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A-Z (artist name) of Guitar Tab
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Click HERE for an easy print version of zappa frank - big swifty guitar tab


################################################################
# The following is the author's own interpretation of the song #
# to be used for studying or private use only. Downloaded from #
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Date: Fri, 22 Sep 95 11:11:53 BST
 From: spxhaw@astronomy.cardiff.ac.uk (Howard Wright)
                            BIG SWIFTY   -    Frank Zappa
                      -----------------------------------------
                                       Tabbed by Howard Wright
                                       H.Wright@astro.cf.ac.uk
 
 
 
 This is based mostly on the 'Make a Jazz Noise Here' version, but
 it should be pretty similar to other versions - it's usually the rhythm
 of the bits that changes, rather than the notes themselves.
 
 It might be an idea to listen to the track from 'Jazz Noise ...' and
 follow the tab just so you know where the different sections come in.
 
 There are quite a few time changes - I've tried to indicate some
 of them (i.e fast bit, slow bit, etc) but it's best if you get
 used to the track a little, then it should be clear how the tab
 works.
 
 
 
 
 Main Swifty Tune :
 -------------------
 
   (pretty fast !)
 
 E---------------------------------------9-----------------
 B-----7h8-8p7-8p7-8--7h8-8p7-8p7-8-8/10---10--8--7--8p7---
 G-------------------------------------------------------9-
 D---------------------------------------------------------
 A---------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 E---------------------------------------9-----12----------
 B-----7h8-8p7-8p7-8--7h8-8p7-8p7-8-8/10---10--------------
 G---------------------------------------------------------
 D---------------------------------------------------------
 A---------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 Repeat the two lines above
 
 
 
 
 Descending riff :
 ------------------
 
 E----12-10-10-9-10-9-----12-10-10-9-10-9-------------------
 B--------------------12------------------12-10-12----------
 G-------------------------------------------------/14-12---
 D----------------------------------------------------------
 A----------------------------------------------------------
 E----------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 repeat above line once
 
 
 
 fast descending run on guitar :
 
 
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 B---3-2-0-------0-----------------------------------------
 G---------2-0-2---2-0---0---------------------------------
 D---------------------4---4-2-0---0-----------------------
 A-------------------------------4---4-2-0-----------0-2-3-
 E-----------------------------------------3-2h3p2-0-------
 
 
 
 
 E---------------------------7------------------------------------------
 B----------------------8-10---10-8-7-8-7-------------------------------
 G-----------------7----------------------9-7-6-7-6---------------2-4-5-
 D------------5------------------------------------9-7-5-4h5p4-2-------
 A-------3------------------------------------------------------------
 E--1----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 E---------------------------------------------------------------
 B---------------------------------------------------------------
 G-----------------7-----9---9-9-9-11-12----12-12-11-9-11-9------
 D------------5--------------------------------------------------
 A-------3-------------------------------------------------------
 E--1------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 E-------------------------------------------------------------------
 B---------------------------------8---8-8-8-10-12---12-12-10-8-10-8-
 G--9-9-9-11-12----12-12-11-9-11-------------------------------------
 D-------------------------------------------------------------------
 A----------------------------------------------------------------
 E-------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 B--8---8-8-8-10-12---12-12-10-8-10------------------------
 G---------------------------------------------------------
 D---------------------------------------------------------
 A---------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 (triplet feel)
 
 E--------------------------------------------------------------
 B---8-10-12-12-10-8-8-10-12-12-10-8--------------------------------
 G------------------------------------11-10-11-10-8-8-10-11-11-10-8-
 D-------------------------------------------------------------
 A-------------------------------------------------------------
 E-------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 E--------------------------------------------------------------
 B---9-11-13-13-11-9-9-11-13-13-11-9--------------------------------
 G-----------------------------------12-11-12-11-9-9-11-12-12-11-9--
 D-------------------------------------------------------------
 A-------------------------------------------------------------
 E-------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 
 
 E--------------------------------------------------------------
 B---10/12-10---------------------------------------------------
 G------------12------------------------------------------------
 D-------------------------------------------------------------
 A---------------12/14--12-------------------------------------
 E-------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 (Now pause for breath !)
 
