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the velvet underground – heroin

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modified by : louis cuthbert ,

corrections / other questions : louis_cuthbert@hotmail . co . uk

adapted from :

: big thanks to spazomaniac for this version .

thanks for playing , please rate – and good luck learning .

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tuning ( not standard ) – ( lowest to highest : E A C# G B E )

this can be done without a tuner :

play the 4th fret on the a string and then tune down the D string slowly until they make
the same sound . ( it is not very far only 1 semitone / one fret down )

this is done so you can have a drone ( the C# string ringing ) all through the track .

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tried to get it closer to the album version i have

ideally – 1 guitar to play the riff and the second to strum the chords .

– but sounds good acoustic with one guitarist .

chords :

| C# – xx0121 |

| C#2 [ version 1 ] * – xx0322 |

| C#2 [ version 2 ] * – xx5322 |

| C#2 [ version 3 ] * – 2×0322 |

* note – the different versions of the chord can be used give the C#2 a building effect
similar to the way they do it on the track

also note – neither the E string or the a string are played open in any chord .

riff :

| : C# | C#2 : |

E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 3p2 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
B | – – – – – – – – – – – – 2 – – – – – – – – – – 2 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2 – – – – 2 – h4p2 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
G | – – – – – – – – – 1 – – – – – 1 – – – – – – – – – 1 – – – – – – – – – – – – – 3 – – – – – 3 – – – – – – – – 3 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
C# | – – – – – 0 – – – – – – – – – – – 0 – 0 – – – – – 0 – – – – – – – – – – 0 – – – – – – – – – – 0 – 0 – – – – 0 – – – ( let ring ) – – – – |
A | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |

here the drone is created by a pattern of strikes on the open C# string like : dum . . .
dum . dum . . . dum . . . dum . dum . . . etc .

same chords all the way through * , see above ^^ . just listen to the track to get the timing .

lyrics :
C# C#2 C# C#2 C# C#2 C# C#2
i don’t know just where i’m going

C# C#2 C# C#2 C#
but i’m gonna try for the kingdom if i can

C#2 C#
cuz it makes me feel like i’m a man

C#2 C#
when i put a spike into my vein

C#2 C#
then , i tell ya’ , things aren’t quite the same

C#2 C#
when i’m rushin’ on my run

C#2 C#
and i feel just like jesus’ son

C#2 C#
and i guess that i just don’t know

C#2 C#
and i guess that i just don’t know

C# C#2 C# C#2 C# C#2 C# C#2
i have made big decisions

C# C#2 C# C#2 C#
i’m gonna try to nullify my life

C#2 C#
cuz when the blood begins to flow

C#2 C#
when it shoots up the dropper’s neck

C#2 C#
when i’m closing in on death

after this line , morrison interjects with a riff B , which is to be repeated as necessary :

E | – – – – – 7 – – – 7 – – – 9 – – – 7 – – – – – – – – |
B | – – – – – 8 – – – 8 – – – 10 – – 8 – – – – – – – – |
G | – – – – – 7 – – – 7 – – – 9 – – – 7 – – – – – – – – |
C# | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
A | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |

C#2 C#
and you can’t help me , not you guys

C#2 C#
or all you sweet girls with all your sweet talk

C#2 C#
you can all go take a walk

C#2 C#
and i guess i just don’t know

C#2 C#
and i guess that i just don’t know

C# C#2 C# C#2 C# C#2 C# C#2
i wish that i was born a thousand years ago

C# C#2 C# C#2 C#
i wish that i’d sailed the darkened seas

C#2 C#
on a great big clipper ship

C#2 C#
going from this land here to that

C#2 C# C#2 C# C#2
ah , in a sailor’s suit and cap

C# C#2 C#
away from the big city

C#2 C#
where a man cannot be free

C#2 C#
of all of the evils of this town

C#2 C#
and of himself and those around

C#2 C#
oh , and i guess that i just don’t know

C#2 C#
oh , and i guess that i just don’t know

C# C#2 C#
heeeeeroin

C#2 C# C#2 C# C#2
be the death of me

C# C#2 C#
heeeeeroin

C#2 C#
it’s my wife and it’s my life

C#2 C#
because a mainline to my vein

C#2 C#
leads to a center in my head

C#2 C#
and then i’m better off as dead

C#2 C#
because when the smack begins to flow

C#2 C#
ah , i really don’t care anymore

C#2 C#
about all the jim – jims in this town

C#2 C#
and all the politicians makin’ busy sounds

C#2 C#
and everybody puttin’ everybody else down

C#2 C#
and all the dead bodies piled up in nam

play riff B a few times

C#2 C#
cuz when the smack begins to flow

C#2 C#
then i really don’t care anymore

C#2 C#
ah , when that heroin is in my blood

C#2 C#
and that blood is in my head

C#2 C#
then thank god that i’m good as dead

C#2 C#
and thank your god that i’m not aware

C#2 C#
and thank god that i just don’t care

C#2 C#
and i guess i just don’t know

C#2 C#
ah , and i guess i just don’t know

end on C#