Can you guys help with Link Wray's Rumble?

Green_Meanie

Joined: Nov 18, 2013
Posts: 42
Michigan
United States

Posted on Apr 28 2020 05:42 PM

I've been attempting to play this song using tabs from both the Songsterr app and the Guitar Tab app from the Amazon marketplace. But, I can't quite figure out the transition between the chords and the little solo note run. Is there a good piece of tab that you guys use at all, or am I on my own for figuring this one out?

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ldk

Joined: Nov 08, 2017
Posts: 369
San Francisco Bay Area
United States

Posted on Apr 28 2020 06:15 PM

Are you talking about the B major dominant 7th? Like at 28 secs here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucTg6rZJCu4

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If I'd stop buying old guitars to fix, I might actually learn to play.
Bringing instruments back to life since 2013.

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FritzCat

Joined: Sep 11, 2007
Posts: 685
Sonoma, CA
9 Security Pins

Posted on Apr 28 2020 06:35 PM

I use this one:

Last edited: Apr 28, 2020 18:37:13

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Sonic_Blue

Joined: Feb 22, 2019
Posts: 190
2 Download Pins

Posted on Apr 28 2020 07:44 PM

Last edited: Apr 28, 2020 20:07:42

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Green_Meanie

Joined: Nov 18, 2013
Posts: 42
Michigan
United States

Posted on Apr 28 2020 08:49 PM

ldk wrote:

Are you talking about the B major dominant 7th? Like at 28 secs here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucTg6rZJCu4

YES! That little guy hasn't showed up in any of the tabs I've pulled up on my phone - usually the apps I mentioned above will get me pretty darn close, but I couldn't wrangle my way through that particular chord.

I bashed through some search engines and found this UK-based website that confirms that B Maj dom 7. complete with video lessons:
https://www.anyonecanplayguitar.co.uk/rumble-by-link-wray/

Thanks, guys!

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LHR

Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
Costa Rica

Posted on May 04 2020 02:52 AM

I think these guys may have helped?

Beyond that, I can only suggest that you play a D5 (or Dsus2, if you are feeling really fancy) instead of a D major. It always bugs me to hear the F# of the open D chord ringing out there in this tune.

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SSIV

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Vince_Ray

Joined: Aug 26, 2015
Posts: 252

Posted on May 04 2020 07:20 AM

There's a YouTube video somewhere demo starting the correct bass line. You never hear that. Dunno if bass players are lazy, maybe they don't like it. And it sure is weird! Everybody talks about the menacing switchblade wielding guitar riff... but it's that sinister creeping bass that'll grab you from behind

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Vince_Ray

Joined: Aug 26, 2015
Posts: 252

Posted on May 04 2020 07:22 AM

And I hate it when the bass follows the guitar riff on the B7 run down. Why do that? Get off my lawn, Bassman!

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JohnnyMosrite

Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 909
New York City area

Posted on May 04 2020 09:21 AM

Vince Ray,
I would respectfully disagree with you on the bass run. In point of fact a moving bass line is quite integral to the tune and that includes the B7 to E root run with the guitar. The better versions of Rumble I've heard - and seen when I actually saw Link Wray - have a walkup bassline going from the root, major 3rd, 4th, flat 5th, then 5th on each verse. It gives the tune a bit more drive.
I've tried the tune without these bass lines. It just falls flat.
I also end the tune on that B7 run to 'E' - slowing down the tempo for emphasis. Seems kind of silly to me to not have the bass follow that line then.. that's just me, I guess.
But to each his own.
J Mo'

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Vince_Ray

Joined: Aug 26, 2015
Posts: 252

Posted on May 04 2020 12:55 PM

Well that is altering the original and of course, there's a strong case for covering a song and making it your own. In the case of Rumble though, few people have worked out the original bass line. You never hear it and I feel the tension within the music is created by the play between bass and guitar. It loses a lot without it and the B7 section seems to best left to the guitar to take its turn.

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ldk

Joined: Nov 08, 2017
Posts: 369
San Francisco Bay Area
United States

Posted on May 04 2020 03:14 PM

This thread has veered from the OP's original question, but I'll continue with the bass line direction.

Like a lot of songs, it's sometimes hard to pick out the bass notes in the original, but I made a stab in a backing track (https://surfguitar101.com/downloads/details/760/). It's a really cool bass line. Definitely not just playing roots and 5ths.

—

If I'd stop buying old guitars to fix, I might actually learn to play.
Bringing instruments back to life since 2013.

