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Norwegian Wood - the Beatles

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(@mattguitar_1567859575)
Noble Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 879
Topic starter  

Hiya everyone. No posts recently as I have been sunning myself in Tobago for a while (fantastic place!!)

By way of introduction this song is off the Rubber Soul album, but also available on Anthology 2 and 1962-1966 (Red Album).

When I first started playing acoustic guitar, my aim was to end up being able to play songs like this, ones that aren't straight strumming (after all, it gets boring after a while!) but rather that incorporate the melody in the strum / picking. Only about 2 months ago I tried this again, and for the life of me, I couldn't do it. Picked it up yesterday, and after an hour, played it through nicely. So to all you beginners out there, you WILL progress if you keep playing!

Right, so where do we start? By grabbing our trusty capo, and slapping it on the 2nd fret, that's where! This is, to my knowledge, exactly how the Beatles recorded this all those years ago.

As for timing, depending on how you believe, this is either in ¾, 6/8 or 12 / 16 time. Personally I like to try and get the ¾ time feeling in it as much as possible.

This was played in the recording with a twelve string and a hard pick – that's why it sounds so percussive on the recording, but it sounds just as good on 6 string (I am sure Musen will correct me on this if I am mistaken, as he is the site's resident Beatlephile…!)

I am going to break the song down into sections to make it easier to work through for beginners and anyone that's not that familiar with this kind of song played on acoustic.

Here's the intro (SECTION A) – this doubles as the verse part as well so let's work on this for the time being……..

SECTION A – INTRO / VERSE
D
E ||------2-2-2-------------------2-2-2----------------|
B ||--3---3-3-3---3---3---3-------3-3-3-------3--------|
G ||--2---2-2-2---4---2---0---2---2-2-2---0---0---2----|
D ||--0-----------------------4-----------2-------4----|
A ||---------------------------------------------------|
E ||---------------------------------------------------|

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

Ok so start off (have you got the capo on?) by forming a regular D chord. Play this as slowly as you can for the time being, just get used to the fingering. So your first stroke is a downstroke, try NOT to hit the high E string, then do a down up down on the D chord. Then you (holding the D chord shape still!) add your pinky to the G string 4th fret, downstroke on the G and B strings, remove your pinky and repeat the downstroke on G and B strings, then remove your index / first finger from the 2nd fret G string and repeat the downstroke on G and B again. Sound familiar when you put it together? It should!!! Get this bit sorted so you can play it time and time again before going any further, this will help in the long run! So we have now completed this section -

D
E ||------2-2-2-------------
B ||--3---3-3-3---3---3---3-
G ||--2---2-2-2---4---2---0-
D ||--0---------------------
A ||- d d u d d d d

If you can't get this far, don't be discouraged – neither could I (I know, sad…) but keep practicing it, even 5 minutes a day and you will get it, I promise. Like David Hodge says in his lesson for The Needle and the Damage done, the secret is to feel like your fingers are constantly moving. Try and ignore your picking hand and just trust it to hit the right strings, concentrate on your fretting hand and be as accurate as you can.

Time to move on. Right the next thing you do is to complete this section
E---------2-2-2-------------------2-2-2----------------|
B ||--3---3-3-3---3---3---3-------3-3-3-------3--------|
G ||--2---2-2-2---4---2---0---2---2-2-2---0---0---2----|
D ||--0-----------------------4-----------2-------4----|
A ||---------------------------------------------------|
E ||---------------------------------------------------|

So form your D chord again immediately after the bit we have just learned, and put your pinky on the 4th fret D string, play a downstroke and then do Down/Up/Down on the D chord, just the three treble strings if possible. Then shift your index finger up a string to fret the D string (so that the G string is open) play a downstroke on that, then another downstroke on the G and B strings (no need to move your fingers for this, finally put your index finger back on the G string 3rd fret (to form your D shape again) while adding your pinky to the 4th fret D string again, and play another downstroke.

If you have got this far and are not struggling, the rest of the song is a breeze, so its worth taking your time to get this 100% right!!!

