Midnight Oil

Surfing With A Spoon

Midnight Oil

tabs

save to print version add songbook text version e-mail correct tuner
chordsukulelecavacokeyboardtabbassdrumsharmonicaflute Guitar Pro
close

there isn't a video lesson for this song

chords

Surfing With A Spoon

Year: 1978 - Album: Midnight Oil

Written by Peter Garrett/Peter Gifford/Rob Hirst/Jim Moginie/Martin Rotsey

	  		Transcribed by... Jeff Scott 
 
Intro: 
 
E---12-----12--------|---11-------11-----|---------9-----------| 
B------9-------9-----|------9--------9---|------10-----10------| 
G--------9-------9---|--------9--------9-|----9-----------9----| 
D------------------9-|-------------------|-11---------------11-| 
A--------------------|-------------------|---------------------| 
E--------------------|-------------------|---------------------| 
 
 
E----------------------|--------12-------|---11-------11-----| 
B----------------------|-----9-----9-----|------9--------9---| 
G-------9-------9------|-----9--------9--|--------9--------9-|etc.. 
D----11------11-----11-|----9------------|-------------------| 
A-12------11------9----|-7---------------|-------------------| 
E----------------------|-----------------|-------------------| 
 
intro repeats until finish on chords:  E   D   C   Bb 
 
Now the tricky bit - the verses.  As far as I can work out the verse line  
is over an Em or possibly Em7 played on the 7th fret.  Between lines is  
this riff: 
 
E-----------------|-------------------| 
B-----------------|-------------------| 
G-----------------|-------------------| 
D------2---0------|-------------------| 
A-----------------|-2-1-0-------------| 
E--0--------------|--------4-3-0------| 
 
The chorus has got me stuffed for the moment as well: 
 
Em 
Working in the city from nine to five 
? 
Traffic on the highway gonna blow my mind 
? 
Surfing with a spoon all the rest of the time 
   D 
Oh yeah, all the rest of the time 
 
 
The first guitar solo is an interesting one.  When I saw this song live 
in December I realised that the first solo is actually played entirely 
on harmonics.  The bends on some notes are done by bending the string 
behind the nut.  On my guitar this has the effect of putting the strings 
out of tune very quickly, and I have to use the "merry go round" keyboard 
bit to quickly retune them.  
 
Harmonics solo 
 
E-------------------|------------------|-----------------|---------------| 
B-------------------|------------------|-----------------|---------------| 
G-----------|------------|-----------|-~~~~~~~----| 
D-------------------|------------------|-----------------|---------------| 
A-------------------|------------------|-----------------|---------------| 
E-------------------|------------------|-----------------|---------------| 
 
E---------------|---------------|------------------| 
B---------------|---------------|------------------| 
G---------------|---------------|-~~~~~~~~~-----| 
D-------------------|------------------|------------------| 
A-------------------|------------------|------------------| 
E-------------------|------------------|------------------| 
 
Then Martin plays harmonic slashes across the 12th, 7th, 5th and 9th  
frets - I haven't worked in exactly what order! 
 
Then we get to the "Merry Go Round" keyboard bit (which is where,  
in recent live shows, they have segued into the intro of Powderworks),  
then the second guitar solo. 
 
Then back to the last verse and chorus, and finishes on the E D C Bb  
chords like in the intro. 
 
Anyone who can fill in the gaps wins a prize! 
 
(ps - it wasn't me who offered the prize - mkelly) 

		  

Full key step upFull key step up
Half key step upHalf key step up
Half key step downHalf key step down
Full key step downFull key step down
auto scroll beats size up size down change color hide chords drawings
tab show chords e-chords YouTube Clip e-chords hide all tabs e-chords go to top tab