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MOST COMMON CHORDS
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A5 A A5 B5 C5 C C D5 D E5 E E5 E F5 F F5
E|--------------|--------------|------------3---|-------2-------|-------------------|------------------|
B|-------2------|--------------|--------3---3---|---3---3-------|-------------------|-------1---1------|
G|---2---2------|-----4--------|----5---0---0---|---2---2---7---|-------1---9---9---|-------2---2--10--|
D|---2---2---7--|--4--4---9----|----5-----------|---0---0---7---|---2---2---9---9---|---3---3---3--10--|
A|---0---0---7--|--2--2---9----|----3---3---3---|-----------5---|---2---2---7---7---|---3---3------8---|
E|-----------5--|---------7----|----------------|---------------|---0---0-------0---|---1--------------|
G G5 F#/D
E|----------3-------| |-------2---|
B|------3---3-------| |---3---3---|
G|--0---0---0-------| |---2---2---|
D|--0---0---0---5---| |---0---0---|
A|--------------5---| |-----------|
E|--3---3---3---3---| |---2---2---|
These are the most common chords AC/DC use. There simple and not hard. mostly they are power chords
or (5) chords. and in Major positions. Not too often do AC/DC play # or Flats as main rythems. and
mostly the E A and D chords are the favoured, followed by G and C. AC/DC dont use full bar chords,
They preffer power chords ,either because there easier or they sound better and more powerfull blasting
out of the speaker turned up to the maximum. and Bar chords sound shit with distortuion.
G F#/D F#/D2
E|-------------------|---2----|
B|------3------3-----|---3----|
G|------0------2-----|---2----|
D|------0------0-----|---0----|
A|-------------------|--------|
E|------3------2-----|---2----|
The G and F#/D chord come into play alot in AC/DC's style.
(G)
The open strings ring while the middle finger holds the 6th string bass note and the ring
finger holds the 3rd string 3rd fret.
(F#/D)
The finger then alter to the pointing finger coming to the 2nd fret on the 6th string,
And the middle finger switching from the G note on the 6th, down to the A note on the
2nd fret of the 3rd string. The finger does not move at all on the 2nd string 3rd fret.
Practice switching back and forth. without moving that 2nd string finger and you will
have another of AC/DC's styles.
(F#/D)
This isnt used as much. Im not shore if they even do this at all.
But the AC/DC style dosent include difficult held notes. To show this notes posotion
in probably any other way would be the fingers index on the 2nd of the 6th,
middle on the 2nd of the 3rd. ring on the 2nd of the 1st and the pinky on the 3rd
of the 2nd. But that slows down alot. AC/DC use fast adjustment. playing it that way
doesnt seem to fit there style. so if they do play it. it would probably be in a cheap
way (meaning an easier but cheap method) and would play
(index on the 2nd of the 3rd, middle on the 3rd of the 1st and ring finger on the 3rd of
the second, and the thumb holding down the 2nd of the 6th.
These are the most common chords AC/DC use. There simple and not hard. mostly they are power chords
or (5) chords. and in Major positions. Not too often do AC/DC play # or Flats as main rythems. and
mostly the E A and D chords are the favoured followed by G and C.
______________
SWITCHER ROO
______________
E|----------------------|
B|----------------------|
G|---4--4--4--4--4--4---|
D|---4--4--4--4--4--4---|
A|---0--2--0--2--0--2---|
E|----------------------|
This style is used often by the Youngs. Its played simply buy holding the 4ths with your
ring and pinky finger and letting your index finger press down then releasing.
Its used alot by AC/DC, by changing the speed of it, you might reckignise some AC/DC tunes
right away.
____________________
THAT THING THEY DO
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Figure 2
E|--------------------------|| |---------------||
B|--------------------------|| |---------------||
G|--------------------------|| |---------------||
D|---5--5--5--5--5--5--5----|| |---5---5---2---||
A|---3--2--3--2--3--2--3----|| |---3---2---0---||
E|--------------------------|| |---------------||
Simmiler to the style above, this stlye is used just as much. simply holding the 2nd fret
with your ring finger and the 3rd with yyour middle, and the 5th with your pinky.
It also sometime is followed by a simple open chord, if they played this tab here for
exsample (FUGURE 2) it would get followed by an open A chord. for eg "hells bells"
_____________________
You know that sound?
