Music
Guitar Lesson 9: Vivaldi's Concerto in D
First off, I apologize for the lack of guitar lessons over the past couple of months. I originally intended on doing a guitar lesson per month, but I ended up with too much on my plate (which happens every couple of weeks) to keep up the pace. Anyway, who cares about that crap? Let’s get to the good stuff.
When I was 16 or so, I got the grandiose idea to take a symphonic piece and arrange it for electric guitars. At the time, my father owned an Alesis ADAT XT, so I had up to 8 tracks available to me. Being 16, the sky was the limit, especially since I had all the time in the world. My dad also had a laserdisc of computer animation and one of the animated shorts used a Vivaldi piece for its soundtrack. That piece sounded like it’d be a decent challenge: upbeat tempo, lots of notes, not too many parts to figure out, etc. Please download the mp3 from the Hansel Vs. Gretel page.
I believe it took me about a month to figure out all the parts (apparently, I’d never heard of sheet music), memorize one part at a time, and record it. It might have taken two. I don’t remember. Nevertheless, aside from the amateur recording/mixing quality, the performance is decent. I thought it might be fun to tab out this song for this month’s lesson.
On the recording, you can hear different guitars switching off to play the lead melody. That’s because I wasn’t good enough to play everything together in one take. Eight years later, I’m able to do it and I want you to do it, too. There’s also some passing the melody back and forth that SHOULD be in the song, but for the sake of simplicity, I’ll tab out the melody in one straight piece. It’d be fun if you can get two or three other guitar players to play through the piece with you.
The entire melody is played between the 12th and 22nd frets on the guitar. You do NOT need a 24-fret guitar to play this song, though it might help, depending on the scale of your guitar’s neck.
Keep in mind that this piece is in the key of D. This will help you understand the modes/scales being played, how they fit together, etc. Vivaldi, like Mozart, kinda famous for using ascending and descending scale patterns in his music. There are also a lot of dynamics that I didn’t record in the tab (or the mp3), so you’re on your own there. Just listen to the real piece and you’ll get an idea.
Objectives/Outcomes/Goals
- Only use alternate picking, thus improving your shredding capabilities
- Increase agility in the high frets, especially if you have fat fingers like I do
- Play around 140 beats per minute
- ALWAYS play with a metronome
- Ideally, get a couple of people together to play this piece together as an ensemble
- Get an idea of how to play in 9/8
- Lots of three-note-per-string scales
- Play with modes
- Learn an impressive, and fairly recognizable, # Vivaldi concerto
- Play with dynamics
Oh, one quick hint: start the song on an upstroke.
And to get you started, here’s a video of what the melody will be playing. This is me playing through my Carvin Vai Legacy amp. I did a few takes, but didn’t want to do any video editing to ruin the one-take experience, so there are some mistakes. But, you’ll get the idea of what’s going on in this lesson:
Tablature, Baby!
* = Melody Trade-Off Point
p = Pull-Off
t = Trill
140 Beats per Minute
LHF 1 4 2 1 3 1 1 4 2 4 1 3 1 4 2 1 2 4
|-------------------19-------|----------------------------|-
|----22-20-19----------22-20-|-22-19-------22-20-19-20-22-|-
9 |-19----------21-19----------|-------21-19----------------|-
8 |----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-------------------5--------|-4--------------------------|-
|-5--------------------------|-------------------5--------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
2 3 1 1 4 2 4 3 1 1 4 2 1 2 4 2 4 1
|----------------------------|-14-17-15-14-15-------------|-
|-20----------22-20-22----20-|----------------17-15-17-14-|-
|----21-19-18----------21----|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-------------------4--------|-
|-7-----------------4--------|-5--------------------------|-
|----------5-----------------|----------------------------|-
* *
3 4 2 1 2 4 2 4 1 3 4 2 1 2 4 3 4 1
|----19-17-15-17-------------|----21-19-17-19-------------|-
|----------------19-17-19-15-|----------------20-19-20-17-|-
|-16-------------------------|-18-------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-------------------3--------|-
|-5-----------------6--------|-7--------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
* *
3 4 3 1 3 4 2 4 1 3 1 3 1 2 4 1 2 4
|----22-21-19-21-------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------22-20-22-19-|-------------------19-20-22-|-
|-19-------------------------|-21-------18-19-21----------|-
|----------------------------|----19-21-------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-4--------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-------------------5--------|-7--------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------5-----------------|-
* *
3 1 3 1 2 4 1 2 4 3 1 3 1 2 4 1 2 4
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-------------------19-20-22-|-------------------19-20-22-|-
|-21-------18-19-21----------|-21-------18-19-21----------|-
|----19-21-------------------|----19-21-------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-7--------------------------|-7--------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------5-----------------|----------5-----------------|-
