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Fret Filings - (Anne's Blog)
Friday, August 22, 2008
BACK TO IT
Topic: General

Good news. Smile My Dad was released from the hospital a couple of days ago, after a twelve day stay there. (Details in previous post.) He'll now continue his recovery at home, taking it easy for awhile as he gets his strength and energy back, and finishes out anti-biotic prescriptions he's been given.

I'll be getting back to working on new content for the site. I don't think anything's been added all month. One riff entry, maybe. I started working on a tab last night, and I also have one that's finished, but still needs checking. (I don't have my tape deck at the moment, and I can't check that tab until I have it back, since that tab was done from a cassette.) After the past two weeks, I think I'll just decompress for a while, choosing a few songs myself to tab. Somewhere into September I'll get back to doing some of the requests.

Posted by planet/zerofret at 5:04 PM EDT
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Wednesday, August 13, 2008
DELAY
Topic: General

Does it kind of seem like no one's minding the store right now? Not answering blog comments and such? That's because I haven't been around much recently. Last Friday, my Dad went into the hospital rather unexpectedly. So I've been visiting downtown at the hospital every day this week. The diagnosis turned out to be massive pneumonia in one lung (which really seemed to come out of nowehere). Fortunately, things have gotten much better over the last few days, although we're told the full recovery process will take some time.

The second day we went to visit, there was kind of an unexpected wrinkle. It turned out that anyone visiting a patient with a possibly infectious condition has to don a lot of hospital gear: a gown, a mask, and latex gloves. You can't go into the room without it, and you can't leave the room until you've removed it. Anything you take into the room that you want to take out again has to be bagged. It's all to prevent visitors from possibly bringing germs back out of that room and having them get spread. They explained that these precautionary measures are largely a result of the SARS crisis in Toronto some years back. It takes some getting used to having to have all that stuff on, though. We were very happy to find out yesterday when we arrived that the isolation status had been lifted. So not only was it a good indication of improvement in condition, but it also meant masks, gloves, etc. weren't necessary anymore. 

So this is why not much has been posted on the site in August so far. And it'll probably be awhile yet before there is anything. I actually have a couple of things complete, but they haven't been checked over yet, so they won't get posted until I do. I'll still be making daily hospital visits, but seeing definite improvement and having hospital staff tell us they're quite happy with the improvement being shown makes it a bit less worrying. So I'll get some new content posted on the site once I have some more available time. Smile 

Posted by planet/zerofret at 5:05 PM EDT
Updated: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 5:11 PM EDT
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Wednesday, August 6, 2008
BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND
Topic: Riff-In-A-Jiff

Bob Seger's "Mainstreet" features a simple, but very melodic and memorable guitar Intro. The song is from Seger's first Top 10 album Night Moves (1976), and it reached #24 on the pop charts. The melody also transfers well to other instruments. In Seger's live show, this Intro is often played to great effect on saxophone (sometimes tenor sax, sometimes soprano sax). The song recounts his days in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND - "Mainstreet"      (B. Seger)

https://www.angelfire.com/planet/zerofret/annesblog/varriffs.txt

You can hear the song here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVxsd6yywX8

Posted by planet/zerofret at 2:29 AM EDT
Updated: Wednesday, August 6, 2008 2:48 AM EDT
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Saturday, August 2, 2008
JULY 2008 REVIEW
Topic: Website

Most-viewed tabs for the month of July 2008 (w/ view numbers):

30 - Harlequin - Thinking Of You
18 - Girlschool - Race With the Devil (guitar)
12 - April Wine - Tonite
12 - Girlschool - Fox On the Run
11 - Harlequin - Innocence
10 - Honeymoon Suite - Burning In Love
9 - A Foot In Coldwater - (Make Me Do) Anything You Want
9 - Girlschool - Race With the Devil (bass)
8 - The Kings - Switchin' To Glide
8 - The Kings - This Beat Goes On
8 - Trooper - Raise A Little Hell
8 - Trooper - Two For the Show

Total tab views for July: 387    

(By section: Canadian-247, Girlschool-75, Various-42, Chords-23)


