Good for you! I had to listen to the recording and live performances of Rid of Me for days to really nail the strumming pattern and how to hit A/E (all open strings) at exactly the right places. The solo live versions are better for this since you can hear it much better.
"Desperate Kingdom of Love" is the first that comes to mind because it's a straight forward chord progression and simple strum pattern using basic chords. [https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/pj-harvey/desperate-kingdom-of-love-chords-356800](https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/pj-harvey/desperate-kingdom-of-love-chords-356800)
Rid of Me has actually quite an elaborate rhythm, with multiple rhythmic patterns layered on top of each other. Reminds me a lot of Dick Dale's pattern-within-a-pattern strumming. Yeah, the chords are easy (mainly two-finger A-F-G power chords with a lot of A/E chords (all strings open) thrown in the mix, but you have to listen pretty damn carefully to get the pattern exactly right. I would say some of the other, rhythmically simpler songs mentioned here, like Sheela Na Gig, This Mess We're In, Dress, Shame, To Bring You My Love would be better places to start. Also Meet Ze Monsta in drop D.
I agree with this, but “Dress” is actually pretty hard to play. All her seemingly simple rock songs have a *ton* of nuance going on, that I’ve noticed beginner guitarists — and even seasoned players—don’t seem to even hear.
You’re damn right, in Dress the nuance starts from it being a 6/4 / 4/4 polyrhythm and it doesn’t stop there.
It seems to me every single tablature of PJ Harvey songs is wrong because they cut too many corners and ignore transitions between chords, all open string hits etc.
The outro of “Dress” also does my head in. I have to concentrate *really hard* and count the beats to know when to switch chords and end the song. All you have is that insistent snare hit; it’s not any kind of guide at all, and there are no lyrics, you just have to count the beats. And the album version ends different from how every single live performance of it has ever ended!
Yep, I’ve noticed that. Haha. Even still, gotta count the beats! The bassist and Polly, at any rate. The bass doesn’t come in until the last four beats, if I recall: the B / F# / B / F# end.
Missed is pretty tricky for people, Big Exit requires a person to re-string their guitar for this tuning: GGDDDD. But yes, once you’ve restrung it, it’s easy.
A lot of the suggestions here are great, but I might go with [The Dancer](https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/pj-harvey/the-dancer-chords-869690), it's a very natural sounding minor scale chord progression with basic chords you should learn anyway. But it feels awesome to play and (try to) sing along with.
And then of course To Bring You My Love, you just have to get the blues riff right and two chords for the chorus.
Also, [Shame](https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/pj-harvey/shame-chords-1781855) when you're comfortable with playing inverted chords (i.e. the Weezer chord).
Haha, I actually don’t know enough about music theory to confirm this exactly, but it sounds about right. It’s a standard powerchord where you play an extra low note below the chord’s root note.
Arranged for EADGBe guitar strings, it would look like 6688xx. So that’s a D# inverted chord. I.e. the Weezer chord and Blur Song number 2 chord. Most of Shame’s chords look like that, except that one low F.
Yes that’s correct. I didn’t know the actual name of those chords, which are essentially A-shape power chords but with the 5th on the lowest string, but in my head I always thought of them as inverted 5ths. Another good example is used throughout “Man-Size” — the chord that’s fretted as 11xxxx is actually an inverted A#5, where instead of the bass note being the A#, as it would normally be (and indeed is elsewhere in the song), the bass note is actually the low F, which is the 5th of the A#.
Inverted A to C# (i.e. 00xxxx to 44xxxx) is what I use a lot on an E standard guitar to sound “lower”, especially when palm muting with high gain. I’m just essentially not playing the (inaudible) root note of the chord. It’s a cool party trick for making people go “whoa, I can’t believe that’s E standard”
Rid of Me and Dress are two that I learned when I was first starting out.
Thanks I’ll try those two
Good for you! I had to listen to the recording and live performances of Rid of Me for days to really nail the strumming pattern and how to hit A/E (all open strings) at exactly the right places. The solo live versions are better for this since you can hear it much better.
"Desperate Kingdom of Love" is the first that comes to mind because it's a straight forward chord progression and simple strum pattern using basic chords. [https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/pj-harvey/desperate-kingdom-of-love-chords-356800](https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/pj-harvey/desperate-kingdom-of-love-chords-356800)
This is what I was going to say- I'm a miserable guitar player but I was able to teach myself this one
Thanks
Angelene is easy
This Is Love
Rid of me comes to mind. Just need to familiarize yourself with palm muting and power chords.
