ITS A LONG WAY TO THE TOP (IF YOU WANNA ROCK'N'ROLL)
Notice how this looks nothing at all like the other peoples tab who ripped it out
of an Amsco book?
This way I have tabbed here is the way i'm pretty sure is how AC/DC perfromed it!
My suspicion is that the song isnt actualy tuned down in anyway, but that
thats the way it came out when recorded, either somthing went wrong when recording
the song got and the sound got messed up, and went up an octive? Or that there instruments
where out of tune, which is somthing AC/DC have said they have done before
because some of the best songs in the world have come out of not beeing in
propper tuning! Angus showed how he played this on a TV show, and this is the
way he was performing it, and any clips ive seen of this song, this is how
the boys where playing it!
Practice this way on your own, but if you wanna jam along with the track, then
all you have to do is put a capo over the first fret, and play this the exact same
way, just as you should work out, everythings one fret forward on the rythem track
when the capo is applied!
=====================
STANDARD TUNING
CAPO OVER FIRST FRET OF BOTH GUITARS!
=====================
Riff 1
Guitar 1 Guitar 2
h.o rpt or without capo
|----------------------| |---------------|
|----------------------| |---------------|
|---(x-0)^2-2-x-2--x---| |-------0---2---|
|---(x-0)^2-2-x-2--x---| |---0^2-----2---|
|-----------0---0------| |-----------0---|
|----------------------| |---------------|
The intro guitar pretty much plays the same thing all the way through till the end
exce[t during the chorus bit, but then resumes it in it!
Guitar 2
E|---6--6-------6--6------|| the rythem guitar continues playing
B|---6--6-------6--6------|| the same rhytem, this is a simple as
G|------------------------|| hell little bit over the top of the rythem
D|------------------------||
A|------------------------|| =NOTE: This is how it sounds, to go with the way I
E|------------------------|| think it was recorded as, if you arnt using the
"gettin' robbed.." capo on the ryhthem guitar, then move the lead
which is guitar 2, back one step, so the 6 would become 5!
Chorus
Guitar 1
E|-----------------------3-----3--3--2--2---------|-----------------------|
B|-----------------------3-----3--3--3--3---------|-----------------------|
G|--------2--2----(2)-0--0-----0--0--2--2---0--0^2|-x-2---2-0--0^2--x-2---|
D|---x-x--2--2----(2)-0--0-----0--0--0--0---0--0^2|-x-2---2-0--0^2--x-2---|
A|---x-x--0--0----(0)-0---------------------0--0-0|-x-0---0-0--0-0--x-0---|
E|-----------------------3-----3--3---------------|-----------------------|
"its a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n roll" repeat
E|-----------------------------------2--2---------|-----------------------|
B|-----------------------3-----------3--3---x-----|-----------------------|
G|--------2--2----(2)----0-----------2--2---0-2---|-----------------------|
D|--------2--2----(2)----0-----------0--0---0-2---|-----------------------|
A|--------0--0----(0)-------------------------0---|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------3------------------------|-----------------------|
Guitar 1
E|-------------------2-2-2---------------------3--3--------------2----2-2---------|
B|-------------------3-3-2---------------------3--3--------3--0--3----3-3--x------|
G|--0-2--------------2-2-2---------------------0--0--------0--0--2----2-2--0-2----|
D|--0-2--------------0-0-0---------------------0--0--------0--0--0----0-0--0-2----|
A|----0--------------------------------------------------------------------x-0----|
E|---------------------------------------------3--3--------3----------------------|
"if you think.....try playing in a.....its a long way to the top......."
E|-------------------2-------------------------3-----------------2----------------|
B|-------------------3-------------------------3-----------------3----------------|
G|--2----------------2-------------------------0-----------------2-------x-0-2----|
D|--2----------------0-------------------------0-----------------0-------x-0-2----|
A|--0------------------------------------------2-------------------------x-0-0----|
E|---------------------------------------------3----------------------------------|
Go back to playing opening riff/intro thing
Bag Pipes Solo Arranged for Geetar ()= on second time
|-(3-4-6)--6-----8--6--4--6----8--6--4--6----4--6--4--3---|
|-(3-4-6)--6-----8--6--4--6----8--6--4--6----4--6--4--3---|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
Bit before solo
This Bit the rythem continues to play the intro
Guitar 2 Bagpipes
E|---------6--6\--||-----------------|| here in the () is just somthign you can add
B|----------------||-----------------|| if you want, I dont think theres any chords
G|---6-7-x--------||--(0--2--x--2)---|| from Angus at all there, but this is for a
D|----------------||--(0--2--x--2)---|| filler if you dont happen to have a set of
A|----------------||--(0--0--x--0)---|| bagpipes laying around anywhere!