The next section –

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

So carrying straight on, you go back to your start position and play exactly the same start as before, a partial downstroke catching the D,G and B strings, followed by D / U / D on the treble strings of the D chord, then, leaving your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the B string, take your middle finger and fret the A string 3rd fret, do a downstroke on the A string followed by a downstroke on the G and B strings, use your index finger to fret the A string 2nd fret and catch the A string and the D string, then back to your start position again. Not too hard with practice.

Well done, that's the entire verse structure sorted!!!

The only other bit (SECTION B) that we need to sort out is the bridge (or chorus, you decide!) bit that starts “She asked me to stay and told me to sit anywhere…”.

This is like this –

SECTION B

Dm
E |--1---1-1-1---1---0-0-0---0------------------------|
B |--3---3-3-3---3---3-3-3---3---3-3-3----------------|
G |--2---2-2-2---2---0-0-0---0---2-2-2---2---0---2----|
D |--0-----------0-----------0-----------3---0---3----|
A |--0-----------0-----------0------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------|
asked me to stay and she told me to sit an- y -

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

where. So

Dm
E |--1---1-1-1---1---0-0-0---0------------------------|
B |--3---3-3-3---3---3-3-3---3---3-3-3----------------|
G |--2---2-2-2---2---0-0-0---0---2-2-2---2---0---2----|
D |--0-----------0-----------0-----------3---0---3----|
A |--0-----------0-----------0-----------0------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------|

I looked a round and I noticed there was-n't a

Em7 A7
E |--0---0-0-0-0-----0-----0-0---0-0-0-0-0----------|
B |--3---3-3-3-3-----3-----3-2---2-2-2-2-2----------|
G |--0---0-0-0-0-----0-----0-0---0-0-0-0-0----------|
D |--2---2-2-2-2-2-----------2---2-2-2-2-2----------|
A |--2-----------2-----------0-----------0----------|
E |-------------------------------------------------|
chair.

So, form a Dm chord, for this part –

E |--1---1-1-1---1---0-0-0---0------------------------|
B |--3---3-3-3---3---3-3-3---3---3-3-3----------------|
G |--2---2-2-2---2---0-0-0---0---2-2-2---2---0---2----|
D |--0-----------0-----------0-----------3---0---3----|
A |--0-----------0-----------0------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------|
D D u d D D u d D D u d D D D

This is really easy. So a strum on all strings apart from low E, then follow up with a dud on the three treble strings, another down, then remove all fingers EXCEPT your ring finger from the 3rd fret B string, Dud again, then down and Dud with a D shape on the B and G strings, then just add your pinky to the D string 3rd fret for the last bit, taking all fingers off before the final downstroke ends on the same shape. In all honesty, even if you don't do the last part, and just take your fingers off apart from the ring finger, it will sound fine, concentrate on timing more than anything. It should sound throughout like ONE / two and three…ONE / two and three. Then into the G section (note you fret the 3rd fret of the high E AND B strings here-
G
E |--3---3-3-3-------3-3-3------3-3-3-----3--------|
B |--3---3-3-3-------3-3-3------3-3-3-----3--------|
G |--0---0-0-0-------0-0-0------0-0-0-----0--------|
D |--0---0-0-0--0----0-0-0------0-0-0--0--0--------|
A |--2-------------------------------------------0-|
E |--3-----------------------3---------------------|-

So again, its down, dud throughout, to maintain the rhythm, using an alternating bass between the low E string and the D string. Nothing fancy there!

Straight back to Dm and repeat exactly what you have just played prior to the G section –
Dm
E |--1---1-1-1---1---0-0-0---0------------------------|
B |--3---3-3-3---3---3-3-3---3---3-3-3----------------|
G |--2---2-2-2---2---0-0-0---0---2-2-2---2---0---2----|
D |--0-----------0-----------0-----------3---0---3----|
A |--0-----------0-----------0------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------|

We then go into Em7 (just an Em with your pinky on the 3rd fret B string, ending with A7 (x02020) like this –

Em7 A7
E |--0---0-0-0------0-----0-0---0-0-0-0-0----------|
B |--3---3-3-3------3-----3-2---2-2-2-2-2----------|
G |--0---0-0-0------0-----0-0---0-0-0-0-0----------|
D |--2---2-2-2---2----------2---2-2-2-2-2----------|
A |--2-----------2----------0-----------0----------|
E |-------------------------------------------------|

You can get away with the “normal” bass, dud pattern again here if needed – again it sounds just as good.

