Gotye

Somebody That I
Used to Know
Teachers Resource
Uses the Chords:
Dm, C and Bb
Lyrics
Lyrics + Chords
Bass
Guitar
Piano / Keyboard
Ukulele
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Wall2Wall Music www.wall2wallmusic.org
Lyrics
Verse 1:
Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
I told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it's an ache I still remember
Verse 2:
You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad it was over
Chorus:
But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
You didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know (x3)
Verse 3:
Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
And I don't wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know
Chorus:
(+ extra repetitions of the last line)
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Wall2Wall Music www.wall2wallmusic.org
Lyrics + Chords
Intro: |Dm / C / |Dm / C / | (x5)
Verse 1:
|Dm / C / |Dm / C / |Dm / C / |Dm / C / |
Now and then I think of when we were together
|Dm / C / |Dm / C / |Dm / C / |Dm / C / |
Like when you said you felt so ha--ppy you could die
|Dm / C / |Dm / C / |
I told myself that you were right for me
|Dm / C / |Dm / C / |
But felt so lonely in your company
|Dm / C / |Dm / C / |Dm / C / |Dm / C / |
But that was love and it's an ache I still remember
Interlude: |Dm / C / |Dm / C / | (x4)
Verse 2:
|Dm / C / |Dm / C / |Dm / C / |Dm / C / |
You can get addicted to a cer-tain kind of sadness
|Dm / C / |Dm / C / |Dm / C / |Dm / C / |
Like resignation to the end, Always the end
|Dm / C / |Dm / C / |
So when we found that we could not make sense
|Dm / C / |Dm / C / |
Well you said that we would still be friends
|Dm / C / |Dm / C / |Dm / C / |Dm / C / |
But I'll admit that I was glad - it was over
Chorus:
|Dm / C / |Bb / C / |
But you didn't have to cut me off
|Dm / C / |Bb / C / |Dm /
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
C / |Bb / C
And I don't even need your love
/ |Dm / C / |Bb / C / |
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
|Dm / C / |Bb / C / |
You didn't have to stoop so low
|Dm / C / |Bb / C / |Dm /
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
C / |Bb / C / |
I guess that I don't need that though
|Dm / C / |Bb / C / |Dm / C / |Bb / C / |
Now you're just somebody that I used to know (x3)
Interlude: |Dm / C / |Dm / C / | (x4)
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Wall2Wall Music www.wall2wallmusic.org
Verse 3:
|Dm / C / |Dm / C / |Dm / C / |Dm / C / |
Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
|Dm / C / |Dm / C / |Dm / C / |Dm / C / |
But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
|Dm / C / |Bb / C / |
And I don't wanna live that way
|Dm / C / |Bb / C / |
Reading into every word you say
|Dm / C / |Bb /
You said that you could let it go
C / |Dm / C / |Bb - - - |
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know...
Chorus
(+ extra repetitions of last line)
Ends on Dm.
Structure:
Intro
Verse 1
Interlude
Verse 2
Chorus
Interlude
Verse 3
Chorus
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Wall2Wall Music www.wall2wallmusic.org
Bass
Intro / Verse / Interlude:
This is the bass part that is used throughout most of the song with various repetitions.
| Dm / C / | Dm / C / | Dm / C / | Dm / C / |
Try using your ring nger for the 5
th
fret (D) and your index nger for the 3
rd
fret (C).
Chorus:
This section is repeated for the chorus.
| Dm / C / | Bb / C / | Dm / C / | Bb / C / |
Verse 3 (Female Voice):
The bridge starts out just like the verses;
| Dm / C / | Dm / C / | Dm / C / | Dm / C / |
After this has been played twice you move into the chorus chords but with the same
rhythm as above. Play along to the recording;
| Dm / C / | Bb / C / | Dm / C / | Bb / C / |
| Dm / C / | Bb / C / | Dm / C / | Bb - - - |
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Wall2Wall Music www.wall2wallmusic.org
Check Bass Tuning
Remember to tune your
strings from low to high
E, A, D, G
Guitar:
Intro / Verse:
This is the guitar part that is played in the intro and throughout the verses. It uses D minor
and C major chords. You can use either version below.
Version 1:
Version 2:
You could try building up the chords one note at a time. Start with the lowest note
and work your way up. Try to keep the rhythm staccato i.e short and separated notes. This
can be achieved by dampening the strings (stopping the note) with your hand / ngers
after playing them.
Interlude:
This is a melody line you can have a go at. Listen to the recording to hear how it should
sound;
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Wall2Wall Music www.wall2wallmusic.org
Check Guitar Tuning
Remember to tune your
strings from low to high
E, A, D, G, B, E
Chorus: (Guitar)
The chorus also uses the chord Bb. You can play either version below;
Version 1:
Version 2:
Verse 3 (Female Voice):