E|----------------||-----------------||
SOLO
Guitar 1
G D A
E|----3---------2-------------|---------------------|
B|----3---------3-------------|---------------------|
G|----0---------2---------2---|--2--x-2----0-2-x-2--|
D|----0---------0---------2---|--2--x-2----0-2-x-2--|
A|------------------------0---|--0--x-0----0-0-x-0--|
E|----3-----------------------|---------------------|
Guitar 2
this is in standard tuning, remember that its played just like this even with the capo
G D A G D A
E|-----|------------------------------|-----|----------------18-17--------------|-|
B|-----|-14b-14b-10-12---11~~~-10-11\-|-----|---16b-14-16-16-------18-17--------|-|
G|-----|--------------11--------------|-----|----------------------------18-18--|-|
D|-----|------------------------------|-----|-----------------------------------|-|
A|-----|------------------------------|-----|-----------------------------------|-|
E|-----|------------------------------|-----|-----------------------------------|-|
G D A G D A
E|-----|------------------------16--------------18------------------------------|
B|-----|-14---14----14-14----16----16-------------18-21b------------------------|
G|-----|---------15-------15----------18-14-16------------/-8-\-/3-~~-----------|
D|-----|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----|----------------------------------------------------------------feed back
E|-----|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Towards the end the rythem chages firstly to
E|-------------------||
B|-------------------||
G|----0-2-x-2----0---||
D|----0-2-x-2--4^0---||
A|----0-0-x-0--0-0---||
E|-------------------||
then by the time its fading out, its changed to
E|----------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------|
G|---2-0-2---0-2--0-2--0-2--0-2-0-------0-|
D|---2-0-2---0-2--0-2--0-2--0-2-0---0-2---|
A|---0---0---0-0--0-0--0-0--0-0-0---------|
E|----------------------------------------| repeat and fade out
=========
Some say AC/DC tuned down to match the bagpipes! But i dont agree. I suspect somthing
happend during the recording that altered the key somehow and changed the overall sound!
In an interveiw with Angus he cleary played it this way, now wether or not it is played
this way or not is a mistery to me, but it saves having to tune down. Also from watching
the video clip (yes i know there miming to the track) it does still show it beeing played
this particuler way, it may also be the live way, who knows. try it and see for yourself.
(tho it is 2 keys lower then the recording) but i have a feeling this is the true way of
playing it.
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/a/ac_dc/its_a_long_way_to_the_top_tab_ver_7.html ]
For those of you who dont know what I mean when I say a capo has moved things forward?
basicly when a capo is applied then lets take the opening riff for an exsample
============
Now: for those of you who want to jam along with the actual recording, dont go tuning down
simply put a capo over the first fret, and basicly play everything the same way, like i said
It's just you play everything up one fret
for exsample;
Capo-less With Capo
|-----------| |-----------|
|-----------| |-----------|
|--0--2--2--| would |--1--3--3--|
|--0--2--2--| become |--1--3--3--|
|--0--0--0--| |--1--1--1--|
|-----------| |-----------|
But for those of you who cant rap your brains around it? then I will tab it out
the way it will sound and look when jamming along. you dont have to have a capo over the
first fret, but it is alot easyer to jam with it just playing it like above's
transcription, and moving the obvious parts up a fret! On guitar 2 this time, I will
show how to play it without a Capo this time for small changes! but on on guitar 2
=====================
It's a long way to the top, if you wanna rock n roll (Jam along track)
This version is a substitute, if you wanna jam along with the track!
I ask that you put a capo over the first fret to make it easier
even tho I doubht Malcolm would have had a capo, but if you want to jam
along without tuning around, then this is how to go about it!
Guitar 1 - put a capo over first fret
Guitar 2 - leave in standard tuning without capo this time
Riff 1
Guitar 1 Guitar 2
h.o rpt
|----------------------| |--------------|
|----------------------| |--------------|
|---(x-1)^3-3-x-3--x---| |--------------|
|---(x-1)^3-3-x-3--x---| |------6---8---| for guitar 2 in this transcript, I will
|-----------1---1------| |--6^8-----8---| tab it in a way that might not be as played
|----------------------| |----------6---| but it will be easyer to understand, I hope
The intro guitar pretty much plays the same thing all the way through till the end
excep during the chorus bit, but then resumes it in it!
Guitar 2
E|---6--6-------6--6------|| the rythem guitar continues playing
B|---6--6-------6--6------|| the same rhytem, this is a simple as
G|------------------------|| hell little bit over the top of the rythem
D|------------------------||
A|------------------------||
E|------------------------||
"gettin' robbed.."