Most-viewed tabs overall (stats date from Oct. 3/07 to July 31/08):

102 - Harlequin - Thinking Of You
68 - The Kings - This Beat Goes On
54 - The Kings - Switchin' To Glide
53 - Headpins - Don't It Make Ya Feel
52 - Honeymoon Suite - Burning In Love
51 - Girlschool - Race With the Devil (guitar)
51 - Honeymoon Suite - Stay In the Light
44 - Harlequin - Innocence
40 - A Foot In Coldwater - (Make Me Do) Anything You Want
40 - Kim Mitchell - Patio Lanterns

*Only tab views made by people (excluding my own views) are counted here. Webcrawler/bot views are excluded.

Posted by planet/zerofret at 1:35 AM EDT
Updated: Saturday, August 2, 2008 1:36 AM EDT
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Wednesday, July 30, 2008
"I DID IT FOR LOVE"
Topic: New Tab Postings

"I Did It For Love" by Harlequin is the sixth tab entry on the site from the Winnipeg rockers. I was asked to do this one a couple of months ago. It's among my favourites of Harlequin's, but then I could say that about a lot of their songs. I've always wanted to tab this one, though.

The song is from the band's third album, One False Move (pictured below), which went gold in Canada. It's also on their Greatest Hits CD.  They're a good live band, too. If you ever get a chance to see them, be sure to go.


Posted by planet/zerofret at 2:35 AM EDT
Updated: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 2:41 AM EDT
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Friday, July 25, 2008
TRIUMPH
Topic: Riff-In-A-Jiff

The 1979 album Just A Game is widely regarded as Triumph's breakthrough album. The band's first two albums gave them airplay at home in Canada with the singles "Blinding Light Show" and a cover of Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way". But Just A Game gave Triumph their first international success, with hits like "Hold On" and "Lay It On the Line". Songs such as the acoustic instrumental "Fantasy Serenade" and the jazzy "Suitcase Blues" also showcased Rik Emmett's considerable guitar playing skills. Tabbed here is the acoustic arpeggio Intro to "Hold On".

TRIUMPH - "Hold On"      (R. Emmett)

https://www.angelfire.com/planet/zerofret/annesblog/canriffs.txt

You can hear the song on this page:

http://www.imeem.com/ohsusieq/music/sTald3uK/triumph_hold_on/

Posted by planet/zerofret at 2:04 AM EDT
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Tuesday, July 22, 2008
"TONITE"
Topic: New Tab Postings

Posted today -- by request -- is a tab of "Tonite" by April Wine. The song is from the band's 1979 album Harder...Faster. It was considered their hardest rocking album up to that point, but "Tonite" shows both sides of April Wine. It's a melodic ballad wrapped around a full throttle rock out middle section. The song has been added to the video page. (No actual video, but someone posted the song at YouTube.)

The 16 bar guitar solo during that middle section isn't tabbed here. While it doesn't sound all that difficult, there was too much of it that I couldn't get, for various reasons. There's some kind of little timing hiccup right at the beginning that throws me off. There are some parts that are too fast to hear what's being played. And there are some parts that I can't hear clearly enough what's being played. Rather than put in a patchwork solo, I just left it out, and tabbed the rhythm guitar part for that part of the song. I don't like leaving parts out, but it seemed the best route to go this time. (Fortunately, I know this won't happen next time out because I already have the guitar solo for the next tab done. Smile) All other lead/solo parts are included in the tab.

Posted by planet/zerofret at 2:34 AM EDT
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Saturday, July 19, 2008
"NEVER BEEN TO SPAIN"
Topic: New Chords Postings

The newest Chord Chart entry on the site is Three Dog Night's "Never Been To Spain". A bit of tab is included in the transcription. The song -- from the 1971 album Harmony -- reached #5 on the pop charts. It was written by Hoyt Axton, who also wrote hits for other well-known acts, such as Steppenwolf's "The Pusher" and Ringo Starr's "The No-No Song". Perhaps his best known song is another made famous by Three Dog Night, "Joy To The World"...and the boys and girls and you and me and fishes. Laughing "Never Been To Spain" has also been covered by a number of other artists.

