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Muse
The Smallprint
written by Matt Bellamy
Tabbed by:Gary Roberts
Tuning: D,A,D,G,B,E
Intro.
E | ----------------------------------------
B |-----------------3-----------------------
G |-----------------------------------------
D |--------3-4-3-4-----3-4-3---------------- (x 12)
A |-----------------------------------------
D |-----------------------------------------
Verse
E |----------------------------------------------------------------------------
B |----------------------------------------------------------------------------
G |--7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--9-9-9---11-11-11-11--12-12-12-12-12-12---14-14-14-14-14--
D |--x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x--x-x-x---x--x--x--x---x--x--x--x--x--x-----x--x--x--x--x--
A |--5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5--7-7-7---9--9--9--9---10-10-10-10-10-10---12-12-12-12-12--
D |----------------------------------------------------------------------------
E |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G |-16-16-16-16-16--17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-17---------------
D |--x--x--x--x--x---x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x---------------
A |-14-14-14-14-14--15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15---------------
D |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Chorus
E | ----------------------------------------
B |-----------------3-----------------------
G |-----------------------------------------
D |--------3-4-3-4-----3-4-3---------------- (x 8)
A |-----------------------------------------
D |-----------------------------------------
E |------------------------------------------------------------
B |------------------------------------------------------------
G |--4-4-------------------------------------------------------
D |--4-4--4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4---- (x2)
A |--2-2--4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4----
D |-------4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4----
E |----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B |----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G |--9-9-9-9-9-9-9--10-10-10-10-10-4-4-----------------------------------------------
D |--x-x-x-x-x-x-x--x--x--x--x--x--4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-
A |--7-7-7-7-7-7-7--9--9--9--9--9--2-2-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-
D |------------------------------------4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-4-4-4-4-4-4--
E |----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B |----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G |-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-------------------7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--------------------------------
D |-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9--7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7---4-4-4-4-4--5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-
A |-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5---4-4-4-4-4--5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-
D |------------------7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--------------------4-4-4-4-4--5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-
(Repeat verse, pre-chorus and chorus)
Solo
E |----------------------------------------------------
B |-----------3---------------3-4-3--------------------
G |---------------------------------4------------------ ( x3)
D |---3-4-3-4---4-3-4-3-4-3-4--------------------------
A |----------------------------------------------------
D |----------------------------------------------------
(Repeat intro 8 times then chorus)
end on.......
D |----9--------
A |----9--------
D |----9--------
Brought to you by the GUITARMASTA - http://www.guitarmasta.net
Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
|
No Picture
Mikel Average |
#1 by Mikel A. at Jul 21, 1973 at 4:29 AM EST |
| There's hardly any comments on this song! I'm not that sure about the meaning... but I love the song... and think I agree with steppingonshadows interpritation of it for now... | |
|
No Picture
Mike Average |
#2 by Mike Murphy at Oct 16, 1975 at 7:21 PM EST |
| Yes, it's Muse's best, but I have my own idea on what it's about: have you ever read "The Girl In The Box"? It's a book about a true story - how a criminal kept a woman prisoner. He was into B&D kinda stuff. He made her sign a contract to be his slave that included giving her his "soul". That was the only part she disagreed with. Good book, too. | |
|
No Picture
*Lee Average |
#3 by *Lee * at Feb 8, 1976 at 3:10 AM EST |
| Yep def their best song but so few ppl know it. Oh well. I've heard erod's interpretation before somewhere... | |
|
No Picture
Chad Wanna Be |
#4 by Chad Barri at Sep 7, 1982 at 11:13 AM EST |
| I believe this song falls correctly to where we lie today in society. This is a fairly corporate song. The idea of selling "propaganda" to mankind, to help them forget on what's happening around them or "the small print" on the contract. It's the beginning of the end, and it's taking advantage of humankind, is what this is about. The worshipping of false idols (like evil dictators, or whomever runs the government). If you do know the truth, you will be labeled as being "insane", because only the government knows the truth and they "bend it". | |
|
No Picture
John Wanna Be |
#5 by John Merritt at Nov 20, 1993 at 1:06 AM EST |
| I agree with Erod, this has got to be about the story of Faustus, i thought that as soon as i heard it | |
|
No Picture
Dan Average |
#6 by Dan Flores at Jan 10, 1994 at 9:55 PM EST |
| yeh the propoganda theory makes sense :O) im amazed more people haven't commented on this song the small print of being part of society is being blinded by propoganda and being guilty for all the deaths that society causes whether its by neglecting vulnerable people or paying our taxes do that the government can bomb hospitals etc | |
|
No Picture
simon Average |
#7 by simon cody simon at Feb 29, 1996 at 2:34 PM EST |
| This song makes me think about someone selling their soul. It's easy for someone to say take all you need. In the modern world of consumerism, how many people only take what they need? Ever been convinced to take the free item you don't need that comes with a product? The reference to selling the memories for 15 pound per year states that people are selling themselves short. If you could pay to have all those good memories back, what would you be willing to offer? Be aware of the value fo what you're trading with. I also think thought should be given to the line: i'm the priest God never paid. If someone is happy doing gods work, spreading the word they should not need to be compensated in a monetary way for it anyway? Any true priests will be aware they'll recieve their ultimate reward in heaven. A lot has to be said of faith. those with it are among the richest people in the world. Don't let anyone talk you into thinking it's worthless. X | |
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No Picture
dimebag 66' Average |
#8 by dimebag 66' at Sep 10, 1997 at 1:46 AM EST |
| god this is probably my favorite muse song, i think it's about someone who is overly greedy and thinks the world revolves around them and everyone loves them but really no one cares about them | |
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No Picture
TAMARA Musical Genius |
#9 by TAMARA at Oct 1, 1997 at 6:24 PM EST |
| one of muse's best | |
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No Picture
Sawyer Rhythm Player |
#10 by Sawyer Hildebrandt at Jun 21, 2006 at 10:37 AM EST |
| I think this is quite clearly about the corporate world, and how people are drawn into schemes set by greedy business men to steal their money. "Take all you need and I'll compensate your greed with broken hearts", could possibly represent what looks like amazing bargains or deals, but in the end you'll be left with a "broken heart" as a result. By the title, it's obviously about the small print. People neglect to read the small print, they only read the titles or enboldened text that "bends the truth". In the end, the victim to the deal will be to blame for all the life that they've lost. "I'm the priest God never paid" could suggest that the one making this offer is showing unbridled generousity that is more commonly shown by a priest. Only in this case, there's a catch. It's a very, very interesting song. The easiest and perhaps most fascinating Muse song to read into. The priest god never paid caught my attention for some reason. | |
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