Chorus
Guitar 1
E|-----------------------4-----4--4--3--2---------|-----------------------|
B|-----------------------4-----4--4--4--3---------|-----------------------|
G|--------3--3----(3)-1--1-----1--1--3--2---1--1^3|-x-3---3-1--1^3--x-3---|
D|---x-x--3--3----(3)-1--1-----1--1--1--1---1--1^3|-x-3---3-1--1^3--x-3---|
A|---x-x--1--1----(1)-1---------------------1--1-1|-x-1---1-1--1-1--x-1---|
E|-----------------------4-----3--3---------------|-----------------------|
"its a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n roll" repeat
E|------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
G|-----------------------------------8--8---------|-----------------------|
D|--------8--8----(8)----6-----------8--8---6^8---|-----------------------|
A|--------8--8----(8)----6-----------6--6---6^8---|-----------------------|
E|--------6--6----(6)----4------------------6-----|-----------------------|
Guitar 1
E|-------------------3-3-3---------------------4--4--------------3----3-3---------|
B|-------------------4-4-4---------------------4--4--------4--1--4----4-4--x------|
G|--1-3--------------3-3-3---------------------1--1--------1--1--3----3-3--1-3----|
D|--1-3--------------1-1-1---------------------1--1--------1--1--1----1-1--1-3----|
A|----1--------------------------------------------------------------------x-1----|
E|---------------------------------------------4--4--------4----------------------|
"if you think.....try playing in a.....its a long way to the top......."
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------8-------------------------------------------8-------x--------|
D|--8----------------8-------------------------6-----------------8-------x-4-8----|
A|--8----------------6-------------------------6-----------------6-------x-4-8----|
E|--6------------------------------------------4---------------------------4-4----|
Go back to playing opening riff/intro thing
Bag Pipes Solo Arranged for Geetar ()= on second time
|-(3-4-6)--6-----8--6--4--6----8--6--4--6----4--6--4--3---|
|-(3-4-6)--6-----8--6--4--6----8--6--4--6----4--6--4--3---|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------|
Bit before solo
This Bit the rythem continues to play the intro
Guitar 2 Bagpipes
E|---------6--6\--||-----------------|| here in the () is just somthign you can add
B|----------------||-----------------|| if you want, I dont think theres any chords
G|---6-7-x--------||-----------------|| from Angus at all there, but this is for a
D|----------------||--(6--8--x--8)---|| filler if you dont happen to have a set of
A|----------------||--(6--8--x--8)---|| bagpipes laying around anywhere!
E|----------------||--(6--6-----6----||
SOLO
Guitar 1
G D A
E|----4---------3-------------|---------------------|
B|----4---------4-------------|---------------------|
G|----1---------3---------3---|--2--x-2----1-3-x-3--|
D|----1---------1---------3---|--2--x-2----1-3-x-3--|
A|------------------------1---|--1--x-1----1-1-x-1--|
E|----4-----------------------|---------------------|
Guitar 2 without capo
G D A
E|----------------------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|--------------8-------------|
D|----6---------8---------8---|
A|----6---------6---------8---|
E|----4-------------------6---|
Guitar 2
this is in standard tuning, remember that its played just like this even with the capo
G D A G D A
E|-----|------------------------------|-----|----------------18-17--------------|-|
B|-----|-14b-14b-10-12---11~~~-10-11\-|-----|---16b-14-16-16-------18-17--------|-|
G|-----|--------------11--------------|-----|----------------------------18-18--|-|
D|-----|------------------------------|-----|-----------------------------------|-|
A|-----|------------------------------|-----|-----------------------------------|-|
E|-----|------------------------------|-----|-----------------------------------|-|
G D A G D A
E|-----|------------------------16--------------18------------------------------|
B|-----|-14---14----14-14----16----16-------------18-21b------------------------|
G|-----|---------15-------15----------18-14-16------------/-8-\-/3-~~-----------|
D|-----|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----|----------------------------------------------------------------feed back
E|-----|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Towards the end the rythem chages firstly to
E|-------------------||
B|-------------------||
G|----1-3-x-3--------||
D|----1-3-x-3--5^3---||
A|----1-1-x-1--1-----||
E|-------------------||
then by the time its fading out, its changed to
E|----------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------|
G|---3-1-3---1-3--1-3--1-3--1-3-1-------1-|
D|---3-1-3---1-3--1-3--1-3--1-3-1---1-3---|
A|---1-1-1---1-1--1-1--1-1--1-1-1---------|
E|----------------------------------------| repeat and fade out
Guitar 2
E|----------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------|
G|----------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------6--|
A|---8-8-8---8-8--8-8--8-8--8-8-8--6^8----|
E|---6-4-6---6-4--6-4--6-4--6-4-6---------| repeat and fade out
Are we comprendea on how this song is stuctured now?
Do you understand? Ka-Peesh?????
