Where Is My Mind? Acoustic Guitar - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1791400

"Where is my Mind?" is one of the Pixies' most iconic and haunting songs, released on their 1988 debut album Surfer Rosa. The song opens with Joey Santiago's shimmering, reverb-drenched guitar riff that creates an otherworldly atmosphere, while Black Francis' vocals shift from soft detachment to raw intensity. Lyrically, it explores themes of dissociation, reportedly inspired by Black Francis' scuba diving experience where a small fish swam past his head - surreal imagery capturing the sense of being unmoored from oneself.

"Where is my Mind?" makes it an excellent choice for intermediate rock bands to learn and perform. The guitar parts are challenging enough to be rewarding without requiring advanced technical skills - the main riff is memorable and distinctive but built on relatively simple chord shapes and picking patterns. The bass line is steady and melodic, providing a solid foundation, while the drums maintain a straightforward rock beat that allows for dynamic variation. The song's structure teaches important lessons about dynamics and restraint, showing how quiet-loud contrasts create emotional impact. Additionally, its widespread recognition means audiences immediately connect with it, making it satisfying to perform while still allowing bands to put their own interpretation on the arrangement.



A NOTE ABOUT DR. TOM’S CHARTS™

DR. TOM'S CHARTS™ help musicians make more music together. Inspired by the Nashville Number System and the format of the classic Rise Up Singing, these charts emphasize song form with lyrics overlaid on evenly spaced chords. These easy-to-use musical roadmaps for bands and jams allow you to focus more on what you love about the original recording, like vocal delivery, groove, harmonies, and feel. You can even experiment with different styles and meters.

In the HYBRID chart, the first chord of each line aligns with the first word or syllable on the first beat of that bar, highlighting melodic pickups and delayed vocal entries. Subsequent words or syllables may not always align exactly with every chord thereafter, but once the singer nails the entry, the rest of the line flows naturally. This format might look unfamiliar at first. But once you start thinking of chords as evenly spaced, songs lock in with better groove and accuracy. The harmonic rhythm guides the melody! For singers, a LYRICS ONLY chart provides all the words in one spot with rehearsal cues (like intros, numbered verses, bridges, and solos).

If you have questions or thoughts about these charts, I would love to hear from you!

Keep on jammin’!
Dr. Tom
[email protected]



WHO IS DR. TOM?
Dr. Tom Zlabinger has played in bands and jammed since he was in high school. A performer on both electric and upright bass, he also sings and plays guitar. He is an Associate Professor of Music at York College / CUNY in New York City, where he has taught popular music performance and directed the York College Band since 2003. He holds a B.A. in music from Grinnell College, an M.A. in jazz performance from Queens College / CUNY, and a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from the CUNY Graduate Center. Dr. Tom has published on jams, live online performance, music making in and around various media franchises, and the intersections of blues, jazz, and psychedelic music. He has served on the boards of the Association of Popular Music Education and the Music Educators Association of New York City. Dr. Tom is passionate about making music more accessible to musicians of all levels and backgrounds. In 2022, he founded Telematic Studios to help musicians make music together, through online voice lessons, publishing accurate and easy-to-read charts, and performing music live online.