Scale and solo in "so you want to be a rock and roll star"

[Hublocker]

Looking at the chord chart for So you want to be a rock and roll Star, I see that it is in D.

Is the scale used D major? I make it out to be a G, but listening to the record, it sounds kind of modal.

Does anyone have the tab for the intro and solo, or know what basic scale is used please?

Thank you

[8mileshigher]

There are several Tabs floating around at Guitar sites for the "intro" guitar lead lick of the Byrds origianl version... what I've never seen is a Tab for is that awesome solo, in the middle fo the song, that Mike Campbell does on TP-Heartbreakers version of Want to Be a Rock N Roll Star (originally released on their Pack Up the Plantation live album and included also on their anthology CD.) MC's fantastic solo sort of has a McGuinnish-Eight Miles High style/flavor ...extrapolated into the key of SYWTBRRS, played on his Ric 12 string.

I can't remember if SYWTBRRS lead lick is included in the famous Roger McGuinn instructional DVD "The 12 string guitar of Roger McGuinn"... but you may want to check that out. There are also You Tube postings that would help you learn the lick.

And if you listen to the two live Byrds recordings of SYWTBRRS from 1969 (Live at the Fillmore) and 1970 (Untitled/Unreleased), guitarist Clarence White is playing the lick simultaneously with McGuinn, except Clarence is at fith or third intervals or something slightly different like that... (I don't know what technically they call it but some musicologist would know).
Rich F.

[jimk]

It is indeed in the key of D. What's throwing you is that the opening guitar riff is played over the IV and V7 chords, creating a false key center.
JimK

[JakeK]

There are several Tabs floating around at Guitar sites for the "intro" guitar lead lick of the Byrds origianl version... what I've never seen is a Tab for is that awesome solo, in the middle fo the song, that Mike Campbell does on TP-Heartbreakers version of Want to Be a Rock N Roll Star (originally released on their Pack Up the Plantation live album and included also on their anthology CD.) MC's fantastic solo sort of has a McGuinnish-Eight Miles High style/flavor ...extrapolated into the key of SYWTBRRS, played on his Ric 12 string.

Mike played that awesome solo on his '63 620/12. Even Tom said it was one of his best solos (next to "Runnin' Down a Dream"

[jdogric12]

It is indeed in the key of D. What's throwing you is that the opening guitar riff is played over the IV and V7 chords, creating a false key center.
JimK

100% - Awesome, Jim!

The secondary dominant in the chorus (E7) may also throw you.

[Janglyman]

Another question for the ages solved on the Forum. Thanks, Jim.

[firstbassman]

It is indeed in the key of D. What's throwing you is that the opening guitar riff is played over the IV and V7 chords, creating a false key center.

Yeah, the distinctive opening lick (and also during the solo) is a little walk-up to G and then A (with I think maybe a quick passing D there in the middle).

The chorus D-E-A-D.

[drumbob]

I could do the tablature for the opening lick, but I'll just explain it as follows: low E open, then 3rd fret, A string, second fret, then open, D string second fret and repeat. That's all there is to it, basically.The song is really easy, but I'm still working on the solo.

[steambyrd]

I've picked up a lot of useful licks and lyrics from Chordie.
http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/www.g ... /2813.html