coverstabsMitski

Chords & Performance Notes: How to Cover Mitski’s 'Where’s My Phone?'

UUnknown

2026-02-17

11 min read

Practical chords, tabs, and arrangement notes to help musicians confidently cover Mitski’s “Where’s My Phone?” with guitar, piano and vocal tips.

Stop guessing — play Mitski’s “Where’s My Phone?” with confidence

If you’ve ever scrambled to find accurate chords, a singable key, or a live arrangement for a new Mitski single, you’re not alone. Covering a freshly released track like “Where’s My Phone?” presents two big problems: official charts and tabs lag behind the release, and the song’s eerie, cinematic production resists one-size-fits-all chord shapes. This guide gives you practical, play-now chords, guitar and piano voicings, a selection of arrangements (solo to full band), and precise performance tips to make your cover feel both faithful and personal.

The context that matters in 2026

Before the technical stuff: a quick framing. Mitski’s single “Where’s My Phone?” arrived alongside a mysterious promo (a phone line and website) and imagery tied to Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House — a move noted by Rolling Stone in January 2026. That promotional design sets a mood you can use in performance: claustrophobic, intimate, and theatrical. In late 2025–early 2026, many indie artists have been blending chamber-pop textures with stripped acoustic covers, so your arrangement can lean either into orchestral tension or stark intimacy depending on the venue and audience.

“No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality.” — Shirley Jackson (as read by Mitski in promotional material)

Quick reference — what you’ll get in this guide

Suggested chord charts (guitar & piano) with capo and transposition notes
Playable guitar tab for the main riff and arpeggio
Piano voicings and left-hand patterns for the recording’s vibe
Arrangement options (solo, trio, full band, orchestral)
Vocal technique and staging tips for Mitski’s fragile-but-focused delivery
Live sound & effects cheat-sheet (pedals, mic choices, monitor tips)

Key, tempo and style — start here

Because official sheet music and stems may not be released immediately, treat the following as a practical starting point: aim for a mid-tempo, intimate delivery — roughly 80–88 BPM — with a 4/4 feel and sparse percussion. The original production leans into a cinematic, slightly uncanny atmosphere: think warm electric piano, a brittle high guitar line, and restrained drums. If you want to match Mitski’s recorded pitch exactly, use an accurate pitch detection tool (many AI-assisted apps in 2026 give frame-level pitch) — but for most covers, choose a key that sits comfortably in your chest voice and adapt with a capo or transpose on piano.

Suggested chord progression (playable, adaptable)

Below is a practical, ear-friendly progression that captures the song’s tension and release. I’m offering two key options: one that’s guitar-friendly and one for piano or singers who want a slightly brighter top end.

Option A — Guitar-friendly (recommended starting key: Em)

Capo: none (Em shapes). Approximate progression:

Intro / Verse: Em — Cmaj7 — G — D
Pre-Chorus: C — G/B — Am — B7sus4
Chorus: Em — G — D — C
Bridge: Am — Em/G — D — B7

Chord voicings (open): Em (022000), Cmaj7 (x32000), G (320003), D (xx0232), Am (x02210), B7 (x21202).

Option B — Capo/High key (if you want brighter tonality)

Place capo on 2nd fret and use Dm shapes to sound in Em (capo 2):

Use Dm — Bbmaj7 — F — C as the verse shapes (relative transposition)

This option helps when you want the guitar to ring higher and makes some voicings easier for strumming.

Guitar — riff, voicings, and tab

Play with a clean amp, moderate reverb, and the neck pickup for warmth. If you add subtle overdrive it should be for texture only; the song breathes most when the guitar is not saturated.

Main motif (fingerpicked arpeggio — tab)

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

This motif outlines Em — Cmaj7 — G — D. Play on beats 1 and the & of 2 for a slightly syncopated feel. Use light thumbed bass notes and fingerpicked treble so the vocal sits forward.

Strumming pattern (for fuller solo covers)

Try: down — down-up — mute — up (D — D U — X — U). Palm-mute on the third beat to keep the rhythm taut. Emphasize dynamics: quieter verses with arpeggio; louder choruses with open strums.

Piano — voicings and textures

Piano in the recording can feel like a pad or a sparse, brittle comp. Use these voicings and left-hand patterns to create space.

