Poison
View chords used in this chart
5 Successful Artists Who Have Not Made It Big in the US
Afinação: E A D G B ECapotraste: Sem capotraste
A big part of the studio version of this song is the muted flanger strumming going on in the background.
For this I've found good results setting my flanger pedal with a fairly low rate/manual/depth and very high
feedback. I have a feeling they were tweaking the flanger settings on the fly in the studio - John McGeoch was
known for having his flanger pedal tied to a mic stand so he could tweak the knobs mid-song.
For the main riff you're basically bending the double-stop up half a step, keeping it there for 5 strums
then releasing back. You could also do it with a slide but I think it sounds more like a bend on the
recording.
[Intro / main riff]
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4~----4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4-----------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5~----5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5-----------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4~----4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4--3------------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5~----5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5--3------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4--3---------------------------------------------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5--3---------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4~----4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4-----------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5~----5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5-----------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4~----4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4--3------------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5~----5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5--3------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4--3---------------------------------------------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5--3---------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Verse 1]
Why Did you Change Your Name
In the search for fame
now all the lights have gone
What is your poison
What is your poison...
e|------------0------------------------0-------------------------------------|
B|--0-0-0-0-0---1-0-1--------0-0-0-0-0---1-0-1-------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|------------0----------------3--3-3-3-----3--3-3-3-------------------------|
B|--0-0-0-0-0---1-0-1--------0--0--0-------0--0--0---------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4~----4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4-----------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5~----5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5-----------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4~----4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4--3------------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5~----5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5--3------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4--3---------------------------------------------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5--3---------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Verse 2]
There is no cure for fame
now all you feel is shame
you'll never be the same
what is your poison
what is your poison
e|------------0------------------------0-------------------------------------|
B|--0-0-0-0-0---1-0-1--------0-0-0-0-0---1-0-1-------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|------------0----------------3--3-3-3-----3--3-3-3-------------------------|
B|--0-0-0-0-0---1-0-1--------0--0--0-------0--0--0---------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4~----4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4-----------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5~----5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5-----------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4~----4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4--3------------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5~----5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5--3------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4--3---------------------------------------------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5--3---------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4~----4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4-----------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5~----5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5-----------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4~----4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4--3------------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5~----5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5--3------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4--3---------------------------------------------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5--3---------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Bridge]
e|-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-----------------------------------------------------------|
B|-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-20-20-20-20-20-20-20--20-20-20-20-20-20-------------------|
G|-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-----------------------------------------------------------|
D|-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-----------------------------------------------------------|
[Verse 3]
You took the highest Ride
That was the price of pride
And left you all alone
Is that your poison
Oh take your posion
e|------------0------------------------0-------------------------------------|
B|--0-0-0-0-0---1-0-1--------0-0-0-0-0---1-0-1-------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|------------0----------------3--3-3-3-----3--3-3-3-------------------------|
B|--0-0-0-0-0---1-0-1--------0--0--0-------0--0--0---------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4~----4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4-----------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5~----5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5-----------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4~----4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4--3------------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5~----5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5--3------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---4b5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pb5-pbr4--3---------------------------------------------|
B|---5b6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pb6-pbr5--3---------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Outro (verse riff and main riff overlap so either one works here)]
e|------------0------------------------0-------------------------------------|
B|--0-0-0-0-0---1-0-1--------0-0-0-0-0---1-0-1-------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|------------0----------------3--3-3-3-----3--3-3-3-------------------------|
B|--0-0-0-0-0---1-0-1--------0--0--0-------0--0--0---------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
************************************
| b Bend
| br Bend release
| pb Pre-bend
| pbr Pre-bend release
| ~ Vibrato
************************************
How to play Poison
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.