If you’re a fan of the Pixies, chances are you know the song “Where Is My Mind?” from their 1988 album Surfer Rosa. With its ominous and emotional guitar tones, it’s become one of their most beloved tracks—and it only gets better with a little bit of music theory! So, if you want to learn how to play “Where Is My Mind?” on guitar, here are some simple chords that will help get the job done.
The opening riff to “Where Is My Mind?” consists mainly of two triads in open G tuning (D-G-B) and barred Gmaj7 chord. The main part then moves down and up three strings before repeating as follows:
D G B | ––––.
Gmaj7 | – X – – O.
Eb | O O X X.
Gmin | X O 3 2.
Then repeat with a slight variation: D G B………Gmin….Bbmaj7 … Ebmin…A7sus4……Ebmaj7.
For the chorus section the chords stay pretty much unchanged except for long held A minor/major ninth chords which add an extra dynamic to this already emotive song: Am – Cm - Em - G. Finally let us add that all important ringing effect by leaving notes sustain like this for example for Dmajor9 : D A D F# B E. Practice these different riffs again and again until they become second nature, trust me it is worth it!
What are the chord progression for "Where Is My Mind" by The Pixies?
If you haven’t heard the classic indie rock song “Where Is My Mind” from The Pixies, then you don’t know what you’re missing. It has an instantly memorable chord progression that will stick in your mind long after the song is finished.
The song starts off by repeating a simple 2 bar A-E chord progression. Starting with a strummed A major, pick up your guitar and play through this sequence: A – E – D – F#dim7 – B7 – Emaj9 - Emaj7/D# (repeat). Those are the basic chords for most of the verse, but come back in during the bridge and chorus, each should be held for two measures.
The chorus opens with a Cmaj9 to Ebmaj13 and holds it from there before breaking down into more strumming on F#min and Gmadd2/Bb chords plus some cool licks. But once again we go back to that unforgettable two bar pattern of just A major to E major which helps bring in both that poppy sound typical of The Pixies as well as an eerie vibe to make it something truly unique!
Overall, no matter what mood you're in when you listen this track, its catchy hook will live on forever making it one of those tunes that has definitely stood out amongst other popular indie tunes.
Are there tabs available for "Where Is My Mind" by The Pixies?
Yes! “Where Is My Mind” is one of the most iconic songs by The Pixies. There are plenty of tabs available online for this song and it can be quite a challenge to learn how to play it since it does not follow a typical chord progression.
One great site for finding tabs for “Where Is My Mind” is Ultimate Guitar. Here you will find accurate, user-submitted tabs that can help walk you through the song and give you some tips on playing different parts of the track. It can be really useful to watch tutorial videos as well, as many players attempt difficult parts and share their successes with others who might want to learn from them.
There are also various free services such as Songsterr that offer accurate guitar tabs (for both acoustic and electric guitar) which you can use to practice playing "Where Is My Mind". You are able (with some patience) get your hands around most of the track's tricky riffs on your own time with just a little bit of guidance from these sites.
While practicing or even performing The Pixies classic hit live, all these tabs should prove invaluable starting points - enabling any budding guitarists out there to develop their skills!
What key is "Where Is My Mind" by The Pixies in?
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to “Where Is My Mind?” by The Pixies, you know that it is a unique and timeless classic. The song has been described as an expression of existential angst over a dream-like acoustic guitar melody imbued with dark, yet somehow comforting lyrics. But which key is this classic rock jam in?
At first glance, one might assume that the song is in C major due to its serene and romantic harmonization. However, if we delve deeper into the music theory behind this immortal rocker by looking at its chord progression and form we can see that the answer may be slightly more complex than initially thought.
The composer of “Where Is My Mind?” indeed made use of variations from multiple keys throughout the track - including both major and minor - by employing harmonic shifts known as modulations. Upon closer inspection, it appears that most of these modulation shifts occur during speed changes within the verse sections towards transitional bridges where they set up melodic moments which lead directly into chorus progressions playing back in A minor or G major depending on interpretation.
Fun Fact: You can also hear some interesting chromaticism at play at around 1:09 seconds into verse two when tensions are built (D# > F) before collapsing back down onto our root note (G). Clearly a thoughtful compositional choice on behalf of mastermind Frank Black...
