House By The Sea

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This song is incredible and I've been wanting to play it acoustically for a while. The live version
finally helped me find a way to figure out approximately what Sam is playing.
Capo on the 4th fret in this live performance, the album version and Bonnaroo 2008 uses capo 3rd.
Most of the notes seemed to be correct from the other 2 versions posted of the song, but it didn't seem
as playable in the key of D as Sam makes it look in the live version playing in the (relative) key of C.
Feel free to correct if you can hear any notes I missed. This is my first tab and I mostly filled in what
felt natural for me to play for the few notes I couldn't clearly make out.
Note -- after watching the video a little more, I believe he's actually playing in something close to
D-A-C-G-A-D so that he can play 3p0 on the high D string instead of 6p3 on the B string (shown below),
and then he can also play 3-3/5-5/3-0 for the higher riff on that high D string instead of 6-6/8-6-3
on the B string. I'd rather just keep it in standard tuning and slide higher or play your classic
Dm shape with a slide/hammer up to Dsus and back to Dm. The other big difference the alternate tuning
allows is that the 3p1 in measures 2 and 4 on the B string can be an octave lower on the C string (2p0),
which really sounds like what he is using in the live videos.
[Intro Pickup] (end of riff below, he begins most of the verse lyrics over this part)
+ 4 +
e|-------|
b|(1)----|
g|-0-----|
d|-------|
a|-3p0h3-|
E|-------|
[Main Riff]
Dm + 2 + 3 + 4 + C + 2 + 3 + 4 + Dm + 2 + (triplet) C + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|-----S-----------|----------------|-----S--------------|----------------|
b|1/3--L-6p3~----3-|1---3p1~-(1)----|1/3--L-6--6/8-6--3--|1---3p1~-(1)----|
g|0----A-------0---|0---0-----0-----|0----A--------------|0---0-----0-----|
d|-----P-0---0--(0)|----------------|-----P-0--0---0--0--|----------------|
a|3/5--!-----------|3---3-----3p0h3-|3/5--!--------------|3---3-----3p0h3-|
E|-----!-----------|----------------|-----!--------------|----------------|
[Verse 1]
Dm C
There is a house by the sea
Dm C
Two jealous sisters, they're waiting for me
Dm C
And one is laid on the floor
Dm C
And one is changing the locks on the doors
[Chorus 1]
Dm C Dm C
And I've been buying the time on my knees
Dm C Dm C Dm
And I've been selling their blankets to bleed on
[Verse 2]
Dm C
Around the house by the sea
Dm C
The scent of roses and raspberry leaves
Dm C
And there is smoke in my clothes
Dm C
Too much time with just smoke in my nose
[Chorus 2]
Dm C Dm C
And I've been making the meaning they lack
Dm C Dm C Dm
And I've been burning that book they come back too-oo
[Verse 3] (Cut to only plucking chord on beat 1)
Dm C
There is a house by the sea
Dm C
And an ocean between it and me
Dm C
And like the shape of a wave
Dm C
The jealous sisters will sing on my grave
[Chorus 3] (Back to full Riff)
Dm C Dm C
And I've been living to run where they led
Dm C Dm C
And I've been dying to rise from their bed
Dm C Dm C
And I've been sparing my neck from their chain
Dm C Dm C
And they've been changing the sound of my name
Dm C Dm C
And I've been swimming to them in my sleep
Dm C Dm C Dm
And we've been dreaming our love and our freedom

House By The Sea chords and lyrics

Free chords for House By The Sea by Iron & Wine. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

This song is incredible and I've been wanting to play it acoustically for a while. The live version
finally helped me find a way to figure out approximately what Sam is playing.
Capo on the 4th fret in this live performance, the album version and Bonnaroo 2008 uses capo 3rd.
Most of the notes seemed to be correct from the other 2 versions posted of the song, but it didn't seem
as playable in the key of D as Sam makes it look in the live version playing in the (relative) key of C.
Feel free to correct if you can hear any notes I missed. This is my first tab and I mostly filled in what
felt natural for me to play for the few notes I couldn't clearly make out.
[Main Riff]
[Verse 1]
[Chorus 1]
[Verse 2]
[Chorus 2]
[Verse 3] (Cut to only plucking chord on beat 1)
[Chorus 3] (Back to full Riff)

House By The Sea Chords by Iron & Wine

Learn how to play House By The Sea by Iron & Wine with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “House By The Sea chords”, “House By The Sea guitar chords”, or “Iron & Wine House By The Sea chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy House By The Sea chords and for experienced players who want accurate House By The Sea lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, C, A, G, B, Dm.

Frequently asked questions about House By The Sea

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What key is "House By The Sea" in?

The chords for "House By The Sea" show the original chord names (including D, C, A, G, B, Dm). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.

House By The Sea Chords · Iron & Wine