Guitar Tab:Slow
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| Slow |
| By: They Might Be Giants |
| Key: C Mixolydian |
| Year: 2026 |
| Tabbed By: sapphirebullets |
This song is in 19-Tone Equal Temperament (TET), meaning the octave is divided into 19 notes. 19-TET is special, in that it contains notes very similar to the typical 12-TET ones, so if you can bend precisely, you could attempt to play this on a normal instrument. microharmonic.com is a great site for pitch references, and it shows you the cent value of each note too, if you're into the math side of theory.
The song revolves around the normal, 12-TET C note, so for simplicity, any other note will be notated with a number, and a ± depending on if the note is above or below the home base of C.
As mentioned above, a lot of 19-TET notes are similar to 12-TET ones, so I'll also include a version below with the 12-TET note names, and a ±X cents with how close it is to the normal note, e.g. Bb+11.
Good luck.
====Numbers Version====
||: -3 C :||
-3 C -3 C
You accidentally mixed the magic potion bottles up
-3 C -3 C
And drank the one that slows reality down
C +1
Until now, you never noticed
+2 +3
The subtle interplay of colors and shapes all around you
+4 +5
And the underlying harmonious randomness
C +1
You never realized how much
+2 +3
The hideous architectural choices of the last 50 years
+4 +5
Have profaned and desecrated this world
-3 C
In groping for the antidote
-3 C -3 C
You accidentally swallow even more
-3 C
Of what is slowing down time
[Can't Keep Johnny Down Interlude]
(all single notes, each arpeggio/riff separated by a |. if a note is an octave down, it has a ↓ next to it.)
||: -2 C +11 |-5 C +8 | -8 C +6 | -11 C +3 | C -2 C +3 :||
oct. down | -2 C +11 | -3 C +10 | -4 C +9 | -5 C +8 | -6 C +7 | -7 C +6 | -8 C +5 | -9 C +4 | -10 C +3 | -11 C +3 | -11 C |
C +1
All of the coded expressions and gestures
+2 +3
That used to be inscrutable are now transparent
+4 +5
And it's obvious what everyone is thinking and what they really mean
C +1
Hyperaware but unable or unwilling to express
+2 +3
Your newfound godlike knowledge
+4 +5
You sit atop a mountain and silently observe
-3 C -3 C
You jump, you fall, continue to decelerate
-3 C
Secure in knowing at this rate
-3 C
You'll never reach the ground
-4 -3 -2 C
====Note Names Version====
||: Bb+11 C :|| x2
Bb+11 C Bb+11 C
You accidentally mixed the magic potion bottles up
Bb+11 C Bb+11 C
And drank the one that slows reality down
C C#-37
Until now, you never noticed
C#+26 D-11
The subtle interplay of colors and shapes all around you
D+53 Eb+16
And the underlying harmonious randomness
C C#-37
You never realized how much
C#+26 D-11
The hideous architectural choices of the last 50 years
D+53 Eb+16
Have profaned and desecrated this world
Bb+11 C
In groping for the antidote
Bb+11 C Bb+11 C
You accidentally swallow even more
Bb+11 C
Of what is slowing down time
[Can't Keep Johnny Down Interlude]
||: B-26 C G-5 |A-16 C F+5 | G-5 C E-21 | F+5 C D-11 | C B-26 C D-11 :||
oct. down | B-26 C G-5 | Bb+11 C F#+32 | A+47 C F#-32 | A-16 C F+5 | Ab+21 C E+42 | Ab-42 C E-21 | G-5 C Eb+16 | F#+32 C D+53 | F#-32 C D-11 | F+5 C D-11 | F+5 C |
C C#-37
All of the coded expressions and gestures
C#+26 D-11
That used to be inscrutable are now transparent
D+53 Eb+16
And it's obvious what everyone is thinking and what they really mean
C C#-37
Hyperaware but unable or unwilling to express
C#+26 D-11
Your newfound godlike knowledge
D+53 Eb+16
You sit atop a mountain and silently observe
Bb+11 C Bb+11 C
You jump, you fall, continue to decelerate
Bb+11 C
Secure in knowing at this rate
Bb+11 C
You'll never reach the ground
A+47 Bb+11 B-26 C
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