Mr Brightside

monquixote

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

@stickyfiddle is your man for this I believe.

stickyfiddle

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

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

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

northern_guit

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

@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

Yeah that would be ace ta!

johnnyurq

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

citizen68

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

frictionfraction

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

daveww

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

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

chrisj1602

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

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

johnnyurq

@keithf

No worries message me with an email address to invite.

bluenose

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

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

@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

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

fair doo's its a pig!

really struggling with this one.