Adrianne Lenker has this way of making a guitar feel like it’s actually breathing. It’s a bit unnerving sometimes. When Big Thief dropped Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You back in 2022, "Sadness as a Gift" immediately stood out as this sort of dusty, alt-country masterpiece that feels like it’s been around for fifty years. If you’re looking for the sadness as a gift chords, you aren’t just looking for a sequence of finger positions. You’re looking for that specific, aching tension between a major key and a broken heart.
It’s a simple song on the surface. But simple isn't the same as easy.
Most people pull up a tab, see a few open chords, and think they’ve got it. They don’t. The magic of this track is in the "how," not just the "what." It’s about that rolling 4/4 rhythm and the way the acoustic guitar interacts with the fiddle. If you want to play it like Adrianne, you have to understand that her playing is rhythmic and percussive, almost like she’s trying to shake the notes out of the wood.
The Basic Skeleton of Sadness as a Gift Chords
Let's get the technical stuff out of the way first so we can talk about the soul of the thing. The song is fundamentally in the key of E Major. However, if you watch live footage of Adrianne or Buck Meek, you’ll notice they often use a capo.
For the studio version, put your capo on the 2nd fret.
By placing the capo on the 2nd fret and playing in the "D shape," you get those beautiful, ringing open strings that define the Big Thief sound. Here is the basic progression for the verse:
D - G - D - A
Wait. If the song is in E, why are we playing D? Because the capo transposes it. Technically, your fingers are making a D major shape, but the sound coming out is an E major. This matters because the "D shape" allows for those little hammer-ons on the high E string (which is now an F# string) that Adrianne uses to create melody within the strumming.
The chorus shifts slightly, leaning harder into the G (which sounds like an A) to give it that soaring, desperate feeling. It’s basically:
G - D - A - Bm That B minor is the gut punch. It’s the "gift" in the sadness. Without that minor chord, the song would just be a happy country tune. That dip into the minor key is what makes the hair on your arms stand up.
Why the "Country" Feel Matters
You’ve probably noticed the fiddle. It’s played by Mat Davidson (of Twig Harp), and it’s the secret sauce. When you are practicing the sadness as a gift chords on a solo acoustic guitar, you have to compensate for the lack of that fiddle.
How?
By using "sus" chords. Instead of just camping out on a plain D major, try lifting your middle finger to create a Dsus2. Then, hammer it back down. This creates a moving internal line that mimics the movement of the violin. It keeps the ear busy.
Big Thief’s music is rarely static. Even when they’re playing a "simple" song, there’s a constant sense of motion. Buck Meek, the lead guitarist, usually plays these weird, spindly little licks over the top of Adrianne’s rock-solid foundation. If you’re playing this with a friend, one of you should focus on the heavy down-strums while the other plays "color notes" up the neck.
Dealing with the Bridge
The bridge is where things get a little hazy. "The seasons reveal / The limit of our grief."
Musically, the bridge holds onto the tension. It doesn't want to resolve. You’re going to spend more time on the G and the A. It feels like a climb. You’re looking for a climax that never quite explodes; instead, it just folds back into that beautiful, repetitive verse.
Honestly, the hardest part about these chords isn't the fingering. It's the timing. Big Thief plays with a "swing" that’s very subtle. It’s not a straight, robotic metronome. It’s a bit loose. A bit "front-porch."
Common Mistakes When Playing This Song
Don't over-strum.
💡 You might also like: Star in My Mind: Why This GMMTV Romance Still Hits Different
That’s the biggest mistake I see. People get excited because the song is emotional and they start bashing the strings. This is a song about fragility. The sadness as a gift chords should be played with a medium-light pick or, better yet, just your fingernails.
Another mistake? Ignoring the bass note.
In the D to G transition, try to emphasize the walk-down. Hit that low E string (which is a F# with the capo) as you move between shapes. It gives the song a "walking" feel that mimics a heartbeat.
- Capo: 2nd Fret
- Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)
- Main Shapes: D, G, A, Bm, Em
- Vibe: Nostalgic, bittersweet, slightly "twangy"
The Philosophy of the "Gift"
Lenker has spoken in various interviews, including pieces in The New Yorker and Pitchfork, about how her songs are often about processing the "unprocessible." "Sadness as a Gift" is literally about the idea that the pain of a breakup or a loss is a proof of life. It’s a gift because it means the love was real.
When you play these chords, you have to channel that. If you play it too clean, it sounds like a car commercial. You want it to sound a little bit like it's falling apart at the edges.
If you're struggling with the Bm chord—which is a barre chord and can be a literal pain in the hand for beginners—you can play a "cheat" version. Just play the middle four strings and leave the high E open. It creates a Bm7/11 sound that actually fits the indie-folk aesthetic perfectly. It sounds "dreamier" than a standard barre chord.
Gear and Tone
If you're trying to record this at home, you don't need much.
Adrianne often plays an old 1950s Martin 00-18 or a similar small-bodied acoustic. These guitars have a "boxy" mid-range sound that doesn't have too much bass. If you’re playing a big Dreadnought guitar, you might find the sound is too "boomy." Try using older strings. Brand new, bright strings can sound a bit too "pop" for this specific track.
For electric players, keep the gain low. You want just a hint of breakup—what we call "edge of breakup." A little bit of spring reverb will go a long way in capturing that Dragon New Warm Mountain atmosphere.
Final Thoughts on Technique
The song ends on a fade-out in the studio, but live, they usually land on a final, resonant D major.
When you get to that final chord, let it ring. Don't mute the strings. Let the overtones compete with each other. That’s where the "gift" lies—in the resonance that remains after the singing stops.
Learning the sadness as a gift chords is a great entry point into Big Thief's discography because it doesn't require the weird, alternate tunings Adrianne uses on songs like "Simulation Swarm" or "Change." It's accessible. It’s human.
Actionable Steps for Mastery
- Get the Capo Right: Ensure it’s tight on the 2nd fret. If your guitar has high action, a capo can sometimes pull the strings sharp. Check your tuning after the capo is on.
- Focus on the "D to G" Switch: This is the heart of the song. Practice moving between these two shapes until the transition is silent and seamless.
- Incorporate the "Sus" Notes: Once you have the rhythm, start lifting your fingers on the D chord to find those melody notes.
- Listen to the Fiddle: Try to hum the fiddle melody while you strum. It will help you understand where the gaps in the rhythm are.
- Record Yourself: Play the progression for three minutes straight. Listen back. Are you rushing? Most people rush the chorus. Slow down. Let the sadness breathe.
There’s no shortcut to making a song feel real. You just have to sit with it. Grab your guitar, find a quiet room, and let those chords do the work. The beauty of Adrianne’s songwriting is that she provides the map, but you get to walk the path yourself.