Gavin Degraw — I Dont Want To Be (ver 2) Tab
Title: I Don't Want To Be
Artist: Gavin Degraw
Album: Chariot
Tuning: Standard (EADGBe)
Tabbed by: Ethan Austen (scarletmobius@hotmail.com)
Author's note: Most of the tabs for this song I've found so far seem to indicate
that I Don't Want To Be is played in the key of A. I find it odd how these tabs
weren't immediately corrected, seeing as if you play them along with the
CD (or Gavin in concert for that matter) you'll be a half step too high. So I've
rewritten the song here in the key of G#.
Intro Section (can be played on bass guitar throughout verse):
e|————————————————————————————|
B|————————————————————————————|
G|————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————|
A|—1—3——1—3——1—3——1—3——1—1—3——|
E|————————————————————————————|
Verse Section:
e|—————————|
B|———1———3—|
G|—3—0———3—|
D|—3—————3—| x 8
A|—————————|
E|—————————|
Repeat the above section 8 times. As represented, the above diads are A# and C.
The chord is A#.
Chorus Section:
e|—4—6—1—3—1|
B|—4—8—3—4—3|
G|—5—8—3—5—3|
D|—6—8—3—5—3|
A|—6—6—1—3—1|
E|—4————————|
The four chords above are:
(445664) = G# (establishing key of the song)
(68886—) = D#
(13331—) = A#
(34553—) = C#m
The strumming pattern can simply be to strum the first three chords four times
each, then the last chords two times each, such that:
G#,G#,G#,G#,D#,D#,D#,D#,A#,A#,A#,A#,C#m,C#m,A#,A#
Obviously, move advanced guitar technique may be incorperated into this formula.
Bridge Section:
e|———|
B|———|
G|—0—|
D|—0—|
A|———|
E|—3—|
The chord above is a 5 chord, however the actual chord expressed in the
song is Gm. It sounds best in this form when played on guitar. It can be played
like the chorus with rhythmic strumming.
Bridge Outro:
e|———————| e|—6—1—|
B|—1—————| B|—8—1—|
G|—0—3—2—| G|—8—2—|
D|———3—2—| D|—8—3—|
A|—3—1—0—| A|—6—3—|
E|———————| E|———1—|
More 5 chords for you. They are C, A#, A. They are played once each per bar, and
in chops, like if one would strike piano keys hard once per 5 chord.
The chords in the final bridge outro section are D# (like in the chorus) and F.
The Chords WITH the lyrics.
(Verse One)
Cm A# Cm A#
I don't need to be anything other —than a prison guard's son
Cm A# Cm A#
I don't need to be anything other —than a specialist's son
Cm A# Cm A# Cm
I don't have to be anyone other —than the birth of two souls in one
A# Cm D#
Part of where I'm going... —is knowing where I'm coming from
(Chorus)
G# D# A# C#m A#
I don't want to be anything other than what I've been trying to be lately
G# D# A# C#m A#
All I have to do is think of me and I have piece of mind
G# D# A#
I'm tired of looking 'round rooms wondering what I've got to do—
C#m A# G#
—or who I'm supposed to be
G# D# A# G#
I don't want to be anything other than me
(Verse Two)
Cm A# Cm A# Cm
I'm surrounded by liars —everywhere I turn
Cm A# Cm A# Cm
I'm surrounded by imposters —everywhere I turn
Cm A# Cm A# Cm
I'm surrounded by identity crisis —everywhere I turn
Cm A# Cm D#
Am I the only one who noticed? I can't be the only one who's learned
(Chorus)
(Bridge)
Gm
Can I have your attention please?
Gm
If you're not like this and that, you're gonna have to leave
(Bridge Outro)
C A# A
I came from the mountain
C A# A
The crust of creation
C A# A Cm D#
My whole situation———made from clay to stone
F
And now I'm telling everybody
(Chorus)
And that's about it. It's not a complicated song, but the message is strong
and it's extremely well written. Don't let the fact that the Warner Bros.
corporate hobgoblin snagged it for their new Dawson's Creek rehash series
"One Tree Hill" deter you from playing or learning this song. Have fun.
If I screwed up with any of this, contact me and I'll try to fix it.
~EA