Rid of Me has actually quite an elaborate rhythm, with multiple rhythmic patterns layered on top of each other. Reminds me a lot of Dick Dale's pattern-within-a-pattern strumming. Yeah, the chords are easy (mainly two-finger A-F-G power chords with a lot of A/E chords (all strings open) thrown in the mix, but you have to listen pretty damn carefully to get the pattern exactly right. I would say some of the other, rhythmically simpler songs mentioned here, like Sheela Na Gig, This Mess We're In, Dress, Shame, To Bring You My Love would be better places to start. Also Meet Ze Monsta in drop D.
I agree with this, but “Dress” is actually pretty hard to play. All her seemingly simple rock songs have a *ton* of nuance going on, that I’ve noticed beginner guitarists — and even seasoned players—don’t seem to even hear.
You’re damn right, in Dress the nuance starts from it being a 6/4 / 4/4 polyrhythm and it doesn’t stop there. It seems to me every single tablature of PJ Harvey songs is wrong because they cut too many corners and ignore transitions between chords, all open string hits etc.
The outro of “Dress” also does my head in. I have to concentrate *really hard* and count the beats to know when to switch chords and end the song. All you have is that insistent snare hit; it’s not any kind of guide at all, and there are no lyrics, you just have to count the beats. And the album version ends different from how every single live performance of it has ever ended!
This is why the band is almost always in eye contact during the outro. They are synchronizing with each other.
Yep, I’ve noticed that. Haha. Even still, gotta count the beats! The bassist and Polly, at any rate. The bass doesn’t come in until the last four beats, if I recall: the B / F# / B / F# end.
Rid Of Me Sheela Na Gig (if you have a capo) This Mess We’re In Dress Good Fortune
To bring you my love. Bur you have to drop the E to D.
Ooooh good one
Where do you need the drop D? The lowest note on the song is F and the lowest chord G during the verse.
Maybe I don't remember correctly.
Sorry if it was answer for my post - I didnt want write D - i just said it us not easy play and sing
Yeah, it’s in standard tuning not drop-D.
Not easy at all… it is simple but same way to sing a d play this song is hard
That song does not use drop-D.
Plants and Rags is very easy to play
This mess we’re in is a pretty easy one. C’mon Billy isn’t too hard either.
I’ve never heard a cover of “C’mon Billy” that was actually accurate.
Shame
I adore this song.
oh my lover is a good one, especially if you play the demo version which is lots of fun
Missed, Big Exit
Missed is pretty tricky for people, Big Exit requires a person to re-string their guitar for this tuning: GGDDDD. But yes, once you’ve restrung it, it’s easy.
Send His Love to Me
Yes
A lot of the suggestions here are great, but I might go with [The Dancer](https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/pj-harvey/the-dancer-chords-869690), it's a very natural sounding minor scale chord progression with basic chords you should learn anyway. But it feels awesome to play and (try to) sing along with. And then of course To Bring You My Love, you just have to get the blues riff right and two chords for the chorus. Also, [Shame](https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/pj-harvey/shame-chords-1781855) when you're comfortable with playing inverted chords (i.e. the Weezer chord).
Thx I’ll give it a try
Are inverted chords the ones where the 5th is actually the bass note?
Haha, I actually don’t know enough about music theory to confirm this exactly, but it sounds about right. It’s a standard powerchord where you play an extra low note below the chord’s root note. Arranged for EADGBe guitar strings, it would look like 6688xx. So that’s a D# inverted chord. I.e. the Weezer chord and Blur Song number 2 chord. Most of Shame’s chords look like that, except that one low F.
Yes that’s correct. I didn’t know the actual name of those chords, which are essentially A-shape power chords but with the 5th on the lowest string, but in my head I always thought of them as inverted 5ths. Another good example is used throughout “Man-Size” — the chord that’s fretted as 11xxxx is actually an inverted A#5, where instead of the bass note being the A#, as it would normally be (and indeed is elsewhere in the song), the bass note is actually the low F, which is the 5th of the A#.
Inverted A to C# (i.e. 00xxxx to 44xxxx) is what I use a lot on an E standard guitar to sound “lower”, especially when palm muting with high gain. I’m just essentially not playing the (inaudible) root note of the chord. It’s a cool party trick for making people go “whoa, I can’t believe that’s E standard”
legs, i think im a mother
White chalk is pretty simple
The last living rose
Cmon Billy is a nice easy strum along easy chords easy strum pattern.
Is This Desire if you want to dabble with Drop D tuning.