#
From: Dennis Hussey 
Subject: TAB:by

        Transcribed by Dennis Hussey.  Feel free to leave any comments,
corrections, or complaints at
        hussey@ceatlabs.okstate.edu
        This is the final track of Joe Satriani's 'Surfing with an Alien'
entitled Midnight.  It would definitely help to have a copy of the song to
play along with, as the Satch changes his tempo and intensity throughout the
song.
        Satriani played this song by fretboard tapping with both hands.
Some people suggest using a damper or handkerchief to prevent accidental
pull-off noise, but I've found with careful muting this problem can be
avoided.  I like the sound best with a fairly strong reverb, and setting the
chorus rate rather slow, and adding high depth.  I don't have any other
effects, but a delay could add an interesting flavor to the song.  The
notation is standard tablature, with the numbers above the tab indicating
which fingers to tap the strings.         The intro is a series of
quadruplets in group in standard 4/4 time.  Satch varies the tempo a bit, so
allow a little flexibility.  Make sure to hold the note down until the next
note is struck, where the initial note is then released.  This will take
some practice.
        The body of the song taps chords in an odd time.  I've found it is
best to listen to the song, and try to isolate the beat of the taps.  Again
remember to hold the tapped notes until the next chord is ready to be
struck.  You can practice the rhythm by drumming your hands in your spare
time. I am not familiar with drummer notation but the rhythm could be written as

    1/16 1/16 1/8     1/16 1/16 1/8   1/16 1/16 1/8   1/16 1/16 1/8    1/16
1/16 1/8  1/16 1/16 1/8

where the fractions are eighth notes and sixteenth notes.  I've also tried
to help by spacing the chords appropriately.

        The outro is similar to the intro, but becomes more difficult with a
wicked ascending tempo towards the the exiting measures.

        Have fun and eat your Wheaties before starting.  You'll need 'em.



All notes are tapped with fingers.
Fingering notation:  L1 = left index    R1 = right index
                     L4 = left pinky    R4 = right pinky



   L1  L3    R2    R1    Repeat three times   L1   L2     R2     R1   Repeat
three times  

[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[------------12---------------------------------------------14-----------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[------------------12------------------------------10------------14------------]
[-------9-------------------------------------9--------------------------------]
[--7---------------------------------------------------------------------------]


   L1  L3    R2    R1    Repeat three times   L1   L2     R2      R1   
                                                              Repeat ONE time  

[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[------------12-------------------------------------------14-------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[------------------12------------------------------10------------14------------]
[-------9-------------------------------------9--------------------------------]
[--7---------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L1     L2    R2    R1    Repeat ONE time   L1   L3     R2     R1   
                                                Repeat three times  

[---------------14-------------------------------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------------------------12-------------------]
[---------------------14-------------------------------------------------------]
[--------10------------------------------------------------------12------------]
[---9-----------------------------------------------9--------------------------]
[----------------------------------------------7-------------------------------]


   L1     L3    R2    R1    Repeat three times L1   L2     R2     R1   
                                                        Repeat three times  

[---------------12-------------------------------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------------------------12-------------------]
[---------------------12-----------------------------9-------------------------]
[--------9------------------------------------------------------12-------------]
[---7-------------------------------------------9------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]

   L1     L3    R2    R1    Repeat once        L1   

[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[---------------11-------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------9---------------------------------------------------------------------]
[---------------------11-------------------------------------------------------]
[---9-------------------------------------------9------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]


   L1  L3    R2    R1    Repeat three times   L1   L2     R2      R1   
                                                Repeat three times  

[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[------------12---------------------------------------------14-----------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[------------------12------------------------------10------------14------------]
[-------9-------------------------------------9--------------------------------]
[--7---------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L1  L3    R2    R1    Repeat three times   L1   L2     R2      R1   
                                                        Repeat ONE time  

[---------------------------------------------------------14-------------------]
[------------12----------------------------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------14----------]
[------------------12------------------------------10--------------------------]
[-------9-------------------------------------9--------------------------------]
[--7---------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L1  L3    R2    R1    Repeat once   L1   L2     R2      R1   
                                                        Repeat three time  

[------------12----------------------------------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------------------12-------------------------]
[------------------12----------------------------------------------------------]
[------10--------------------------------------------------12------------------]
[--9----------------------------------------9----------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------7--------------------------------------]



   L1     L3    R2    R1    Repeat three times L1   L2     R2     R1   
                                                        Repeat three times  

[---------------12-------------------------------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------------------------12-------------------]
[---------------------12-----------------------------9-------------------------]
[--------9-------------------------------------------------------12------------]
[---7-------------------------------------------9------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L1     L3    R2    R1    Repeat once        L1   

[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[---------------11-------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------9---------------------------------------------------------------------]
[---------------------11-------------------------------------------------------]
[---9-------------------------------------------9------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



End intro,
Begin body.  Start guitar and background clap simultaneously

   L3    R2     L3         R2   L3   R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1   R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------17----------------17---------17---------------------------------------]
[--4------------4----------------4---------------------------------------------]
[--------17----------------17---------17---------------------------------------]
[--2------------2----------------2---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L3    R2     L3         R2   L3   R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1   R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------16----------------16---------16---------------------------------------]
[--4------------4----------------4---------------------------------------------]
[--------16----------------16---------16---------------------------------------]
[--2------------2----------------2---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]