1 4 2 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 4 2 1 3 1 1 4 2
|----------------------------|-------------------19-------|-
|-19-------------------------|----22-20-19----------22-20-|-
|----21-19-18----19----19-18-|-19----------21-19----------|-
|-------------19-------------|----------------------------|-
|-------------------17-------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-------4--7-----4--------7--|-------------------5--------|-
|-5--7--------------7--------|-5--------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
4 1 3 1 4 2 1 2 4 2 3 1 1 4 2 4 3 2
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-22-19-------22-20-19-20-22-|-20----------22-20-22----20-|-
|-------21-19----------------|----21-19-18----------21----|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-4--------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-------------------5--------|-7-----------------4--------|-
|----------------------------|----------5-----------------|-
4 2 4 4 2 4 4 1 4 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 4 2
|----------------------19----|----------------------------|-
|-22p20-22-22p20-22-22----22-|-20p19-20-20p19-20-20-22-20-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-5--------------5-----------|-7--------4-----------------|-
|----------------------------|-------------------5--------|-
2 1 2 2 1 2 2 3 2 3 1 3 3 1 3 3 4 3
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-19p17-19-19p17-19-19-20-19-|-17p15-17-17p15-17-17-19-17-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-7-----------------7--------|-
|-5--------------5-----------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------5-----------------|-
2 1 2 2 1 2 2 4 2 1 4 2 1 2 3 1 3 1
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-15p14-15-15p14-15-15-17-15-|-14-17-15-14-15-------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------16-14-16-13-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-9--------6-----------------|----------------------------|-
|-------------------7--------|-------------------4--------|-
|----------------------------|-5--------------------------|-
* *
3 4 2 1 2 4 2 4 1 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 2 3
|----------------------------|----16-14----14-------------|-
|----19-17-15-17-------------|----------17----15-14-15----|-
|----------------18-16-18----|-------------------------16-|-
|-16----------------------19-|-18-------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|--------------------3-------|-
|-5-----------------6--------|-7--------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
* *
1 4 3 1 3 4 2 4 1 3 1 3 1 2 4 1 2 4
|----17-16-14-16-------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------17-15-17-14-|-------------------14-15-17-|-
|-14-------------------------|-16-------13-14-16----------|-
|----------------------------|----14-16-------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-4--------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-------------------5--------|-7--------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------0-----------------|-
* *
3 1 3 1 2 4 1 2 4 3 1 3 1 2 4 1 2 4
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-------------------14-15-17-|-------------------14-15-17-|-
|-16-------13-14-16----------|-16-------13-14-16----------|-
|----14-16-------------------|----14-16-------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-7--------------------------|-7--------------------------|-
|----------0-----------------|----------0-----------------|-
*
1 2 1 1 3 3 1 3 2 3 4 3 1 3 4 1 3 4
|----------------------------|----17-15-14-15-17-14-15-17-|-
|-14-------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----16-14-13----14----14-13-|-14-------------------------|-
|-------------14-------------|----------------------------|-
|-------------------12-------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-------4--7-----4-----7-----|----------------------------|-
|-5--7--------------7--------|-5--------------------------|-
* *
2 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 2 1 4 3 1 3 4 1 3 4
|----------17-15-17----------|----19-17-15-17-19-15-17-19-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-17-16-17----------17-16-17-|-16-------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-7--------4-----------------|-5--------------------------|-
|-------------------5--------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
* *
2 1 2 3 1 3 2 1 2 1 4 3 1 3 4 1 3 4
|----------19-17-19----------|----21-19-17-19-21-17-19-21-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-19-18-19----------19-18-19-|-18-------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-9--------6-----------------|--7-------------------------|-
|------------------7---------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
* *
3 1 3 3 1 3 3 1 3 1 4 2 1 2 4 1 4 1
|----------21-19-21----------|----19-17-15-17-19-15----15-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------19----|-
|-21-19-21----------21-19-21-|-19-------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-11-------8-----------------|-9--------------------------|-
|-------------------9--------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
*
2 1 2 2 4 2 1 1 2 1 4 3 4 1 4 4 1 4
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-17----17-17-19-17-15-14-15-|-14-22-21-22-14-22-22-14-22-|-
|----16----------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-6-------7------------------|----------------------------|-