Top

Green_Meanie Joined: Nov 18, 2013 Posts: 42 Michigan	Posted on Apr 28 2020 05:42 PM I've been attempting to play this song using tabs from both the Songsterr app and the Guitar Tab app from the Amazon marketplace. But, I can't quite figure out the transition between the chords and the little solo note run. Is there a good piece of tab that you guys use at all, or am I on my own for figuring this one out? Top
ldk Joined: Nov 08, 2017 Posts: 369 San Francisco Bay Area	Posted on Apr 28 2020 06:15 PM Are you talking about the B major dominant 7th? Like at 28 secs here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucTg6rZJCu4 — If I'd stop buying old guitars to fix, I might actually learn to play. Bringing instruments back to life since 2013. Top
FritzCat Joined: Sep 11, 2007 Posts: 685 Sonoma, CA	Posted on Apr 28 2020 06:35 PM I use this one: Last edited: Apr 28, 2020 18:37:13 Top
Sonic_Blue Joined: Feb 22, 2019 Posts: 190	Posted on Apr 28 2020 07:44 PM Last edited: Apr 28, 2020 20:07:42 Top
Green_Meanie Joined: Nov 18, 2013 Posts: 42 Michigan	Posted on Apr 28 2020 08:49 PM ldk wrote: Are you talking about the B major dominant 7th? Like at 28 secs here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucTg6rZJCu4 YES! That little guy hasn't showed up in any of the tabs I've pulled up on my phone - usually the apps I mentioned above will get me pretty darn close, but I couldn't wrangle my way through that particular chord. I bashed through some search engines and found this UK-based website that confirms that B Maj dom 7. complete with video lessons: https://www.anyonecanplayguitar.co.uk/rumble-by-link-wray/ Thanks, guys! Top
LHR Joined: Aug 23, 2006 Posts: 2123 The jungle	Posted on May 04 2020 02:52 AM I think these guys may have helped? Beyond that, I can only suggest that you play a D5 (or Dsus2, if you are feeling really fancy) instead of a D major. It always bugs me to hear the F# of the open D chord ringing out there in this tune. — SSIV Top
Vince_Ray Joined: Aug 26, 2015 Posts: 252	Posted on May 04 2020 07:20 AM There's a YouTube video somewhere demo starting the correct bass line. You never hear that. Dunno if bass players are lazy, maybe they don't like it. And it sure is weird! Everybody talks about the menacing switchblade wielding guitar riff... but it's that sinister creeping bass that'll grab you from behind Top
Vince_Ray Joined: Aug 26, 2015 Posts: 252	Posted on May 04 2020 07:22 AM And I hate it when the bass follows the guitar riff on the B7 run down. Why do that? Get off my lawn, Bassman! Top
JohnnyMosrite Joined: Jun 14, 2006 Posts: 909 New York City area	Posted on May 04 2020 09:21 AM Vince Ray, I would respectfully disagree with you on the bass run. In point of fact a moving bass line is quite integral to the tune and that includes the B7 to E root run with the guitar. The better versions of Rumble I've heard - and seen when I actually saw Link Wray - have a walkup bassline going from the root, major 3rd, 4th, flat 5th, then 5th on each verse. It gives the tune a bit more drive. I've tried the tune without these bass lines. It just falls flat. I also end the tune on that B7 run to 'E' - slowing down the tempo for emphasis. Seems kind of silly to me to not have the bass follow that line then.. that's just me, I guess. But to each his own. J Mo' Top
Vince_Ray Joined: Aug 26, 2015 Posts: 252	Posted on May 04 2020 12:55 PM Well that is altering the original and of course, there's a strong case for covering a song and making it your own. In the case of Rumble though, few people have worked out the original bass line. You never hear it and I feel the tension within the music is created by the play between bass and guitar. It loses a lot without it and the B7 section seems to best left to the guitar to take its turn. Top
ldk Joined: Nov 08, 2017 Posts: 369 San Francisco Bay Area	Posted on May 04 2020 03:14 PM This thread has veered from the OP's original question, but I'll continue with the bass line direction. Like a lot of songs, it's sometimes hard to pick out the bass notes in the original, but I made a stab in a backing track (https://surfguitar101.com/downloads/details/760/). It's a really cool bass line. Definitely not just playing roots and 5ths. — If I'd stop buying old guitars to fix, I might actually learn to play. Bringing instruments back to life since 2013. Top

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Can you guys help with Link Wray's Rumble?