#--------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship or research.#
#----------------------------------------------------------------------------#

Song title:      Bittersweet Symphony
Original Album:	 Urban Hymns (The Verve)

Words and Music by Richard Ashcroft
Copyright © 1997 Hut Records
Published by Virgin Music Publishing Ltd

Transcribed by Gavin Chart (contactus@gartfrets.net)


NOTES:
I've transcribed the basic violin melody in Guitar Figure 1.

Guitar Figure 1

let ring

  E              B7sus4           Asus4            A
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|-----0--------------------------|-3-------3____---2-------2____--|
|-1-------1-------2-------2____--|-----2---------------2----------|
|---------------------4----------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|

| 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & -| 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & -|


A cool way to play for solo acoustic guitar would be to incorporate
the chords with the melody thus:

INTRO figure

  E              B7sus4           Asus4            A
|-0---------------0--------------|--------------------------------|
|-0-------0-------0--------------|-3-------3~------2-------2~-----|
|-1---1-------1---2-------2~-----|-2---2-----------2---2----------|
|-2---------------4---4----------|-2---------------2--------------|
|-2---------------2--------------|-0---------------0--------------|
|-0------------------------------|--------------------------------|

| 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & -| 1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - & -|


This could be played in the INTRO and at the end of each VERSE line,
if you want. When you're singing, you don't really need the melody line.
Timing is 4/4.


INTRO:
Notes:
On the recording, the violin melody figure is played x10. But if you're a
solo acoustic guitar, it's probably enough x4. Just a suggestion...

Chords:
E       022100    Asus4 x02230
B7sus4  024200    A     x02220

[play: | E  B7sus4 | Asus4 A |]  [x2]

[play: Guitar Figure 1 over | E B7sus4 | Asus4 A |]  [x4]


VERSE:
Chords:
E       022100    Asus4 x02230
B7sus4  024200    A     x02220

            E      B7sus4 Asus4  A       | E B7sus4 | Asus4 A |
Cos' it's a bitter-sweet  sympho-ny that's life

       E         B7sus4         Asus4        A
Try to make ends meet, you're a slave to the money,

       | E B7sus4 | Asus4 A |
then you die.

              E        B7sus4  Asus4     A       | E B7sus4 | Asus4 A |
I'll take you down the only    road I've ever been down

             E        B7sus4           Asus4        A
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins

| E B7sus4 | Asus4 A |
  meet, yeah


CHORUS:
Notes:
You could use the VERSE voicings but these add a bit more dynamic.
Some nice open top strings, so sometimes the chord names are different.

Chords:
E   076900    E7sus4 x07700
Bm  79970x    Aadd9  x07600

E                Bm            E7sus4         Aadd9
No change, I can change, I can change, I can change,

        E          Bm          E7sus4     Aadd9
But I'm here in my mould, I am here in my mould.

          E                 Bm          E7sus4            Aadd9
But I'm a million different people from one    day to the next

        E               Bm      E7sus4     Aadd9  [| E  B7sus4 Asus4 A |] [x2]
I can't change my mould no, no, no,    no, no,   no, no


VERSE:
Chords:
E       022100    Asus4 x02230
B7sus4  024200    A     x02220

           E     B7sus4        Asus4     A   | E B7sus4 | Asus4 A |
Well, I’ve never prayed, but tonight I'm on my knees, yeah

          E         B7sus4      Asus4         A     | E B7sus4 | Asus4 A |
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah

          E      B7sus4        Asus4      A          | E B7sus4 | Asus4 A |
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now

        E            B7sus4            Asus4  A        | E B7sus4 | Asus4 A |
But the airwaves are clean and there's nobody singing to me now         


[repeat CHORUS]

[repeat VERSE1]

[repeat CHORUS]

        E               Bm      E7sus4     Aadd9  [| E  B7sus4 Asus4 A |] [x2]
I can't change my mould no, no, no,    no, no,   no, no
I can't change my mould no, no, no,    no, no,   no, no