Basic right-hand voicings

Em: E - B - G (right hand), left hand plays E octave or E-B drone
Cmaj7: C - E - B (creates the suspended, eerie color)
G: G - B - D (brightens but keep it top-light)
D: F# - A - D (use inversion: A - D - F#)

Left-hand patterns

Use a repeated broken-octave or half-note pulse: on verse play long, sustained left-hand notes; on chorus, play a moving bass line (E — D — G — A) to give momentum. Add subtle soft pad (electric piano or synth string) under the right hand if you want the recording’s cinematic width.

Suggested arrangements — quick start templates

Here are four arrangements you can use depending on setting and ensemble size. Each includes function, who plays what, and the emotional goal.

Guitar: fingerpicked motif (main tab)
Vocal: intimate, breathy, closer mic (SM7B-style or condenser with pop filter)
Dynamics: verse = near-whisper; chorus = push chest voice but keep vulnerability
Goal: highlight lyrics and eerie vulnerability

2) Duo — piano + voice (recorded reel or small stage)

Piano: right-hand color voicings, left-hand sustained bass
Guitar optional: texture on chorus with sparse chords
Goal: cinematic, draws on the album’s Hill House mood

3) Trio — guitar, bass, drums (indie band)

Drums: brushes or soft sticks; play with ghost notes and a tight snare; ride the rim subtly in verses
Bass: long root notes with walking approach to pre-chorus for lift
Guitar: arpeggio in verse, open strums in chorus
Goal: keep dynamics large but controlled; chorus should open without losing intimacy

4) Chamber-pop / full band

Add strings (sustained violin harmonics) and a pad
Use percussion sparingly — timpani roll or mallet hits for bridge swell
Goal: cinematic drama that nods to the album’s literary inspirations

Vocal tips — delivering Mitski’s fragile power

Mitski’s vocal identity blends vulnerability with direct intensity. For a convincing cover, focus on three things: breath placement, capitalization of quiet-loud contrasts, and lyrical punctuation.

1) Breath and phrasing

Place breath low in the diaphragm and use short pre-phrase breaths so that lines feel conversational, not operatic. If a phrase ends in a descending line, let the breath release earlier to preserve the trailing consonant.

2) Dynamics and texture

A key characteristic is the sudden shift from near-whisper to impassioned clarity. Practice each chorus line twice: once at dynamic p (piano) and once at mf–f to build control. Use vocal fry sparingly on sustained notes for emotional grit, and avoid forcing — if something feels pinched, transpose down a half or whole step.

3) Ornamentation and lyrical emphasis

Small micro-rubs (slight pitch slides) and micro-timing delays on a phrase’s last syllable add intimacy. Emphasize emotionally-loaded words by increasing volume by a notch and slightly elongating the vowel.

Performance and staging notes

For a song with haunted, reclusive imagery, visual choices are part of the arrangement. Keep lighting tight and use simple stage props — a single lamp, a vintage chair, or a phone prop to echo the promo concept. For video covers, leverage close-up shots on hands and face to sell vulnerability. If you’re assembling a small shoot, a field-tested toolkit for narrative shoots (cameras, mics, and solar kits) covers the basics so you don’t overbuy gear.

Microphone & live sound cheat-sheet (2026)

Voice: warm dynamic (SM7B) or small-diaphragm condenser if venue is quiet; use a pop filter for close-mic work
Guitar: DI plus mic the amp’s neck; for acoustic, use a small diaphragm condenser near 12th fret
Reverb: medium hall on vocals, short plate on guitar for clarity
Delay: slap-back or very short dotted-eighth delay on electric guitar to create space
FX tip: use an auto-wah or subtle chorus on clean guitar for chorus lift; avoid heavy modulation

If you need compact, portable lighting and small fans for home-studio videos or small stages, see recent compact lighting reviews for recommended kits.

Recording tips and quick mix map

When you record your cover, aim to capture the intimate details. Record dry takes (no reverb) for vocal and main guitar so you can control ambience in mixing. Use automation to open reverb and stereo width in choruses and close it in verses.

