Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown - The Rolling Stones | Song Tabs

Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown The Rolling Stones

The original by The Rolling Stones is energetic and riff-driven, built around simple chord shapes and a driving rhythm. This arrangement keeps things accessible for beginners.

Chords and Progression

The main chords are D, Dsus4, G, A, C, and D7.

Dsus4 is easily played by adding your pinky to the third fret of the high E string while holding a D chord. Practice switching between D and Dsus4 smoothly, as it's featured throughout the intro and verses.

Strumming Pattern

A steady eighth-note strumming pattern works well:
Down-down-up-up-down-up (D-D-U-U-D-U)

Start slow and focus on keeping the rhythm even. The song’s drive comes from consistent strumming.

Chord Transitions and Tips

Practice the D to Dsus4 change repeatedly, as it is a signature sound of this song.
Moving from D to G or A is standard. Take it slow at first—try to minimize hand movement.
For D7, keep your index and middle fingers close to the D shape; this makes the transition quicker.

Additional Techniques

During the intro, let the D and Dsus4 ring out clearly. Try not to rush these changes.
Emphasize the first down strum of each bar to capture the song’s groove.

With practice, focus on keeping a tight rhythm and smooth chord changes to capture the feel of the original track.

Dsus4

Intro

D Dsus⁴ Dsus⁴ D

Verse 1

D You're the kind of person you meet at certain, dismal dull affairs

D Center of a crowd talkin' much too loud runnin' up and down the stairs

Well itG seems to me that you have seen too much in too few years

AndD though you've try you just can't hide your eyes are edged with tears

Chorus

You betterA stop, look aG roundC

Here itD comes, here it comes. Here itG comes, here it comes

HereD comes your nineteenthD⁷ nervous breakD down

Verse 2

D When you were a child you were a treated kind but you were never brought up right

D You were always spoiled with a thousand toys but still you cried all night

YourG mother who neglected you owes a million dollars tax

And yourD father's still perfecting ways of making sealing wax

Chorus

You betterA stop, look aG roundC

Here itD comes, here it comes. Here itG comes, here it comes

HereD comes your nineteenthD⁷ nervous breakD down

Bridge

A Oh, who's to blame, thatD girl's, just insane

WellG nothing I do don't seem to work it,A only seems to make the matters worse

OhD please

Verse 3

D You were still in school when you had that fool who really messed your mind

D And after that you turned your back on treating people kind

OnG our first trip I tried so hard to rearrange your mind

ButD after awhile I realized you were disarranging mine

Chorus

You betterA stop, look aG roundC

Here itD comes, here it comes. Here itG comes, here it comes

HereD comes your nineteenthD⁷ nervous breakD down

Instrumental

D Dsus⁴ Dsus⁴ D

Bridge

A Oh, who's to blame, thatD girl's, just insane

WellG nothing I do don't seem to work it,A only seems to make the matters worse

OhD please

Verse 4

D When you were a child you were a treated kind but you were never brought up right

D You were always spoiled with a thousand toys but still you cried all night

YourG mother who neglected you owes a million dollars tax

And yourD father's still perfecting ways of making sealing wax

Outro

You betterA stop, look aG roundD

Here it comes. Here comes your nineteenthD⁷ nervous breakD down

Here comes your nineteenthD⁷ nervous breakD down

Song Tabs

Other songs by The Rolling Stones

Chords and Progression

Strumming Pattern

Chord Transitions and Tips

Additional Techniques

Other songs by The Rolling Stones