Dashboard Guitar Tab

We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank Tabs:

Title: Dashboard
Artist: Modest Mouse
Album: We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
tabbed by Steve "SPiV" Perreira
(edit August 3, 2007)
Guitar I - Isaac Brock
Guitar II - Johnny Marr
--
Guitar I - Isaac Brock
verse
e-----------------------------|
B-----------------------------|
G--9-9-99-9-7--9--9-9-99-9-7--|
D-----------------------------|
A-----------------------------|
E-----------------------------|
variation
e-------------------------------------|-----------------------------|
B-------------------------------------|-----------------------------|
G--11-9-7-9-11-9-7-9-11-9-7-9b--9-9-9-|--9--9--9-9-9--9-9-9-9-9-9-9-|
D-------------------------------------|-----------------------------|
A-------------------------------------|-----------------------------|
E-------------------------------------|-----------------------------|
pre-chorus
e------------------------------------|
B------------------------------------|
G--------11-11-9----------11-11-9----|
D--9-9-9-x--x--x----9-9-9-x--x--x----|
A--x-x-x-9--9--7----x-x-x-9--9--7----|
E--7-7-7------------7-7-7------------|
chorus
e-----------------------------------------|
B--x-xx-12-10-x-xx-12-10-x-xx-12-10-12-10-|
G-----------------------------------------|
D-----------------------------------------|
A-----------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------------|
e------------------------------------|
B------------------------------------|
G--------11-11-9----------11-11-9----|
D--9-9-9-x--x--x----9-9-9-x--x--x----|
A--x-x-x-9--9--7----x-x-x-9--9--7----|
E--7-7-7------------7-7-7------------|
--
Guitar II - Johnny Marr
*note: strumming is continuous in this song and the chorus is kinda' weird to figure out.
There's a video on YouTube that shows how to play/strum this Marr Riff*
main riff
e--9--7-----7h9-5--3-----3h5---|----------5------------5--|
B--7--7-----7---3--3-----3-----|-/7--5----5----7--5----5--|
G--7--7-----7---4--4-----4-----|-/6--6----6----6--6----6--|
D--9--9-----9---5--5-----5-----|-/7--7----7----7--7----7--|
A------------------------------|--------------------------|
E-------7-7----------3-3-----3-|--------3------------3----|
e---------------5--3-----3-----|----------5------------5--|
B--8--7----7h8--3--3-----3h5p3-|-/7--5----5----7--5----5--|
G--7--7----7----4--4-----4-----|-/6--6----6----6--6----6--|
D--9--9----9----5--5-----5-----|-/7--7----7----7--7----7--|
A------------------------------|--------------------------|
E--------3-----------3-3-------|--------3------------3----|
chorus
e--7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3---------------------------------------|
B--7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3--10-10-10-10-10-10--10-10-10-10-10-10-|
G--7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4--9--9--9--11-11-9---9--9--9--11-11-9--|
D--9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9--5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5--11-11-11-11-11-11--11-11-11-11-11-11-|
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E--7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3---------------------------------------|
*I'm sure this is not how you strum the chorus, but there's the notes)
Credit to El Mariachi 94 for helping me on the Chorus.

Source: GuitarMasta.net
http://www.guitarmasta.net/m/modest_mouse/.html

Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques


No Picture skater-boy Rhythm Player	#1 by skater-boy at Sep 28, 2007 at 8:14 PM EST
	i'd take a drunk isaac over a sober isaac any day

No Picture Dan The English Wanna Be	#2 by Dan The English at Sep 30, 2007 at 2:24 AM EST
	Well first off, I will say that the first album I got was GNFPWLBN, loved it, and then also got The Moon and Antartica around the same time, also loved it. Now I have some random older songs of MM. Now as to the meaning of the song, I think it is more then just look how bad it isnt. People have meantioned "the dashboard melted but we still have the radio" and related it to the structure may be gone but we still have our music I think parts of the song are targeted to those who think MM is a sellout, the new stuff is crap, and such. It could be worse - they could be putting out nothing at all because they are bankrupt or such. "We talked about nothing" - your arguments are full of crap? "The car was on blocks" they are done with this old sound you talk about, they sung that way now they sing another way, its still them just a bit different style, personally I don't wanna here the same sound over and over and over and over and... you get the idea. They are still way different then any band on the radio "Oh if the world don't like us it'll shake us just like we were a co-oh-oh-oh-old. Now here we go!" If you don't like their sound, they will be tossed aside, well they dont care "Now here we go" "Don't wear eyelids so I don't miss the last laugh of this show. (The dashboard melted but we still have the radio)" dont be so blind that you miss that MM is still MM, and a reminder about the dashboard melting... they still have their music. BASICALLY I think its a big F$#@ you to all those saying they are sellouts Agree? Disagree?