|-------------------7--------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-5--------5--------5--------|-
4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-22-15-22-22-15-22-22-15-22-|-22-17-22-22-17-22-22-17-22-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-4--------4--------4--------|-
|-7--------7--------7--------|----------------------------|-
4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-22-19-22-22-19-22-22-19-22-|-22-14-22-22-14-22-22-14-22-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-5--------5--------5--------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-5--------5--------5--------|-
4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-22-12-22-22-12-22-22-12-22-|-21-12-21-21-12-21-21-12-21-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-5--------5--------5--------|-7--------7--------7--------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
4 1 4 4 1 4 1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4 1
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-22-14-22-14-17-14----------|----------------------------|-
|-------------------14-18-14-|----18----------------------|-
|----------------------------|-14----14-14-19-14----------|-
|----------------------------|-------------------16-19-16-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-5--------------------------|-5--------------------------|-
*
2 4 3 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----22-21-22-14-22-22-14-22-|-22-15-22-22-15-22-22-15-22-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-17-------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-5---------5-------5--------|-7--------7--------7--------|-
4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-22-17-22-22-17-22-22-17-22-|-22-19-22-22-19-22-22-19-22-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-4--------4--------4--------|-5--------5--------5--------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-22-14-22-22-14-22-22-14-22-|-22-12-22-22-12-22-22-12-22-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-5--------5--------5--------|-
|-5--------5--------5--------|----------------------------|-
4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 1 4 1 1 4 1
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-21-12-21-21-12-21-21-12-21-|-22-14-22-14-17-14----------|-
|----------------------------|-------------------14-18-14-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-7--------7--------7--------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-5--------------------------|-
*
1 4 1 1 4 1 1 4 1 2 3 3 3 3 3
|----------------------------|-------17-17----17-17----17-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----18----------------------|----------------------------|-
|-14----14-14-19-14----------|----------------------------|-
|-------------------16-19-16-|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-17-------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-5--------------------------|-5--------------------------|-
*
3 4 1 4 1 3 1 3 4 2 3 3 3 3 3
|-17-19-15----15-------------|-------19-19----19-19----19-|-
|----------19----17-15-17----|----------------------------|-
|-------------------------18-|-16-------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-7-----------------7--------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-5--------5--------5--------|-
|----------5-----------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
*
3 4 1 4 1 3 1 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2
|-19-21-17----17-------------|-------21-21----21-21----21-|-
|----------21----19-17-19----|----------------------------|-
|-------------------------19-|-18-------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-9-----------------9--------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-7--------7--------7--------|-
|----------7-----------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
2 4 1 4 1 2 1 2 3 1 4 4 4 4 4
|-21-22-19----19-------------|-------22-22----22-22----22-|-
|----------22----20-19-20----|----------------------------|-
|-------------------------21-|-19-------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-11----------------11-------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-9--------9--------9--------|-
|----------9-----------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
4 4 3 3 1 1 1 1
|-22-------------22-21-------|-19----17-16t17----------14-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-8--------------9-----------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-7---------9----------------|-
*
1 2 4 1 3 1 3 2 3 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4
|-14-16-17-14----14----------|----------------------------|-
|-------------17----17-16-17-|-16-17-19-16-17-19-16-17-19-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-9--------9--------9--------|-
|-9--------9--------9--------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
*
1 2 4 4 2 4 4 3 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 2 4
|-16-17-19-------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------17-19-17----------|----------------------------|-
|-------------------19-18-19-|-18-19-21-18-19-21-18-19-21-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-7--------7--------7--------|-
|-7--------7--------7--------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
* *
1 2 4 2 4 2 4 3 4 3 4 2 1 2 4 2 4 1
|-14-15-17-------------------|----19-17-15-17-------------|-
|----------15-17-15----------|----------------19-17-19-15-|-
