Nirvana - Something in the way
Introduction
This is a wonderfully multi-layered song: It can be simple and straightforward if you want it that way, or intricated and more challenging, if that's more your style.
Something... strange
When you try to play along with the song, you might find out that somehow, it doesn't fit. And no, this is not your imagination: The lead guitar is tuned down with three or four halve steps (we'll get to that later). Additionally, the guitar is out-of-tune. And no: It's not a bass guitar - Just a tuned-down normal guitar.
When watching videos from various artists on YouTube, playing this song, you might notice the 'flutter'; the sound of the strings touching the fretboard. That's because of the down tuning: The strings become too loose.
Now the actual problem would be: What notes do they play? - Just read on.
Ultimate Guitar
Let's start with the info from the official Ultimate Guitar transcription of this song:
- It's played with a drop-Db tuning - Three halve tones below the usual E-tuning
- Chords: F5 and Db5 - relative to the tuning of the guitar
- Chords: G#5 and E5 - Absolute
- Key: F - Relative to the tuning of the guitar (I never denote keys relative to tuning, as this makes it quite difficult to communicate with other musicians, e.g., at a jam session)
- Key: D - Absolute (that's how you do it, when you're a musician, rather than a guitar player)
- Scale: UG states Fm (relative). I'm not sure why it would be minor, as the chords are powerchords and those don't know minor nor major
- Scale: I think its D (absolute)
First notes
First two notes when analysing with a tuner app:
- Something between E and F → Root of the F5 chord (remember that the guitar is out of tune)
- Something between B and C → Fifth of the F5 chord
Em - No capo
This is probably the easiest way to play this song while no being too far off. You can even play this along with the recording, provided your hearing isn't too critical (as inevitably, you're somehow out of tune with the recording):
Verse 1 Em C Underneath the bridge Em C The tarp has sprung a leak Em C And the animals I've trapped Em C have all become my pets Em C And I'm living off of grass Em C And the drippings from my ceiling Em C It's okay to eat fish Em C 'Cause they don't have any feelings Chorus 1 Em C Em C Something in the way, mmm Em C Em C Something in the way, yeah, mmm Em C Em C Something in the way, mmm Em C E C Something in the way, yeah, mmm |
Verse 2 Em C Underneath the bridge Em C The tarp has sprung a leak Em C And the animals I've trapped Em C have all become my pets Em C And I'm living off of grass Em C And the drippings from my ceiling Em C It's okay to eat fish Em C 'Cause they don't have any feelings
Em C Em C Something in the way, mmm Em C Em C Something in the way, yeah, mmm Em C Em C Something in the way, mmm Em C Em C Something in the way, yeah, mmm Em C Em C Something in the way, mmm Em C Em C Something in the way, yeah, mmm Em C Em C Something in the way, mmm Em C Em C Something in the way, yeah, mmm |
E - No capo
This is probably the easiest way to play this song while no being too far off. You can even play this along with the recording, provided your hearing isn't too critical (as inevitably, you're somehow out of tune with the recording):
Verse 1 E C Underneath the bridge E C The tarp has sprung a leak E C And the animals I've trapped E C have all become my pets E C And I'm living off of grass E C And the drippings from my ceiling E C It's okay to eat fish E C 'Cause they don't have any feelings Chorus 1 E C E C Something in the way, mmm E C E C Something in the way, yeah, mmm E C E C Something in the way, mmm E C E C Something in the way, yeah, mmm |
Verse 2 E C Underneath the bridge E C The tarp has sprung a leak E C And the animals I've trapped E C have all become my pets E C And I'm living off of grass E C And the drippings from my ceiling E C It's okay to eat fish E C 'Cause they don't have any feelings Chorus 2 E C E C Something in the way, mmm E C E C Something in the way, yeah, mmm E C E C Something in the way, mmm E C E C Something in the way, yeah, mmm E C E C Something in the way, mmm E C E C Something in the way, yeah, mmm E C E C Something in the way, mmm E C E C Something in the way, yeah, mmm |
Key: E - No capo - powerchords
One small change with regards to the previous version: Using power chords (= play only root and fifth - kwint) in stead of normal chords. On one hand, this is even easier to play, as power chords only use two notes. On the other hand: Power chords may be a bit more unusual for beginning players.