No Picture Anthony Wanna Be	#3 by Anthony Amell at Sep 30, 2007 at 8:45 AM EST
	this song rules

No Picture Jon Badass	#4 by Jon Coath at Sep 30, 2007 at 3:10 PM EST
	Wait! What's this....? Is that...optimism I hear!?! Since this is their first song released on their new album, they obviously chose one of the catchiest ones. Doy! And this is really catchy.

No Picture Kyle Average	#5 by Kyle Bish at Oct 1, 2007 at 7:54 AM EST
	wow so i can't believe out of the 136 comments about this song one person mentioned my favorite thing about this song: THE REFERANCE TO PLANES TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES i think this song is talking about looking on the birght side of things and that life sucks sometimes so we might as well see the good in it and enjoy it. there should be a website or forum dedicated completely to the stupid "Modest Mouse selling out or not" debate.

No Picture Ŧøn¥ Average	#6 by Ŧøn¥ PiNeDa at Oct 1, 2007 at 10:09 PM EST
	"where on that page does it say isaac brock has been sober?" In a user posted article. I saw them live back in November up in NY (800mi round trip just to see em') and the entire time Issac had a drink in a clear cup in his hand of a light beige color, with a little foam on top. So unless he was drinking O'dules or non-alcoholic Coors, he was still drinking in November.

No Picture Simon (Si) Lead Player	#7 by Simon (Si) Brown at Oct 4, 2007 at 2:42 AM EST
	I've noticed that Isaac references Nowhere as an actual physical place in several songs. Being that he is an atheist I think that he's talking about the afterlife that doesn't exist, to say, "I want to go Nowhere" would be to say, "I want to die".

No Picture Shredmaster Average	#8 by Shredmaster Will at Oct 4, 2007 at 3:56 PM EST
	great song, modest mouse giving the usual pessimistic outlook on the surface, but the underlying profound implication is actually positive, to me. I take it as "sh*t happens but hey! we still got the radio". look for good in bad...an unusual modest mouse message

No Picture mike Rhythm Player	#9 by mike jordan at Oct 4, 2007 at 4:19 PM EST
	Hummm ummm ummm I agree with those who said that this is sort of a rehash of the significance of float on (which I actually thought was a very interesting song, with the cathartic shouting at the end, it really subverted the lyric. The voices were so insitent that the message seemed to become one of desperation, like saying "everything's going to be alright" with the subtext of "We're all doomed and it's totally unfair and underneath this cool exterior I'm boiling with rage at the world") The lyrics aren't bad, though the song seems a little one dimensional, which specifically is what I find dissapointing. I get the feeling like MM is moving more and more towards generalizations and I haven't heard a really solid, awesome idea from them in a little bit. That doesn't mean the album won't be good. Thinking about previous albums, I think the individual songs from earlier albums were stronger, but the later albums worked better as a whole. Also, Brock is really, really good at doing all out, brutally honest passion, when he decides to, which I hope will be included on this album. For instance, Black Caddillacs, which I think may be my favorite song off Good News, had very little complex metaphor or anything to obscure the meaning: Somebody turned out to be fickle, something that took time and effort to build fell apart, the singer is back at square one with one less illusion and a lot more baggage. As long as Brock can find something to express, he'll express it well, and the band is tight enough to make it work. I just hope he keeps feeling things

No Picture kev Average	#10 by kev fitzgerald at Oct 4, 2007 at 10:54 PM EST
	first off youre an asshole to say you wish he didnt stop drinking because that has nothing to do with his genius lyrics (exception: dashboard) especially if someone has a drinking problem, the first thing they need is support. Second of all, he didnt stop drinking. in fact in concert when he was playing this song he had a beer onstage. Third, i hate this song. but modest mouse i still love you.

No Picture Mikel Average	#11 by Mikel A. at Oct 5, 2007 at 1:21 AM EST
	Well if any of you are familier with the Smiths at all, then you'd know who Johnny Marr is and you'd be able to hear the influence he had on this song. This is where some of the poppy kind of dancy feel is coming from, Marr. Personally I love this song and can't get enough of it; and no i'm not one of those people who loves good news, infact i hate it but i respect brocks decision to experiment. I welcome this sound whole heartidly as both a major fan of the smiths and modest mouse. so everyone suck it up, if brock recorded it he likes it and that's all that matters.

No Picture ryan Lead Player	#12 by ryan harney at Oct 6, 2007 at 12:44 AM EST
	That's a good point Mymsical. Isaac Brock puts themes into albums, and Dashboard seems like it could have easily been a B-Side on Good News. I get pretty much the same message from it as I did from Float On. We still have the radio and we'll all float on anyway. A good message, hopefully new thoughts from Mr. Brock to come.

