SilverFlash
Joined: Jul 14, 2015
Posts: 478
Near Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Aug 04 2021 06:41 PM
I have uploaded a PDF of the TAB for “The Hearse” by The Astronauts in SurfGuitar 101’s Tablature Downloads area. The Hearse was written by famed producer Lee Hazlewood, more famous in surf circles for "Baja", and originally released by Al Casey with the K-C-Ettes in September 1963. It was then released by The Astronauts in February 1964 on the album Competition Coupe. Despite the dour title, the tune is upbeat and breezy, clocking in at a spritely 2 minutes 18 seconds. I like it quite a bit and took the time to create the tablature in GuitarPro.
There are also a couple of backing tracks for "The Hearse" in the SG10 Backing Tracks area. The tune is simple and would be a good one for beginners.
— -Tim
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My Classic Instrumental Surf Music Timeline
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jtrollmann
Joined: Jun 24, 2021
Posts: 127
South Bay, CA
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Posted on Aug 04 2021 09:52 PM
Cool tune! Thanks Tim.
— -John
"...enjoy every sandwich." -Warren Zevon
Fender Stratocaster American Pro II
Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue
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SilverFlash
Joined: Jul 14, 2015
Posts: 478
Near Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Aug 05 2021 04:20 PM
Hi John, Glad you enjoyed it. Happy to be the recipient of your first post. Welcome to SG101. Glad you are here.
— -Tim
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jtrollmann
Joined: Jun 24, 2021
Posts: 127
South Bay, CA
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Posted on Aug 05 2021 04:45 PM
Tim, I've been getting into playing and enjoying surf guitar for a few months now and I'm loving it. The Hearse is on my list of tunes to learn.
— -John
"...enjoy every sandwich." -Warren Zevon
Fender Stratocaster American Pro II
Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4420
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Aug 08 2021 09:36 PM
Thanks for posting this. It’s a great tune and that Astronauts’ drip is right there, front and center. Surfers used old hearses to carry their long boards, back in the day. For a real surfer, they were a symbol of good times at the beach.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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jtrollmann
Joined: Jun 24, 2021
Posts: 127
South Bay, CA
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Posted on Aug 13 2021 10:21 PM
I'm having trouble with the first four measures of the tab. In The Astronauts recording, to me the introduction sounds like the low E string is being double-picked for four measures (or something to that effect). Am I hearing something different?
— -John
"...enjoy every sandwich." -Warren Zevon
Fender Stratocaster American Pro II
Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4420
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Aug 13 2021 11:20 PM
jtrollmann wrote:
I'm having trouble with the first four measures of the tab. In The Astronauts recording, to me the introduction sounds like the low E string is being double-picked for four measures (or something to that effect). Am I hearing something different?
It sounds to me like there’s a second guitar in there playing the lower part. I didn’t woodshed it with my guitar, but it sounds like he’s probably playing an E3 (4th string, second fret), because at one point I can hear it going down to a D.
You could play that intro two octaves lower, as well. I would wager that it would sound good.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4420
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Aug 13 2021 11:21 PM
BTW, nice work on the notation and tab, SilverFlash.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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SilverFlash
Joined: Jul 14, 2015
Posts: 478
Near Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Aug 14 2021 12:55 AM
jtrollmann wrote:
I'm having trouble with the first four measures of the tab.
Hi John, I almost made a note about skipping the first four bars. I just tabbed what I saw in Rocksmith, but, to me, it sounds like it was processed with some studio effects. I just could not make that part sound like the recording. Other tab I have seen for "The Hearse" start with the verse. I think that is completely acceptable for live situations.
synchro wrote:
BTW, nice work on the notation and tab, SilverFlash.
Thank you, Synchro! And ding-ding-ding, thanks for clueing me in on the hearse surf board connection. I guess I was focusing on the "hotrod" aspect of the Competition Coupe album and completely missed the surf angle.
— -Tim
MyYouTubeChannel
My Classic Instrumental Surf Music Timeline
SSS Agent #777
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4420
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Aug 14 2021 08:26 AM
SilverFlash wrote:
jtrollmann wrote:
I'm having trouble with the first four measures of the tab.
Hi John, I almost made a note about skipping the first four bars. I just tabbed what I saw in Rocksmith, but, to me, it sounds like it was processed with some studio effects. I just could not make that part sound like the recording. Other tab I have seen for "The Hearse" start with the verse. I think that is completely acceptable for live situations.
synchro wrote:
BTW, nice work on the notation and tab, SilverFlash.
Thank you, Synchro! And ding-ding-ding, thanks for clueing me in on the hearse surf board connection. I guess I was focusing on the "hotrod" aspect of the Competition Coupe album and completely missed the surf angle.
What I’ve found in learning songs is that a bit of orientation speeds things along, but I rarely, if ever, adhere to the arrangement 100%. This makes me a member of a fairly large club; just listen to various period covers of Pipeline. They are all over the map, and it’s a tricky song, because the bridge starts on the 11th measure of the second verse, completely breaking the model of the 16 bar first verse. Hey, that’s cool as can be, but I’ve heard Pipeline played a lot of different ways over the years and I played it wrong for a long time. So a written arrangement really helps.
I think I’ll add The Hearse to our repertoire. I have a soft spot for the Astronaut’s music anyhow and they sure had a wonderful sound. I have read that the lead player had a prototype Fender Reverb loaned to the band my Leo, himself. It makes me wonder if there was a variation in spec’ on that reverb that made it sound, for lack of a better term, “drippier”. I dunno; I haven’t had enough coffee yet to reliably remember my name. 
I was a child in the sixties, but having an older sister and older cousins exposed me to the youth culture of the time, at an early age. Hearses we’re sort of a thing back then, but probably for practical reasons as much as anything else. Musicians loved them as gear haulers, surfers loved them as board haulers and sometimes it was just a matter of something which was likely to have been well maintained by the original owners and inexpensive on the used market, because of limited appeal. Of course, there was also the factor that driving around in a hearse flew in the face of convention, and that was big, back in the day.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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Squid
Joined: Aug 22, 2010
Posts: 1018
Portland, Oregon with Insanitizers
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Posted on Aug 14 2021 10:25 AM
Lee Hazlewood, who wrote "The Hearse" also wrote several of Duane Eddy's hits including "Rebel Rouser" and other memorable songs including Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots are Made for Walkin'."
— Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com
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jtrollmann
Joined: Jun 24, 2021
Posts: 127
South Bay, CA
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Posted on Aug 14 2021 11:42 AM
Tim, I appreciate you making this tab available for download. The song shares a similar structure and simplicity with Baja (also written by Lee Hazlewood) which I love. Both have a driving beat which makes them fun to jam to.
— -John
"...enjoy every sandwich." -Warren Zevon
Fender Stratocaster American Pro II
Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue
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AndrewTesta
Joined: Mar 18, 2020
Posts: 123
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Posted on Sep 15 2023 10:43 PM
jtrollmann wrote:
I'm having trouble with the first four measures of the tab. In The Astronauts recording, to me the introduction sounds like the low E string is being double-picked for four measures (or something to that effect). Am I hearing something different?
I’m sure you’ve figured it out by now but the drippy rhythm plucking is just 8th notes on the low E string in drop D. Starts with open D then up two frets to E, back to D then G on the 5th fret.
4/4 (palm muted 8th note plucking) : |D - - - |D - - - |E - - - |E - - - |D - - - |D - - - |G - - - | G - - - |G - - - |D - - - |G - - - |E - - - |C - - - |D - - - |E - - - - - - - - -
Last edited: Sep 15, 2023 23:01:07
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