Helplessness Blues chords by Fleet Foxes (Official Version)

GuitarPianoUkulele

Eb
Ab/Eb
Ebmaj7
Ab
Fm
Fm7
Eb/G
Eb/Bb
Dbsus2
Ab/C

Intro 1

Verse 1
Eb 
I was  (E flat major) raised up believing
Ab/Eb 
I was  (A flat/Eb) somehow  unique
Ebmaj7 
Like a  (E flat minoraj7) snowflake
distinct among snowflakes,
Ab/Eb 
Eb 
u (A flat/Eb) nique    in each way you can  (E flat major) see
Eb 
And now  (E flat major) after some thinking,
Ab/Eb 
I'd say  (A flat/Eb) I'd      rather be
Ebmaj7 
A  (E flat minoraj7) functioning cog in some great machinery
Ab/Eb 
Eb 
 (A flat/Eb) serving  something beyond  (E flat major) me

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Chorus 1

But I don't, I don't know what that will be

I'll get back to you someday soon

you will see

Verse 2
Eb 
What's my  (E flat major) name, what's my station?
Ab/Eb 
Oh, just  (A flat/Eb) tell     me what I should do
Ebmaj7 
I don't  (E flat minoraj7) need      to be kind to the armies of night
Ab/Eb 
Eb 
that would  (A flat/Eb) do       such injustice to  (E flat major) you
Eb 
Or bow  (E flat major) down and be grateful
Ab/Eb 
and say,  (A flat/Eb) "Sure,   take all that you see"
Ebmaj7 
To the  (E flat minoraj7) men       who move only in dimly-lit halls
Ab/Eb 
Eb 
and de (A flat/Eb) termine  my future for  (E flat major) me

Chorus 2

And I don't, I don't know who to believe

I'll get back to you someday soon

you will see

Verse 3
Eb 
If I  (E flat major) know only one thing,
Ab/Eb 
it's that  (A flat/Eb) everything that I see
Ebmaj7 
Of the  (E flat minoraj7) world     outside is so inconceivable
Ab/Eb 
Eb 
 (A flat/Eb) often    I barely can  (E flat major) speak
Eb 
Yeah I'm  (E flat major) tongue-tied and dizzy
Ab/Eb 
and I  (A flat/Eb) can't    keep it to myself
Ebmaj7 
What  (E flat minoraj7) good      is it to sing helplessness blues,
Ab/Eb 
Eb 
why should  (A flat/Eb) I        wait for anyone  (E flat major) else?

Chorus 3

And I know, I know

you will keep me on the shelf

I'll come back to you someday soon

Interlude 1

(myself)

Verse 4
Fm 
If I had an orchard,  (F minor) 
Ebmaj7 
Fm 
I'd  (E flat minoraj7) work      'til I'm  (F minor) raw
Fm 
Ebmaj7 
If I  (F minor) had an orchard,  (E flat minoraj7) 
Eb 
Fm7 
Eb/G 
Ab 
I'd  (E flat major) work  (F minor7) 'til  I'm  (E flat/G)  (A flat major) sore
Eb/G 
Eb/Bb 
Ab 
Fm7 
Ab 
And  (E flat/G) you     (E flat/Bb) would     (A flat major) wait  (F minor7) ta    bles  (A flat major) 
Eb/G 
Eb 
Ab/Eb 
 (E flat/G) and     (E flat major) soon run the store  (A flat/Eb) 

Verse 5
Eb 
Fm 
Gold  (E flat major) hair in the sunlight,  (F minor) 
Ebmaj7 
Fm 
my  (E flat minoraj7) light     in the dawn  (F minor) 
Fm 
Ebmaj7 
If I  (F minor) had an orchard,  (E flat minoraj7) 
Eb 
Fm7 
Eb/G 
Ab 
I'd  (E flat major) work  (F minor7) 'til  I'm  (E flat/G)  (A flat major) sore
Eb/G 
Eb/Bb 
Ab 
Fm7 
Ab 
If I  (E flat/G)  (E flat/Bb) had       (A flat major) an  or (F minor7)  (A flat major) chard
Eb/G 
Eb 
Ab/Eb 
 (E flat/G) I'd     (E flat major) work 'til I'm  (A flat/Eb) sore

Outro 1
Eb 
Fm 
Fm 
 (E flat major)  (F minor)  (F minor) 
Fm 
Fm 
 (F minor)  (F minor) 
Ebmaj7 
Fm 
 (E flat minoraj7)  (F minor) 
Fm 
Fm 
Fm 
Fm 
 (F minor)  (F minor)  (F minor)  (F minor) 
Fm 
Ebmaj7 
Eb 
Fm7 
Eb/G 
 (F minor)  (E flat minoraj7)  (E flat major)  (F minor7)  (E flat/G) 
Ab 
Ab 
Ab 
Ab 
 (A flat major)  (A flat major)  (A flat major)  (A flat major) 
Eb/G 
Eb/Bb 
Ab 
Fm7 
Ab 
 (E flat/G) Some    (E flat/Bb) day       (A flat major) I'll  (F minor7) be     (A flat major) like
Eb/G 
Eb 
Ab 
Ab 
 (E flat/G) the    man  (E flat major) on the  (A flat major) screen  (A flat major) 
Ab 
Ab 
Ab 
Ab 
 (A flat major)  (A flat major)  (A flat major)  (A flat major) 
Ab 
Dbsus2 
Ab/C 
 (A flat major)  (D flatsus2)  (A flat/C) 
Eb 
 (E flat major) 

N/AFolk

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GuitarPianoUkulele

Eb
Ab/Eb
Ebmaj7
Ab
Fm
Fm7
Eb/G
Eb/Bb
Dbsus2
Ab/C

Tuning: E A D G B EDifficulty: AdvancedKey: Eb majorBPM: 123

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Finger positions, low to high (E A D G B e). 0 is open, x is muted.

Eb: x-6-8-8-8-x
Ab/Eb: x-6-6-5-4-4
Ebmaj7: x-x-1-3-3-3
Ab: 4-6-6-5-4-4
Fm: x-x-3-1-1-1
Fm7: 1-3-1-1-1-1
Eb/G: x-x-5-3-4-3
Eb/Bb: 6-x-8-8-8-x
Dbsus2: x-4-6-6-4-4
Ab/C: 8-6-6-8-x-x

Accurately transcribed by the GuitarTuna team.

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This is the definitive original version of Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes, transcribed exactly as it was recorded in the studio. Unlike our simplified arrangement, this chart preserves the precise chord voicings and progressions in the original key of Eb major. It is designed for experienced players looking to reproduce the full sonic intent and artistic expression of Fleet Foxes.