Elliott Smith- Self-Titled Album
Satellite
Satellite by Elliott Smith
Self-Titled Album, Track 7

Well, I've finally figured out Satellite. It took a while but it's 
solid. Though the alternate tuning is obvious (D-A-D-G-B-D), like in No 
Name #5 and Heatmiser's "The Fix Is In."  I've only written down the 
chronology, but this is it, god knows I've tried it enough times.  You 
should be able to reconstruct the song with these arpeggiated chords.=20

Tuning: D-A-D-G-B-D
3/3 time (waltz)

Verse
   
D   0---2--/4--\2---2---0---0---0---0
B   3---3---3---3---1---8---7---5--\0
G   2---3---3---3---2---7---6---4---4
D   0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0
A   0---0---0---0---0---X---0---X---X
D   0---0---0---0---0---8---7---5---5
                   
Chorus

D   0---0---0---X---0---0---0---0---0=20
B   6---5---3---X---5--\0---6---5---3
G   0---0---2---X---4---4---0---0---2
D   0---5---0---X---0---0---0---5---0
A   X---3---0---X---X---X---X---3---0
D   3---X---0--/3--/5---5---3---X---0
        =20

  The thing you need to emphasize is the rhythmic strumming, which is 
critical; keep in mind the waltz time.  You'll notice he hits the low D
once before the strum, at the beginning of each bar.  Especially when 
you hit those first two unusual chords at the beginning of the song, the 
233 and 433, you need to emphasize the hammer from 2>4 and back down 4>2 
on the low D (or is it high E? can't remember the terms) while focusing 
on keeping it in waltz.  Also, in the verse, after you complete the 
first cycle and slide up to the 8th fret, you need to mute the A string 
with your middle finger, which you actually do in a few other chords in 
the song.  You should pick it up eventually, but it may take a while;  
the waltz time kind of throws you off at first. It's an addictive melody 
so it's not hard to sit there and practice for an hour, because it 
sounds so damn cool.  Don't use a pick on this either, it doesn't sound 
as good. 
  One thing that I purposely left out is a little dynamic thing he does 
in the background- when he hits 000212 and starts singing, if you listen 
carefully in the second verse, before the slide up to the eighth fret,
the bass note quickly ascends twice before the change.  I haven't 
figured that out yet.  I don't actually think it's possible to do it 
with one guitar.  There is a second guitar in a couple of select spots;  
he does that in a lot of his quiet songs just to sprinkle a little more 
melody onto them.

Lyrics (from elliottsmith.net)

verse

while the hands are pointing up midnight
you're a question mark coming after people you watched collide

chorus

you can ask what you want tothe satellite

verse

cos the names you drop put ice in my veins
and for all you know you're the only one who finds it strange

chorus

when they call it a lover's moon
the satellite
cos it acts just like lovers do
the satellite
a burned out world you know
staying up all night
the satellite
submitted by David.  davemeth@yahoo.com