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My Book

The Beautiful South verified

Key: EM

110 BPM

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

Strum: ↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑

🎸 Original Version Easy Chords

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Notation

Capo

Instrument

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Easy Chord Tip: Place Capo on Fret to play open chord shapes ().

CHORD DIAGRAMS

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tune Transposed: semitones

[Intro]
[Em] [G] [D] [A] [Em] [G] [D] [A]

[Em](Heaton/Rotheray)
[G]This is my life and [D]this is how it reads
[A]For every chapter, [Em]a thousand memories
[G]A murder, a [D]mystery where everybody bleeds
[A]A fantasy, a thriller [Em]with romance and disease
[G]Diary entry 9th [D]of May '62
[A]We've had some ugly babies [Em]but none were quite like you
[G]Diary entry '62 [D]end of May
[A]It looks as if the nose [Em]and chin are definitely here to stay
[G]They're here to stay, [D]they're here to stay
[A]If my lips start smiling [Em]and my knees start a-knocking
[G]I'm a failure
[D]You are, [A]you are
[Em]And if I seem half-hearted, [G]it's because I'm broken hearted
[D]And I'm [A]a failure
[Em]You are, you are, [G]you are (I am)
[D]You are, you are, [A]you are (I am)
[Em]This is my life and [G]this is how it reads
[D]A documentary [A]that nobody believes
[Em]Albert Steptoe in [G]'Gone with the Breeze'
[D]Mother played by Peter [A]Beardsley, father by John Cleese
[Em]Diary entry '68 [G]end of the year
[D]A cardboard Apollo 6 [A]has given the all clear
[Em]11th December [G]'68 Captain's log
[D]Proposed trip to Mars [A]is cancelled due to fog
[Em]It's due to fog, [G]it's due to fog
[D]If my lips start smiling [A]and my knees start a-knocking
[Em]I'm a failure
[G]You are, [D]you are
[A]And if I seem half-hearted, [Em]it's because I'm broken hearted
[G]And I'm [D]a failure
[A]You are, you are, [Em]you are (I am)
[G]You are, you are, [D]you are (I am)
[A]This is the play, it [Em]was I who wrote the script
[G]Terry meets June in [D]'Tales from the Crypt'
[A]It was going to be a [Em]film but the camera person slipped
[G]They later found [D]him scolding a banana
[A]Diary entry 10th [Em]of April '89
[G]The world is going mad [D]but me I'm doing fine
[A]I'm doing fine
[Em]Back to bed, [G]back to reality
[D]Just fine.

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Song Summary & Key Facts

Transcribed by Contributor

Album My Book

Released 1990

Genre

Britpop Melancholia

Songwriter The Beautiful South

Chord Version Options

3 Versions

Versi Studio Alternative By Contributor

Chord Mudah Basic Chords • No Capo Open chords (C / G) without barre chords

info About This Song

Song Fundamentals

Original Key Em (E Minor)

Tempo / BPM 110 BPM

Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)

Time Signature 4/4

Difficulty Level Very Easy

Capo Position No Capo

Chord Count 5 Unique Chords

Genre Britpop

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Strumming Pattern ↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑

Time Signature 4/4

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My Book by The Beautiful South is played in the key of Em with a tempo of around 110 BPM. Progresi ini menciptakan pergerakan harmoni alami: Em (i) sebagai Tonic Minor (Pusat Nada/Gelap), diikuti G (III) sebagai Mediant (Relatif Mayor/Terang), diikuti D (VII) sebagai Subtonic Mayor (Tensi Menuju Minor), diikuti Cmaj7 (VI) sebagai Submediant Mayor (Harapan/Penebal Harmoni).

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Guitarist Playing Guide & Pedagogical Tips

Theory Guide

Guitar playing guide for My Book by The Beautiful South: sounding in Em without capo at 110 BPM (4/4) featuring beginner-friendly strumming ('↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑').

check_circle Key & Tempo: Sounding in Em (Standard tuning without capo) at 110 BPM in 4/4 time signature.
check_circle Voicing & Fingering: 100% open cowboy chords (C, G, D, Em, Am) requiring zero barre finger pressure.
check_circle Critical Transition: Transition from Em to G requires anchoring index or ring finger as a stable pivot.
check_circle Strumming Pattern: Master '↓ - ↓ ↑ - ↑ ↓ ↑' by starting at 79 BPM before accelerating to studio 110 BPM.

account_tree Chord Progression Analysis

Harmonic Progression

Progression Pattern (Roman Numerals)

i – III – VII – A – VI

Song chords:

star Primary Chords (Song Foundation)

Em G D A

Chords that repeat most frequently throughout the verse and chorus.

more_horiz Auxiliary / Transition Chords

Cmaj7

Used as harmonic transition variations in intro, bridge, or outro.

tune Why Use a Capo?

