Tame Impala - Expectation
from their 2010 album 'Innerspeaker'
I absolutely love this song, (and the trippy music video that goes along with it) and
have been meaning to tab it for a while. I finally got around to it and tried to
make it as complete as possible, with both guitars, bass and keyboards. There are
probably some errors somewhere, so if you spot any let me know in the comments and
tell me the corrections that need to be made. If you learn this song, why not record
yourself playing it and upload it to YouTube? Let me know in the comments if you do.
Thanks!
[0:01-0:10]
Guitar:
e-3-5-|
B-3-5-|
G-4-5-| x8
D-5-3-|
A-3-3-|
E-----|
[0:11-0:20]
Guitar:
e-3-5-|
B-3-5-|
G-4-5-| x8
D-5-3-|
A-3-3-|
E-----|
[0:11-0:20]
Bass:
G-----|
D---3-| x8
A-3---|
E-----|
[0:21-0:31]
Guitar:
e-3--5-5-3--5-|
B-3--5-5-3--5-|
G-4--5-5-4--5-| x4
D-5--3-3-5--3-|
A-3--3-3-3--3-|
E-------------|
[0:21-0:31]
Bass:
G-------------|
D----3-3----3-| x4
A-3------3----|
E-------------|
[0:31-0:36]
Bass:
G-5----------|
D-------3--5-| x2
A----3-------|
E------------|
"Everything you ever told me could've been a lie,
we may never have been in love"
[0:37-0:41]
Guitar:
e-3--5-5-3--5-|
B-3--5-5-3--5-|
G-4--5-5-4--5-| x2
D-5--3-3-5--3-|
A-3--3-3-3--3-|
E-------------|
[0:37-0:41]
Bass:
G-------------|
D----3-3----3-| x2
A-3------3----|
E-------------|
[0:37-0:41]
Flangy 2nd guitar:
e--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G-14b16r14-14-12-14------------------------12-14--14b16r14-14----14--14b16r14-14-------|
D--------------------14-12-14-12-----12-14--------------------14-----------------14-12-|
A--------------------------------14----------------------------------------------------|
E--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
(This guitar is buried back in the mix and is hard to make out due to the heavy use of
effects, so this is just a rough estimation. Play it however you like.)
[0:42-0:46]
Bass:
G-5-------|
D-----3-5-| x2
A---3-----|
E---------|
"Stuck on thinking that there is always something to lose,
or a hit from above"
[0:47-0:56]
Guitar:
e-3--5-5-3--5-|
B-3--5-5-3--5-|
G-4--5-5-4--5-| x4
D-5--3-3-5--3-|
A-3--3-3-3--3-|
E-------------|
[0:47-0:56]
Bass:
G-------------|
D----3-3----3-| x4
A-3------3----|
E-------------|
[0:47-0:56]
Flangy 2nd guitar:
e--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G-12-14-14b16r14-14-12-14------------------------12-14--14b16r14-14----14--14-12-------| x2
D--------------------------14-12-14-12-----12-14--------------------14-----------12-14-|
A--------------------------------------14----------------------------------------------|
E--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
"Or a hit from above"
[0:57-1:02]
Guitar:
e------------------------|
B------------------------|
G------------------------|
D------------------------|
A-2-3p2--2-3--2-3p2--2-3-|
E------------------------|
[0:57-1:02]
Bass:
G------------------------|
D------------------------|
A-3--------------2-------|
E------------------3-----|
[1:02-1:22]
Guitar:
e-3--5-5-5-5-|
B-3--5-5-5-5-|
G-4--5-5-5-5-| x16
D-5--3-3-3-3-|
A-3--3-3-3-3-|
E------------|
[1:02-1:22]
Bass:
G------------|
D----3-3---3-| x16
A-3------3---|
E------------|
"I don't need what I'm holding,
what I'm holding onto,
I wish I knew,
ohhh"
[1:12-1:22]
Keyboard:
e---------------3------------5p3------------------------------|
B--------------------------------5--3-5p3---------------------|
G-----------------------------------------5--4-5p4------------|
D-------2h4h5--------------------------------------4--2-4p2---|
A-2h3h5-----------------------------------------------------5-|
E-------------------------------------------------------------|
" I wish I knew ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh"
(Use the spacing of the words as a guide, e.g. as the "ohhh"
part is sung, the second part comes in. Not 100% sure on this
one. Once again, it's buried back in the mix so it's a bit
hard to work out.)
[1:23-1:28]
Guitar:
e--------------------------------|
B--------------------------------|
G--------------------------------|
D----3---------------------------|
A----3---------------------------|
E----1---------------------------|
[1:23-1:28]
Bass:
G--------5-3---------3-----------|
D------------5-3-3-5-------------|
A----3---------------------------|
E--------------------------------|
[1:27-1:28]
Keyboard:
e--------------------------------|
B--------------------------------|
G--------------------------------|
D--------------------------2h4h5-|
A--------------------2h3h5-------|
E--------------------------------|
"But meanwhile"
(Another attempt to transcribe a
keyboard part. This is played fast, so
it's tough to work out the exact notes.)