_____________________
E|--------------------------| |-------||-------|
B|--------------------------| |-------||-------|
G|--------------------------| |---2---||-------|
D|----5--4--5--4--5--4--5---| |---2---||---7---|
A|----0--0--0--0--0--0--0---| |---0---||---0---|
E|--------------------------| |-------||-------|
The technique here pops up often on AC/DC's. Playing it with whatever fingers comfortable
or looking for where the next notes lead to , and letting the open string ring. Quite often
they include an A chord from Malcolm and a 7 from Angus.
______________________
BAR BAR BLUES
______________________
A
E|----------------------------------| |---------------------------------| |-------------------------------
B|----------------------------------| |---------------------------------| |-------------------------------
G|----------------------------------| |--2--2--4--2--4---2--2--4--2--4--| |-------------------------------
D|---2--2--4--2--4---2--2--4--2--4--| |--0--0--0--0--0---0--0--0--0--0--| |-2--2--4--2--4---2--2--4--2--4-
A|---0--0--0--0--0---0--0--0--0--0--| |---------------------------------| |-0--0--0--0--0---0--0--0--0--0-
E|----------------------------------|x2 |---------------------------------| |-------------------------------
E|----------------------------------| |--------------------------------||
B|----------------------------------| |--------------------------------||
G|----------------------------------| |--------------------------------||
D|----------------------------------| |--2--2--4--2--4---2--2--4--2--4-||
A|---2--2--4--2--4---2--2--4--2--4--| |--0--0--0--0--0---0--0--0--0--0-|| repeat
E|---0--0--0--0--0---0--0--0--0--0--| |--------------------------------||
Ive picked the key of A here. Alot of earlier work of AC/DC used the bar blues or variations of it.
It appears many times, even in just the simple first bar stle of alot of earlier recordings!
AC/DC use all kinds of these formations in diffrent keys ect.
_______________________
ANGUS LEAD
_______________________
I wanna point out some of the Angus Young tecniques he uses in his lead playing and soloing.
Apart from stuff like held bends, vibratos and things that are standard playing that he does
so much better then others, these are patterns, licks and bits you should recignise from Angus.
A
H
E|---------5--5-----------5--5------|
B|---------5--5-----------5--5------|
G|---5-(6)----------5-(6)-----------|
D|----------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------|
This little lead number was used in alot of earlier songs. particuly HighVoltage. It is a
little Chuck Berry style lead rythmic thing that Angus often used not particuly as a solo
but more a lead style rythem of use.
ANGUS SPECIELTY BENDS
E|--5------------7-----------8---------------|-----5-------------7----------8---------------|
B|----5b(short)----8b(mid)-----10b(full)-----|-----5b(short)-----8(mid)----10b(full)--------|
G|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
This is something you can practice away at in any key and you should recignise it at various
speeds you play it at. It's quite commen in Angus's soloing. it goes from a short bend, to
a mid bend, to a full bend. also play it with held bends continuesly.
THAT THING HE DOES
P P P P P P P P
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
B|--7--4--0--------8--5--0--------10--7--0-----8--5--0---|
G|-------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
Angus plays this in pretty much every show he does, its kind of a signiture mark.
Picking the 7 to start off with and pulling of to the 4 and then pulling off to 0
and then so on to 8 ect.. and gradulay building up speed untill finally just using
the style below..
E-7-4-0-7-4-0-7-4-0-7-4-0-7-4-0-7-4-0-7-4-0-7-4-0-8-5-0-8-5-0-8-5-0-ect...
B----------------------------------------------------------------------
G----------------------------------------------------------------------
D----------------------------------------------------------------------
A----------------------------------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------------------------------
doing the same pattern, but not picking , and just letting it ring out.
trill
E|--------------------|----------------|-----5-(7)----|
B|--------------------|----------------|--------------|
G|--------------------|---(4^2^0)------|--------------|
D|-----2-(0)----------|----------------|--------------|
A|--------------------|----------------|--------------|
E|--------------------|----------------|--------------|
This may be a big "no shit sherlock" expected reply. But another of Angus's tradmarks
is the trill. I could give hundreds of exsamples but the trill is what Angus is the master of
by starting with a picked note then pulling off and hammering back on ect gives one of the
most comment sounds to the Angus Young sound.
