Song: Death Whispered a Lullaby
Artist: Opeth
Album: Damnation (2003)
Written by: Mikael Åkerfeldt
Lyrics by: Steven Wilson
Transcribed by: Jonas Svarholt
E‑mail: jonas.svarholt@viapori.fi


I transcribed this song because a properly done version was not available.
As there are only two live performances on YouTube, and Mikael’s guitar during
the chorus is almost inaudible, it was somewhat challenging to determine both what
was being played and where on the fretboard it was performed.



0:00 [Intro/Verse]

        F#add9           Em(add11)

e|-----------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------|
G|--------------0-----------------2--|
D|--------4--------4-----------2-----|
A|-----4-----4--------4-----2--------|
E|--2--------------------3-----------|


Out on the road there are fireflies circling
Deep in the woods, where the lost souls hide
Over the hill there are men returning
Trying to find some peace of mind



0:37 [Variation] Acoustic guitar (Peter)

    Bsus2(add4)      B(add9♯5)

e|--------------0-----------------7--|
B|-----0-----------0-----------0-----|
G|--------6-----------6-----6--------|
D|--4--------4-----------5-----------|
A|-----------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------|


0:37 [Lead Guitar] Played with thumbed octave technique (Mikael)

e|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------12------14---------17--------14-----|
G|--11----------11/14---------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------9-------11---------14--------11-----|
A|--9------------9/12---------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|

e|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--12/14-----12------10\9-----7-----5/7--------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------4/6------------------|
D|---9/11-----9--------7\6-----4-----2/3--------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------2/4------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|



0:50 [Chorus] Guitar 1 (Mikael)

e|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|-----------------0------0------------|
G|---------2h4/5--------5-7/8------|--2---2-2------0------0-----0---0----|
D|-------2------------5-------7----|--2---2-2---10-----12-----9---5------|
A|--0------------6-----------------|--0---0-0----------------------------|
E|------------------------------8--|-------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|-----------------0------0------------|
G|---------2h4/5--------5-7/8------|--2---2-2------0------0-----0---0----|
D|-------2------------5-------7----|--2---2-2---10-----12-----9---5------|
A|--0------------6-----------------|--0---0-0----------------------------|
E|------------------------------8--|-------------------------------------|


0:50 [Chorus] Guitar 2 (Peter)

e|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|--10---------8-----------------------|
G|--------------------8-----8--8---|--------9---------7------------------|
D|---------7/9/10------(5)---------|--7----------5---------10\9-7--------|
A|-------7--------6-------6--------|--------7---------5------------------|
E|--5------------------------------|------------------------8\7-5--------|

e|---------------------------------|---8p7----0-------0-----0-----0---0--|
B|---------------------------------|-------10---10--5---5-6---6-3---0----|
G|--------------------8-----8--8---|-------------------------------------|
D|---------7/9/10-------5----------|-------------------------------------|
A|-------7--------6-------6--------|-------------------------------------|
E|--5------------------------------|-------------------------------------|



1:16 [Post-Chorus] Guitar 1 (Mikael)

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--8------8----8----8----8-----7--7----7----7-7----2----2----2----2----2--|
G|--8------8----8----8----8-----7--7----7----7-7----2----2----2----2----2--|
D|--10-----9----8----8----8-----7--7----7----7-7----4----3----2----2----2--|
A|-------------------10---10----5--5----5----5-5-------------------4----4--|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--5------5-5-5-5------8---8--8--8-8-5------5-5-5-5-----8---8--8--8-8-----|
G|--5------5-5-5-5h7----7---7--7--7-7-5------5-5-5-5h7---7---7--7--7-7-----|
D|--5h7----7-7-7-5------5---5--5--5-5-5h7----7-7-7-5-----5---5--5--5-6-----|
A|--5h7----7-7-7-5h6----6---6--6--6-6-5h7----7-7-7-5h6---6---6--6--6-6-----|
E|--5----------------------------------5-----------------------------------|


1:16 [Post-Chorus] Guitar 2 (Peter)

e|------------------------------2--2----2--0-0-0---------------------------|
B|--8------8----8----8----8-----3--3----3--3-3-3----2----2----2----2----2--|
G|--8------8----8----8----8-----2--2----2--2-2-2----2----2----2----2----2--|
D|--10-----9----8----8----8-----0--0----0--0-0-0----4----3----2----2----2--|
A|-------------------10---10---------------------------------------4----4--|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--5------5-5-5-5------8---8--8--8-8-5------5-5-5-5-----8---8--8--8-8-----|
G|--5------5-5-5-5h7----7---7--7--7-7-5------5-5-5-5h7---7---7--7--7-7-----|
D|--5h7----7-7-7-5------5---5--5--5-5-5h7----7-7-7-5-----5---5--5--5-6-----|
A|--5h7----7-7-7-5h6----6---6--6--6-6-5h7----7-7-7-5h6---6---6--6--6-6-----|
E|--5----------------------------------5-----------------------------------|


