Transcription for fingerpicking on acoustic guitar based on the original
dissonant version on "The Downward Spiral". I chose the notes in the chords such
as to match the "ugly" sound of the song, instead of modifying to the nearest
clean maj/min variants (which sounds to me more like the Johnny Cash cover).


Chord list
==========

The list of chords is a bit complicated because there's many variants and
unusual names. Some of the chords may be uncomfortable, or sound "wrong".

On the left side of the list you have the chord names (like A, Aaddb5(no3),
Asus2,...) and on the right side how they are played (like "x02220"). 

The "x02220" tells you which frets to hold, from the lowest string 
to the highest string. 'x' means that the string is silent, '0' means that 
you play the open string, '1' means that you hold the first fret, '2' the 
second fret, and so on.

For example, "Aaddb5(no3)  x0x240" means: for the chord "Aaddb5(no3)", don't
play the low E string, play the open A string, don't play the D string, hold
fret 2 on the G string, hold fret 4 on the B string, and play the open high E
string.


A             x02220
Aaddb5(no3)   x0x240
Asus2         x02200
Badd11(no5)   x2x440
Bbm           x13321
Bm            x24432
Bmadd11       x24430
Bo12          x24x31
Bsus4         x24400
Dadd9         xx0252
Dadd#9        xx0262
D11(no3,no5)  xx0020
Dsus2         xx0230
E7(no3)       xx243x
G6            355000
G+6(no3)      3xx040
                   

Some comments about the chord names:
 - 'o' in the name 'Bo12' is shorthand for 'dim'. 'Bo12' expanded means "B chord
   with a minor Third and diminished Fifth and an added (perfect) Twelfth (= Fifth)".
   Another way to write this might be: Bdimadd5.
 - 'no3'/'no5' mean that a chord has no Third/Fifth
 - '+' is shorthand for 'aug'
 - figuring out the chord names was complicated, so I can't guarantee that
   they're all right
 - see wikipedia's "chord names and symbols (popular music)" for more info


The Song
========

[Intro]

   x 4

[Verse]

     
     I hurt my

    
self to- day  

        
   to see if I

  
 still feel
    
         
     I focus  

    
 on   the pain

        
, the only  th

      
ing that's rea


l
    
         
   The needle 

   
tears a hole, 

        
  the old fami

  
liar sting

         
Try to kill it

   
 all   away, b

         
ut I remember 

 
everything

[Chorus]

              
   


    
    What have 

)     
I become?     

        
  My sweetest 

    
friend
    
    
    Everyone I

)     
 know    goes 

        
away      in t

    
he end

         
And you can ha

            
ve it all -   

         
 my empire of 

  
dirt

       
    I will let

            
 you down,    

        
 I will make y

      
ou hurt

[Verse]

       
  

     
   I wear this

     
 crown of shit

      
    upon my li

  
ar's chair

         
     Full of b

     
roken thoughts

      
      I cannot

 
   repair

         
   Beneath the

      
 stains of tim

      
e the feelings

    
 dis- appear

         
     You are s

   
omeone else - 

         
      I am sti

    
ll right here

[Chorus]

    
    What have 

)     
I become?     

        
  My sweetest 

    
friend

    
    Everyone I

)     
 know  goes aw

     
ay in the end

         
And you can ha

            
ve it all -   

         
 my empire of 

  
dirt

       
    I will let

            
 you down,    

         
 I will make y

      
ou hurt

[End Verse]

       
 If I could st

            
art again    a

         
 million miles

   
 away

       
    I would ke

            
ep myself,    

     
 I would find 

  
a          way


.


*slide up


Notes
=====

In the verses, the notes are picked individually in sequence. In the chorus, you
can play the notes simultaneously with three or four fingers until "... And you
can have it all", and from there play the chords in single powerful
down-strokes. The end verse is also played with down-strokes (not returning to
the sequential picking from the other verses).

In the verses, before it switches to Aaddb5(no3), you should probably keep the
ring finger on d' on the B string all the time.

I omitted a d'' (string 1, fret 10) in the verses (see E7(no3)) in the original
that is only playable in a higher position, but it sounds okay to play nothing,
a d' or maybe an f' in its place.

In the chorus, you might want to replace Dadd#9 with Dadd9, which is easier on
the ears and on the hand.

The progression for the ending is a crude approx of the real ending, with
the sudden heavy distorted bass and electric effects and so on. You might try
and hit the strings as hard and ugly as you can to match the spirit. ;)

In the end verse, maybe try hitting the lowest strings more (going for
a power-chord-ish sound, like B5/G5/A5).

The chords at the end at "I would find a way" are all one single stroke. The
"Bbm-Bm" indicates that you strike a Bbm and than slide the fingers one fret to
Bm.