Thirteen Big Star
This is the simplified version of the brilliant song from Big Star's
debut. I've written this out for one guitar for sanity's sake and
because there's no clear indication in the full transcription of what
to do to make it sound good with only one guitar. Notes:
1) This is simplified a *lot*. There are at least two guitars in the
song (maybe 3 or even 4), and I've only written out one. This is
for those of us who can't play more than one guitar at at time.
Also, now you can use a pick, rather than fingerpick the damn
thing. This is more or less the way I fake this song.
2) Capo up 3 frets. Like all other transriptions where there are
capoed guitars, this means that the TAB is really just chord
shapes, not actual concert pitch. So just pretend the capo is the
nut.
3) The solo that I've written out here is so much of an approximation
that it doesn't even follow the chord pattern of the real solo.
For this, not only have I simplified the notes, I've simplified
the chord progression. This is something that works, which is
really the only important thing.
4) The song's in 4/4 time, but there's a bar during the "take you/
shake you/make you" part that's 2/4. I point this out right above
the TAB.
5) This song speeds up slightly. Very slightly. It may just be at the
end.
6) Vocal harmonies are here, but I can't tell you what to do. They
don't actually say anything more then "ah," so do with that what
you want.
7) Feel is much more important than accuracy. Listen to the recording
to get an idea of what you're trying to do. Let the notes ring as
long as possible and try to keep it smooth.
8) This is one of the few Big Star songs where I can actually make
out all of the lyrics, so enjoy it while you can.
"Thirteen" (Alex Chilton/Chris Bell)
As performed by Big Star
_City_)
Transcribed without permission by Marc Hirsh, but it's only an
approximation, so it shouldn't be a big deal anyway
Notation:
s - sixteenth note
e - eighth note
q - quarter note
h - half note
w - whole note
. - play note for one and a half times the value before it (just like a dot in
standard notation)
^ - ties two note lengths together
NOTE LENGTHS IN CAPITAL LETTERS MEAN REST FOR THAT VALUE OF TIME!
/ - slide up
\ - slide down
h - hammer-on
p - pull-off
Capo up 3 frets!
Let all notes ring!
(acoustic guitar)
[G] [Cadd9] [G] [Cadd9]
E-----3---------------|-----3---------------| B-----3-----3---------|-----3-----3---------| G-------------------0-|-------------------0-| D---0---0-----0h2p0---|---0---0-----0h2p0---| A---------3-----------|---------3-----------| E-3-------------------|-3-------------------|
e e e e e e s3s3s e e e e e e e s3s3s e
[G] [Cadd9] [G] [Cadd9]
E-----3---------------|-----3---------------| B-----3-----3---------|-----3-----3---------| G-------------------0-|-------------------0-| D---0---0-----0h2p0---|---0---0-----0h2p0---| A---------3-----------|---------3-----------| E-3-------------------|-3-------------------|
e e e e e e s3s3s e e e e e e e s3s3s e
Won't you let me walk you home from
[G] [Cadd9] [G] [Cadd9]
E-----3---------------|-----3---------------| B-----3-----3---------|-----3-----3---------| G-------------------0-|-------------------0-| D---0---0-----0h2p0---|---0---0-----0h2p0---| A---------3-----------|---------3-----------| E-3-------------------|-3-------------------|
e e e e e e s3s3s e e e e e e e s3s3s e
school?