And that, my friends, is pretty much the whole song.

I hope you enjoy this song as much as I have, here's the whole thing written out to correspond to the sections I have marked above.
Intro – play Section A twice –

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

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

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

I once had a girl or should I
She
D C G D
E |------2-2-2-------------------2-2-2-2-----2--------||
B |--3---3-3-3-------3-------3---3-3-3-3-----3--------||
G |--2---2-2-2-------0-------2---2-2-2-2-2---2--------||
D |--0-------------------0---0-----------0------------||
A |--------------3-------2---0------------------------||
E |---------------------------------------------------||
Say she once had me

D
E ||------2-2-2-------------------2-2-2----------------|
B ||--3---3-3-3---3---3---3-------3-3-3-------3--------|
G ||--2---2-2-2---4---2---0---2---2-2-2---0---0---2----|
D ||--0-----------------------4-----------2-------4----|
A ||---------------------------------------------------|
E ||---------------------------------------------------|
She sh'd me her room isn't it

D C G D
E |------2-2-2-------------------2-2-2-2-----2--------||
B |--3---3-3-3-------3-------3---3-3-3-3-----3--------||
G |--2---2-2-2-------0-------2---2-2-2-2-2---2--------||
D |--0-------------------0---0-----------0------------||
A |--------------3-------2---0------------------------||
E |---------------------------------------------------||
Good Norwegian wood

(Then play section A through again as a solo)

then into bridge / chorus –

SECTION B
Dm
E |--1---1-1-1---1---0-0-0---0------------------------|
B |--3---3-3-3---3---3-3-3---3---3-3-3----------------|
G |--2---2-2-2---2---0-0-0---0---2-2-2---2---0---2----|
D |--0-----------0-----------0-----------3---0---3----|
A |--0-----------0-----------0------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------|
asked me to stay and she told me to sit an- y -

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

where. So

Dm
E |--1---1-1-1---1---0-0-0---0------------------------|
B |--3---3-3-3---3---3-3-3---3---3-3-3----------------|
G |--2---2-2-2---2---0-0-0---0---2-2-2---2---0---2----|
D |--0-----------0-----------0-----------3---0---3----|
A |--0-----------0-----------0-----------0------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------|

I looked a round and I noticed there was-n't a

Em7 A7
E |--0---0-0-0-0-----0-----0-0---0-0-0-0-0----------|
B |--3---3-3-3-3-----3-----3-2---2-2-2-2-2----------|
G |--0---0-0-0-0-----0-----0-0---0-0-0-0-0----------|
D |--2---2-2-2-2-2-----------2---2-2-2-2-2----------|
A |--2-----------2-----------0-----------0----------|
E |-------------------------------------------------|
chair.

Back into Section A
D
E ||------2-2-2-------------------2-2-2----------------|
B ||--3---3-3-3---3---3---3-------3-3-3-------3--------|
G ||--2---2-2-2---4---2---0---2---2-2-2---0---0---2----|
D ||--0-----------------------4-----------2-------4----|
A ||---------------------------------------------------|
E ||---------------------------------------------------|

i sat on a rug bi-ding my
She
D C G D
E |------2-2-2-------------------2-2-2-2-----2--------||
B |--3---3-3-3-------3-------3---3-3-3-3-----3--------||
G |--2---2-2-2-------0-------2---2-2-2-2-2---2--------||
D |--0-------------------0---0-----------0------------||
A |--------------3-------2---0------------------------||
E |---------------------------------------------------||
time drinking her wine

