How To Handle A Rope Artist: Queens of the Stone Age Album: Queens of the Stone Age Tab Author: VelvetEyes1986 (AmericanZero1986@aol.com) Tuning: Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb I couldn't find a half-decent tab for this incredible song anywhere, so I took matters into my own dirty hands... Step 1: Tune Down Half a Step. It's a pain, but it's necessary for this song, plus it sounds MUCH better. It's a happy medium. I'm not making you tune down to string-floppin' C, and you don't have to fake chords that standard tuning can't play. Step 2: Earplugs. This song was meant to be played loud. Like, buffalo-rocking loud. If it isn't loud enough to rock a buffalo to it's knees, then you're not playing it right. Step 3: Crank up the amp, and find the absolute filthiest fuzz you can get, turn that EQ up on all frequencies-- dial in the mids and highs, but add some good thunder too! No nu-metal distortion allowed, this song is for people with balls. NOTE: The bends at the end of the main riffs sound better on the higher strings, but it's a pain in the ass (at least for me) to bend at the fourth fret on the G string, so I bend the 9th fret of the D string, which is also easier to access. Just know your alternatives... Intro Eb------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Bb------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Gb------------------------------- -4b6r4------------------------------- Db--4-4-4--2-7-7---9b11r9--------OR------------------------------------- 6X Ab--4-4-4--2-7-7----------------- ------------------------------------- Eb--2-2-2--0-5-5----------------- ------------------------------------- Verse -- Louder, more treble, maybe a second guitar... but only a slight rhythm difference. Eb---------------------------------------------------------------------- Bb---------------------------------------------------------------------- Gb---------------------------------------------------------------------- Db--4-4-4-4-4-2-7-7---9b11r9/------------------------------------------- 12X Ab--4-4-4-4-4-2-7-7----------------------------------------------------- Eb--2-2-2-2-2-0-5-5----------------------------------------------------- Fun Fact: No bend when transitioning to Chorus Chorus Eb--------------------------------------------------------------------- Bb--------------------------------------------------------------------- Gb--------------------------------------------------------------------- Db--4-44444444444424-7-75757575757757-8-8888888888888--2-22222222222222 2X Ab--4-44444444444424-7-75757575757757-8-8888888888888--2-22222222222222 Eb--2-22222222222202-5-55555555555555-6-6666666666666--0-00000000000000 2nd Verse Fill - 2nd time Eb------------------------------- --12b14r12---------------------------- Bb------------------------------- -----------10------------------------ Gb------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Db--4-4-4-4-4-2-7-7---9b11r9/---- ------------------------------------- 10X Ab--4-4-4-4-4-2-7-7-------------- ------------------------------------- Eb--2-2-2-2-2-0-5-5-------------- ------------------------------------- Chorus Eb--------------------------------------------------------------------- Bb--------------------------------------------------------------------- Gb--------------------------------------------------------------------- Db--4-44444444444424-7-75757575757757-8-8888888888888--2-22222222222222 2X Ab--4-44444444444424-7-75757575757757-8-8888888888888--2-22222222222222 Eb--2-22222222222202-5-55555555555555-6-6666666666666--0-00000000000000 3rd Verse Fills - Last 2 times Eb------------------------------- --12b14r12--14-14--- -12b14--------- Bb------------------------------- -------------------- --------------- Gb------------------------------- -------------------- --------------- Db--4-4-4-4-4-2-7-7---9b11r9/---- -------------------- --------------- 4X Ab--4-4-4-4-4-2-7-7-------------- -------------------- --------------- Eb--2-2-2-2-2-0-5-5-------------- -------------------- --------------- Outro/Grand Finale/Buffalo Destroyer - 2 Guitars Eb------------------------------------------------------------ Bb------------------------------------------------------------ Gb----------------7--7-7-77-7-7-7----------------------------- Db--4-4-6-6-8-8-x-7--7-7-77-7-7-7----------------------------- 8X Ab--4-4-6-6-8-8-x-5--5-5-55-5-5-5----------------------------- Eb--2-2-4-4-6-6-x--------------------------------------------- Outro Fill 1- If you can't figure out where this stuff goes, tough ***. Eb--------------------------------------- ----------------------------- Bb---7/9~~------------------------------ --999-7~~-------------------- Gb--------------------------------------- ----------------------------- Db--------------------------------------- ----------------------------- Ab--------------------------------------- ----------------------------- Eb--------------------------------------- ----------------------------- SOLO - This is from memory, but almost perfect, give or take a note or two. Eb---------------------------------------------------------------------- Bb--999-7-9-7~~-9-7---7------------------------------------------------- Gb------------------9---9----9-11/13~~--11b13-11-9-11------------------- Db------------------------11--------------------------11--9-11----9-12-- Ab-------------------------------------------------------------11------- Eb---------------------------------------------------------------------- Eb---------------------------------------------------------------------- Bb---------------------------------------------------------------------- Gb---------------------------------------------------------------------- Db--11-9----9--9b11br9-------------------------------------------------- Ab-------12-----------12-9-12~~-9-7-9-7--------------------------------7 Eb--------------------------------------9-7-5-7vv-5-7-2VV---5-7-9--7-9-- {__________Lightly Palm Muted____________ Eb--------------------------------------------- Bb--------------------------------------------- Gb---------------------11b14------------------- Db--------------9-11-9------------------------- Now make strange noises. Ab-9-11b13-9-11-------------------------------- Eb--------------------------------------------- ____________________} Good Job! That should be it. That's about every *** nuance of the song, so it's up to you, valiant tab-reader, to decide when and how to play it. P.S. E-Mail me at AmericanZero1986@aol.com if you'd like to request more QOTSA tabs, or if you want to whine about a note I left out or something.