 
 E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 B--10/12-10------------------------------10/12-10-----------------------
 G-----------12----------------------12------------12--------------------
 D------------------------12-10----------------------------------12-10-8-
 A--------------12/14--12--------10-------------------12/14--12----------
 E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 B--10/12-10------------------------------10/12-10-----------------------
 G-----------12----------------------12------------12--------------------
 D------------------------12-10----------------------------------12-10-8-
 A--------------12/14--12--------10-------------------12/14--12----------
 E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 E------------------------------
 B---9/10--10--9/10/9/10/9------
 G---9/10--10--9/10/9/10/9------
 D---9/10--10--9/10/9/10/9------
 A------------------------------
 E------------------------------
 
 
 
 ************************************
     Make a jazz noise HERE !!!
 ************************************
 
 
 
 ... and continue making jazz noises over this chord sequence :
 
 
 C#7#5  C7#5   B7#5  Bb7#5  A7#5  Ab7#5   G7#5   D7#5
 
 
 Use either of these two chord shapes :
 
  EADGBE      EADGBE
  3x344x      xx3443
 
   G7#5        G7#5
 
 (Just move them up to the 9th position for the C#, then down
 one fret at a time )
 
 
 
 The sequence goes round and round - it goes down a semitone at a time, then
 when you get to G you move back up to D and start going down again ...
 
 
 A little later on the same evening :
 
 (this is where they stop noodling and the whole brass section plays
 this tune together - the pace kind of picks up here too)
 
 
 E------------------------------------------------------------
 B-------10--13-----12-13-12-10-------10----------------------
 G-----11--------------------------12----12----11-------------
 D---12-------------------------------------------------------
 A------------------------------------------------------------
 E------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 E---------8--12----10-12-10----------------------------------
 B------10-------------------13----12-13-12----10-------------
 G---11------------------------------------------------------
 D---------------------------------------------------------
 A---------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 E---------12---15----14-12-14-15----14-12-14-15----14-12----
 B------13------------------------------------------------15-
 G---14------------------------------------------------------
 D-----------------------------------------------------------
 A-----------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 E--11-12--------------------------------------------------
 B----------15--13-12--13----15---------14---13------------
 G------------------------14-----------------------14--12--
 D---------------------------------------------------------
 A---------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
                             ^^^
                            stick a trill on this last note
                            if you fancy
 
 
 E----------------------------------------------------------------
 B------12--15------------12--15-------------12--15------------12-
 G----12--------11--12--12---------11--12--12--------11--12--12---
 D--12----------------12-----------------12----------------12-----
 A----------------------------------------------------------------
 E----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 Carmen !
 ---------
 
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 B---15-14-13-13--13-12-11-10---10-9-8-6-8p6p5-6--8--6--5--
 G---------------------------------------------------------
 D---------------------------------------------------------
 A---------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 B--/15--14--13-13-13-12-11--10---10-8-6--5-6p5---5-6-5----
 G----------------------------------------------7--------7-
 D---------------------------------------------------------
 A---------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 E------------------------------------------7-----------------
 B--------7---10--7---------7-8-10-10-10-10---10-8------------
 G----7-9-----------9-7---9-----------------------------------
 D--7-------------------------------------------------------
 A---------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 E-----------7----------------7-7-7-7-9-7-------------------
 B-------7-8---8-7-----7-8-10-------------------------------
 G-----9-----------9----------------------------------------
 D---9------------------------------------------------------
 A---------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 1812 Overture bit :
 ---------------------
 
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 B----------8---------8------------------8---------8---------
 G-----8-10---10-8-10----8---8------8-10---10-8-10----8---8-
 D---8----------------------------8--------------------------
 A---------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 B---------------------------------------------------------
 G-----10-12-10----------10---------10-------8-10-8----------------------
 D--10----------10----10----10----10-------8--------8----8--------------
 A-----------------11----------11---------------------10---------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 E--------------------
 B--------------------
 G--8--------8--------
 D----8----8----------
 A------10------------
 E--------------------
 
 
 Repeat the last three lines once - as you get to the last few notes,
 start playing in the wrong key - and add a few odd notes at the end 
 too !
 