[G] [Cadd9] [G] [Cadd9]
E-----3---------------|-----3---------------| B-----3-----3---------|-----3-----3---------| G-------------------0-|-------------------0-| D---0---0-----0h2p0---|---0---0-----0h2p0---| A---------3-----------|---------3-----------| E-3-------------------|-3-------------------|
e e e e e e s3s3s e e e e e e e s3s3s e
Won't you let me meet you at the
[Cadd9] [G/B] [Am] [Am7]
E-----------------|---------------3-|-------3---------| B-----3-------3---|-----1---0-1---1-|---1---1---1-----| G-----0-0-----0-0-|-----2---2-2-----|---2-------2---2-| D---2-------0-----|---2-------------|---------------2-| A-3-------2-------|-0-----0-----0---|-0---0---0---0---| E-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
pool? Maybe
[Em] [Am]
E-------0---------|-----------3-----| B-------0---------|-----1-0---0---0-| G-----0-----0-----|-----2-2-------2-| D-------------2---|---2-------------| A---2-----------2-|-0-------0---0---| E-0-------0-------|-----------------|
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
Friday I can Get
[Em] [Am] [Am7]
E-------0---------|---------------3-|-------3---------| B-------0---------|-----1---0-1---1-|---1---1---1-----| G-----0-----0-----|-----2---2-2-----|---2-------2---2-| D-------------2---|---2-------------|---------------2-| A---2-----------2-|-0-----0-----0---|-0---0---0---0---| E-0-------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
tickets for the dance And I'll
[2/4 time] [back to 4/4 time]
[D] [Cadd9] [G/B] [Am]
E-----------------|---------|---------------3-|-------3---------| B-----3-------3---|-----3---|-----1---0-1---1-|---1---1---1-----| G---2---2-----0---|-----0---|-----2---2-2-----|---2-------2---2-| D-0---------2---2-|---0---0-|---2-------------|---------------2-| A---------3-------|-2-------|-0-----0-----0---|-0---0---0---0---| E-----------------|---------|-----------------|-----------------|
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
take you Oooh
[G] [Cadd9] [G] [Cadd9]
E-----3---------------|-----3---------------| B-----3-----3---------|-----3-----3---------| G-------------------0-|-------------------0-| D---0---0-----0h2p0---|---0---0-----0h2p0---| A---------3-----------|---------3-----------| E-3-------------------|-3-------------------|
e e e e e e s3s3s e e e e e e e s3s3s e
hoo
[G] [Cadd9] [G] [Cadd9]
E-----3---------------|-----3---------------| B-----3-----3---------|-----3-----3---------| G-------------------0-|-------------------0-| D---0---0-----0h2p0---|---0---0-----0h2p0---| A---------3-----------|---------3-----------| E-3-------------------|-3-------------------|
e e e e e e s3s3s e e e e e e e s3s3s e
Won't you tell your dad, "get off my
[G] [Cadd9] [G] [Cadd9]
E-----3---------------|-----3---------------| B-----3-----3---------|-----3-----3---------| G-------------------0-|-------------------0-| D---0---0-----0h2p0---|---0---0-----0h2p0---| A---------3-----------|---------3-----------| E-3-------------------|-3-------------------|
e e e e e e s3s3s e e e e e e e s3s3s e
back?"
[G] [Cadd9] [G] [Cadd9]
E-----3---------------|-----3---------------| B-----3-----3---------|-----3-----3---------| G-------------------0-|-------------------0-| D---0---0-----0h2p0---|---0---0-----0h2p0---| A---------3-----------|---------3-----------| E-3-------------------|-3-------------------|
e e e e e e s3s3s e e e e e e e s3s3s e
Tell him what we said 'bout "Paint It
[Cadd9] [G/B] [Am] [Am7]
E-----------------|---------------3-|-------3---------| B-----3-------3---|-----1---0-1---1-|---1---1---1-----| G-----0-0-----0-0-|-----2---2-2-----|---2-------2---2-| D---2-------0-----|---2-------------|---------------2-| A-3-------2-------|-0-----0-----0---|-0---0---0---0---| E-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
Black" Rock and
[Em] [Am]
E-------0---------|-----------3-----| B-------0---------|-----1-0---0---0-| G-----0-----0-----|-----2-2-------2-| D-------------2---|---2-------------| A---2-----------2-|-0-------0---0---| E-0-------0-------|-----------------|
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
roll is here to stay Come in-
[Em] [Am] [Am7]
E-------0---------|---------------3-|-------3---------| B-------0---------|-----1---0-1---1-|---1---1---1-----| G-----0-----0-----|-----2---2-2-----|---2-------2---2-| D-------------2---|---2-------------|---------------2-| A---2-----------2-|-0-----0-----0---|-0---0---0---0---| E-0-------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
side, girl, it's okay And I'll
[2/4 time] [back to 4/4 time]
[D] [Cadd9] [G/B] [Am]
E-----------------|---------|---------------3-|-------3---------| B-----3-------3---|-----3---|-----1---0-1---1-|---1---1---1-----| G---2---2-----0---|-----0---|-----2---2-2-----|---2-------2---2-| D-0---------2---2-|---0---0-|---2-------------|---------------2-| A---------3-------|-2-------|-0-----0-----0---|-0---0---0---0---| E-----------------|---------|-----------------|-----------------|