Capo & Sounding Key

Sounding Key EM Acoustic pitch of original recording

No Capo sync_alt Raises the pitch of open strings

Fingering Shape Key EM Open chord finger positions

The song is played in its original key of Em without a capo.

lightbulb Alternative Capo Positions for This Song:

piano Chord Family EM

Diatonic Matrix

This song is built on the key of EM. Here are the 7 diatonic chords (Chord Family) that harmonize according to music theory:

i Em Tonic

ii° F#dim Supertonic

III G Mediant

iv Am Subdominant

v Bm Dominant

VI C Submediant

VII D Subtonic

speed Difficulty Level: Very Easy

Difficulty Determinants for This Song:

check_circle 4 chord unik digunakan

check_circle Semua bentuk chord terbuka (Open Chords), tanpa kunci palang (barre)

dna MUSICAL DNA:

KEY: EM • TEMPO: 110 BPM • PROG: i – III – VII – A – VI • DIFF: 1/5 • CAPO: 0

help Easy Chord Guide & FAQ My Book

FAQ & Tips

quiz How to play the easy chords for My Book (The Beautiful South)?

To play the Easy Chords for My Book, toggle the Easy Chords button above the workstation canvas. This version is designed with beginner-friendly open chords (C, G, Am, F) to make transitions easier without barre chords.

quiz What are the basic guitar chords and original key for My Book?

The original recording key for My Book by The Beautiful South is EM. You can use the Transpose (+ / -) feature anytime to adjust the pitch to match male or female vocal ranges automatically.

quiz Is audio sync and auto-scroll available for practice?

Yes, ChordGitar.in features touch-free Auto-Scroll with speed control, as well as an integrated player so your tempo and rhythm practice stays precise.

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My Book - The Beautiful South

Official Audio

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Listen to official audio for My Book by The Beautiful South on streaming platforms:

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My Book expand_less

play_circle The Beautiful South Open on YouTube open_in_new

YouTube Spotify

Song Summary & Key Facts

Transcribed by Contributor

Album My Book

Released 1990

Genre

Britpop Melancholia

Songwriter The Beautiful South

Chord Version Options

3 Versions

Versi Studio Alternative By Contributor

Chord Mudah Basic Chords • No Capo Open chords (C / G) without barre chords

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[Intro]
[Em] [G] [D] [A] [Em] [G] [D] [A]

[Em](Heaton/Rotheray)
[G]This is my life and [D]this is how it reads
[A]For every chapter, [Em]a thousand memories
[G]A murder, a [D]mystery where everybody bleeds
[A]A fantasy, a thriller [Em]with romance and disease
[G]Diary entry 9th [D]of May '62
[A]We've had some ugly babies [Em]but none were quite like you
[G]Diary entry '62 [D]end of May
[A]It looks as if the nose [Em]and chin are definitely here to stay
[G]They're here to stay, [D]they're here to stay
[A]If my lips start smiling [Em]and my knees start a-knocking
[G]I'm a failure
[D]You are, [A]you are
[Em]And if I seem half-hearted, [G]it's because I'm broken hearted
[D]And I'm [A]a failure
[Em]You are, you are, [G]you are (I am)
[D]You are, you are, [A]you are (I am)
[Em]This is my life and [G]this is how it reads
[D]A documentary [A]that nobody believes
[Em]Albert Steptoe in [G]'Gone with the Breeze'
[D]Mother played by Peter [A]Beardsley, father by John Cleese
[Em]Diary entry '68 [G]end of the year
[D]A cardboard Apollo 6 [A]has given the all clear
[Em]11th December [G]'68 Captain's log
[D]Proposed trip to Mars [A]is cancelled due to fog
[Em]It's due to fog, [G]it's due to fog
[D]If my lips start smiling [A]and my knees start a-knocking
[Em]I'm a failure
[G]You are, [D]you are
[A]And if I seem half-hearted, [Em]it's because I'm broken hearted
[G]And I'm [D]a failure
[A]You are, you are, [Em]you are (I am)
[G]You are, you are, [D]you are (I am)
[A]This is the play, it [Em]was I who wrote the script
[G]Terry meets June in [D]'Tales from the Crypt'
[A]It was going to be a [Em]film but the camera person slipped
[G]They later found [D]him scolding a banana
[A]Diary entry 10th [Em]of April '89
[G]The world is going mad [D]but me I'm doing fine
[A]I'm doing fine
[Em]Back to bed, [G]back to reality
[D]Just fine.