   L3    R2     L3         R2   L3   R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1   R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------17----------------17---------17---------------------------------------]
[--4------------4----------------4---------------------------------------------]
[--------17----------------17---------17---------------------------------------]
[--2------------2----------------2---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L3    R2     L3         R2   L3   R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1   R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------16----------------16---------16---------------------------------------]
[--4------------4----------------4---------------------------------------------]
[--------16----------------16---------16---------------------------------------]
[--2------------2----------------2---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L3    R2     L3         R2   L3   R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1   R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------20----------------20---------20---------------------------------------]
[--7------------7----------------7---------------------------------------------]
[--------20----------------20---------20---------------------------------------]
[--5------------5----------------5---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L3    R2     L3         R2   L3   R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1   R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------19----------------19---------19---------------------------------------]
[--7------------7----------------7---------------------------------------------]
[--------19----------------19---------19---------------------------------------]
[--5------------5----------------5---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L3    R2     L3         R2   L3   R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1   R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------20----------------20---------20---------------------------------------]
[--7------------7----------------7---------------------------------------------]
[--------20----------------20---------20---------------------------------------]
[--5------------5----------------5---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L3    R2     L3         R2   L3   R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1   R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------19----------------19---------19---------------------------------------]
[--7------------7----------------7---------------------------------------------]
[--------19----------------19---------19---------------------------------------]
[--5------------5----------------5---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L3    R2     L3         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat one time
[--------17----------------17---------17---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--9-----17-----9----------17----9----17---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--7------------7----------------7---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]


***Tricky part
   L3    R2     L3         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat one time
[--------15----------------15---------15---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--9-----16-----9----------16----9----16---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--7------------7----------------7---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]




   L3    R2     L3         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat one time
[--------17----------------17---------17---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--9-----17-----9----------17----9----17---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--7------------7----------------7---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]


***Tricky part
   L3    R2     L3         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat one time
[--------15----------------15---------15---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--9-----16-----9----------16----9----16---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--7------------7----------------7---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L3    R2     L3         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat one time
[--------20----------------20---------20---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--11----20-----11---------20----11---20---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--9------------9----------------9---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]




   L3    R2     L3         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat one time
[--------22----------------22---------22---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--11----22-----11---------22----11---22---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--9------------9----------------9---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]




   L3    R2     L3         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat THREE times
[--------19----------------19---------19---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--11----19-----11---------19----11---19---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--9------------9----------------9---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]


End clapping rhythm 

   L2    R2     L3         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--11-----------11--------------11---------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--10-----------10--------------10---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L2    R2     L3         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------14----------------14---------14---------------------------------------]
[--11-----------11--------------11---------------------------------------------]
[--------14----------------14---------14---------------------------------------]
[--10-----------10--------------10---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]


***Tricky part

   L2    R2     L3         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------15----------------15---------15---------------------------------------]
[--11-----------11--------------11---------------------------------------------]
[--------16----------------16---------16---------------------------------------]
[--10-----------10--------------10---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L2    R2     L3         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------17----------------17---------17---------------------------------------]
[--11-----------11--------------11---------------------------------------------]
[--------17----------------17---------17---------------------------------------]
[--10-----------10--------------10---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]





   L2    R2     L2         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------11----------------11---------11---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[--------11----------------11---------11---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L2    R2     L2         R2   L2    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--8------------8---------------8----------------------------------------------]




   L2    R2     L2         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------11----------------11---------11---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[--------11----------------11---------11---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L2    R2     L2         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--7------------7---------------7----------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--7------------7---------------7----------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L2    R2     L2         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------11----------------11---------11---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[--------11----------------11---------11---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L2    R2     L3         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--11-----------11--------------11---------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--10-----------10--------------10---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L2    R2     L2         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]



   L2    R2     L2         R2   L3    R2 
   L1    R1     L1         R1   L1    R1      Repeat three times while
slowing                                               the tempo gradually
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------11----------------11---------11---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[--------11----------------11---------11---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]





Outro, return to single note tapping.


[----------------------------------------------------------12------------------]
[-------------12----------------------14---------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------------------------------12---------9---]
[------------------12-----------9----------14-----------9----------------------]
[-------9------------------8----------------------7--------------------9-------]
[--7---------------------------------------------------------------------------]



                                                                
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-----------11-------------------12---------------------14------------------12-]
[-------9----------------------------------------------------------------------]
[----------------11---------7---------12----------9----------14----------------]
[---9------------------7---------------------8-------------------------9-------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------7-----------]


  Repeat previous two measures four times, increasing tempo with each repeat.  


Cadenza

                                                Repeat three times
[------------12-------------------12-------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-----------------12-------------------12--------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-------8--------------------8-------------------------------------------------]
[---7-------------------7------------------------------------------------------]




                                                Repeat three times
[------------11-------------------11-------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-----------------11-------------------11--------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-------9--------------------9-------------------------------------------------]
[---7-------------------7------------------------------------------------------]





                                                Repeat one time
[------------12-------------------12-------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-----------------12-------------------12--------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-------8--------------------8-------------------------------------------------]
[---7-------------------7------------------------------------------------------]


                                                DO NOT REPEAT
[------------15-------------------15-------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-----------------15-------------------15--------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-------8--------------------8-------------------------------------------------]
[---7-------------------7------------------------------------------------------]



                                                DO NOT REPEAT        
[------------12-------------------12-------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-----------------12-------------------12--------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-------8--------------------8-------------------------------------------------]
[---7-------------------7------------------------------------------------------]





                                                Repeat 2 1/2 times
[------------11-------------------11-------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-----------------11-------------------11--------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-------9--------------------9-------------------------------------------------]
[---7-------------------7------------------------------------------------------]



Merry Christmas

Dennis Hussey
21 Dec 1995

Revised February 1, 1996 by Dennis Hussey
...........................................................................
You don't have to fear defeat if you believe it may reveal powers that you 
didn't know you possessed. -Napoleon Hill
Show more