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Imitation Of Life chords by R.E.M. (Official Version)

GuitarPianoUkulele

Em
Cadd9
G
Am
D
Dsus4
Amadd9
Dsus2

Intro 1

Em

Cadd9

Cadd9

G

Em

Am

Cadd9

D

Dsus4

D

Verse 1
Em 
Amadd9 
Charades pop skill
G 
Water hyacinth
D 
Em 
Name by a poet
Amadd9 
G 
D 
Cadd9 
Imitation of life
Em 
Amadd9 
G 
Like a koi in a frozen pond
D 
Em 
Like a goldfish in a bowl
Amadd9 
G 
D 
Cadd9 
I         don't want to hear you cry

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Chorus 1

G

Em

That sugar cane that tasted good

Am

Cadd9

D

That cinnamon, that's Holly wood

G

Come on, come on

Em

Am

Cadd9

No-one can see you try

D

Dsus4

D

Verse 2
Em 
Amadd9 
You want the greatest thing
G 
D 
The greatest thing since bread came sliced
Em 
Amadd9 
You've got it all
G 
D 
Cadd9 
You've got it sized
Em 
Amadd9 
G 
Like a Friday fashion show
D 
Em 
Teenager cruising in the corner
Amadd9 
G 
D 
Cadd9 
Trying    to look like you don't try

Chorus 2
G 
Em 
That sugar cane that tasted good
Am 
Cadd9 
D 
That cinnamon, that's Holly    wood
G 
Come on, come on
Em 
Am 
Cadd9 
No-one can see you try
D 
Dsus4 
D 

Interlude 1
Cadd9 
Cadd9 
Dsus2 
Dsus2 
Cadd9 
Cadd9 
Dsus2 
Dsus2 
No- one      can see you
Cadd9 
Cadd9 
Cadd9 
Cadd9 
cry

Chorus 3
G 
Em 
That sugar cane that tasted good
Am 
Cadd9 
D 
That's freezing rain, that's what     you could
G 
Come on, come on
Em 
Am 
Cadd9 
No-one can see you try
D 
Dsus4 
D 

Chorus 4

G

Em

This sugar cane this lemonade

Am

Cadd9

D

This hurricane, I'm not afraid

G

Come on, come on

Em

Am

Cadd9

D

No-one can see you try

Chorus 5

G

Em

This lightning storm, this tidal wave

Am

Cadd9

D

This avalanche, I'm not afraid

G

Come on, come on

Em

Am

Cadd9

D

No-one can see me cry

Chorus 6

G

Em

That sugar cane that tasted good

Am

Cadd9

D

That's who you are, that's what you could

G

Come on, come on

Em

Am

Cadd9

D

No-one can see you cry

Chorus 7
G 
Em 
That sugar cane that tasted good
Am 
Cadd9 
D 
That's who you are, that's what     you could
G 
Come on, come on
Em 
Am 
Cadd9 
No-one can see you cry
D 
Dsus4 
D 
Em 

2001Rock

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GuitarPianoUkulele

0

Em
Cadd9
G
Am
D
Dsus4
Amadd9
Dsus2

Tuning: E A D G B EDifficulty: IntermediateKey: G majorBPM: 124

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

Em: 0-2-2-0-0-0
Cadd9: x-3-2-0-3-3
G: 3-2-0-0-0-3
Am: x-0-2-2-1-0
D: x-x-0-2-3-2
Dsus4: x-x-0-2-3-3
Amadd9: x-0-7-5-0-0
Dsus2: x-x-0-2-3-0

Accurately transcribed by the GuitarTuna team.

Sus2 and sus4 swap the third in a chord for a second or fourth. The sus course covers the shapes and how to drop them into a progression. Practice sus chords

Add9 chords keep the major or minor triad and add a 9th on top, giving a brighter sound. A short course covers the shapes and where they fit. Learn add9 chords

Even perfectly fretted chords sound wrong on an out-of-tune guitar. Get in tune in seconds, right in your browser, with the free online guitar tuner

This is the definitive original version of Imitation Of Life by R.E.M., 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 G major. It is designed for guitarists ready to move past the basics and capture the true feel of R.E.M.'s performance.

Imitation Of Life

R.E.M.

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