1:16 [Post-Chorus] Guitar 3 (Peter)

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--1----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|



1:38 [Verse 2] Acoustic guitar

Under the fog there are shadows moving
Don't be afraid, hold my hand
Into the dark there are eyelids closing
Buried alive in the shifting sands

        F#add9           Em(add11)

e|-----------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------|
G|--------------0-----------------2--|
D|--------4--------4-----------2-----|
A|-----4-----4--------4-----2--------|
E|--2--------------------3-----------|



2:04 [Variation] Acoustic guitar

    Bsus2(add4)      B(add9♯5)

e|--------------0-----------------7--|
B|-----0-----------0-----------0-----|
G|--------6-----------6-----6--------|
D|--4--------4-----------5-----------|
A|-----------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------|


2:04 [Octave guitar] Thumbed octave technique (Mikael)

e|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------12------14---------17--------14-----|
G|--11----------11/14---------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------9-------11---------14--------11-----|
A|--9------------9/12---------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|

e|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--12/14-----12------10\9-----7-----5/7--------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------4/6------------------|
D|---9/11-----9--------7\6-----4-----2/3--------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------2/4------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|



2:17 [Chorus] Guitar 1 (Mikael)

e|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|-----------------0------0------------|
G|---------2h4/5--------5-7/8------|--2---2-2------0------0-----0---0----|
D|-------2------------5-------7----|--2---2-2---10-----12-----9---5------|
A|--0------------6-----------------|--0---0-0----------------------------|
E|------------------------------8--|-------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|-----------------0------0------------|
G|---------2h4/5--------5-7/8------|--2---2-2------0------0-----0---0----|
D|-------2------------5-------7----|--2---2-2---10-----12-----9---5------|
A|--0------------6-----------------|--0---0-0----------------------------|
E|------------------------------8--|-------------------------------------|


2:17 [Chorus] Guitar 2 (Peter)

e|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|--10---------8-----------------------|
G|--------------------8-----8--8---|--------9---------7------------------|
D|---------7/9/10------(5)---------|--7----------5---------10\9-7--------|
A|-------7--------6-------6--------|--------7---------5------------------|
E|--5------------------------------|------------------------8\7-5--------|

e|---------------------------------|---8p7----0-------0-----0-----0---0--|
B|---------------------------------|-------10---10--5---5-6---6-3---0----|
G|--------------------8-----8--8---|-------------------------------------|
D|---------7/9/10-------5----------|-------------------------------------|
A|-------7--------6-------6--------|-------------------------------------|
E|--5------------------------------|-------------------------------------|



2:43 [Post-Chorus] Guitar 1 (Mikael)
 
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--8------8----8----8----8-----7--7----7----7-7----2----2----2----2----2--|
G|--8------8----8----8----8-----7--7----7----7-7----2----2----2----2----2--|
D|--10-----9----8----8----8-----7--7----7----7-7----4----3----2----2----2--|
A|-------------------10---10----5--5----5----5-5-------------------4----4--|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--5------5-5-5-5------8---8--8--8-8-5------5-5-5-5-----8---8--8--8-8-----|
G|--5------5-5-5-5h7----7---7--7--7-7-5------5-5-5-5h7---7---7--7--7-7-----|
D|--5h7----7-7-7-5------5---5--5--5-5-5h7----7-7-7-5-----5---5--5--5-6-----|
A|--5h7----7-7-7-5h6----6---6--6--6-6-5h7----7-7-7-5h6---6---6--6--6-6-----|
E|--5----------------------------------5-----------------------------------|
 
 
2:43 [Post-Chorus] Guitar 2 (Peter)
 
e|------------------------------2--2----2--0-0-0---------------------------|
B|--8------8----8----8----8-----3--3----3--3-3-3----2----2----2----2----2--|
G|--8------8----8----8----8-----2--2----2--2-2-2----2----2----2----2----2--|
D|--10-----9----8----8----8-----0--0----0--0-0-0----4----3----2----2----2--|
A|-------------------10---10---------------------------------------4----4--|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--5------5-5-5-5------8---8--8--8-8-5------5-5-5-5-----8---8--8--8-8-----|
G|--5------5-5-5-5h7----7---7--7--7-7-5------5-5-5-5h7---7---7--7--7-7-----|
D|--5h7----7-7-7-5------5---5--5--5-5-5h7----7-7-7-5-----5---5--5--5-6-----|
A|--5h7----7-7-7-5h6----6---6--6--6-6-5h7----7-7-7-5h6---6---6--6--6-6-----|
E|--5----------------------------------5-----------------------------------|


2:43 [Post-Chorus] Guitar 3 (Peter)

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--1----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|



2:58 [Guitar Solo] Mikael

This solo is played with sixteenth‑note tremolo picking and a lot of
oscillation/space/echo effect. I don’t have my electric guitar at hand
right now, so I can’t transcribe it 100 % accurately.

