Artist: Yo La Tengo
Song: We're an American Band
Album: I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One (1997)
Standard Tuning (EADGBE)
Intro (0:00-0:23): D (you can jam on it)
(0:23-0:55): Em (022000@1)F#m (244222@1)Em (022000@1)D| (xx0232@1)Em (022000@1)name="chord_244222@1">F#m F (133211@1)name="chord_022000@1">Em D (xx0232@1)name="chord_xx0232@1">D
Verse (0:55-3:03):
Em (022000@1) F#m (244222@1) Em (022000@1) D (xx0232@1)Driving in the south, the motor's on fire
D (xx0232@1) Em (022000@1) F#m (244222@1) F (133211@1) Em (022000@1) D (xx0232@1)Let's put it out before the flames go higher
Em (022000@1) F#m (244222@1) Em (022000@1) D (xx0232@1)Monday matin?e, "Big Bully" or "White Squall"
D (xx0232@1) Em (022000@1) F#m (244222@1) F (133211@1) Em (022000@1) D (xx0232@1)So hard to choose, wish we could see them all
D (xx0232@1) Em (022000@1) F#m (244222@1) Em (022000@1) D (xx0232@1)Some college in the spring, the sound is all wrong
D (xx0232@1) G (320003@1) F#m (244222@1) F (133211@1) Em (022000@1) D (xx0232@1)We set the mains to our favorite Hootie song
Em (022000@1) F#m (244222@1) Em (022000@1) D (xx0232@1)Driving (not again), they're late, car crash
D (xx0232@1) G (320003@1) F#m (244222@1) F (133211@1) Em (022000@1) D (xx0232@1) D (xx0232@1)We'll turn to look unless we're going too fast
First part of solo (3:03-3:44): D Bm F#m F#m
Second part of solo and outro (3:44-6:25): D Bm F#m G , but feel free to replace the
G with F#m occasionally.
End in D.
If you want to give it a jazzy edge, play seventh major chords instead of normal majors
and seventh minors instead of regular minors. For example, replace F#m with F#m7 and F
with FM7.
Listen to the song to get a feel for the rhythm and phrasing. Don't forget about
distortion! This is definitely one of the best, most underrated tracks from "I Can Feel the
Heart Beating as One"; the trippy, shoegaze-like atmosphere is very soothing, thanks to
the vocal and instrumental textures, which blend beautifully.