No Picture Jimmy Lead Player	#13 by Jimmy Chezz at Oct 6, 2007 at 1:48 AM EST
	yeah this song just kinda seems like another one of the more positive songs whilst being completly down to earth. The songs a lil more boppy but lets hope isaac gets some good cash, he deserves it big time. I am gonna stay by there side no matter what radio station they are on, this songs still better than most of the mindless crap out there.

No Picture micheal Lead Player	#14 by micheal mceachern at Oct 6, 2007 at 5:48 AM EST
	as much as i agree that their older cd's were way better it's mostly because the over-production of the band's instruments and Isaac's voice. However, the more thought I've put into where Modest Mouse is going...the more i realize that they have in a way stuck with their roots--- If you listen to some of the live recordings of this song, or their other new songs...Isaac's voice is still very edgy, and very unique which is what I, at least, love about the band. As for the lyrics, I can still see that their writing style hasn't changed. These lyrics compare life with a road trip ...or time spent in a car which seems to be a standard in older songs "Oh, the dashboard melted, but we still have the radio"----for comparison listen to A life of Arctic sounds on Building Nothing out of something...almost the same meaning to it. So as for Modest Mouse selling out...I say no. I say their music is just much more cleaned up due to Epic Records which is in some way a bad thing but at least more people are listening to good music.

No Picture Ziggy Professional	#15 by Ziggy at Oct 6, 2007 at 9:06 PM EST
	Isaac is singing about how life is goes nowhere. Still waiting for the rest of the CD :(

No Picture phil Average	#16 by phil gdfgr at Oct 7, 2007 at 4:14 PM EST
	The main theme of the song is in the line ------ "the dashboard melted, but we still have the radio". Meaning: Through time, our lives got messed up (lost its fundamental structure) --- but atleast we still have our music. We still have whats important in life.

No Picture Nyle Average	#17 by Nyle Leddy at Oct 7, 2007 at 8:58 PM EST
	Hahaha wtf are you assholes talking about Brock being sober obviously you havent seen in him in concert recently like that other guy said cause I saw Marr with a bottle of Jack and Issac with a coors and some other type of alcohol looking beverage. Yes hope is what we need for this new album I saw him in november and drove 400 roundtrip;)

No Picture nathan Average	#18 by nathan skidmore at Oct 9, 2007 at 11:49 AM EST
	I long for Moon and Antarctica Part II.

No Picture Jesus Professional	#19 by Jesus at Oct 11, 2007 at 5:35 AM EST
	where on that page does it say isaac brock has been sober?

No Picture Euroynmous Average	#20 by Euroynmous at Oct 11, 2007 at 11:56 AM EST
	The new album is one of their best yet (probably my favorite right behind Lonesome Crowded West). I've listened to it probably about 6-7 times now. Their is a lot of layering with instruments just like good news, but there is a lot more of Isaac's harsh screaming, and the original drummer is back, which creates a great combination. My only beef with the new album is there are only about 2 slow/melancholy songs, but the two that are there are really great. And if you claiming any band to be a "sell out" go listen to Tool's song "Hooker with a Penis". Fuckwits.

No Picture Vezy Professional	#21 by Vezy at Oct 13, 2007 at 2:54 AM EST
	This is why We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank is the best album yet! Well this and the other songs which some are much better. Thank God for advance copies at concerts. :)

No Picture Rob Average	#22 by Rob Jones at Oct 13, 2007 at 2:49 PM EST
	I like this song....its grown on me.

No Picture Klint Average	#23 by Klint flowers at Oct 14, 2007 at 5:17 PM EST
	To Explain Myself: "Oh, the dashboard melted, but we still have the radio." - This chorus line is the summary of the theme. Issac has realized that he has lost his famous sound, so resorts to radio-friendly pop ballads to keep the band alive and pay some bills. If he can't recreate something like or better then older albums, then why not cash in with pop singles. "we've yet to crash, but we still might as well enjoy it." - MM isn't dead yet, but he knows its envitable. Before the band becomes complete shit, he'd like to enjoy some popularity. Now to really explain: Brock got sober during the making of GNFPWLBN and has consequently remained sober since. Clearly, the quality and effort put into the music has dramamtically gotten worse ever since. MM was the stoner jam-band that connected to outsiders and self-loathers, now their jazzy neatly timed 3 minute singles gain younger listeners interested in their unique pop sound. The problem is, Brock may have gotten sober and more optomistic, but that doesn't mean his fans have. I can no longer relate to their happier sound.

No Picture bethan Average	#24 by bethan jones at Oct 15, 2007 at 3:45 AM EST
	This song was designed very carefully. It's got to be about them 'selling out'. Basically all of the opinions about it. It's the way it sounds that I don't like. I think he saying that they could have sold out a lot worse, and 'to get a break' is 'to get a break.

No Picture Tom Average	#25 by Tom Gregory at Oct 18, 2007 at 4:28 AM EST
	i like this new song a lot