Modest Mouse – Back To The Middle (Guitar Tab)

Video Lesson
Versions (3)

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Alternate the main riff with the open A and E strings to sound like the album as shown... Both these notes are in key throughout so you can get pretty loose with them or if needed play at the same time as the riff notes and it will still sound just fine
[intro]
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|-11----11----11----11----13-------14-------14---|-11----11----11----11----13-------14-------14---|
A|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|
E|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|
[repeat intro]
[verse]
  "back to the middle and dont you remember"             "every day was another fish tank and your"
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|-11---------------------------------------------|-11---------------------------------------------|
A|-0----------------------------------------------|-0----------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

  "head swims around and you wrote us a letter"            "sayin' things will get much better goes"
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|
E|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|

  "back to the middle and dont you remember"           "every night there's a tiny porch light in our"
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|-11---------------------------------------------|-11---------------------------------------------|
A|-0----------------------------------------------|-0----------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

  "chest pulls clouds of bugs to flutter"              "we felt loved as they carried us carried us"
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|
E|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|

  "back to the middle and don't you remember"       "our head is a cage and the parrot loves to talk"
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|-11----11----11----11----13-------14-------14---|-11----11----11----11----13-------14-------14---|
A|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

*hit that distortion pedal
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|-13---13---13-13-13-13-13--8--8--8--8--9--9--9--|-13---13--13-13-13-13-13---13-16-16-14-14-13-13-|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-11---11---11-11-11-11-11--6--6--6--6--7--7--7--|-11---11--11-11-11-11-11---11-14-14-12-12-11-11-|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|-6-----6-----6--6--6----8--8--8--9--9--9--9-----|-6-----6-----6--6--6-----4--4--4--4---2--2--2---|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-4-----4-----4--4--4----6--6--6--7--7--7--7-----|-4-----4-----4--4--4-----2--2--2--2---0--0--0---|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|-13---13---13-13-13-13-13--8--8--8--8--9--9--9--|-13---13---13-13-13-13-13--8--8--8--8--9--9--9--|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-11---11---11-11-11-11-11--6--6--6--6--7--7--7--|-11---11---11-11-11-11-11--6--6--6--6--7--7--7--|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|-13---13---13-13-13-13-13--8--8--8--8--9--9--9--|-13---13---13-13-13-13-13--9--9--9--8--8--6--6--|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-11---11---11-11-11-11-11--6--6--6--6--7--7--7--|-11---11---11-11-11-11-11--7--7--7--6--6--4--4--|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|-6-----6-----6--6--6----8--8--8--9--9--9--9-----|-6-----6-----6--6--6-----4--4--4--4---2--2--2---|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-4-----4-----4--4--4----6--6--6--7--7--7--7-----|-4-----4-----4--4--4-----2--2--2--2---0--0--0---|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

 *back to clean
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|
E|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|

[verse 2]
  "we built a cabin and we built a castle"        "I just don't believe it was worth all the hassle you know?"
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|-11---------------------------------------------|-11---------------------------------------------|
A|-0----------------------------------------------|-0----------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|
E|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|

  "we lived in cities and we lived in caves"         "I guess I'd like to go back to the middle again"
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|-11---------------------------------------------|-11---------------------------------------------|
A|-0----------------------------------------------|-0----------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|
E|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|

  "back to the middle and don't you remember"       "our head is a cage and the parrot it won't shutup"
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|-11----11----11----11----13-------14-------14---|-11----11----11----11----13-------14-------14---|
A|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

*distortion
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|-13---13---13-13-13-13-13--8--8--8--8--9--9--9--|-13---13--13-13-13-13-13---13-16-16-14-14-13-13-|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-11---11---11-11-11-11-11--6--6--6--6--7--7--7--|-11---11--11-11-11-11-11---11-14-14-12-12-11-11-|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|-6-----6-----6--6--6----8--8--8--9--9--9--9-----|-6-----6-----6--6--6-----4--4--4--4---2--2--2---|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-4-----4-----4--4--4----6--6--6--7--7--7--7-----|-4-----4-----4--4--4-----2--2--2--2---0--0--0---|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|-13---13---13-13-13-13-13--8--8--8--8--9--9--9--|-13---13---13-13-13-13-13--8--8--8--8--9--9--9--|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-11---11---11-11-11-11-11--6--6--6--6--7--7--7--|-11---11---11-11-11-11-11--6--6--6--6--7--7--7--|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

                                       *get a little bendy and rowdy here*
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|-13---13---13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13--|-13-13-13-13-13-13-13-13---9--9--9--8--8--6--6--|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-11---11---11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11--|-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11---7--7--7--6--6--4--4--|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|-6-----6-----6--6--6----8--8--8--9--9--9--9-----|-6-----6-----6--6--6-----4--4--4--4---2--2--2---|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-4-----4-----4--4--4----6--6--6--7--7--7--7-----|-4-----4-----4--4--4-----2--2--2--2---0--0--0---|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

  *clean*
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|
E|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|

[verse 3]
  "back to the middle and dont you remember"             "now and then we would take out a ladder and"
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|-11---------------------------------------------|-11---------------------------------------------|
A|-0----------------------------------------------|-0----------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

  "see if we wanna climb to the heavens or"               "shift our gaze climb down to never go"
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|
E|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|

  "back to the middle and dont you remember"           "every winter we would wish it were warmer and"
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|-11---------------------------------------------|-11---------------------------------------------|
A|-0----------------------------------------------|-0----------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|

  "every summer I would knit you a sweater"              "scratch words in the dirt to remember that"
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|
E|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|

[outro]
  "we're up here right now not forever we'll be pulled right back down to the middle again"
e|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|-14----14----14----14----14-------12-------11---|
E|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0--------0-|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--0-----0------0---|
Modest Mouse - Back To The Middle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZtKm5BHPhY Shoutouts to Isaac for writing this one, thought I'd finally tab one out as a payback for all the tabs I've used over years :)