I Want What I Don’t Need - Villagers

Hi everyone, and welcome to this new tutorial! Today, I’ll be showing you how to play a song that, in my opinion, is one of the most underrated tracks of 2024: I Want What I Don’t Need by Villagers.

Conor O’Brien always amazes us with his intricate fingerpicking, but this particular piece felt especially meaningful to me. After thinking about it for a while, I realized the reason: the alternation between C major and G7 reminds me of Giuliani’s 120 Arpeggios, which gives the song a classical touch that resonated deeply with me.

Since there were no tabs available online, I’ll admit I initially struggled to figure out the right notes. But after watching this one video, I discovered the "trick."

Essentially, the last note of each arpeggiated chord transitions into the next chord, and most of the time, this happens on the second string. This makes the second string your most important one for this song. I recommend mastering the intro and verses before tackling the chorus. Once you’ve fully grasped the fingerpicking pattern in those sections, you’ll be ready to move on to the chorus, where your left hand will face a bit more of a challenge. As for the right hand, there’s no need to use the ring finger except for the note on the first string in the D7 chord. And here’s a key tip: always play the notes on the second string with your middle finger to maintain a consistent pattern.

The lighthearted mood of the song might lead you to believe it’s an easy one to learn, but trust me, it’s more challenging than it seems. (Although, with tabs already in hand, it might be a bit easier for you—lucky you!) Still, the satisfaction of mastering this piece is absolutely worth it.

You can find the complete tabs for the song on my Patreon profile!