The Cure
Sinking 
Transcribed by: Robert Diaz 

okay the main riff is

g----------------------------------------
d------5-5-4-4---------------------------
a--------------5-5--7--7--sl to 3--------
e--3-0-----------------------------------

pre chorus riff

g----------------------------------------
d------5-5-4-4-5-5-7-7-5-7-5-4-----------
a------------------------------0---------
e--3-0-----------------------------------

the chorus riff which repeats twice

g-----------------------2-2-0-0-2-----2-2-0-0-2
d----0---0---2---0-----------------------------
a--3---3---3---3----0-0-----------0-0----------
e----------------------------------------------

the next part extends the chorus and is done twice

g-----------------------------------------------
d-----------------------------------------------
a----0--0--2--3----------------------------------
e--3--3--3--3---0-0-0-00-------------------------

and the last part is part of the former

g--------------------------------
d--------------------------------
a-5-7-5-7-5-7-3-5-3-5-3-5--------
e--------------------------------

okay, those last parts are kinda weird
the bass VI really smothers it making it hard to hear.

ALTERNATE INTERPRETATION
------------------------

Transcribed by:  VENISON


BASS TAB

It seems that the song is in the E minor scale or G major, one sharp
either way, and whole time the only real chord structure comes
from the keyboards, which are constantly reforming  the 
chords that they play, and since i can't hear them too well, 
then i will just attempt some identification and Bass work.

This is a bass dependant song, more than usual, but the body 
and mood of the song are ironically in the keyboards and guitar work.  
Most of it is ornamental with a highly complex and lengthy structure
which make listening to great but figuring out a bitch.
If one wishes to play this correctly then the meat of the song
is in the treble, but don't forget the Bass foundation.
This song would not be the same without the bass; the bass is not
layering in this song, it is the medlody, but since it it is
so repetitious, one becomes lost in it, and the harmony, 
as i have said takes center stage.


The basic bass line (bass fig 1) is reapeated for most of the song 
right before it goes to the chours type part and then it goes to 
bass fig 1.1.


VERSE

BASS FIG 1
G|-------------------------|
D|--7-7-6-6-0-0--2--2------|
A|-------------------------|
E|---------------------3-0-|
BASS FIG 1.1
G|-------------------------|
D|--7-7-6-6-7-7-9-9-7-9-764|
A|-------------------------|
E|-------------------------|


CHORUS & BRIDGE

Now for the chorus it seems just like the bass is alternating between
C-A change,  and the for the bridge another C-A change and then a
G-E change, and a C-D change.  So it is possible, and would/does 
sound fine is the performer plays this part just playing the bass 
notes of the chords like c-c-c-c-d-d-d-d-c-c-c-c-d-d-d-d....  But, 
and this certainly could just be the guitar in the song played 
low or tuned down, it sounds like ther is some arrpeggiation, 
but i cannot hear it too well, so it sounds a little
something like this:

BASS FIG 2

some kind of C chord          some kind of A chord
pobably a C major(7th?)       A minor sumpin'
since it is in E minor        for the same reason
G|-------0-----------0----| |----2-2-1-1-2-----2-2-1-1-2-|
D|----2-----2-----2-----2-| |----------------------------|
A|-3-----------3----------| |-0-------------0------------|
E|------------------------| |----------------------------|



BASS FIG 2.1

so now it sounds like a       and now it is some
G maj sumpin', the chord      E minor chord.
that is. There might be 
something going on with 
the top G string, maybe 
it is just open and 
resonating.


G|???????????????????????| |----------------------------|
D|-------0----------0----| |----0-0-2-2-0-----0-0-2-2-0-|
A|----2-----2----2-----2-| |----------------------------|
E|-3----------3----------| |-0-------------0------------|



BASS FIG 2.1

the chord is some D
major.
                 

G|-------------------------------|
D|-0-2-0-0-2-0-0-2-0-2-0-2-3-2-0-|
A|-------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|


and then probably back to a 
C major (7th?) chord.
 
G|-------0-----------0----| 
D|----2-----2-----2-----2-| 
A|-3-----------3----------| 
E|------------------------| 


SCALE:  E minor (one #)

Em

I am slowing down

Em

As the years go by

Em

I am sinking



Cmaj7                 Am

  So I trick myself

Cmaj7                 Am

  Like everybody else


The secrets I hide

Twist me inside

They make me weaker



Cmaj7                     Am

  So I trick myself

Cmaj7                     Am

  Like everybody else

G                           Em

  I crouch in fear and wait

G                          Em

  I'll never feel again



   D

If only I could

   C

If only I could

   D

If only I could

  C

remember

Em

   Anything at all

    Source: geocities.com/sunsetstrip/venue/5083

               ( geocities.com/sunsetstrip/venue)                   ( geocities.com/sunsetstrip)