Iron & Wine - House by the sea
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Capo: 4
Tuning: E A D G B E
This song is incredible and I've been wanting to play it acoustically for a while. The live version
finally helped me find a way to figure out approximately what Sam is playing.
Capo on the 4th fret in this live performance, the album version and Bonnaroo 2008 uses capo 3rd.
Most of the notes seemed to be correct from the other 2 versions posted of the song, but it didn't seem
as playable in the key of D as Sam makes it look in the live version playing in the (relative) key of C.
Feel free to correct if you can hear any notes I missed. This is my first tab and I mostly filled in what
felt natural for me to play for the few notes I couldn't clearly make out.
Note -- after watching the video a little more, I believe he's actually playing in something close to
D-A-C-G-A-D so that he can play 3p0 on the high D string instead of 6p3 on the B string (shown below),
and then he can also play 3-3/5-5/3-0 for the higher riff on that high D string instead of 6-6/8-6-3
on the B string. I'd rather just keep it in standard tuning and slide higher or play your classic
Dm shape with a slide/hammer up to Dsus and back to Dm. The other big difference the alternate tuning
allows is that the 3p1 in measures 2 and 4 on the B string can be an octave lower on the C string (2p0),
which really sounds like what he is using in the live videos.
[Intro Pickup] (end of riff below, he begins most of the verse lyrics over this part)
+ 4 +
e|-------|
b|(1)----|
g|-0-----|
d|-------|
a|-3p0h3-|
E|-------|
[Main Riff]
Dm + 2 + 3 + 4 + C + 2 + 3 + 4 + Dm + 2 + (triplet) C + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|-----S-----------|----------------|-----S--------------|----------------|
b|1/3--L-6p3~----3-|1---3p1~-(1)----|1/3--L-6--6/8-6--3--|1---3p1~-(1)----|
g|0----A-------0---|0---0-----0-----|0----A--------------|0---0-----0-----|
d|-----P-0---0--(0)|----------------|-----P-0--0---0--0--|----------------|
a|3/5--!-----------|3---3-----3p0h3-|3/5--!--------------|3---3-----3p0h3-|
E|-----!-----------|----------------|-----!--------------|----------------|
[Verse 1]
There is a Dmhouse by the Csea
Two jealous Dmsisters, they're waiting for Cme
And one is Dmlaid on the Cfloor
And one is Dmchanging the locks on the Cdoors
[Chorus 1]
And DmI've Cbeen Dmbuying the time on myC knees
And DmI've Cbeen Dmselling their blankets toC bleed Dmon
[Verse 2]
Around the Dmhouse by the Csea
The scent of Dmroses and raspberry Cleaves
And there is Dmsmoke in my Cclothes
Too much Dmtime with just smoke in my Cnose
[Chorus 2]
And DmI've Cbeen Dmmaking the meaning theyC lack
And DmI've Cbeen Dmburning that book they comeC back too-Dmoo
[Verse 3] (Cut to only plucking chord on beat 1)
There is a Dmhouse by the Csea
And an Dmocean between it and Cme
And like the Dmshape of a Cwave
The jealous Dmsisters will sing on myC grave
[Chorus 3] (Back to full Riff)
And DmI've Cbeen Dmliving to run where theyC led
And DmI've Cbeen Dmdying to rise from theiCr bed
And DmI've Cbeen Dmsparing my neck from theiCr chain
And Dmthey've Cbeen Dmchanging the sound of myC name
And DmI've Cbeen Dmswimming to them in myC sleep
And Dmwe've Cbeen Dmdreaming our love and ourC freeDmdom