MINOR PENTATONIC SCALE
Pretty Much 99% of the time, Angus Young is soloing by using the Minor Pentotonic scale.
Once you learn the scale, all of what above becomes crystal clear as to how it is formed
and also how chords are formed. Learning this scale is essentiol for anyone who wants
to play like Angus. It is not hard to learn, and you will probably hear or read that Angus
Young is the master of the pentotonic scale. Tho, anyone may be able to play the scale,
not everyone is Angus Young!
PAY ATTENTION: please note that this is NOT TAB. Try to see it as a picture of the neck of
your Guitar. They are not marked by numbers because this pattaren can be moved to any frets
depending on what key you want to play in.
Minor Pentotonic Scale
|--0--|----|-----|--0--|-----|--0--|----|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|----|--0--|
|--0--|----|-----|--0--|-----|--0--|----|-----|--0--|-----|--0--|----|--0--|
|--0--|----|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|----|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|----|--0--|
|--0--|----|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|----|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|----|--0--|
|--0--|----|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|----|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|----|--0--|
|--0--|----|-----|--0--|-----|--0--|----|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|----|--0--|
Each 0 represents the finger pattern. Meaning they are the frets you hold down when playing.
You will see that there is 12 frets. Once you reach the 12th fret, the pattern repeats itself.
Now, looking at that whole chart might look impossible to ever memorise. Thats why you need
to practice it. And the best way to start learning is to break it down.
A B
|--0--|----|-----|--0--| |--11-|-----|-----|--12-|
|--0--|----|-----|--0--| |--9--|-----|-----|--10-|
|--0--|----|--0--|-----| |--7--|-----|--8--|-----|
|--0--|----|--0--|-----| |--5--|-----|--6--|-----|
|--0--|----|--0--|-----| |--3--|-----|--4--|-----|
|--0--|----|-----|--0--| |--1--|-----|-----|--2--|
Starting with the above pattern. Practice scaling it note by note. Pattern B shows you
how to play the pattern. It is NOT TAB. Play number 1 where it is, then play 2 where it is.
Keep using your poiting finger for all of the first fret. USe your ring finger for all the
3rd fret spaces, and your pink on the 4th's.
If that didnt make sense. Lets veiw it like this.
|---0---|------|-------|---0---|
|---0---|------|-------|---0---|
|---0---|------|---0---|-------|
|---0---|------|---0---|-------|
|---0---|------|---0---|-------|
|---0---|------|-------|---0---|
^
INDEX RING PINKY
FINGER FINGER FINGER
Now does it make sense?
Practice this scale just like this over and over. Forget moving onto the next scale
untill you have this pattern down pat. using pattern B assend down the scale one note at a
time playing it in the order the numbers are and where. Follow it from 1 to 12 in it's
position. Choose your own spot to start. I'd recomend you start in F. and play it like this
FRET NUMBER
1 2 3 4
|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|
|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|
|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|
|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|
|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|
|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|
Now, if i havent explianing it enough. Or your just not catching on. Here is how to do the
above scale pattern in TAB form in the key of F
MINOR PENTOTINC SCALE PATTERN 1 - KEY OF F
|------------------------------------------1---4---|
|----------------------------------1---4-----------|
|--------------------------1---3-------------------|
|------------------1---3---------------------------|
|----------1---3-----------------------------------|
|--1---4-------------------------------------------|
To detirmine the patterns key, you simply look at the first note. The first note is 1 on
on the tabliture, that means it's the F note. If you havent learnt your notes of the top
string then you should.
E - String
E - F - F#- G - G# - A - A# - B - C - C# - D - D#
Your open strings are
E - A - D - G - B - E
So if you start on the A string, the pattern is the same only it starts from A. Learn it.
I recomend you practice the first scale for a couple of days before moving onto the next one.
Learn it, play it, practice it, go from 1 to 12, then 12 to one, reversing the process and
assending back up the fret board.
In due time you will see the patterns emerge. You will see how things are constructed. And
You will also recignise little bits and peices derived straight from the scale.
A good example is BACK IN BLACK.