[1:28-1:47]
Guitar:
e-------5--3--3--5-|
B-------5--5--3--5-|
G-2-----5--4--4--5-| x4
D-2--2--3--5--5--3-|
A-0--2--3--3--5--3-|
E----0--------3----|
[1:28-1:47]
Bass:
G------------------|
D----------------5-| x4
A-0-----3-----3----|
E----0-----3-------|
"Fluctuations are aching my soul,
expectation is taking its toll,
expectation is taking its toll,
'cause everything you ever told me could've been a lie, we may..."
[1:48-1:55]
Guitar:
e-3-5-|
B-3-5-|
G-4-5-| x4
D-5-3-|
A-3-3-|
E-----|
"never have been in love"
[1:55-2:00]
Guitar:
e-3-5-3-5-|
B-3-5-3-5-|
G-4-5-4-5-| x2
D-5-3-5-3-|
A-3-3-3-3-|
E---------|
(Quicken tempo)
[2:01-2:10]
Guitar:
e-3--5-5-3--5-|
B-3--5-5-3--5-|
G-4--5-5-4--5-| x4
D-5--3-3-5--3-|
A-3--3-3-3--3-|
E-------------|
[2:01-2:10]
Bass:
G-------------|
D----3-3----3-| x4
A-3------3----|
E-------------|
[2:01-2:10]
Guitar:
e-----------5-|
B-----------5-|
G-----------5-| x4
D-----------3-|
A-----------3-|
E-------------|
(There is a very subtle, barely
noticeable backwards guitar that
fades in on each repeat. This isn't
essential to playing the song, but
it is a cool little thing you could
include and exaggerate using a flange
and volume pedal or the volume
switch on your guitar to fade into
the chord.)
[2:11-2:26]
Guitar:
e--------|
B----5-5-|
G----5-5-| x12
D-5--5-5-|
A-5--3-3-|
E-3------|
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/t/tame_impala/expectation_tab.html ]
[2:11-2:26]
Bass:
G--------|
D--------| x12
A----3-3-|
E-3------|
"And now I'll escape,
I'll never ever have to see a
disappointed face,
no one to please,
every now and then,
it feels like..."
[2:26-2:32]
Bass:
G-----------------------------------------------|
D----0--1--1---0-1-3-------1---3--5-10-8--7--10-|
A-3---------------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------------------|
"In all of the universe, there is nobody for me"
(Play each note in time with the word that is below it,
e.g. for "universe", "u" is 0, "ni" is 1, and "verse" is 3;
or for "nobody", "no" is 5, "bod" is 10, and "y" is 8.
Try singing the words as you play it to learn it quicker.)
[2:32-2:41]
Guitar:
e--------|
B----5-5-|
G----5-5-| x8
D-5--5-5-|
A-5--3-3-|
E-3------|
[2:32-2:41]
Bass:
G--------|
D--------| x8
A----3-3-|
E-3------|
[2:42-3:02]
Guitar:
e-3--5-5-3--5-|
B-3--5-5-3--5-|
G-4--5-5-4--5-| x8
D-5--3-3-5--3-|
A-3--3-3-3--3-|
E-------------|
[2:42-3:02]
Bass:
G-------------|
D----3-3----3-| x8
A-3------3----|
E-------------|
"I told myself I wouldn't care,
no, I wouldn't care,
but when she said she'd come around
I combed my hair,
yes, I checked my hair"
[3:02-3:07]
Guitar:
e------------------------|
B------------------------|
G------------------------|
D------------------------|
A-2-3p2--2-3--2-3p2--2-3-|
E------------------------|
[3:08-3:12]
Guitar:
e-----------------5-|
B-----------------5-|
G-----------------5-|
D----3------------3-|
A----3------------3-|
E----1--------------|
[3:08-3:12]
Bass:
G-------------------|
D-------------------|
A-----------------3-|
E----1--------------|
"Ooh and meanwhile"
[3:13-3:17]
Guitar:
e-----------5-|
B-----------5-|
G-----------5-|
D-3---------3-|
A-3---------3-|
E-1-----------|
[3:13-3:17]
Bass:
G-----5-3---5-|
D---------3---|
A-------------|
E-1-----------|
"Meanwhile"
[3:18-3:22]
Guitar:
e--------------------|
B--------------------|
G--------------------|
D-3---3-3-3----3-3-3-|
A-3---3-3-3----3-3-3-|
E-1---1-1-1----1-1-1-|
[3:18-3:22]
Bass:
G-----5-3---5----3-5-|
D---------3----3-----|
A--------------------|
E-1------------------|
"Meanwhile"
[3:22-3:23]
Keyboard:
e---------|
B---------|
G---------|
D-------2-|
A-2h3h5---|
E---------|
[3:23-3:33]
Synth:
e-------5--3--3--5-|
B-------5--5--3--5-|
G-2-----5--4--4--5-| x2
D-2--2--3--5--5--3-|
A-0--2--3--3--5--3-|
E----0--------3----|
"Fluctuations are aching my soul,
expectation is taking its toll"
[3:33-3:43]
Synth:
e-------5--3--3--5-|