D
E ||------2-2-2-------------------2-2-2----------------|
B ||--3---3-3-3---3---3---3-------3-3-3-------3--------|
G ||--2---2-2-2---4---2---0---2---2-2-2---0---0---2----|
D ||--0-----------------------4-----------2-------4----|
A ||---------------------------------------------------|
E ||---------------------------------------------------|
we talked until two and then she

D C G D
E |------2-2-2-------------------2-2-2-2-----2--------||
B |--3---3-3-3-------3-------3---3-3-3-3-----3--------||
G |--2---2-2-2-------0-------2---2-2-2-2-2---2--------||
D |--0-------------------0---0-----------0------------||
A |--------------3-------2---0------------------------||
E |---------------------------------------------------||
said its time for bed

Back to section B –

SECTION B
Dm
E |--1---1-1-1---1---0-0-0---0------------------------|
B |--3---3-3-3---3---3-3-3---3---3-3-3----------------|
G |--2---2-2-2---2---0-0-0---0---2-2-2---2---0---2----|
D |--0-----------0-----------0-----------3---0---3----|
A |--0-----------0-----------0------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------|
She told me she w'd in the morn' and started to

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

laugh. i

Dm
E |--1---1-1-1---1---0-0-0---0------------------------|
B |--3---3-3-3---3---3-3-3---3---3-3-3----------------|
G |--2---2-2-2---2---0-0-0---0---2-2-2---2---0---2----|
D |--0-----------0-----------0-----------3---0---3----|
A |--0-----------0-----------0-----------0------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------|

Told her I didn't and cr' off t sleep in the

Em7 A7
E |--0---0-0-0-0-----0-----0-0---0-0-0-0-0----------|
B |--3---3-3-3-3-----3-----3-2---2-2-2-2-2----------|
G |--0---0-0-0-0-----0-----0-0---0-0-0-0-0----------|
D |--2---2-2-2-2-2-----------2---2-2-2-2-2----------|
A |--2-----------2-----------0-----------0----------|
E |-------------------------------------------------|
Bath

Back into Section A

D
E ||------2-2-2-------------------2-2-2----------------|
B ||--3---3-3-3---3---3---3-------3-3-3-------3--------|
G ||--2---2-2-2---4---2---0---2---2-2-2---0---0---2----|
D ||--0-----------------------4-----------2-------4----|
A ||---------------------------------------------------|
E ||---------------------------------------------------|
And when I a-woke I was al-

D C G D
E |------2-2-2-------------------2-2-2-2-----2--------||
B |--3---3-3-3-------3-------3---3-3-3-3-----3--------||
G |--2---2-2-2-------0-------2---2-2-2-2-2---2--------||
D |--0-------------------0---0-----------0------------||
A |--------------3-------2---0------------------------||
E |---------------------------------------------------||
One th' bird had flown

D
E ||------2-2-2-------------------2-2-2----------------|
B ||--3---3-3-3---3---3---3-------3-3-3-------3--------|
G ||--2---2-2-2---4---2---0---2---2-2-2---0---0---2----|
D ||--0-----------------------4-----------2-------4----|
A ||---------------------------------------------------|
E ||---------------------------------------------------|
So I lit a fire is-n't it

D C G D
E |------2-2-2-------------------2-2-2-2-----2--------||
B |--3---3-3-3-------3-------3---3-3-3-3-----3--------||
G |--2---2-2-2-------0-------2---2-2-2-2-2---2--------||
D |--0-------------------0---0-----------0------------||
A |--------------3-------2---0------------------------||
E |---------------------------------------------------||
Good nor-wegian wood
D-----|
Play SECTION A once as outro…done!!!

Lyrics
I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me.
She showed me her room, isn't it good, norwegian wood?
She asked me to stay and she told me to sit anywhere,
So I looked around and I noticed there wasn't a chair.
I sat on a rug, biding my time, drinking her wine.
We talked until two and then she said, "it's time for bed".
She told me she worked in the morning and started to laugh.
I told her I didn't and crawled off to sleep in the bath.
And when I awoke I was alone, this bird had flown.
So I lit a fire, isn't it good, norwegian wood


   
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(@yellow_tangerine)
Eminent Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 35
 

This is amazing! You have such love for your work, thank you for spelling it out for us. I've always wanted to play this song right from the beginning, too, but was put off by how hard it sounded. Thanks for breaking it down, I'm gonna start on this right away. :D

If you don't know where you're going,
Any road will take you there


   
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(@mattguitar_1567859575)
Noble Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 879
Topic starter  

Yellow

Thanks for your kiind words. Nice that my hours invested in this are appreciated!!!

