Here is how I play the rhythm part of LaGrange. Our other guitarist does the lead, so I've never bothered to learn it (and therefore haven't included it :-) Picking style is key to the percussive sound of this piece. Under each section I have placed the following symbols: ^ indicates picking with an upward motion v indicates picking with a downward motion With a little practice, you can get a smooth up/down pattern esatblished, and it stays the same throughout the song. LaGrange ZZ Top (clean sound) ----------------------|--------------------------------| ----------------------|--------------------------------| -------2--2--2--2--2--|.-2----2----2-4--2--2--2--2--2-.| ----2--2--2--2--2--2--|.-2-2--2-4--2-2--2--2--2--2--2-.| ----0-----------------|----0----0----------------------| ----------------------|--------------------------------| v ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ During the first verse, keep repeating the section above between |: and :| occasionally playing it this way to emphasize the words: ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ---2----2----2----2--2--2--2--2---- ---2----2----2-2--2--2--2--2--2---- -----3----5----0------------------- ----------------------------------- ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Then after 'They got a lot o' nice girls' comes the break. Resume playing the same as above with heavy distortion: ----------------------|--------------------------------| ----------------------|--------------------------------| -------2--2--2--2--2--|.-2----2----2----2--2--2--2--2-.| ----2--2--2--2--2--2--|.-2----2----2-2--2--2--2--2--2-.| ----0-----------------|----3----5----0-----------------| ----------------------|--------------------------------| v ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Keep repeating the part in between |: :| during the second verse, then after 'I might be mistaken', switch to: ----------------------------|-------------------------------------------| ----------------------------|-------------------------------------------| ----------------------------|.-----8--8-10--10-------------------------.| ----10-10--10--10--10--10---|.--10-8--8-10--10-10--10--10--10--10--10--.| ----10-10--10--10--10--10---|---10-------------10--10--10--10--10--10---| ----------------------------|-------------------------------------------| v ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Then, during the guitar solo, keep playing the above section between |: :| When the solo comes to an end, this is the pattern and the break: ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------8--8-10-- ----10-10--10--10--10--10-----10-8--8-10-- ----10-10--10--10--10--10-----10---------- ------------------------------------------ v ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ v ^ v |-------5---5---5-----5---5---5-----5---5---5----------------| |------------------------------------------------------------| |.--------------------------------------------------------2-.| |.--4/5---5---5---3/4---4---4---2/3---3---3---------------2-.| |-----------------------------------------------0--0--3h4----| |------------------------------------------------------------| (I usually play the D string with my pick and the E string with my middle finger. You can, of course, play both with your pick) Repeat the break between |: and :| twice, then go back to the clean part (same as the very first section). Play it 4 times, hit the distortion, and play the same as the first verse until the fade... Have fun, if you have any ? e-mail ma at anarcey99@yahoo.com