The Smiths – How Soon Is Now (Guitar)

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Chords

Chords (in standard tuning, BTW):

  [Verse  Chorus]
   F# A  B  D  A C#m E
e| 2  -  -  -  5  4  0 |

B| 2  2  4  7  5  5  0 |
G| 3  2  4  7  6  6  1 |
D| 4  2  4  7  7  6  2 |
A| 4  0  2  5  7  4  2 |
E| 2  -  -  -  5  -  0 |

The opening "riff" is just the F# chord (2nd fret position) with loads of reverb, another way to get that "wavy" feeling from just playing the one chord is to position your hand to play the F# as I've shown you above, except hammer on the first-finger barre on the 2nd fret to begin the riff (^ = downstroke, v = upstroke):

   F#  ^ v ^ ^ ^ ^ ^   do this twice; the second time the lead guitarist
e|-----2-2-2-2-2-2-2-| (on tour, Johnny) plays:
B|-----2-2-2-2-2-2-2-| (4/5\4) just before the rhythm guitarist
G|-3---3-3-3-3-3-4-3-| (on tour, Craig Gannon) plays the next chords
D|-4---4-4-4-4-2-2-2-|
A|-4---4-4-4-4-4-4-4-|
E|-0(h)2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|

[Intro] F# F# F# A B F# F# F# A B [Verse 1]

         F#
I am the son and the heir

     A               B          F#
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar

                 F#
I am the son and heir

                        A B
Of nothing in particular

[Chorus]

D              A           E       C#m
 You shut your mouth, how can you say

  E                   F#
I go about things the wrong way ?

     B            D          A    E
I am Human and I need to be loved

C#m        E             F#
Just like everybody else does

[Interlude] F# F# F# A B F# F# F# A B [Verse 2]

         F#
I am the son and the heir

     A               B          F#
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar

                 F#
I am the son and heir

                            A B
Oh, of nothing in particular

[Chorus]

D              A           E       C#m
 You shut your mouth, how can you say

  E                   F#
I go about things the wrong way ?

     B            D          A    E
I am Human and I need to be loved

C#m        E             F#
Just like everybody else does

[Interlude] F# F# F# A B F# F# F# A B F# F# F# A B F# F# F# A B [Bridge]

            D                    A E
There's a club if you'd like to go

               C#m           E         F#
You could meet somebody who really loves you

       B                         D
So you go, and you stand on your own

A                      E
 And you leave on your own

        C#m              E
And you go home, and you cry

                 F#
And you want to die

[Interlude] F# F# F# A B F# F# F# A B F# F# F# A B F# F# F# A B [Bridge]

            D                    A  E
When you say it's gonna happen "now"

C#m           E               F#
 Well, when exactly do you mean?

         B        D          A  E
See I've already waited too long

C#m   E           F#
  And all my hope is gone

[Solo] F# F# F# A B F# F# F# A B F# F# F# A B F# F# F# A B B D A E C#m E F# B D A E C#m E F# F# F# F# A B F# F# F# A B F# F# F# A B F# F# F# A B [Chorus]

D              A           E       C#m
 You shut your mouth, how can you say

  E                   F#
I go about things the wrong way ?

     B            D          A    E
I am Human and I need to be loved

C#m        E             F#
Just like everybody else does

[Outro] F# F# F# A B F# F# F# A B F# F# F# A B F# F# F# A B (Fade out)