#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
From: mfassben@nickel.ucs.indiana.edu (michael thomas fassbender)
Subject: TAB: Mercyful Fate -- Melissa
Greetings, all,
In honor of the occasion, I've decided finally to get around to posting
the song Melissa by the legendary Mercyful Fate. This was the first song that
I ever tabbed (I completed it before I even heard Danzig's song Let It Be
Captured), so please bear with any irregularities.
A few notes by way of acknowledgements: this was tabbed on the program
QuickTab, created by Keith MacDonald and announced previously on the net. Please
contact the creator if you have any questions. The material that follows
represents my interpretation of the song from the 1983 album of the same name,
adapted from the assistance given me by my guitar teacher, Frank Dawson, in
1989. Only the first solo is included, adapted from the pointers I received
from a fellow guitarist, Chris Carlson.
If anyone can write up the other solos of the song, please feel free to
contact me. Similarly, if anyone else knows other Mercyful Fate songs, I'm
sure that there are many of us who would love to see them.
Happy Halloween, everyone.
Michael Fassbender
---------------------------------------------------------------
~Title: Mercyful Fate -- Melissa
QuickTab v1.1
---------------------------------------------------------------
Legend:
-------
x mute
b bend
r release
h hammer on
p pull off
~ tremolo
/ slide up
\ slide down
^^ tremolo
with distortion -- volume knob low (moderately)
|------0-------------0-----------|------0-------------0-----------|
|----3---3---------3---3---------|---3---3----------3---3---------|
|---2------2--2--2-------2--2----|--2------2---2---2-----2----2---|
|-0----------0--0---------0------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|-3--------3----3---------3------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
end riff A |
|--------0-------------0---------|-------0--------------0---------|
|-----3----3---------3---3-------|-----3--3----------3----3-------|
|----2-------2--2--2-------2---2-|---2------2---2---2-------2--2--|
|--3-----------3-3-----------3---|-2---------2---2------------2---|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
solo
|-13--/-17-15--13--12--13--------|--12-h-13-p12-------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------15---13---15------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|------12-13-12-----12---13---15-|-13-12-12h13--p-12--------------|
|--15------------15--------------|-------------------1513---------|
|--------------------------------|------------------------14-12\--|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|-9------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|----------------14--14--14-h--15|-15--15--14-h-15-h17-17-p15p-14-|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|------------15------------------|
|--------------------------------|----------14---12-14------------|
|--14-15-14-15-14-~---1211-12-11~|-1212-12------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|------15--17-18-17-15-----------|--------------------------------|
|--14------------------17-15-14-h|-15-p14-------1414-1414-h-15----|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|-14h-15p-14---------------------|--------------------------------|
|---------------17-15----14------|--14-h-15-p14---12-h14-p-12---11|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|-12------------\--------------0-|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
riff A
|------0-------------0-----------|------0-------------0-----------|
|----3---3---------3---3---------|---3---3----------3---3---------|
|---2------2--2--2-------2--2----|--2------2---2---2-----2----2---|
|-0----------0--0---------0------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|-3--------3----3---------3------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
I'm kneeling In front of the altar
end riff A
|--------0-------------0---------|-------0--------------0---------|
|-----3----3---------3---3-------|-----3--3----------3----3-------|
|----2-------2--2--2-------2---2-|---2------2---2---2-------2--2--|
|--3-----------3-3-----------3---|-2---------2---2------------2---|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
Satan's cross upon the wall
bridge
|--------2--------------2--------|--------------------------------|
|------3--3----------3---3-------|--------------------------------|
|----2------2---2---2------2---2-|------2------------2------------|
|--0----------0---0----------0---|----3--3---------3---3----------|
|--------------------------------|--3-----3--3---3------3--3------|
|--------------------------------|-1--------1--1----------1-------|
Strange emptiness A crystal ball....
