Faking the solo in Long Train Running - edit: now done it

allen

Hi all,

my band is going to do Long Train Running - rhythm part = pretty easy. Solo = not so much.

I could sit down and sort of transcribe the harmonica part, but it will take me a bloody long time. Anyone got any suggestions for a simpler solo part? or can point me to a youtube?

I did a search, but didn't find anything.

Edit: Just found something on ultimate guitar, but the very fast tremolo is going to be beyond me.

LPManic

This is not too bad. I'm not a fan of some of the hammer-on runs here, but I would use this as a good starting point.

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

allen

Nice, but this is also probably beyond my meagre skill level. At least to get it learnt in the next 2 weeks!

Roland

Guitar is much more flexible than harmonica, so I wouldn’t try to emulate the harmonica solo. In any case you need something which suits your style.

I’ve played this in several bands. The three things I like to include in the solo are:
1. The slow “train whistle” bends at the start,
2. A rickety train feel, which I achieve by uneven tapping, pull offs and hammers.
3. Following the chords, especially emphasising the Eb in bar 9, and Dsus D in bar 10.

I haven’t got time to TAB out what I play, and it wouldn’t help you much because I think you need to compose a solo which feels right to you.

digitalkettle

Simple = don't be pulled by the chords...G blues will work nicely over the whole thing if you let your ear guide you.

Absorbing some of the harmonica ideas would be a great idea for your phrasing.

LPManic

Yes as @digitalkettle says, it is essentially G blues. I'd play it at third fret and then up at 15th.

monquixote

I used to enjoy soloing over this.

The first thing is to try and match the big lazy bends at the start. You can use bent double stops or a unison bend to get that harmonica vibe. Neck pickup so it's nice and thick 

Then the important thing to get the vibe is to match the rhythm of the solo where it accents like dah-dah dah-dah dah dah dah-dah dah if you hit that rhythm even if it's a single note it will give that feeling. 

For fast bits remember when you are in 3rd position g blues you can do some easy fast pull offs to the open D and G strings which sound very impressive and "country"

allen

Thanks chaps - I'm going to give it a go tomorrow and see how I do.

Lebarque

Our singer plays it on a kazoo. Sounds good and everyone finds it funny. Recommended. 

davros

This is how I play it, beginning is like the harmonica then made up

viz

That was great!

stickyfiddle

@davros that’s fab stuff. Literally my only comment is I’d like a fractionally cleaner sound on the rhythm parts but it’s properly mega already 

prowla

Whistle or hum the tune and then figure out the notes on the guitar.

allen

davros said:

This is how I play it, beginning is like the harmonica then made up

Great. I think that's pretty much the vibe I will be going for.

stratman3142

Roland said:

...3. Following the chords, especially emphasising the Eb in bar 9, and Dsus D in bar 10...

It's a bit of a moot point, but I play a Gm/D (instead of Dsus4) going to D in bar 10. So there's a Bb (instead of an A) in the chord. I play it as:
D on fifth string
Bb on 4th string
D on 3rd string
G on the 2nd string

But I doubt anyone would really notice the difference   I'm probably the only one that does that.

It's cool to hit a passing F# in the solo on the final D chord (i.e. the 3rd of the chord), which gives it a G harmonic minor kind of sound.

Roland

stratman3142 said: … It's cool to hit a passing F# in the solo on the final D chord (i.e. the 3rd of the chord), which gives it a G harmonic minor kind of sound.

I’ve just looked at what I play. Had to pick up the “sofa” guitar to do it. Yes, there’s a F# in there. We’ve got visitors, so I’m not at liberty to record it or Tab it out. Over the Eb chord I play a rising arpeggio, using the E chord shape, starting on fret 13 of the D string, and ending on the 15th fret of the top E string. After that I use the D shape to play Bb A F at the 17th fret on the top two strings, and G F# D at the 14th, ending with G on the G string which bent up to A then slowly released to resolve.

viz

Yeah you gotta noodle over a proper D7 avoiding the F natural, to fit with the ladies who are singing "without love" with an F#.

tweedphan

And use a wah pedal ?

allen

I have done a bit of dabbling with it and then recorded my version this morning. Couldn't upload to soundcloud as the backing track is the original song and the copyright detector deleted it. So have put it on here.

My first time recording something so it's hardly professional and it was my first (and only) take.

https://jumpshare.com/share/S5BjxSjhhxVxme7UFs4g

Just trying tonicaudio links

https://tonic.audio/s/D3w3Lr8TXsVcuLBa

allen

Oops