Verse 1 E5 C5 Underneath the bridge E5 C5 The tarp has sprung a leak E5 C5 And the animals I've trapped E5 C5 have all become my pets E5 C5 And I'm living off of grass E5 C5 And the drippings from my ceiling E5 C5 It's okay to eat fish E5 C5 'Cause they don't have any feelings Chorus 1 E5 C5 E5 C5 Something in the way, mmm E5 C5 E5 C5 Something in the way, yeah, mmm E5 C5 E5 C5 Something in the way, mmm E5 C5 E5 C5 Something in the way, yeah, mmm |
Verse 2 E5 C5 Underneath the bridge E5 C5 The tarp has sprung a leak E5 C5 And the animals I've trapped E5 C5 have all become my pets E5 C5 And I'm living off of grass E5 C5 And the drippings from my ceiling E5 C5 It's okay to eat fish E5 C5 'Cause they don't have any feelings Chorus 2 E5 C5 E5 C5 Something in the way, mmm E5 C5 E5 C5 Something in the way, yeah, mmm E5 C5 E5 C5 Something in the way, mmm E5 C5 E5 C5 Something in the way, yeah, mmm E5 C5 E5 C5 Something in the way, mmm E5 C5 E5 C5 Something in the way, yeah, mmm E5 C5 E5 C5 Something in the way, mmm E5 C5 E5 C5 Something in the way, yeah, mmm |
Key: F - Capo: --
Intro
F C# G# F#
Em - Capo on II (wat is dit???)
Or play in D without capo - Good song for starters on ukulele!
Intro Em C 4x Verse 1 Em C Underneath the bridge Em C The tarp has sprung a leak Em C And the animals I've trapped Em C Have all become my pets Em C And I'm living off of grass Em C And the drippings from the ceiling Em C But it's O.K. to eat fish Em C 'Cause they don't have any feelings Chorus (3x) Em C Something in the way Em C Mmmmmmmmm Em C Something in the way, yeah Em C Mmmmmmmmm |
Verse 2 Em C Underneath the bridge Em C The tarp has sprung a leak Em C And the animals I've trapped Em C Have all become my pets Em C And I'm living off of grass Em C And the drippings from the ceiling Em C But it's O.K. to eat fish Em C 'Cause they don't have any feelings Chorus (4x) Em C Something in the way Em C Mmmmmmmmm Em C Something in the way, yeah Em C Mmmmmmmmm |
With a drop-C-tuning
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTptUmwHBtI Marty Music - How to play Nirvana "Something in the Way" Guitar lesson
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5BI0PkieOc GuitarLessons365Song - Something in the Way Guitar Lesson - Nirvana
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms9xmuRAtM0 Tomnedreb - Nirvana - Something In The Way (Drop-C)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYYcrHPhdUk Mahalodotcom - How to Play "Something In The Way" by Nirvana on Guitar
Bronnen
Tutorials - Guitar
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTptUmwHBtI Marty Music - How to play Nirvana "Something in the Way" Guitar lesson
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5BI0PkieOc GuitarLessons365Song - Something in the Way Guitar Lesson - Nirvana
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms9xmuRAtM0 Tomnedreb - Nirvana - Something In The Way (Drop-C)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYYcrHPhdUk Mahalodotcom - How to Play "Something In The Way" by Nirvana on Guitar
Tutorials - Piano
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8gsDuB14e0 MariaKolb - Nirvana - Something In The Way - Piano cover
Other
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APHX-9ZQ7x0 MixMyMusicRob - Recording Nirvana: Something In The Way. (Recording Studio)