|-------------------17-16-17-|-16-------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-5--------5--------6--------|-
|-5--------5--------5--------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
1 3 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 1 4 1 2 1 2 2 1 2
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------15----15-15----15-|----------17----17-17----17-|-
|-14-16-14----14-------14----|-14-19-16----16-------16----|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-7--------4-----------------|-5--------------------------|-
|-------------------5--------|-------------------7--------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
1 3 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 1 3 1 2 1 2 2 1 2
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------19----19-19----19-|----------20----20-20----20-|-
|-18-19-18----18-------18----|-19-21-19----19-------19----|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-7--------------------------|-9--------------------------|-
|-------------------9--------|-------------------10-------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
3 1 2 4 1 2 3 1 4 3 1 2 3 1 2 4 2 4
|----------------------17----|-------------15-17-19-17-19-|-
|----19-20-22-17----------20-|-19-15-17-19----------------|-
|-21-------------18----------|----------------------------|-
|-------------------19-------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-11-------------------------|-12----------------12-------|-
|-------------------12-------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------10----------------|-
3 1 2 3 1 2 3 2 3 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 2 3
|-------------14-15-17-15-17-|-------------12-14-15-14-15-|-
|-17-14-15-17----------------|-15-12-14-15----------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-10----------------10-------|-8-----------------8--------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------8-----------------|----------6-----------------|-
3 1 2 3 1 2 3 2 3 3 1 2 4 1 2 4 2 4
|-------------10-12-14-12-14-|-------------9--10-12-10-12-|-
|-14-10-12-14----------------|-12-8--10-12----------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-7-----------------7--------|-5-----------------6--------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------5-----------------|----------3-----------------|-
1 4 2 1 4 1 2 1 4 1 2 4 4 2 1 4 1 2
|-9--12-10-9--------15-14----|-14-15-17-17-15-14----14----|-
|-------------12-10-------17-|-------------------17----15-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-7--------------------------|-
|-7-----------------7--------|-------------------6--------|-
|----------------------------|----------5-----------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
*
1 4 2 1 3 1 2 1 4 1 2 4 4 2 1 4 1 2
|-------------------15-14----|-14-15-17-17-15-14----14----|-
|-14-17-15-14-------------17-|-------------------17----15-|-
|-------------16-14----------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-7--------------------------|-
|-7-----------------7--------|-------------------6--------|-
|----------------------------|----------5-----------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
*
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 3 2
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-14----14-14----14-14----14-|-15----15-15----15-15----15-|-
|----14-------14-------14----|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----16-------16-------16----|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-7-----------------5--------|-4--------4--------4--------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
2 3 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 2
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-15----15-15----15-15----15-|-15----15-15----15-15----15-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----15-------15-------15----|----14-------14-------14----|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-6--------6--------6--------|-7--------7--------7--------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
*
2 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 1 4 2 1 2 4 2 4 1
|----------------------------|-14-17-15-14-15-------------|-
|-14----14-14----14-14----14-|----------------17-15-17-14-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----14-------14-------14----|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-5-----------------4--------|-
|-5--------5--------5--------|----------------------------|-
*
3 4 2 1 2 4 2 4 1 3 2 1 3 1 4 2 1 2
|----19-17-15-17-------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------19-17-19-15-|----17-15-------------------|-
|-16-------------------------|-18-------18-16-------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------19-17-16-17-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-5-----------------6--------|-7--------------------------|-
|----------------------------|-------------------0--------|-
2 3 1 3 1 4 2 1 2 2 3 1 3 1 4 1 3 2
|----------------------------|-------------------15-------|-
|----17-15-------------------|----17-15-------------18-17-|-
|----------18-16-------------|----------18-16-------------|-
|-17-------------19-17-16-17-|-17-------------19----------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
3 2 1 2 1 1 2 4 3 3 1 4
|----------------------------|-15----------------17-15----|-
|-18----------17-15-16-15-14-|-------------18-17-------18-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
TAB TIMING SLIGHTLY OFF, NOTES ARE CORRECT, THOUGH