Hear the Three Dog Night version here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lr0hV0CSzo

Posted by planet/zerofret at 2:03 AM EDT
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Tuesday, July 15, 2008
A YEAR ON
Topic: Bands/Music

A new tab today, "Breakdown" by Girlschool, posted in honour of Kelly Johnson, who passed away a year ago today. Kelly, as some of you probably know, is my favourite guitarist, has been for several years. This song is one I've meant to do for a long time, since I've always really liked the guitar solo in it. It's understated, melodic, and features that great tone, vibrato, and natural playing style -- everything I've always loved about Kelly's guitar playing. The harmonized lead in the Outro is great, too. 

I remember the first time I worked out this solo, years ago. There were a handful of songs on Demolition that I didn't know, because that record was never available here back in the vinyl days. I had most of the songs from that album because they appeared on Girlschool compilation albums, but I knew there were a few I didn't have. Then I happened to come into possession of a live tape of Girlschool performing at the 1981 Reading Festival. "Breakdown" was on that tape, and I loved it. So I first learned the solo from that particular live version. Later, when I got the CD of Demolition, it turned out the solo in that live version was very close to the one on the studio version. Not exactly the same, but almost.

Today, I'll be listening to all of my favourite Kelly songs..."Going Under", "Wildlife", "Breakdown", "Stay Wild", "Furniture Fire", "A Love Too Far". "You Got Me", "Mad Sister", "Hit And Run", "Chinese Whispers" (WCK). And also tracks in which I particularly like her guitar playing, like "Don't Call It Love", "Like It Like That", "Play Dirty", "High 'n' Dry", "Back To Start", "Deadline", "So Much Better Now" (WCK), "No Pain No Gain" (WCK), and more.

And I'll be remembering a wonderfully talented musician who had a huge impact on me.

Here's to you, Kelly. 

Posted by planet/zerofret at 2:06 AM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:27 AM EDT
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Saturday, July 12, 2008
MOXY
Topic: Riff-In-A-Jiff

Today's entry comes from Moxy's 1975 debut album Moxy. I didn't tab this from the studio version of the song, but I think the part of the song I tabbed is pretty much the same as the original. The live version I used was a performance the band did on the morning show "Breakfast Television" on CITY-TV (Toronto) in August of 2005.

On vocals for this version (and the band's vocalist since 2003) is Alex Machin, otherwise known for being the lead vocalist for A Foot In Coldwater. On Moxy's debut album, Tommy Bolin stood in for guitarist Earl Johnson, playing lead on several of the tracks. Earl Johnson: "We were recording the first album with a producer named Mark Smith. I had a falling out with Mark while recording some solos... Our manager Roland Paquin...asked Tommy to come in and complete the remaining solos as a favor... Tommy played all solos except for 'Sail On Sail Away', 'Can't You See I'm A Star' and the ending of 'Train'. He did not work on the riffs or rhythm parts of the songs, it was strictly solo work." (from angelfire.com/ny/bolinfan/interviews/earlmoxy.html) So this particular track is all Johnson on guitar, and is written by him, too. Still in the band, he plays lead on this live version, as well. Tabbed here is the Intro, Verse, and Chorus.

MOXY - "Can't You See I'm A Star"      (E. Johnson)

https://www.angelfire.com/planet/zerofret/annesblog/canriffs.txt

This is a video of the performance of the song done on "Breakfast Television":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWqUAWCnihg

The original studio version of the song from 1975, with original Moxy lead singer Buzz Shearman on vocals, can be heard here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S80pX1FvDdE 

The performance of the song on "BT" is available on Moxy's website as a free mp3 download. That's how I was able to tab the song; I downloaded it from their site and burned it onto a CD. You can find it on this page:
http://www.moxy.ca/audiovideo.html

Posted by planet/zerofret at 2:43 AM EDT
Updated: Saturday, July 12, 2008 3:08 AM EDT
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