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------18---17--15---18--17--15--18--17--18--20----|
G|------5---10---9--10--12--14-----------------------------------------------|
D|--0------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

*Press tremolo arm ↓ (½ step), strum and release slowly*

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------??--------------------|
G|--12------12----10--10---9h10p9------7---10---12-----12--------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------0*------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|


2:58 [Guitar Solo] Rhythm guitar (Peter)

         Dsus2          Dsus2                  Dsus2           Dsus2      

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

*Peter most likely plays 1x003x here. I included the bass notes for completeness.

e|------------------------------------|----------------------------------0---|
B|--3--3-3--3----3----3---3-3---3-3-3-|--3--3-3--3--3--3--3---3----------3---|
G|--0--0-0--0----0----0---0-0---0-0-0-|--0--0-0--0--0--0--0---0---*****--2---|
D|--0--0-0--0----0----0---0-0---0-0-0-|--0--0-0--0--0--0--0---0-----3----0---|
A|--3--0-1--1----1----1---1-1---1-1-0-|--3--0-1--1--x--x--x---x---3---3--0---|
E|------------------------------------|-------------3--0--1---1h3------------|



3:27 [Intro/Verse]

        F#add9           Em(add11)

e|-----------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------|
G|--------------0-----------------2--|
D|--------4--------4-----------2-----|
A|-----4-----4--------4-----2--------|
E|--2--------------------3-----------|

Speak to me now and the world will crumble
Open a door and the moon will fall
All of your life all your memories
Go to your dreams, forget it all



4:05 [Chorus] Guitar 1 (Mikael)

e|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|-----------------0------0------------|
G|---------2h4/5--------5-7/8------|--2---2-2------0------0-----0---0----|
D|-------2------------5-------7----|--2---2-2---10-----12-----9---5------|
A|--0------------6-----------------|--0---0-0----------------------------|
E|------------------------------8--|-------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
G|---------2h4/5--------5-7/8------|--2---2-2----------------------------|
D|-------2------------5-------7----|--2---2-2----------------------------|
A|--0------------6-----------------|--0---0-0----------------------------|
E|------------------------------8--|-------------------------------------|


4:05 [Chorus] Guitar 2 (Peter)

e|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|--10---------8-----------------------|
G|--------------------8-----8--8---|--------9---------7------------------|
D|---------7/9/10------(5)---------|--7----------5---------10\9-7--------|
A|-------7--------6-------6--------|--------7---------5------------------|
E|--5------------------------------|------------------------8\7-5--------|

e|---------------------------------|---8p7----0-------0-----0-----0---0--|
B|---------------------------------|-------10---10--5---5-6---6-3---0----|
G|--------------------8-----8--8---|-------------------------------------|
D|---------7/9/10-------5----------|-------------------------------------|
A|-------7--------6-------6--------|-------------------------------------|
E|--5------------------------------|-------------------------------------|



4:32 [Post-Chorus] Guitar 1 (Mikael) & Guitar 2 (Peter)

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--8------8----8----8----8-----7--7----7----7-7----2----2----2----2----2----|
G|--8------8----8----8----8-----7--7----7----7-7----2----2----2----2----2----|
D|--10-----9----8----8----8-----7--7----7----7-7----4----3----2----2----2----|
A|-------------------10---10----5--5----5----5-5-------------------4----4----|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--5------5-5-5-5------8---8--8--8-8-5------5-5-5-5-----8---8--8--8-8-------|
G|--5------5-5-5-5h7----7---7--7--7-7-5------5-5-5-5h7---7---7--7--7-7-------|
D|--5h7----7-7-7-5------5---5--5--5-5-5h7----7-7-7-5-----5---5--5--5-6-------|
A|--5h7----7-7-7-5h6----6---6--6--6-6-5h7----7-7-7-5h6---6---6--6--6-6-------|
E|--5----------------------------------5-------------------------------------|


4:32 [Post-Chorus] Guitar 1 (Mikael)

e|------------------------------2--2----2--0-0-0-----------------------------|
B|--8------8----8----8----8-----3--3----3--3-3-3----2----2----2----2----2----|
G|--8------8----8----8----8-----2--2----2--2-2-2----2----2----2----2----2----|
D|--10-----9----8----8----8-----0--0----0--0-0-0----4----3----2----2----2----|
A|-------------------10---10---------------------------------------4----4----|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--5------5-5-5-5------8---8--8--8-8-5------5-5-5-5-----8---8--8--8-8-------|
G|--5------5-5-5-5h7----7---7--7--7-7-5------5-5-5-5h7---7---7--7--7-7-------|
D|--5h7----7-7-7-5------5---5--5--5-5-5h7----7-7-7-5-----5---5--5--5-6-------|
A|--5h7----7-7-7-5h6----6---6--6--6-6-5h7----7-7-7-5h6---6---6--6--6-6-------|
E|--5----------------------------------5-------------------------------------|



4:47 [Guitar Solo] Peter

Use the same chord progression that accompanies Mikael’s solo.



************************************

|(n) Ghost note
| h  Hammer-on
| p  Pull-off
| /  Slide up
| \  Slide down

************************************