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------5-----------------------|--------------------------------|
|------5--5-------------4------6-|---------------6----------------|
|---5-------5--5-----5-------7---|-7-----------7---7--------------|
|-3----------3-----5--------7----|---7---7--7--------7---7--------|
|----------------3--------5------|-----5--5-------------5---------|
between two candles
|--------2--------------2--------|--------------------------------|
|------3--3----------3---3-------|--------------------------------|
|----2------2---2---2------2---2-|------2------------2------------|
|--0----------0---0----------0---|----3--3---------3---3----------|
|--------------------------------|--3-----3--3---3------3--3------|
|--------------------------------|-1--------1--1----------1-------|
Melissa has entered a.....
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------5-----------------------|--------------------------------|
|------5--5-------------4------6-|---------------6----------------|
|---5-------5--5-----5-------7---|-7-----------7---7--------------|
|-3----------3-----5--------7----|---7---7--7--------7---7--------|
|----------------3--------5------|-----5--5-------------5---------|
a.................nother life.
builds up
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|------5-------7-----------------|-------1------------5-------7---|
|-----5-----7---------4----------|------2-2----------5-------7----|
|---5------7--------5-----5------|----2-----2------5-------7------|
|-3------5--------5-----3---3-2--|--0---------02-3-------5--------|
|---------------3----------------|--------------------------------|
Oooooo....
swell distortion
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|-----------------5--------4-----|--------------------------------|
|-------4-------5-------4--------|--------------------------------|
|----5-------5--------4----------|--------------------------------|
|--5------3---------2------------|--------------------------------|
|-3------------------------------|--------------------------------|
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/m/mercyful_fate/melissa_tab.html ]
chorus mute.....| mute.....|
|-x --x ----x --x -x x -x -x ----|-x --x ----x --x -x x -x -x ----|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|-----5--------------------5-----|-----5--------------------5-----|
|-7---5-----7--45-45-6--7--5-----|-7---5-----7--45-45-6--7--5-----|
|-7---3--32-7-4-5-45-6--7--3-----|-7---3--32-7-4-5-45-6--7--3-----|
|-5---------5-2-3-23-4--5--------|-5---------5-2-3-23-4--5--------|
Melissa You were mine
mute.....| let ring
|-x --x ----x --x -x x -x -x ----|-x --x ----x --x ---------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|-----5--------------------5-----|-----5--------------------------|
|-7---5-----7--45-45-6--7--5-----|-7---5-----7--45----------------|
|-7---3--32-7-4-5-45-6--7--3-----|-7---3--32-7-4-5----------------|
|-5---------5-2-3-23-4--5--------|-5---------5-2-3----------------|
Melissa You were my light
riff b |
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|----3--3---3--3---3--3---3------|----3--3---3--3---3--3---3------|
|--2----2-2---2--2---2---2-------|--2----2-2---2--2---2---2-------|
|-0-------3-2-------3---2-0-3-2--|-0-------3-2-------3---2-0-3-2--|
|-----3---------3----------------|-----3---------3----------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
(start drums and bass)
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|----3--3---3--3---3--3---3------|----3--3---3--3---3--3---3------|
|--2----2-2---2--2---2---2-------|--2----2-2---2--2---2---2-------|
|-0-------3-2-------3---2-0-3-2--|-0-------3-2-------3---2-0-3-2--|
|-----3---------3----------------|-----3---------3----------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
Ooooh, she was a witch.....
(begin solo over riff repetitions)
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|----3--3---3--3---3--3---3------|----3--3---3--3---3--3---3------|
|--2----2-2---2--2---2---2-------|--2----2-2---2--2---2---2-------|
|-0-------3-2-------3---2-0-3-2--|-0-------3-2-------3---2-0-3-2--|
|-----3---------3----------------|-----3---------3----------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
Ooooh, why did they take you?!
mute.....| mute.....|
|-x --x ----x --x -x x -x -x ----|-x --x ----x --x -x x -x -x ----|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|-----5--------------------5-----|-----5--------------------5-----|
|-7---5-----7--45-45-6--7--5-----|-7---5-----7--45-45-6--7--5-----|
|-7---3--32-7-4-5-45-6--7--3-----|-7---3--32-7-4-5-45-6--7--3-----|
|-5---------5-2-3-23-4--5--------|-5---------5-2-3-23-4--5--------|
Melissa You were the Queen of the Night
mute.....| let ring
|-x --x ----x --x -x x -x -x ----|-x --x ----x --x ---------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|-----5--------------------5-----|-----5--------------------------|
|-7---5-----7--45-45-6--7--5-----|-7---5-----7--45----------------|
|-7---3--32-7-4-5-45-6--7--3-----|-7---3--32-7-4-5----------------|
|-5---------5-2-3-23-4--5--------|-5---------5-2-3----------------|
Melissa You were my light!
