ANSWERING MACHINE From: thesarge@mail.utexas.edu (Sergeant Scro) As best I can figure them out (recorded version uses an alternate tuning, I'm told): Verse: A-F#m A-E-F#m-B A-F#m Chorus: C#m-A-E-B (x4) From: Neil Young <4nwy@qlink.queensu.ca> Someone else has already posted the basics of this one, but here's my stab at a little elaboration. I don't believe there's any alternative tunings at work here. If anyone knows a more stunning solo electric song, email me and tell me about it. HINT: I don't think Paul uses a capo for this one, but 90% of the song can be played with _much_ greater ease by capo-ing off the second fret, especially the intro. If you want to do this, just subtract two from all the tabs and take the notes down a full step. Make sure you play the A-capoed-to-G as an F shaped barre chord. The only part you won't be able to do with a capo is the Asus2 part in the chorus. So cheat away! Intro Part (repeat this) e--------------------------------------------------------------------| B-------5--4--2--4-------------2-----4-------------------------------| G-------4--4--4--4--4-------4--4--4--4-------------------------------| D----4--4--4--4--4--4-------4--6--4--4-------------------------------| A----2-----2--2--2--2-------2--2--2--2-------------------------------| E--------------------------------------------------------------------| The rest of the song is a mixture of fairly standard chords (often with the lower strings strummed first and the higher ones played after) and fills. A E Try and breathe some life into a letter A Losing hope, never be e---2-----4--------------------------------| B---2-----4-----5----4---------------------| G---3-----4-----6----4---------------------| D---------------6----4---------------------| A------------------------------------------| E------------------------------------------| together A E My courage is at its peak you know what I mean {Chorus} e---2-----------------------------------------2----4-----------------| B---3------2----------2---0---0^ 2--2----------2----4----5-----4------| G---4------4---4------2---2---2----2----------3----4----6-----4------| D---4------4---4------2---2---2----2--------------------6-----4------| A---2------2---2------0---0---0----0---------------------------------| E--------------------------------------------------------------------| How do you say okay to an answering machine The chorus part repeats, then it goes back into the intro and then another verse. The "Try to free a slave of ignorance/teach a whore about romance" part is played over the verse section. The end goes something like this: e--2---------------------------| B--4--------------------4^3----| G--4--------------------4------| D--4--------------------4------| A--2--------------------2------| E------------------------------| Two one two! That about covers most of the song. Feel free to email me if this is a little unclear... (another entry...) Someone else has already posted the basics of this one, but here's my stab at a little elaboration. I don't believe there's any alternative tunings at work here. If anyone knows a more stunning solo electric song, email me and tell me about it. HINT: I don't think Paul uses a capo for this one, but 90% of the song can be played with _much_ greater ease by capo-ing off the second fret, especially the intro. If you want to do this, just subtract two from all the tabs and take the notes down a full step. Make sure you play the A-capoed-to-G as an F shaped barre chord. The only part you won't be able to do with a capo is the Asus2 part in the chorus. So cheat away! Intro Part (repeat this) e--------------------------------------------------------------------| B-------5--4--2--4-------------2-----4-------------------------------| G-------4--4--4--4--4-------4--4--4--4-------------------------------| D----4--4--4--4--4--4-------4--6--4--4-------------------------------| A----2-----2--2--2--2-------2--2--2--2-------------------------------| E--------------------------------------------------------------------| The rest of the song is a mixture of fairly standard chords (often with the lower strings strummed first and the higher ones played after) and fills. A E Try and breathe some life into a letter A Losing hope, never be e---2-----4--------------------------------| B---2-----4-----5----4---------------------| G---3-----4-----6----4---------------------| D---------------6----4---------------------| A------------------------------------------| E------------------------------------------| together A E My courage is at its peak you