TAB by Song : 72476
Tab List Area
1 Pages 1 Results
Cold War by Janelle Monae
Cold War
All the way through the song is alternating between part A and part B:
A B
||: Fm | Ab | Eb/Bb | Bbm/F :|| ||: Bbm | Db | Ab/Eb | Ebm :||
capo on 1st fret
( Em G D/A Am/E ) ( Am C G/D Dm )
e ---0--- ---3--- ---2--- ---0--- ---0--- ---0--- ---3--- ---1---
B ---0--- ---0--- ---3--- ---1--- ---1--- ---1--- ---0--- ---3---
G ---0--- ---0--- ---2--- ---2--- ---2--- ---0--- ---0--- ---2---
D ---2--- ---0--- ---0--- ---2--- ---2--- ---2--- ---0--- ---0---
A ---2--- ---2--- ---0--- ---3--- ---0--- ---3--- ---5--- -------
E ---0--- ---3--- ------- ---0--- ------- ------- ------- -------
Song structure:
------------------
A Intro
B Verse
A Chorus
B Verse
A Chorus (breakdown)
B - (regular)
A Bridge
B Verse
A Chorus
B -
A Guitar solo
B -
A Chorus (breakdown)
B - (build-up)
A - (regular)
B Outro, end on Fm
**************************
The theoretical corner:
--------------------------
The chords of this song are actually rather tricky, and they really put my ears
to work. Let me try to explain it!
The tricky thing is that the song constantly modulates between the keys of
F minor and Bb minor, which are two neighboring keys:
- part A is in the key of F minor.
- part B is in the key of Bb minor.
One note tells the two keys apart: g = F minor or gb = Bb minor
Since neighboring keys always share 6 out of 7 notes, neighboring keys therefore
share four chords also; in this case the chords not involving the notes g or gb,
which are: Fm, Ab, Bbm, Db
So playing around with only these four chords doesn't decide between F minor or
Bb minor. And that's exactly what's happening in the changes between part A and
part B: You don't notice the modulation until, well, until it already happened.
- When going into part B, the new key isn't revealed until the Ebm.
- When going into part A, the new key isn't revealed until the Eb/Bb.
Obviously, Janelle's melody DOES reveal the key before the chords do. But that
demands a bit deeper analysis, which this format doesn't provide for.
To "mask" things further, the steps happen to be the same in both keys:
I III VII IV (This is, however, not relevant in terms of modulation.)
---------------
version 2
Capo 1
N.C. Am C
So you think I'm alone
G Dm
But being alone's the only way to be
Am C
When you step outside
G Dm
You spend life fighting for your sanity
Am G
This is a cold war
D Am
You better know what you're fighting for
G
This is a cold war
D Am
Do you know what you're fighting for?
C
If you wanna be free
G Dm
Below the ground's the only place to be
Am C
Cos in this life
G Dm
You spend time running from depravity
Am G
And this is a cold war
D Am
Do you know what you're fighting for?
Am G
This is a cold war
D Am
You better know what you're fighting for
Am G
This is a cold war
D Am
You better know what you're fighting for
Am G
This is a cold war
D Am
Do you know what you're fighting for?
C G
Bring wings to the weak and bring grace to the strong
D Am
May all evil stumble as it flies in the world
C G
All the tribes comes and the mighty will crumble
D Am
We must brave this night and have faith in love
C
I'm trying to find my peace
G Dm
I was made to believe there's something wrong with me
Am C
And it hurts my heart
G Dm
Lord have mercy, ain't it plain to see?
Am G
This is a cold war
D Am
You better know what you're fighting for
Am G
This is a cold war
D Am
Do you know what you're fighting for?
Am C G Dm
This is a co-o-o-old
Am C
This is a cold war
G Dm
Do you know what you're fighting for? Kelindo!
Am C G Dm
Am C G Dm
Oooo-oo-ooo
Am C
Nanana na-nana-na
G Dm
Na-nana-na, oh there's something wrong with me
Am C G Dm
Am C G Dm
Aaaahhhh
Am G
Do you know it's a cold, cold war?
D Am
Do you, do you? do you?
Am C G Dm Am C G Dm
Aaahhhhhhhhhhh Ohh
Am G
It's a cold, cold war
D Am
You better know what you're fighting for
---------------
version 3
Capo 1
A5: x022xx
A/E: 0022xx
D5/A: x0023x
D/A: x00232
G: 320033 or G/D: xx0033
Intro: Em G D5/A A/E x2
A5 C G D5/A
So you think I'm alone, but being alone's the only way to be
A5 C G D5/A
When you step outside, you spend life fighting for your sanity
Chorus:
A5 G D/A A/E
This is a cold war, you better know what you're fighting for
A5 G D/A A/E
This is a cold war, do you know what you're fighting for
A5 C G D5/A
If you wanna be free, below the ground's the only place to be
A5 C G D5/A
Cause in this life, you spend time running from depravity
Chorus:
A/E G D/A Am
This is a cold War, you better know what you're fighting for
A/E G D/A Am
This is a Cold War, do you know what you're fighting for
A5 C G D5/A
This is a cold war, you better know what you're fighting for
A5 C G D5/A
This is a cold war, do you know what you're fighting for
A5 G
When wings of the weak can bring grace to the strong
D/A Am
Make all evil stumble as it flies in the world
A5 G
All the tribes come and the mighty will crumble
D/A Am
We must brave this nightAnd have faith in love
A5 C G D5/A
I'm trying to find my peace, I was made to believe there's something wrong with me
A5 C G D5/A
And it hurt's my heart, Lord have mercy ain't it plain to see
Chorus:
A/E G D/A Am/E
Thats this is a cold war, do you know what you're fighting for
A/E G D/A Am/E
This is a cold War, you better know what you're fighting for
A5 C G D5/A
This is a cold ahhhhhh
A5 C G D5/A
This is a cold War, you better know what you're fighting for, Kellinder
Guitar Solo:
A/E G D/A Am/E x2
A5 C G D5/E x2
A/E G D/A Am/E
ahh aah ah ah ah do you know, it's a cold cold
A/E G D/A Am/E
Do you, do you? do you?
A5 C G D5/E
ahh ahh ahh
A5 C G D5/E
Ah oh oh It's a cold cold
A/E G D/A Am/E
A/E G D/A Am/E
Bye, Bye, Bye, Bye, Don't you cry when I say goodbye?
A/E G D/A Am/E
Bye, Bye, Bye, Bye, Don't you cry when I say goodbye?
A5 C G D5/E
Bye, Bye, Bye, Bye, Don't you cry when I say goodbye?
A5 C G D5/E
Bye, Bye, Bye, Bye, Don't you cry when I say goodbye?
E5
---------