faster
|-xx ----------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|-99-----------------------------|--7-7----77---------------5-5---|
|-99-------------11-11-----------|--7-7----77------12-12----5-5---|
|-77-xxx-x-------9--9--x-x-x-x---|--5-5----55------10-10----3-3---|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|-xx ----------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|-99-----------------------------|--7-7----77---------------5-5---|
|-99-------------11-11-----------|--7-7----77------12-12----5-5---|
|-77-xxx-x-------9--9--x-x-x-x---|--5-5----55------10-10----3-3---|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
I.......... I swear revenge
Revenge.... I swear revenge on the priest
Oh the priest must die He must die in the name of Hell
bridge solo
|--3--2--------------------------|--------------------------------|
|-------5--3---------------------|--------------------------------|
|------------55-44-22----2---4---|--------------------------------|
|---------------------5----------|----------------------2---------|
|--------------------------------|-2-----------2---45-------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--2-----------------------------|------------------------------2-|
|----54--------------------------|-----------2----2----4---5------|
|---------5-----5----3---2-------|--2--3--5-----------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--2-----------------------------|----------------4---------------|
|----5--4------------------------|----------------------5----2----|
|----------5----3---5--3--2------|-1------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|----------------------2---------|--2-----------------------------|
|-------------2---45-------------|----54--------------------------|
|--------------------------------|---------5-----5----3---2-------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|------------------------------2-|--2-----------------------------|
|-----------2----2----4---5------|----5--4------------------------|
|--2--3--5-----------------------|----------5----3---5--3--2------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|----------------4---------------|------------2--4--2--4---2------|
|----------------------5----2----|--2---4--5----------------------|
|-1------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--4--2-------------4---2--------|--------------------------------|
|--------5---2-----2------5---2--|--5-4---------------------------|
|--------------------------------|-------5-3-----5----3--2-----0--|
let ring riff B |
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|----3--3---3--3---3--3---3------|
|--------------------------------|--2----2-2---2--2---2---2-------|
|--------------------------------|-0-------3-2-------3---2-0-3-2--|
|--------------------------------|-----3---------3----------------|
|-(0-)---------------------------|--------------------------------|
begin solo over repetitions | let ring
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|----3--3---3--3---3--3---3------|--------------------------------|
|--2----2-2---2--2---2---2-------|--------------------------------|
|-0-------3-2-------3---2-0-3-2--|-0------------------------------|
|-----3---------3----------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
with solo: Melissa (echo:Melissa, Melissa Melissa) Can you hear me
(echo: can you hear me, can you hear me)? Melissa (Melissa, Melissa, Melissa) are you there (are you there, are you there, are you there)?
conclusion
|-------0-----------0------------|-------0-----------0------------|
|-----1--1---------1-1-----------|-----1--1---------1-1-----------|
|---2------2--2--2----2----------|---2------2--2--2----2----2-----|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|--0---------0--0--------3---2---|--0---------0--0--------0-------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
Nothing is left
|--------------------------------|-------0-----------0------------|
|-------5-----------5------------|-----1--1---------1-1-----------|
|------5-5--------5--5-----------|---2------2--2--2----2-----2----|
|----3-----3-3--3------3---3-----|--------------------------------|
|--0--------0--0----------0------|--0---------0--0--------0-------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
Outside at the stake They've taken her away from
let ring whispered
|-------0---------0--------------|--------------------------------|
|----0-----0------0--------------|--------------------------------|
|---2-------2--2--2--------------|--------------------------------|
|-----------------2--------------|--------------------------------|
|--0---------0----0--------------|--------------------------------|
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
me............... I think Melissa's still with us!