B-------5--5--3--5-|
G-2-----5--4--4--5-| x2
D-2--2--3--5--5--3-|
A-0--2--3--3--5--3-|
E----0--------3----|
[3:33-3:43]
Guitar:
e---------------------|
B---------------------|
G---------------------| x2
D----------------5----|
A-0-----3-----3-------|
E----0-----3----------|
"fluctuations are aching my soul,
expectation is taking its toll"
[3:43-4:14]
Synth:
e-------5--3--3--5-|
B-------5--5--3--5-|
G-2-----5--4--4--5-| x6
D-2--2--3--5--5--3-|
A-0--2--3--3--5--3-|
E----0--------3----|
[3:43-4:14]
Guitar:
e-------5--3--3--5-|
B-------5--5--3--5-|
G-2-----5--4--4--5-| x6
D-2--2--3--5--5--3-|
A-0--2--3--3--5--3-|
E----0--------3----|
[3:43-4:14]
Bass:
G------------------|
D----------------5-| x6
A-0-----3-----3----|
E----0-----3-------|
"fluctuation is making me old,
expectation is taking its toll,
fluctuations are aching my soul,
expectation is taking its toll,
fluctuations are aching my soul,
expectation is taking its toll"
[4:14-4:19]
Synth:
e-------5--3--3--5-|
B-------5--5--3--5-|
G-2-----5--4--4--5-|
D-2--2--3--5--5--3-|
A-0--2--3--3--5--3-|
E----0--------3----|
[4:19-4:24]
Synth:
e-5----------------|
B-5----------------|
G-5----------------|
D-3----------------|
A-3----------------|
E------------------|
The song fades out at this point,
and then eventually fades back into this:
OUTRO:
------
[4:30-4:38]
Guitar with flange:
e--------|
B----5-5-|
G----5-5-| x6
D-5--5-5-|
A-5--3-3-|
E-3------|
[4:38-4:51]
Guitar with flange:
e--------|
B----5-5-|
G----5-5-| x10
D-5--5-5-|
A-5--3-3-|
E-3------|
[4:38-4:51]
Bass:
G----------|
D-10-10-10-| x10
A----------|
E----------|
[4:51-5:37]
Guitar with flange:
e--------|
B----5-5-|
G----5-5-| x36
D-5--5-5-|
A-5--3-3-|
E-3------|
[4:51-5:42]
Bass:
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D----0-1-1-0--1-3---1-3-5--5s10-8-7--7s10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-| x5
A-3------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[5:37-5:48]
Two guitars:
e--------|
B----5-5-|
G----5-5-| x8
D-5--5-5-|
A-5--3-3-|
E-3------|
(A second guitar doubles this, one with flange and one clean)
[5:43-5:53]
Bass:
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D----0-1-1-0--1-3---1-3-5--5s10-8-7--7s10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-|
A-3------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[5:48-5:53]
Keyboard:
e------------------------------------3-------------------------------------|
B------------------------------------3-------------------------------------|
G------------------------------------4-------------------------------------|
D------------------------------------5-------------------------------------|
A------------------------------------5-------------------------------------|
E------------------------------------3-------------------------------------|
(Keyboard starts playing at the part where
the bass slides from the 7th to the 10th fret)
[5:48-5:58]
Two guitars:
e--------|
B----5-5-|
G----5-5-| x8
D-5--5-5-|
A-5--3-3-|
E-3------|
[5:53-5:58]
Bass:
G-----------------------------------|
D----0-1-1-0--1-3---1-3-5--5s10-8-7-|
A-3---------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------|
[5:53-6:00]
Keyboard:
e-------------------------------------|
B-----------------------------------5-|
G----------------------5------------5-|
D-----------------------------------5-|
A-2--3---2--3---2--3------3---------3-|
E-------------------------------------|
************************
| s slide
| h hammer-on
| p pull-off
| b Bend up to
specified pitch
| r Release bend back
to specified pitch
************************
Please leave comments and feedback and rate my tab;
I'm genuinely interested to know if this helped/didn't
help/lead to you nailing the song/picked up any errors
in the tab/picked up any chicks with your
epic guitar skills, etc.:p
Thanks! And go buy Tame Impala's album 'Innerspeaker'.
It's mind-blowing and definitely worth the money!