Verse 3 starts out like the other verses (see above). When the singer gets to the
line And I dont wanna live that way you change to the chorus chords / part (version 1 or
2 as above). Listen to the song to hear this change.
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Wall2Wall Music www.wall2wallmusic.org
Piano / Keyboard
Here are the 3 chords you will need throughout this song;
And here is how they look written out in music;
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Wall2Wall Music www.wall2wallmusic.org
(Piano / Keyboard)
Intro:
For the intro you play the melody line. Make sure to keep all the notes staccato i.e short
and separated.
Verse / Interlude:
The same pattern of Dm and C is repeated throughout all the verses and interludes. When
you listen you will hear the left hand notes and the right hand chords played alternately.
In the Verses / Interludes feel free to improvise with the rhythm in the right hand.
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Wall2Wall Music www.wall2wallmusic.org
C D E F G A B C D E F G A B
C#
Db
D#
Eb
F#
Gb
G#
Ab
A#
Bb
C#
Db
D#
Eb
F#
Gb
G#
Ab
A#
Bb
C
(Piano / Keyboard)
Chorus:
The Chorus uses the same rhythm as the verses / interludes but with an extra chord so the
pattern is Dm, C, Bb, C.
After this is played 4 times or after the rst time the line Now youre just somebody
that I used to know is sung you play the intro melody again while that line is repeated.
There is no staccato in the left hand in the Chorus.

Verse 3 (Female Voice):

Verse 3 starts out like the other verses (see above). When the singer gets to the
line And I dont wanna live that way you change to the chorus chords. Listen to the song
to hear this change.
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Wall2Wall Music www.wall2wallmusic.org
C D E F G A B C D E F G A B
C#
Db
D#
Eb
F#
Gb
G#
Ab
A#
Bb
C#
Db
D#
Eb
F#
Gb
G#
Ab
A#
Bb
C
Drum Kit
Intro / Verse / Interlude:
The drum part in this song should be kept very sparse. Most of it has only a snare hit on
beats 2 and 4;
You may like to play the hi-hat pedal on these beats as well. Use the crash cymbal when
you feel it is appropriate.
Chorus:
For the chorus try building up the texture a bit more.
You may wish to add a little more variety on the hi-hat;
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Wall2Wall Music www.wall2wallmusic.org
(Drum Kit)
Intro / Verse / Interlude:
The drum part in this song should be kept very sparse. Most of it has only a snare hit on
beats 2 and 4;
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Snare X X
You may like to play the hi-hat pedal on these beats as well. Use the crash cymbal when
you feel it is appropriate.
Chorus:
For the chorus try building up the texture a bit more.
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Hi-Hat X X X X
Snare X X
Bass X X X
You may wish to add a little more variety on the hi-hat;
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Hi-Hat X X X X X X
Snare X X
Bass X X X
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Wall2Wall Music www.wall2wallmusic.org
Ukulele
Intro / Verse / Interlude:
These are the chords that are played throughout most of the song;
Try building up the chords one note at a time, starting on the G-string and working
your way up. Notice the staccato dots. This means you should play the chords short.
Listen to the song and try to play along.
Chorus:
In the chorus try playing the notes of the chords one at a time. These are called broken
chords;
Let all the notes ring out until you change chord.
Verse 3 (Female Voice):
Verse 3 starts out like the other verses (see above). When the singer gets to the
line And I dont wanna live that way you change to the chorus part. Listen to the song to
hear this change.
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Wall2Wall Music www.wall2wallmusic.org
Check Ukulele Tuning
Remember to tune
your strings
G, C, E, A