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Nightswimming chords by R.E.M. (Official Version)

GuitarPianoUkulele

Gsus2
G/B
C
D
G
Csus2
A7
Dsus4
Bm
D7

Intro 1

Gsus2

G/B

C

Gsus2

G/B

D

Verse 1
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
D 
Nightswimming
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
deserves a quiet night
A7 
C 
Dsus4 
D 
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
D 
The photograph on the dashboard,
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
A7 
taken years ago
C 
Turned around backwards
Dsus4 
D 
so the windshield shows
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
D 
Every streetlight reveals
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
A7 
the picture in reverse
C 
Dsus4 
D 
Still, it's so much clearer
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
I  forgot my    shirt
D 
G 
G/B 
at the water's edge
Csus2 
A7 
C 
Dsus4 
D 
The moon     is low tonight

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Interlude 1

Gsus2

Bm

C

Gsus2

G/B

D

Verse 2
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
D 
Nightswimming
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
A7 
deserves a quiet night
C 
Dsus4 
D 
G 
I'm not sure all these people understand
G/B 
Csus2 
D 
G 
G/B 
It's not      like years ago
Csus2 
A7 
C 
The fear     of getting caught
Dsus4 
D 
G 
Of reckless ness and water
G/B 
Csus2 
D 
G 
G/B 
They cannot see me naked
Csus2 
A7 
C 
These things,  they go  away
Dsus4 
D 
Replaced   by everyday

Verse 3
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
D 
Nightswimming
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
A7 
remembering that  night
C 
Dsus4 
D 
September's coming soon
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
D 
I'm pining for the moon
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
And what if there were  two
A7 
C 
Side by side in orbit
Dsus4 
D 
G 
G/B 
Around    the fairest sun?
Csus2 
D 
G 
G/B 
That bright,  tight forever drum
Csus2 
A7 
C 
Could not describe nightswimming
Dsus4 
D 

Verse 4
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
D 
You, I thought I     knew you
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
A7 
You I cannot   judge
C 
Dsus4 
You, I thought you knew me
D 
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
This one laughing quietly
D 
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
underneath my breath
A7 
C 
Dsus4 
D 
Nightswimming

Interlude 2

Gsus2

Bm

C

Gsus2

G/B

D

Solo 1

G

Bm

Csus2

D

G

G/B

Csus2

A7

C

Dsus4

D

Verse 5
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
The photograph reflects
D 
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
every streetlight a reminder
A7 
C 
Dsus4 
D 
G 
Nightswimming deserves   a quiet night,
Bm 
C 
D 
G 
G/B 
Csus2 
A7 
C 
Dsus4 
D 
deserves   a quiet night

Outro 1
G 
Bm 
C 
D 
G 
G/B 
C 
A7 
C 
Dsus4 
D 
G 
Bm 
C 
D 
G 
G/B 
C 
A7 
C 
Dsus4 
D7 
G 

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GuitarPianoUkulele

0

Gsus2
G/B
C
D
G
Csus2
A7
Dsus4
Bm
D7

Tuning: E A D G B EDifficulty: IntermediateKey: G majorBPM: 114

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

Gsus2: 3-x-0-2-3-3
G/B: x-2-0-0-0-3
C: x-3-2-0-1-0
D: x-x-0-2-3-2
G: 3-2-0-0-0-3
Csus2: x-3-0-0-1-x
A7: x-0-2-0-2-0
Dsus4: x-x-0-2-3-3
Bm: x-2-4-4-3-x
D7: x-x-0-2-1-2

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

When a song moves through a lot of chords, the strumming hand has to stay steady through every switch. The basic strumming course covers the patterns and the timing that make changes easier. Smooth out your strumming

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 Nightswimming 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.

Nightswimming

R.E.M.

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