A B C 0 1 2 3
|--3-0-------------| |--3-0----------------------| |-#-|---|---|-#-|
|-------3-0--------| |------3-0------------------| |-#-|---|---|-#-|
|------------2-0---| |----------2-0--------------| |-#-|---|-#-|---|
|------------------| |--------------2-0----------| |-0-|---|-0-|---|
|------------------| |------------------2-0------| |-0-|---|-0-|---|
|------------------| |----------------------3-0--| |-0-|---|---|-0-|
Take the lead lick bit from the main riff (shown in A above) that is formed from the Minor
Pentonic scale of E. The entire pattern is shown in diagram B. Diagram C shows the scale
and the notes being used in Diagram A in hopes I have made it clearer to you in how the
scales work.
|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|
|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|
|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|
|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|
|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|
|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|
Now, start playing this pattern the way I have explained and move from key to key from time
to time. Practice it in all keys. Maybe even practice from E (starting with open strings on the
first note (like the BIB scale) and go from 1 to 12 (like before) then 12 to 1, then move to
the key of F and do the same thing, then to F#, G, G# ect....
After a while of practicing the first part of the scale. move onto the second area.
I'm sure you can work out what the diagram that follows is showing you.
MINOR PENTOTONIC SCALE
|--0--|----|-----|--0--|-----|--0--|----|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|----|--0--|
|--0--|----|-----|--0--|-----|--0--|----|-----|--0--|-----|--0--|----|--0--|
|--0--|----|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|----|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|----|--0--|
|--0--|----|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|----|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|----|--0--|
|--0--|----|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|----|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|----|--0--|
|--0--|----|-----|--0--|-----|--0--|----|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|----|--0--|
|--0--|----|-----|--0--|
|--0--|----|-----|--0--|
|--0--|----|--0--|-----|
|--0--|----|--0--|-----|
|--0--|----|--0--|-----|
|--0--|----|-----|--0--|
Pattren 1
|-----|--0--|-----|--0--|
|-----|--0--|-----|--0--|
|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|
|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|
|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|
|-----|--0--|-----|--0--|
Pattern 2
|-----|--0--|----|--0--|-----|
|-----|--0--|----|-----|--0--|
|--0--|-----|----|--0--|-----|
|-----|--0--|----|--0--|-----|
|-----|--0--|----|--0--|-----|
|-----|--0--|----|--0--|-----|
Pattern 3
|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|
|-----|--0--|-----|--0--|
|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|
|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|
|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|
|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|
Pattern 4
|-----|--0--|----|--0--|
|-----|--0--|----|--0--|
|--0--|-----|----|--0--|
|--0--|-----|----|--0--|
|-----|--0--|----|--0--|
|-----|--0--|----|--0--|
Pattern 5
Once those patterns are memorised the original way you saw the scale (as below) should not
looks quite as difficult as it did before.
|--0--|----|-----|--0--|-----|--0--|----|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|----|--0--|
|--0--|----|-----|--0--|-----|--0--|----|-----|--0--|-----|--0--|----|--0--|
|--0--|----|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|----|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|----|--0--|
|--0--|----|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|----|--0--|-----|--0--|-----|----|--0--|
|--0--|----|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|----|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|----|--0--|
|--0--|----|-----|--0--|-----|--0--|----|--0--|-----|-----|--0--|----|--0--|
What you do with these scales is completly up to you. You will find many scales peoples use
but one very comment pattern Angus does use is basicly a repeat of what was just done.
I will have to show this in TAB form. Key of E
E MINOR SCALE (ADVANCED)
|--------------------------------------------------------0-----0--3---|
|--------------------------------------------0-----0--3-----3---------|
|--------------------------------0-----0--2-----2---------------------|
|--------------------0-----0--2-----2---------------------------------|
|--------0-----0--2-----2---------------------------------------------|
|--0--3-----3---------------------------------------------------------|
I will leave the rest up to you to figure out. If none of this has made any sense, you
could try another website, i'm sure someone else could explain this whole process a lot
better then I ever could, but if you want my advice, have somebody show you how to do
scales. Reading is one thing, but being shown, and seeing how it's done is the best way
to learn this. One on one with a guitar teacher or just someone you know who knows this
scale stuff. Seeing what you are learning is the best way to learn. But I do hope I have
given you a basic idea of how the pentatonic scale works. And if I some how did manage
to teach you how to play the scale, then i'm glad i could help.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hopefully this will have taught you the style of AC/DC and make your AC/DC playing easier
to understand!And give you that edge of what to expect from AC/DC . ROCK ON
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Maniac1075's AC/DC guitar tabs
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