Don't give up on this, it is one of those "looks much harder than it is" songs.

The first time you crack that gorgeous intro, it will all be worth it!

thanks again

Matt


   
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(@rkendrick)
Active Member
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 8
 

Matt, I gotta add my kudos! Great job, and I am amazed at the sound I am getting out of this. Very gratifying.


   
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 cnev
(@cnev)
Famed Member
Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 4459
 

Matt,

Really nice job with the song. I'm not a Beatles fan and I don't have a desire to play this but just looking at it and the detail which you laid it out was perfect.

Keep the tabs coming you do great work.

Chris

"It's all about stickin it to the man!"
It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll!


   
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(@anonymous)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 8184
 

OMG I can actually play this now.
You are absolutely right, I find that songs that were way beyond my abilities in the past are now well within reach. This song being one of them.
Thank you so much for laying this out and giving so much detail.
Very well done. :D


   
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(@dogsbody)
Prominent Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 715
 

Hi Matt,

Good see you back here and with avengence!
What a brilliant job!
I'd be trying this out now if it wasn't so late and I'm upstairs and the guitar is downstairs.

We'd only need mp3 files to go with offerings of this standard and you would make a worthy assistant for David Hodge on the lessons page.

Best regards,

Chris

The guitar is all right John but you'll never make a living out of it! (John Lennon's Aunt Mimi)


   
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(@vic-lewis-vl)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 10264
 

Nice job, Matt.....I did a version of this a while ago on here, but it was one I worked out myself using full chords and extended chords....I'll try this later....

RE....Roland Cube amp....still experimenting with settings myself....

:D :D :D

Vic

"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)


   
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(@lucky419)
Eminent Member
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 19
 

Haven't had a chance to try it out. But thanks for the tab I've been wanting to learn this song!


   
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(@tinsmith)
Prominent Member
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 830
 

I've had good luck playing in an "E" chord position. The melody line falls in very easily. If you tune your guitar down one whole step, you'd be all set.


   
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 gene
(@gene)
Estimable Member
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 159
 

Thanks Mattguitar,
I hate to say it , but this is the kind of simplyfied instructions I do best with. If you can't follow this, your in trouble. Thanks again.


   
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 gene
(@gene)
Estimable Member
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 159
 

Thanks Mattguitar,
I hate to say it , but this is the kind of simplyfied instructions I do best with. If you can't follow this, your in trouble. Thanks again.


   
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(@mattguitar_1567859575)
Noble Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 879
Topic starter  

Thanks everyone!!!!

Glad you're all enjoying it.

All the best

Matt


   
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(@vic-lewis-vl)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 10264
 

a funny thing happened last night.....

bunch of us guys sat in the pub, playing around with acoustics....someone suggested "Norwegian Wood" and everyone slapped a capo on at the 3rd fret....played E chord shape to start with....so that'd put it in the key of G.. anyway this is one I definitely need to work on!!!!

Like I said before, this is one I tabbed a while back....my tab was in E, works for me but didn't sound quite right last night...it's OK if youre playing solo....

I suppose I could try this version and put a capo on at the 5th....!!!!!!

:D :D :D

Vic

"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)


   
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(@tamuka)
Eminent Member
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 27
 

Nice tab.

The Hal Leonard book I have features this song (6 string lead and 12 string accompaniment) but for some strange reason the guy tabs it as though it's played without a capo. Then he says put a capo on the second fret and note that " notes played at 2nd fret are played as open strings". So basically to follow him you'd have to play sans capo, retab or subtract 2 from his tabs. Amazing.

Thanks to you, I've another option.


   
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