Mr Brightside by The Killers – Acoustic guitar version – tab/chords

My acoustic version of Mr. Brightside by The Killers. Please note that this version is different to the original Killers track – this is my acoustic adaptation, played in a slightly lower key (A# major instead of C# major). This tab is exactly as I played the song in the above YouTube video.

To play my version, tune your guitar to drop D tuning and play with capo on fret 1.

Opening Riff (looped)
E|-------------0----------------------0----------------------0----------------------0----------
B|---------------12---------------------12---------------------12---------------------12-------
G|-------14---------14----------14---------14----------14---------14----------14---------14----
D|----14---------------14----14---------------14----14---------------14----14---------------14-
A|-12-------12------------11-------11----------------------------------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------12-------12------------12-------12------------

The next part is played on the bottom string, muted:
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------
D|-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Verse chords, strummed
  Coming out of my cage & I've been doing just fine, gotta gotta be down...
E|-0----------------0--------------------------0---------------------0--
B|-0----------------0--------------------------3---------------------3--
G|-2----------------1--------------------------2---------------------2--
D|-2----------------2--------------------------0---------------------0--
A|-0----------------0--------------------------0---------------------0--
D|---------------------------------------------0---------------------0--

When the second half of the verse kicks in, switch that first chord to a full A chord:
  Now I'm falling asleep...
E|-0----------------0--------------------------0---------------------0--
B|-2----------------0--------------------------3---------------------3--
G|-2----------------1--------------------------2---------------------2--
D|-2----------------2--------------------------0---------------------0--
A|-0----------------0--------------------------0---------------------0--
D|---------------------------------------------0---------------------0--

B-section chords (strummed)
  Chest now.... dress now, let me go...
E|-0------------0-----------------0-------------0----
B|-0------------0-----------------3-----------2h3----
G|-2------------1-----------------2-------------2----
D|-4------------2-----------------0-------------0----
A|-4------------2-----------------0-------------0----
D|-4------------2-----------------0-------------0----

Chorus chords (strummed)
 Jealousy, turning saints into the sea, swimming through sick..
E|-0-------0-----------------0----------0---------------
B|-2-------3-----------------0----------0---------------
G|-2-------2-----------------2----------1---------------
D|-2-------0-----------------4----------2---------------
A|-0-------0-----------------4----------2---------------
D|---------0-----------------4----------2---------------


During the second chorus, I start a new loop and record 4 bars of the the rhythm guitar into the loop pedal, then record the following motif on top after "cause I'm Mister Brightside..."

E|--------------------------------------------------
B|--------------------------------------------------
G|--6-----6-----7-----9-----7-----9-----7-----6-----
D|--------------------------------------------------
A|-----4-----4-----5-----7-----5-----7-----5-----4--
D|--------------------------------------------------

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

It’s kinda awkward to explain the timing of this riff, I play some of the notes seperately, and some together as chords – but this tab works I think. I’m sure you’ll find your own way! It’s easier finger picked than played with a plec. You could simplify it by removing all notes on the A string and just play it on one string.

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