 (That's what they do !)
 
 
 Now it goes back to that chord sequence :
 
 C#7#5 C7#5 B7#5 etc etc
 
 
 Go through this a few times ....
 
 
 
 After quite a bit more noodling, and the sampled voices
 section (with water noises) it comes back to the swifty tune
 but a slightly different version :
 
 
 
 
 Swifty tune version 2:
 -----------------------
 
 (fairly slow)
 
 E----------------------------------------9-----------------
 B---7-8-8-7-8-7-8-7-8-8-7-8-8-7-8-7-8/10-----10-8-7-8-7----
 G-------------------------------------------------------9--
 D---------------------------------------------------------
 A---------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 E--------------------------------------------------9----12--12/-
 B--7-8--8p7-8-8--7-8-8p7-8-8p7-8-8p7-8-8p7-8-10-12---10-------
 G----------------------------------------------------------
 D---------------------------------------------------------
 A---------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 (now a lot faster !)
 
 
 E---------------------------------------9-----------------
 B-----7h8-8p7-8p7-8--7h8-8p7-8p7-8-8/10---10--8--7--8p7---
 G-------------------------------------------------------9-
 D---------------------------------------------------------
 A---------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 E---------------------------------------9-----12----------
 B-----7h8-8p7-8p7-8--7h8-8p7-8p7-8-8/10---10--------------
 G---------------------------------------------------------
 D---------------------------------------------------------
 A---------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 (slow again)
 
 E--12-10-10-9-10-9----12-10-10-9-10-9------------------12/14-12-
 B------------------12------------------12-10-12-----------------
 G------------------------------------------------/14-12--------
 D------------------------------------------------------------
 A----------------------------------------------------------
 E----------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 E----12-10-10-9-10-9-----12-10-10-9-10-9-------------------
 B--------------------12------------------12-10-12----------
 G-------------------------------------------------/14-12---
 D----------------------------------------------------------
 A----------------------------------------------------------
 E----------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 E---------7----------------------------------------------
 B---8-10----10-8-7-8--7----------------------------------
 G-------------------------9-7-9-7-6-4-6-4h6p4------------
 D------------------------------------------------7-------
 A--------------------------------------------------------
 E--------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 B----------------------------------------8--------8-------
 G---4--------------------------------5---------5----------
 D-----7-5-4-5-4h5p4-----4----4---3----------3-------------
 A--------------------7----7-----------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
                 (faster)
 
 E----------------------5-7-5---------------------------------
 B--------8-------8-7-8-------8-7-8-7-5------------------------
 G-----5-------5------------------------7-6-7-6-4--------------
 D--3-------3-------------------------------------7-5-7-5-4----
 A----------------------------------------------------------7--
 E------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 B--------------------5--6--7--6--5-----5--6--7--6--5------
 G-----------4--6--7-----------------7-----------------7---
 D--4--5--7------------------------------------------------
 A---------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 B---5-----------------------------------------------------
 G------4------7------4------------------------------------
 D----------7-----7-----7-5-4-3-2-1-2-3-0-1-2--------------
 A----------------------------------------------4--5--6----
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 E--------------------------------------------------------
 B--------------------------------------------------------
 G-------------------------9/11--9------------------------
 D------------7---7----9-9----------11/9p7---7-----7------
 A---------7---------9------------------------------------
 E---7--7-------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 B---10/12--10---------------------------------------------
 G--------------12-----------------------------------------
 D---------------------------------------------------------
 A------------------12/14---12-----------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 'Farewell to swifty' motif :
 -----------------------------
 
 
 E--11-12-12-11-12-11-12--11-12-12-11-12-12-11-12-11-12/14--17--
 B---------------------------------------------------------
 G---------------------------------------------------------
 D---------------------------------------------------------
 A---------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 E---14--12--11---11/12---11/7-----------------------------
 B---------------------------------------------------------
 G---------------------------------------------------------
 D---------------------------------------------------------
 A---------------------------------------------------------
 E---------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 I don't think there are any mistakes here - but if you find anything
 you're not sure about, let me know.
 
 .... now practice !!!
 
 
 Howard
 

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