know what I mean {Chorus} e---2-----------------------------------------2----4-----------------| B---3------2----------2---0---0^ 2--2----------2----4----5-----4------| G---4------4---4------2---2---2----2----------3----4----6-----4------| D---4------4---4------2---2---2----2--------------------6-----4------| A---2------2---2------0---0---0----0---------------------------------| E--------------------------------------------------------------------| How do you say okay to an answering machine The chorus part repeats, then it goes back into the intro and then another verse. The "Try to free a slave of ignorance/teach a whore about romance" part is played over the verse section. The end goes something like this: e--2---------------------------| B--4--------------------4^3----| G--4--------------------4------| D--4--------------------4------| A--2--------------------2------| E------------------------------| Two one two! That about covers most of the song. Feel free to email me if this is a little unclear... From: benalto@alloymail.com Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1999 16:39:19 -0400 (EDT) With all due respect to Neil Young..there is an alternate tuning in this song. I was pickin up some guitar mag that's in the stands RIGHT NOW and there's Paul remarking that "Answering Machine" and "Alex Chilton" are in open-A tuning (E-A-E-A-C#-E) and this big cloud of confusion suddenly disappaited....I think it's also used in "Talent Show" as well...anyway back to Answering Machine. This song has always confused the fuck outa me, and still does, but here's some minor riffs I've figured out (all in open A) The Beginning: -0H2-------------------------------------------------- -0H2-3---2---------------------------------------------- -0H2--2---2--------------------------------------------- -0H2---2---2--4--2-------------------------------------- -0H2--------2--2---4------------------------------------ -0H2---------------------------------------------------- and then repeat...that C# on the A string is THERE but I can't exactly figure out how...I got the notes but not the order or rhythm exactly. on the part, the main verse part....take the first verse for an example A F#min Trying to breathe some life into a letter A E B Losing hope we'll never be together A F#min My Courage is at it's peak you know what I mean okay, now you can obviously play the A as just all the strings open, but he doesn't do this....he plays some bizarre chord cluster I haven't figured out yet. The F#min I'm SURE he's doing it this way... -2- -3- -2- -x- -4- -2- or you can just do -2- -3- -2- -x- -x- -2-(thumb) like a D major in normal position, with an added F#...but in the A tuning it's something really screwed up (how would YOU play an F# min. in open A??) when you play it this way on a guitar it sounds all fucked up, but when you play along with the song you hear all those notes. Remember there's a lot of guitars on the studio version, so there could be some in the background in standard tuning. I'm also referring to a couple live tapes I have... The Esus2-E Bsus2-B are TOTALLY easy with this tuning...you can do them like this: -7-7-7-7-7-2-2-2-2 -7-7-7-7-7-2-2-2-2 -9-9-9-9-7-4-4-4-2 -7-7-7-7-7-2-2-2-2 -7-7-7-7-7-2-2-2-2 -0-0-0-0-0- now, i'm sure you're all wondering "well how the fuck do you play a C# minor in Open-A"?? (this is the part "how do you say goodnight to an answering machine) -x- -3-3-2- -2-2-2-4-2- -4- -4- -x- so that's the "how do you say good" part..then on "night" he plays some weird A variation thing and then the cool as hell Esus2-E Bsus2-B part. Now, that last part..the part that's played over and over with the operator speaking over it...all i can figure out is that he's playing some variation of A, as if it was in standard tuning -0- -5- -6- -7- -0- -0- which in standard tuning is just an A but in this tuning turns out to be something wacked, like Asus2maj7/6...and sometimes i think he's playing a B (7) on the low E string on top of it. Maybe something like this?? -0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 (let ring) -5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5 -6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-0 -7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7 -0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 -7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-0 (you can play that 7 with your pinky) This isn't an attempt to do anything definitive...I just think now that we KNOW what the hell tuning the song is in maybe more talented people then I can figure it out..god if anyone figures out anything please email me, this song has vexed me for over 10 years now...and i'm pretty sure btw there's NO CAPO there's too many open Es for that. and remember this, as well - you can't get too complicated. That was the problem with standard tuning transcriptions, I kept thinking "Paul could play this completely hammered??" well, that's about it...hope this works for you. P.S. I think "Down Love" is in open A too....it's got all those suspended chords...Paul seems to love 'em to death. Who woulda thunk he'd have something in common with The Edge????? Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 12:56:19 -0400 From: Andrew Snee Answering Machine Chord names reflect a capo at second fret. Frets are counted up from the capo. Intro (/ indicates a slide) ?------------0-------------------------------------------------------| B------------5-------------2-----------------------------------------| G-----7-6----6-------------2-----------------------------------------| D-----7------7-------4-2---2-----------------------------------------| A--0-------0-----0-0-----0---------------------0---------------------| E-----------------------------3/5----(or)--7/3-----------------------| Verse A riff#1 F#7 ?---------------------------------0----------------------------------| B--3-2----------------------------0----------------------------------| G--0-0---(repeat)-----------------1-------(pick pieces of chord)-----| D--0-0----------------------------0----------------------------------| A---------------------------------2----------------------------------| E--3------------------------------0----------------------------------| Try to breathe some life into a letter . . . A riff #1 Losing hope, never be . . . E B (play these wherever you see E and B) ?---0------------2-2-------------------------------------------------| B---3------------3-3------2-2-2-2------------------------------------| G---2-(5 times)--2-2------4-4-4-2------------------------------------| D---0------------0-0------2-2-2-2------------------------------------| A-----------------------0-------0------------------------------------| E--------------------------------------------------------------------| A riff#1 F#7 My courage is at its peak, you know what I mean . . . Chorus: (Doesn't always play high e string) C#m A riff#2 ?--2-2-2----0-----2-----7/5--5/3--3----------7/5---5/7---7-----------| B--3-3-2----0-----2-----7/5--5/3--3----------7/5---5/7---7-----------| G--4-4-4----4-----4-----0----0----0----(or)--0-----0-----0-----------| D--4-4-4----4-----4-----0----0----0----------0-----0-----0-----------| A--2-2-2----2-----2--------------------------------------------------| E-----------------------7/5--5/3--3----------7/5---5/7---7-----------| How do you say, "I'm OK," . . . E B To an answering machine? End: A riff#1 E B I hate your answering machine. Outro: B E ?----5----5----------------------------------------------------------| B----5----5------2-2-2/7---7-7-7-------------------------------------| G----2----2------4-2-2/9---9-9-7-------(repeat)----------------------| D--2----2--------2-2-2/7---7-7-7-------------------------------------| A--0----0----0-0-----------0-----------------------------------------| E--------------------------------------------------------------------| (operator voice) Date: Sun, 06 Jul 2003 21:31:15 +0000 From: Dan Turner Hey all you guys!!! I think after a few hours fiddling I've cracked the tuning conundrum behind the beautiful ANSWERING MACHINE. Tune your guitar to E-B-E-A-B-E (E sus4 open tuning). Bear in mind I'm doing this from memory so the exacts may not be here, but this should start you off. Also, I'm reluctant to believe Westenberg ever played this in Open A. Guitarists and ßands often deliberately throw people off the scent to start debates, check out Ritchie Blackmores' demonstration of 'Smoke...' on Deep Purple's classic albums documentary (where he deliberately shows the 'correct' fingering incorrectly). They never give away their tricks!!!! Heres the intro... Have fun!!! Dan Turner- England July 2003. Nighttime.