"A Hard Day's Night" Solo

[Folkie]

There has been much speculation here about the chord voicing George Harrison played to open "A Hard Day's Night," but little attention to how the solo was put together. The Hal Leonard "Recorded Versions Guitar" transcription tabs the solo as a series of hammers and pulls from the 8th to the 12th fret on the A, D, and G pairs. Not only does this not sound right to my ear, but it's difficult to play, even with very low action. I find it easier and more natural to play the solo on the D, G, and B pairs, from the 5th to the 8th fret. Still, I don't have the solo down note for note. Can one of our resident Beatles experts tab the solo for me?

[ric480]

By no means am Ian expert, but here's a couple to consider

Found on-line - close
e|-------------------------1-------1-------1--------1--------------------
B|------------------3--------1h3-----1h3-----1h3---1h3---3-----------
G|-0---0--3--5--3----------------------------------------------3-0-----

This is what I use - closer but may not be 100%
e--------------------------------------------------------------------
B----------------------------------6-------6--------6-------------
G------------3--5--3--7---5-h-7---5-h-7---5-h-7-----7-5--3-------
D-----5--5--------------------------------------------------------5--5

Corrections welcome

[Folkie]

Thanks for the tabs, John. The second one sounds closer to the original and is similar to what I'd figured out. That said, there's something not quite right, although I'll have to play it a few more times along with the CD to figure out what. I appreciate your time and attention and hope that through a collective effort we an figure this out.

Robert

[paologregorio]

You just need to add the notes for shaking the moptop and you're 100% there.

[ric480]

Interesting analysis of AHDN here: http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DAT ... ahdn.shtml

Says solo was done by 12 string and electric piano together - may be difficult to duplicate with only 1 guitar.

[idealassets]

can't wait to try this solo out to see if I can work it

[Folkie]

You just need to add the notes for shaking the moptop and you're 100% there.

[paologregorio]

Interesting analysis of AHDN here: http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DAT ... ahdn.shtml

Says solo was done by 12 string and electric piano together - may be difficult to duplicate with only 1 guitar.

I like to add a touch of chorus to some 12 string riffing to enhance the effect.

[wolfgang]

the solo was recorded at half speed and, therefore, recorded one octave lower on the 12-string and the piano at the same time.

Wolfgang

[Folkie]

the solo was recorded at half speed and, therefore, recorded one octave lower on the 12-string and the piano at the same time.

Wolfgang

Thanks, Wolfgang. Well, that's news to me! Any other details about how the solo was recorded?

[wolfgang]

George Martin played the piano

Wolfgang