#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
Death by Guitar: (or "Silent Anticipations" by Michael Hedges)
(butchered transcription intuited by Scott Edgar)
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Line numbers at far left; string tuning shown for all strings
h = harmonic s = stringslap (generic punishment, no precision
H = hammer-on S = bodysmack /necessary:just get that bass])
p = pulloff to < = downslide
> = upslide
r = righthand Tuning from standard: tune the low E down two
l = lefthand frets to a D and the B string up one fret to
ro= rightover a C. That's all:)
lo= leftover
===============================================================
) I N T R O (
===============================================================
E---12h----12-->--14--14--14-->--15--15--15-------12h--12-->--|
C---12h-------------------7h----------------------12h---------|
0G---12h-------------------7h----------------------12h---------|
1D---12h-------------------7h----------------------12h---------|
A---12h-------------------7h------------------s0--------------|
D----0--------------------0-------------------s0--------------|
E-(>)-14--14--14--14--14--p--10--12--12--p--10--p--8--p--7----|
C-------------7h----------------------------------------------|
0G-------------7h----------------------------------------------|
2D-------------7h----------------------------------------------|
A-------------7h----------------------------------------------|
D-------------0-----------------------------------------------|
E--8--p--7--p--0--H2->-3--p--2--2--H3--p--2--p--0-------------|
C--------------0----------------3h-----------------H2->-3-<-2-|
0G-------------------------------3h----------------------------|
3D-------------------------------3h----------------------------|
A-------------------------------3h----------------------------|
D-------------------------------0-----------------------------|
E----------------------------------------------------12->-14--|
C--p--0------------------------------------------4h-----------|
0G--------H2->-4-<-2-p-0--------------------------4h-----------|
4D-----------------------H2->-4-<-2-p-0-----------4h-----------|
A---------------------------------------H2->-4---4h-----------|
D------------------------------------------------0------------|
E-p-7-H9--9--p-7-p-5--14-14--p-12-H14->-15--15----------------|
C---------7h-------------12h----------------7h----------------|
0G---------7h-------------12h----------------7h---*breath]*----|
5D---------7h-------------12h----------------7h----------------|
A---------7h-------------12h----------------7h----------------|
D-------------------------0-----------------------------------|
E------12h---------------7h-------------------------5h---------|
C------12h---------------7h-------------------------5h---------|
0G------12h---------------7h-------------------------5h---------|
6D------12h-loH10---p-12h--0--0--5--5--5------|
D-(p)0---0---:----------------lo3->-p-12h--0--0--5--5--5------|
roughly repeat the above (more or less) about three times, after which:
E---------------------3---------------------------------------|
C---------------------3---again, several strums upon this-----|
0G---------------------3---chord, as what whim moves you,------|
8D-lo3--3--3->-10-p-0--1---and then a repeat of line 06, only--|
A-lo3--3--3->-10-p-0--1---with an extra 12h arpeggio before --|
D-lo3--3--3->-10-p-0--1---the 7h and 5h ones. Listen....------|
...and after THAT....about three more times of line 07, then
another of line eight, at which point it takes off from the:
E--3-.--5--.--7--.--8--.--7--.--5--.--7--.--8--.--8--The dots-|
C--3-.--5--.--7--.--8--.--7--.--5--.--7--.--8--.--8--are for--|
0G--3-.--5--.--7--.--8--.--7--.--5--.--7--.--8--.--8--missing--|
9D--1-.--3--.--5--.--6--.--5--.--3--.--5--.--6--.--8--strums.--|
A--1-.--3--.--5--.--6--.--5--.--3--.--5--.--6--.--8--Ympro=---|
D--1-.--3--.--5--.--6--.--5--.--3--.--5--.--6--.--8--vyze]]---|
After all this, one starts the mad bury-steel-splinters-in-yo-
thumb slide parts, thusly:
E-----------0---------0---------0--------3-----5--------------|
C-----------0---------0---------0--------3-----5--------------|
1G-----------0---------0---------0--------3-----5--------------|
0D--lo3-->--10--3-->--10--3-->--10--p--0--1-->--3--------------|
A--lo3-->--10--3-->--10--3-->--10--p--0--1-->--3--------------|
D--lo3-->--10--3-->--10--3-->--10--p--0--1-->--3--------------|
This also repeats about three times, then follows another line 09,
then another set of these, and then...oh, eventually a crash'n'burn
variation on line 06 with lots of offkey harmonics, screeching to a
halt with a ferocious hammer-on over the neck with the left hand
on a 333000 chord, after which collapse from oxygen depletion is in
order, and makes a touching finale.
* * * * ** * * ** ** *
So...let's see where I can further confuse the issue....
Line 03: the 3h is an octave up from the 7h and sounds wonderful,
if it can be coaxed into being. All those initial harmonic chords
are nice slightly arpeggiated, although just a fist-impact (*POW]*)
will do as well.
Line 05: the X7h7h7h7h15 is indeed a bit of a stretch, so I
often use the other harmonic node (don't ask at which fret, my
hyperoctaves aren't too great) which involves a flamenco-style
right-handed strum with the heel of the thumb brushing the
strings at the requisite fret to get the harmonic. It's about
fret 18 or 20 or something; two before the hole on my machine.
Line 06: the harmonics can also be arpeggiated; he does them
both ways, since that line more or less crops up more than once.
Line 07: He accompanies the slap against the body with a
short strum, or something. It comes out slightly different when
I play it; too much intuition fluxing it up, I guess. He frets the
slide from lo3 to pulloff to the 12h (or whatever sounds good; I
do it a bit differently, and this may not be exact...prob'ly ain't)
with his left index finger over the neck, then hits the 555555
from under the neck as a regular chord.
Line 08: The lo3's (and following slides later on) are fretted
over the neck with the left thumb. Most of the overneck hammer-ons
are pinch-hit with the left index and thumb.
Line 10: All the 333000's preceeding a slide to 10's are fretted
over the neck with the left thumb. Get ready for the smoke to fly;
I still can't play this fast enough. I think he must oil his strings:)
Painstakingly handcrafted by
