This is the lead guitar for Crazy Crazy Nights. This ActionTab includes chord arpeggios played just before choruses, and the solos. The solos are not easy, so you have been warned! Don't attempt it without already knowing how to play fast solo licks. However, we still recommend you read through the solo techniques used here to see how some nice little tricks are used.
Assuming you are already familiar with the Rhythm guitar part for this song, let's look at where the Lead diverges....
The first lead part appears after the intro riff. These are chord arpeggios during the pre-chorus. Remember, arpeggios are really just ways of playing through chord notes individually rather than strumming them. The chords are:
C major - using an A barre shape at the 3rd fret
D major - using an A barre shape at the 5th fret
C major - using an A barre shape at the 3rd fret
E minor - using a D min barre shape at the 2nd fret
D major - using an open D major shape
Pay attention to the 'bridging notes' during these arpeggios, i.e. just before each chord change an extra note is added to the chord arpeggio, like the A note here with the little finger. These can be quite tricky to do fast and will take practice.
This little arpeggio sequence repeats through once more before going back to the same powerchords used for the rhythm guitar during the Chorus. The arpeggio sequence is used a few times in the song and doesn't change, so once you can play that 5 chord sequence you are set to do the rest of the song arpeggio parts which appear here, then once more after the first solo here (shown from the D chord, as the solo tails into the 1st C major arpeggio and we already know what that does)
Talking of solos, let's take a look at them. The first solo starts here on the G note at the 12th fret. The backing chords are consistent with the key of G major, and the solo uses notes from the G major scale.
Now with the first notes of the solo a special technique is used. The notes aren't repeatedly picked, instead they are picked once and then the guitar body is lightly hit with hammer blows (a bit like karate chops). This causes the notes to waver because the jarring of the body affects the string tension in much the same way as the whammy bar. Usually the guitar body is hit just above the tone button, and below the bridge of the guitar (where the strings / whammy system are). If you aren't happy with banging your guitar, then just lightly hit the whammy bar, or bridge in the same way. This will give the same kind of effect.
This technique is used more than once in the solo. Even while vibrato is being applied to notes with the fretboard fingers. It's used on the first 3 notes of the solo (G D G) and then breaks into some fast licks with hammer on / pull off combos.
The next notable technique used is here. Play it from that E note bend and watch what happens. As the E note is returning back from its bend, fret the string with your 3rd finger, and at the exact same time tap at the 14th fret with your second finger (repeat quickly). This gives a nice effect compared to normal tapping but is tricky to do. Just repeatedly practice that little technique until you can get it. Remember that you want to co-ordinate your fingers so that you are tapping and still releasing the bend - which means tapping as the string is lowering. That will take more skill than for normal tapping!
We're assuming you already know about speed techniques (ripping through licks quickly, hammers / pull offs and alternate picking etc). This solo involves plenty of speed and will be a challenge for experienced players. But practice and patience will win you through.
The second solo starts with the guitar thumping again. It begins in the exact same way as the first solo. The same G D G notes here involve karate chopping your beloved guitar. And after a little pentatonic lick, does it again G D G. This time, play D again afterwards with vibrato, and rhythmically chopping the guitar with your strumming hand.
Join back in with the rhythm guitar powerchord sequence after this, then prepare for the 3rd outro solo which begins here. The last part of this solo is fast and involves big hand position movements - especially the jump up to the last D note. You could use your little finger for this note, but the vibrato will be a bit harder. Again, not easy stuff - but possible with practice, devotion and lots of makeup!
