------|
D-------------------------------2~~~~~~~~~~~~----------|
A------------------------------------------------------|
E------------------------------------------------------|
Guitar solo(flip pickup switch to top position)-
(guitar 2)
E------------------------------------------------------|
B----2-----2-5---5-4---5\4--2~~~~~~~--2-5~~~\\12~~--2--|
G----2-----2-5---5-4---5\4--2~~~~~~~--2-5~~~\\12~~--2--|
D------------------------------------------------------|
A------------------------------------------------------|
E------------------------------------------------------|
E------------------------------------------------------|
B---2-5---5-4--5\4--2----2-5~~~~~~\\12~~~\14~~~~~~~~~b-|
G---2-5---5-4--5\4--2----2-5~~~~~~\\12~~~\14~~~~~~~~~b-|
D------------------------------------------------------|
A------------------------------------------------------|
E------------------------------------------------------|
Symbols used in transcription-
x = make percussive sound with fretting hand
p = pull-off
~ = let ring
\ = slide
~b = bend gradually
Lyrics:
Now every once in awhile
There's a crack in my smile
Dark voices are talking to me
Dark voices tell me the way
It's supposed to be
They said "Breakin' up"
They said it's hard to do
But what they say about Breakin Up
You know it's just not true
Breakin Up, it's easy to do
Breakin' Up, it's easy to do
Why if you know
Why'd you have to go
And leave me on the floor
'Bout as sick as a dog
I'm feeding my face
Like a bleary-eyed hog
Why'd it have to stop
When it's just begun
Why'd it have to stop
With so much good undone
Chorus(3x)
You know I break up every time I
Break up with you (guitar solo)
Please consider posting the chords for the verse if you know them.
Thanks. Enjoy the tab!
How to play Breakin Up
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is E. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.