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
shake you Oooh
[G] [Cadd9] [G] [Cadd9]
E-----3---------------|-----3---------------| B-----3-----3---------|-----3-----3---------| G-------------------0-|-------------------0-| D---0---0-----0h2p0---|---0---0-----0h2p0---| A---------3-----------|---------3-----------| E-3-------------------|-3-------------------|
e e e e e e s3s3s e e e e e e e s3s3s e
hoo
[A] [Cadd9]
E-----------0-----|-----------0-----|-------0---------|-------0---------| B---2---0---0---0-|---2---0---0---0-|-------3---3-----|-------3---3-----| G---2---2-------2-|---2---2-------2-|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---| D-----------------|-----------------|---2-----------2-|---2-----------2-| A-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------| E-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
[A] [D] [Cadd9] [G/B] [A7sus4]
E-5-5---2---0-----|-5-5---2---0-----|-----------------|-----------------| B-2-2---2---2---2-|-2-2---2---2---2-|-----3-------3---|-----3-------3---| G-2-2---2---2---2-|-2-2---2---2---2-|---2---2-----0---|-----0-------0---| D-2-2---2---------|-2-2---2---------|-0---------2---2-|---0---0---2---2-| A-0-0-0-0-0---0---|-0-0-0-0-0---0---|---------3-------|-2-------0-------| E-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
[G] [Cadd9] [G] [Cadd9]
E-----3---------------|-----3---------------| B-----3-----3---------|-----3-----3---------| G-------------------0-|-------------------0-| D---0---0-----0h2p0---|---0---0-----0h2p0---| A---------3-----------|---------3-----------| E-3-------------------|-3-------------------|
e e e e e e s3s3s e e e e e e e s3s3s e
Won't you tell me what you're thinking
[G] [Cadd9] [G] [Cadd9]
E-----3---------------|-----3---------------| B-----3-----3---------|-----3-----3---------| G-------------------0-|-------------------0-| D---0---0-----0h2p0---|---0---0-----0h2p0---| A---------3-----------|---------3-----------| E-3-------------------|-3-------------------|
e e e e e e s3s3s e e e e e e e s3s3s e
of?
[G] [Cadd9] [G] [Cadd9]
E-----3---------------|-----3---------------| B-----3-----3---------|-----3-----3---------| G-------------------0-|-------------------0-| D---0---0-----0h2p0---|---0---0-----0h2p0---| A---------3-----------|---------3-----------| E-3-------------------|-3-------------------|
e e e e e e s3s3s e e e e e e e s3s3s e
Would you be an outlaw for my
[Cadd9] [G/B] [Am] [Am7]
E-----------------|---------------3-|-------3---------| B-----3-------3---|-----1---0-1---1-|---1---1---1-----| G-----0-0-----0-0-|-----2---2-2-----|---2-------2---2-| D---2-------0-----|---2-------------|---------------2-| A-3-------2-------|-0-----0-----0---|-0---0---0---0---| E-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
love? If it's
[Em] [Am]
E-------0---------|-----------3-----| B-------0---------|-----1-0---0---0-| G-----0-----0-----|-----2-2-------2-| D-------------2---|---2-------------| A---2-----------2-|-0-------0---0---| E-0-------0-------|-----------------|
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
over, let me know, if it's
[Em] [Am] [Am7]
E-------0---------|---------------3-|-------3---------| B-------0---------|-----1---0-1---1-|---1---1---1-----| G-----0-----0-----|-----2---2-2-----|---2-------2---2-| D-------------2---|---2-------------|---------------2-| A---2-----------2-|-0-----0-----0---|-0---0---0---0---| E-0-------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
nowehere, I can go I won't
[2/4 time] [back to 4/4 time]
[D] [Cadd9] [G/B] [Am]
E-----------------|---------|---------------3-|-------3---------| B-----3-------3---|-----3---|-----1---0-1---1-|---1---1---1-----| G---2---2-----0---|-----0---|-----2---2-2-----|---2-------2---2-| D-0---------2---2-|---0---0-|---2-------------|---------------2-| A---------3-------|-2-------|-0-----0-----0---|-0---0---0---0---| E-----------------|---------|-----------------|-----------------|
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
make you Oooh
[G] [Cadd9] [G] [Cadd9]
E-----3---------------|-----3---------------| B-----3-----3---------|-----3-----3---------| G-------------------0-|-------------------0-| D---0---0-----0h2p0---|---0---0-----0h2p0---| A---------3-----------|---------3-----------| E-3-------------------|-3-------------------|
e e e e e e s3s3s e e e e e e e s3s3s e
hoo
[G] [Cadd9] [G]
E-----3---------------|-------3-| B-----3-----3---------|-------3-| G-------------------0-|-------0-| D---0---0-----0h2p0---|-----0-0-| A---------3-----------|---2---2-| E-3-------------------|-3-----3-|
e e e e e e s3s3s e e e e e^h
[--]
\ /
^ --"It's easy to be nuts. Try being me."
V (_The_Fisher_King_)
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