4 4 3 4 2 1 2 4 3
|-18-------------------------|----17-16-17-15-14-15-------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------18-17-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
TAB TIMING SLIGHTLY OFF, NOTES ARE CORRECT, THOUGH
4 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 4 1 4 3 1 3 1
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-18-17-15-17-15----15-------|----------------------------|-
|----------------17----17-15-|-17-15----15----------------|-
|----------------------------|-------19----19-17-19-17-15-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
TAB TIMING SLIGHTLY OFF, NOTES ARE CORRECT, THOUGH
3 1 4 1 4 3 1 4 4 4 2 1 2 4
|----------------------------|----------17----------------|-
|----------------------------|-------17----17-15-14-15-17-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-17-15----15----------------|----------------------------|-
|-------19----19-17----------|----------------------------|-
|-------------------17-------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
1 1 3 1 2 4 1 2 4 4 1 3 1 2 4 1 2 4
|-------------------14-15-17-|-------------------14-15-17-|-
|-14-------14-15-17----------|-17-------14-15-17----------|-
|----14-16-------------------|----14-16-------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-7--------------------------|-7--------------------------|-
|----------0-----------------|----------0-----------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
1 4 2 1 1 2 1 4 3 4 1 2 1 4 2 4 1
|-14-------------------------|----------------------------|
|----17-15-14----15----15-14-|-15-------------------------|
|-------------14-------------|----------11-------14-------|
|-------------------12-------|----12-14----14-12-------10-|
|----------------------------|----------------------12----|
|----------------------------|-------------------------10-|
| | |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-------4--7-----4--------7--|----------4--------7--------|-
|-5--7--------------7--------|-5--5--7-----7--5-----0--5--|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
Here’s a video of the melody played without any effects, with the guitar plugged directly into the computer:
Playing Notes/Additional Superfluous Commentary
I don’t know if you caught it, but there’s a pretty tremendous stretch in the middle of the song. I used to practice by playing it two frets higher on the neck (starting at the 24th fret instead of the 22nd fret), getting it to sound right and finger correctly, then move it down a fret, then move it down another fret to get it finalized. You can also play a harmonic on the 12th fret instead of fretting it entirely, which might help. Of course, you could always just play that part using string skipping, but trust me, the picking is harder than the stretching. It’s much MUCH easier to screw up the picking than it is the stretching… at least if you’ve got moderately large hands like myself. Some of you might master it using alternate picking/string skipping. If you do, I’d love to see it. Here’s a video of how I played it at different frets:
I have a hard enough time with this part using string skipping:
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 3 2
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-14----14-14----14-14----14-|-15----15-15----15-15----15-|-
|----14-------14-------14----|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----16-------16-------16----|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
2 3 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 2
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|-15----15-15----15-15----15-|-15----15-15----15-15----15-|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----15-------15-------15----|----14-------14-------14----|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
|----------------------------|----------------------------|-
2 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 2
|----------------------------|
|-14----14-14----14-14----14-|
|----------------------------|
|----14-------14-------14----|
|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|
I had a hard time with it, too, when I recorded the piece, so I played it all on the D string at the 24th fret. Fun. Here’s a video of how to play it slowly:
Another thing I did when I was recording this piece was:
- Face the palm of my left hand toward me
- Use my right-hand pinky and place it between my left-hand ring and pinky fingers
- Use my right-hand thumb and pinky to push my left-hand index and pinky fingers apart as far, hard, and long as possible
Another thing I did, which I absolutely do NOT suggest you do, wass use a pocketknife and scratch/cut away the skin webbing between the fingers on my left hand so I could stretch my fingers apart further. I don’t think it worked, but it sure freaked out my classmates.
Knowing Your Neck
In order to best play this song, you should really be intimately familiar with your fretting hand, your guitar’s fret spacing, scale, etc. One way to do this is to try to play songs blindfolded. For kicks, I recorded the melody part blindfolded at 10 BPM faster than the correct tempo. Here’s the result:
Yes, I know how stupid that video is.
The reasoning behind this is that I can move all around the neck without looking. I’ve played this so many times that I don’t need to look at the neck to know where I’m playing. I don’t mention this so I can brag, but rather to demonstrate the value of having total familiarity with your instrument.