Simple mix chain

Vocal: EQ 100–150 Hz cut (clean mud), slight 3–6 kHz boost for presence, plate reverb ~40–50% send, compressor 3:1
Guitar: gentle low-cut at 120 Hz, slight 200–400 Hz scoop if muddy, reverb short room
Piano: stereo width, pad underneath via synth with slow attack

Legal & rights reminder for 2026 performers

Reproducing lyrics and distributing recorded covers has legal consequences. In 2026, licensing for online cover distribution is streamlined via mechanical licensing services (e.g., services that handle streaming and download royalties). If you plan to post a cover video with the lyrics on-screen or sell downloads, secure the correct mechanical license and sync license if using the original recording. For live gigs, venue blanket licenses (ASCAP/BMI/SESAC in the U.S.) generally cover public performance. When in doubt, use official licensing platforms or consult distribution guides such as this docu-distribution playbook to understand rights and monetization.

Practice checklist — 10-minute routine to nail the cover

Warm up with 5 minutes of breath and vocal slides in your chosen key
Run the main guitar motif slowly with a metronome at 60% tempo
Sing through verse lines unaccompanied to work phrasing
Practice dynamic push on the chorus — soft then loud in sequence
Do a full-band run (or backing track) and mark any timing drift
Record a one-take and listen for weak consonant enunciations
Adjust capo or transpose if pitch is uncomfortable
Finalize stage cues (lights, phone prop movement)
Export a rehearsal mix to share with bandmates
Confirm licensing for posted video/audio

Advanced variations & creative ideas

Want to make the cover yours? Try one of these creative spins that still honor the original mood:

Slow it down to 60 BPM and turn into a torch ballad with sparse piano and bowed bass
Flip into an uptempo indie-rock version — increase tempo 15–20% and add a punchy backbeat and fuzzed rhythm guitar
Translate into a lo-fi bedroom pop cover: sample main motif, loop it, add vinyl crackle and breathy double-tracked vocals
Arrange as a duet where a second voice echoes the last word of phrases for haunting call-and-response

Why this approach works in 2026

Two trends define what audiences want now: authenticity (raw, emotionally honest performances) and cinematic storytelling (arrangements that feel like a short film). Mitski’s promotion around “Where’s My Phone?” leans into narrative and atmosphere, so a cover that prioritizes mood over technical mimicry will resonate. Moreover, modern tools — affordable object storage, AI pitch detectors, quick transcription apps, and Cloud NAS for backups — enable musicians to craft faithful, legal covers faster than ever. Use these tools to find the original key, then make artistic choices that match your voice and setting.

Confirm key and capo/transposition are comfortable
Run one full take end-to-end without stopping
Check mic placement and monitor mixes on stage
Ensure licensing and credits are in place for posted content
Prepare a short caption that cites Mitski and the single (and the album if you mention it) — readers often link to contemporary album reviews when posting credits.

Actionable takeaways

Use the Em-based progression and the fingerpicked motif above as your default cover template.
Prioritize dynamics — quiet verses and open choruses create the emotional arc Mitski’s music needs.
Choose arrangement based on venue: solo + close mic for small rooms, trio for clubs, chamber for cinematic spaces.
Leverage 2026 tools — pitch-detection apps to match original pitch, and licensing services to keep covers legal. For compact production kits and creator workflows, see this compact creator kits guide.

Ready to record your cover?

Record a clean, dry sample of your version and tag it with your setup and chosen key when you share. If you want feedback, submit your clip to our community — we’ll give arrangement and mix notes tailored to your performance. For downloadable chord charts and printable PDFs of the tabs above, check our Mitski cover toolkit. And if you’re posting your cover online, remember to credit Mitski and secure the right licenses. For tips on file organisation and delivery of serialized music content, see our guide to file management for subscription shows.

Make it yours: play from the emotion, not only the chart. The chords and arrangements here are a scaffold — your interpretation is the part people will remember.

Call to action

Have a cover you’re proud of? Share it with us. Tag @songslyrics.live on social and use #WheresMyPhoneCover — we curate weekly features and give feedback. Want the printable PDF and a backing track at 82 BPM? Click to download our DIY kit and get mixing presets to capture that Mitski-esque hush and swell. If you’re building a small shoot, these compact lighting and kit reviews are a good place to start: compact lighting kits, and if you need recording-specific kit lists see the cameras & mics toolkit.

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