The tuning is optional, as most Staind fanatics know, the majority of Staind songs (at least acoustic) are played half a step down (and to be honest i think this tuning osunds better than standard tuning) so i would advise you to play it half a step down but if you have another tuning you preffer this should sound just as nice in that tuning :) The way I play and have tabbed this song is finger picked, personally I think it sounds nicer like this but if you wish to play this song the way Aaron does, play basically what i have tabbed but with a pik in a strum type motion. D (G) |-----2-----------2-----------2-----------2-----------0----------0-------| |---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3------3---3---3-| |---------2-----------2-----------0-----------0-----------0~-0-------0---| |-0----------------------------------------------------------------------| |-------------4-----------2-----------0----------------------------------| |-------------------------------------------------0----------------------| A -----------------------------| -0h2---2-------0h2---2-------| ---------2---2---------2---0-| -2---2-----2-------2-----2---| -----------------------------| -----------------------------| This is repeated throughout the entire song. I sit here on the stairs and listen to The night time as the daylight fades away It's such a haunting and familiar tune And when I hear it in the distance I can say That I'm home In Massachusettes Where my daughters and my wife they wait for me All alone But the truth is It's where I always am It's where I long to be Because I'm home The north shore is where my father lives And I wear my red socks around the world with pride But the berkshires are where my heart is And when I see them in the distance I could cry Because I'm home In Massachusettes Where my daughters and my wife they wait for me All alone But the truth is It's where I always am It's where I long to be Because I'm home In Massachusettes Where my hero teaches classes everyday And where my friends Don't treat me different It's where my family lives It's where I'll always stay Because I'm home.