Mr Brightside

monquixote · September 2013

Need to learn this for a dep gig I'm doing in October.

All the tabs on the net seem to require a tortuous contortion to play.

What's the easiest way to do it?

not_the_dj · September 2013

@stickyfiddle is your man for this I believe.

stickyfiddle · September 2013

I wouldn't call it easy, but the correct way is:

x-17-16-19-17-0

x-16-16-19-17-0

15-x-16-19-17-0

I keep 2nd finger on D string and 1st on the A for the first shape, then use 1st finger on both A&D for the second, then swap so the 2nd finger is on the D and the first fingers drops down to the the 15th of the E string.

The tricky bit really is the G&B strings with your other 2 fingers. Once you get used to the position it's ok.

EDIT: IIRC the original record is tuned down a semitone, which isn't helpful. You can downtune the high E to Eb and move the whole position down one fret if you need to play it in the original key. Or even down to D & 2 frets as my last band did. You can get away with doing the rest of the song without that string if you're careful

monquixote · September 2013

Thanks fella that's really helpful.

I'll have to check with them if they do it in the original key or not.

I was trying to work out the riff from the record, but I didn't realise it was detuned so I was coming up with some pretty horrible shapes to play it.

lustycourtier · September 2013

Also, Try capo at 4th fret, or tune the e flat.

northern_guit · September 2013

Hey mate, I used to play this and found the best way was to detune the top E string down half a step. It's stil hard on the fingers but persevere with it, took me time but sounds bang on this way. A bass player once told me I was one of only two players he'd ever heard play it corfectly !!

johnnyurq · September 2013

@monquixote

I have a lick library video in wmv format which I got when they did a free LTP download day so should be OK to share.

If you wish I could upload it to dropbox for you, roughly 44MB.

It is by the dude from LL who does the Blackstar newer demos whose name escapes me at the mo.

Pretty sure he states it is downtuned a semitone on the vid.

monquixote · September 2013

Yeah that would be ace ta!

johnnyurq · September 2013

No worries @monquixote just let me know an email address to invite and I will get er done.

citizen68 · September 2013

I find playing that song much easier if you shorten your strap so your wrist isn't twisting as much..

frictionfraction · September 2013

Been playing this for a year. Don't try it on a les paul! Other than that citizen68 is spot on...

daveww · September 2013

I've got a spot on note for note tab for the verse, bridge, chorus and solo worked out with my guitar teacher. I cant play the verse well (it's a biatch), but the rest is good and easy. If you want to pm me an address to send it I'm happy to do so.

johnnyurq · September 2013

That is the wmv shared if anyone wants to download it, ping me an email address.

chrisj1602 · September 2013

The same thing happened to me for a wedding gig... I used the tab below and it worked for me. The open string is necessary so had to tune my guitar down half a step as the band had learnt it in the original key.

http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/k/killers/mr_brightside_ver2_tab.htm

As above, do not try on a LP! And also as above, I shortened my strap a bit.

keithf · September 2013

JOHNNY,any chance i could get that vid off you please?

johnnyurq · September 2013

@keithf

No worries message me with an email address to invite.

bluenose · September 2013

I play it on a LP without any issues, so i'm not sure what the deal is with that.

I found it more awkward with a Strat, because playing it that that part of the neck tended to pull the trem a bit, and make it sound slightly out of tune.

mike257 · September 2013

My lot play it up a semitone to save any tuning shenanigans, so all the same positions as the original version. I find it a swine to play too. Once you're in the right shape for the verse its not too bad but it feels like an awkward jump out of the chorus.

The bridge also has one particularly awkward stretch on the F# chord (G for us), its a right ballache! Can simplify it by leaving the low F# out of the arpeggio and substituting a higher one - doesn't sound as good but barely noticeable live and a zillion times easier. I think their guitarist might have abnormally long fingers.

I do find it hard to reach on my LP too, much easier on my Tele.