(danturner81@hotmail.com) E----------------------------------------- B----------------------------------------- A----------7----6------------------------- E----5/-7---7----7-----5/-4-0-7-7-9/-5-5/7 B----------------------------------------- E----5/-7-----7----7---5/-4-0-7-7-9/-5-5/7 etc. Figure the rest out for yourselves!!!! The verse is roughly something like this. E---------------------------------------------------2-------------2------------ B---------------------------------------------------2-------------2------------ A---7--7--6-----7-----6-----7-----6-----7-----6-----2-------------2------------ E---7--7--7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-----2-------------2------------ B---------------------------------------------------2-------------2------------ E---5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5-----2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2 Basically from an Asus4 to A maj thing to an F#sus4 for the change. Then its the A thing again.. but instead of the F#sus4 its something like this.... E------------------------ B--7-7-7-9--------------- A--7-7-7-7----4-2-4-2-2-- E--7----------2-2-2-2-2-- B--0----------0-----0-0-- E------------------------ Then repeat the Asus4 to F#sus4 thing again. Now... the mysterious 'How do you say OK to an answering machine' bit. E---------------------------------------------- B---5-5-4---2---4-9-7-7-9-7-7-7-9-------------- A---4-4-4---4---4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9--4-2-4-2-2--- E---4-4-4---4---4-7-7-7-7-9-9-9-9--2-2-2-2-2--- B---2-2-2-2-2-2-2------------------0-----0-0--- E---------------------------------------------- and repeat.. See that for the most part all these chords are basic major minor and suspended fingerings played in a different tuning? You should be able to figure out the rest for yourselves, and please feel free to e-mail us and tell me I'm completely wrong or point out any mistakes I've made. There are bound to be a few. This has been done from memory and not the record. Have fun with this!!!! From: "Thomas Taylor" Subject: Westerberg Chords Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 18:33:04 -0500 Back on the Dont Tell a Soul tour I waited outside the State Theater in Detroit with my girl friend Jaimie Johnson (where she is now I don’t know, Atlanta I heard). But anyways, I met Slim first (One of the coolest motherfuckers on the planet). He spoke about Paul's tendency to play partial chords and "Paul's version" of alternate tunings, The way he's done it all these years: deceptively simple, completely his own and out right genius. I was reading the chords you published for "Answering Machine" and they differ from what Paul actually told me that night. He said he tunes the guitar to open E and capos on the 1st or 2nd fret (that part is a little vague). Try it, once you figure out chord forms in this tuning it makes all the sense in the world. It is obvious he used this tuning. Anyway, I'm just glad I remembered . He's a gracious guy, Stinson NOT SO MUCH. Paul even came back off the bus to shake a pleading girl's hand (Jaimie's) and sign her cigarette pack. What a night. Sincerely, Taylor From: Rocket Robin Hood Subject: Answering Machine tab-update Date: Sun, 24 Oct 2004 14:24:59 -0500 Not harping or blowing my own horn or anything, but was pleased to see video footage for the first time of Paul playing Answering Machine and was pleased to find it conformed pretty much to how I envisioned the song would be played. A few things of interest, which I'll add at the bottom of the TAB when I get a chance (working on my Left Of The Dial tab right now and that's gonna take a bit). This doesn't detract or correct from my original tab, just some live variations: He plays the intro with 2 different "hand" positions - the notes/frets are all correct. But I play it by barring the whole second fret and fiddling from there; live, to combine the rhythm and lead he plays the "trickle of notes" sections by placing his fingers like so: --- -3 (then 2) (first finger) -2- (second finger) --- -2- (1st finger) --- and THEN jumping to barre the whole thing when it's time to do the slid-ey thing. This allows him to do the common live variation -------------------------------------- -3-------2--------0-------0------------ ---2-------2--------2-----2----------- --------------------------2----------- ------2------2---------2--2----------- -------------------------------------- The A-F# part in the verses are often not embellished live (especially in the later years) like they are on the demos and of course the original version. A lot of times he'll play the A like this: -0- -0- -0- -0- -7- -5- and the F# like a power chord- -x- -x- -x- -x- -4- -2- before "ringing" it not with the overtly tricky way I do (which was, btw, to emulate the original recording) but with the simpler: -2- -5- -2- -2- -4- -2- There's a couple more but those are the main ones. Otherwise, everything, the jumping to the seventh fret - 2nd fret for the Bsus-Esus workout, blahblahblah.