To sum up - "Where Is My Mind?" by The Pixies spans through several keys for added harmonic interest but predominantly sits within either A Minor or G Major depending on your interpretation!
Is "Where Is My Mind" by The Pixies a difficult song to play on the guitar?
If you’ve ever been curious about whether the Pixies’ classic song “Where Is My Mind" is difficult to play on guitar, we have some good news for you: it’s not! This beloved classic by the alternative rock group is surprisingly easy to learn on the guitar — even for beginners.
To start mastering this song, first break down its basic chords. The instrument used in “Where Is My Mind” is an electric guitar in drop-D tuning (D A D G B E). It uses four main chords throughout the entire song— Dm (x57765), Am (577555), C (332010) and G major (355433). So if you can master those four chords, you can easily play this piece.
Next, focus on practicing the chord progression— which involves switching between each of those cords with a steady rhythm that coincides with the track's 4/4 beat pattern. Start slow and build up your speed as your level of comfort with strumming increases until you eventually sound just like The Pixies!
Overall, playing "Where Is My Mind" isn't too difficult once you understand its structure and chord progression — although it may take some time to iron out all of its nuances due to its intricate riffs and slides. With enough practice, though, anyone should be able to master this fan favorite by American alternative rock icons: The Pixies!
What are the guitar tunings for "Where Is My Mind" by The Pixies?
When we think of The Pixies’ seminal surf rock classic “Where Is My Mind," our minds are often drawn to the song's introspective lyrics and upbeat riffs. But have you ever stopped to consider the impressive mastery of guitar tunings that is necessary to create such a masterpiece? When it comes to stringed instruments like guitars, tuning is an essential key in singing true -- and achieving a certain sound or style.
The Pixies actually use two different tunings for the iconic riff of “Where Is My Mind” – open G tuning and dropped D tuning. Open G tuning makes it easy for guitarists to switch between chords with just one finger movement. To achieve this effect, simply tune all strings down a tone from standard tuning, except for the 6th string (which should be tuned down another whole step). By using open G in conjunction with dropped D (the low E string is brought down up two whole steps), you can easily play both minor and major chords in rapid succession – which really gives this song its unique feel!
It only takes one perfect strum from Black Francis on his 1960s-era Epiphone Wilshire guitar - tuned with those two special settings - to create such beauty. It's no wonder The Pixies' masterpiece has been imprinted into musical history almost 30 years after its original release!
Are there guitar lessons available for learning how to play "Where Is My Mind" by The Pixies?
Learning how to play Where Is My Mind by The Pixies on guitar is a rewarding and enjoyable experience. While it can take some time and effort to master, there are a variety of resources available that make this rewarding process easier than ever.
One of the best ways to learn how to play Where Is My Mind is through online guitar lessons. Online lessons allow you the flexibility of learning in your own time, without any pressure or direct guidance from an instructor. You can often start by finding guitar tablature for the song (tabs indicate where on the fretboard you should be pressing down a string). This is especially helpful if you're unaccustomed to reading music notation, as tabs allow you to focus simply on hitting notes in order without worrying about rhyme or reason (although understanding intervals will help you get the most out of this approach). You can then break down individual sections into mroe manageable chunks before piecing them together into whole song performance.
Another great resource for learning How To Play Where Is My Mind comes from a number of YouTube channels dedicated specifically towards teaching musical styles and genres. For instance, GuitarZoom offers video lessons that teach chords and techniques with clear examples while providing an overall breakdown on playing popular songs within certain genres - definitely worth checking out if alt-rock isn’t necessarily your strong suit but still want some good quality instruction!
Finally, many local music stores host group classes taught by skilled musicians who know their craft well – all at very reasonable prices! Group classes take more dedication as they require regular attendance at predetermined times with other students but often prove more beneficial in receiving personalized feedback along with an engaged learning atmosphere full of positive energy! Most offer both beginning foundations as well as dives further into advanced topics - so don’t think twice about signing up today if something like this sounds fun for you or maybe even bring along friends who also want learn how to play Where Is My Mind too!