All that said, I'm a bassist who pretends to be a guitarist so might just be me!

benvall · September 2013

@monquixote I cheat. Tune the guitar to (low to high) Eb Ab Db Ab Db Eb then bar the 12th fret and move the bass note

X-X-12-12-12-12
X-X-11-12-12-12
X-10-X-12-12-12
X-10-X-12-12-12

Second part of the verse

X-2-X-0-0-0
X-0-X-0-0-0
3-X-X-0-0-0
3-X-X-0-0-0

Chorus you can play D5 G5 B5 A5 and leave the high strings open.

This isn't 100% to the record but I've been getting away with it for about 4 years now. I think this is how i play it but i'm at my desk in work with no guitar in sight.

Grunfeld · September 2013

citizen68 said:

I find playing that song much easier if you shorten your strap so your wrist isn't twisting as much..

I have to do a sort of wide-legged stance with the base of the guitar resting on top of my right thigh and play the intro with the neck pointing almost vertically up. It kind of looks like the rock n roll bastard love-child of Johnny Ramone and Slash but it's the only way I can play this fucking song! :-)

keithf · September 2013

fair doo's its a pig!

really struggling with this one.

Rocker · September 2013

Thank for the files mate. Let me know when you are in Ireland, there is a pint of Guinness waiting for you....

Longtallronnie · September 2013

I downtune the B string to A and tune the G string to G#. This makes the chords a lot easier to finger as they follow the lay of your hand so to speak. I don't bother with the open high E string and so far no one's noticed.

I also put a capo on the 2nd fret to save stretching for the low F# in the bridge.

It ends up looking like this:

E-A-D-G#-A-E

x-17-16-18-19-x

x-16-16-18-19-x

15-x-16-18-19-x

johnnyurq · September 2013

Rocker;42677" said:
Thank for the files mate. Let me know when you are in Ireland, there is a pint of Guinness waiting for you....

No worries dude you are very welcome. If I make it over I will take you up on that.

Were any of the others of use to you too?

I will leave it shared for a while just in case you never got all you wanted.

monquixote · September 2013

Hmm I've spoken to the band and apparently they play it in the original key, but in standard tune which suggests to me their guitarist probably plays it wrong as it's got loads of open strings.

To that end and because I'm not going to bring an Eb tuned guitar I've decided I'm going to play it wrong as well.

To that end I'm playing it with a bar on the 9th fret:

X-X-11-10-X-9

X-X-11-10-X-11

X-X-10-10-X-9

X-X-10-10-X-11

X-9-X-10-X-9

X-9-X-10-X-11

It's not right, but it's closeish, easy enough to play and doesn't require me to fart about with tuning when I've got a whole set to learn.

Handsome_Chris · September 2013

monquixote said:
It's not right, but it's closeish, easy enough to play and doesn't require me to fart about with tuning when I've got a whole set to learn.

You should get a LPX, then worrying about tunings will be a thing of the past.

monquixote · September 2013

Handsome_Chris said:
You should get a LPX, then worrying about tunings will be a thing of the past.

Sod that.

My whole approach to gigging is to have the minimum number of things to remember and having a guitar which might be in various tunings at any one moment is a recipe for disaster!

keithf · September 2013

fair doo's its a pig!

really struggling with this one.

not_the_dj · September 2013

Does it actually go down well?

I noticed it featured quite often in the old "covers bands set-list" thread, but i'd never really considered it for our lot.

Is it a sure fire all feet to the dance floor crowd pleaser?

gjonesy · September 2013

Noticed this thread and had a go at learning this, @keithf is right its an absolute pig!

And how do you make the transition to the 3-X-5-7-5-0?! my hand is in knots!

monquixote · September 2013

not_the_dj said:

Does it actually go down well?

I noticed it featured quite often in the old "covers bands set-list" thread, but i'd never really considered it for our lot.

Is it a sure fire all feet to the dance floor crowd pleaser?

Apparently so. I suggested dropping it at the dep ig I'm doing due to the confusion and they said it's an absolute cast iron hit.

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