Status Quo - Big Fat Mama Chords & Tabs

BIG FAT MAMA - by Status Quo                                                Tabbed by: 
(Curtis)
Email: Rocker4500@aol.com - Please send me your thoughts.
Tuning: EADGBe

Hints -
When playing Francis Rossi's parts, he tends to play chord patterns very straight with
no chromatic changes. He also tends to throw his plectrum at the strings but still
maintains alot of accuracy. When playing Rick Parfitt's parts, he tends to give the
guitar a good hammering with his right arm, and will often use chromatic chord changes
with strictly NO lead breaks. Howerver in the verses he tends to dig his plectrum into
the strings a bit more.

Let's Rock.

<< MAIN RIFF >>
  (A)                   (D)(C)
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------7-5-------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------7-5-------------------------------------------------|
D|-2-2-5-5-2-2-5-5-2-2-0-7-5-------------------------------------------------|
A|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-5-3-------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

<< Riff 2  >> Only played by Francis

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------12-14-12~~~---------------------------------------------------------|
D|-12-14---------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

<< Riff 3 >>

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-7-7-9-10-9-7-7-9-10-9-----------------------------------------------------|
E|-5-5-5-5--5-5-5-5-5--5-----------------------------------------------------|

<>

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------5-4-3---------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------5-4-3-------5-4-3---------------------------------------------------|
E|-5-4-3-------------------5-4-3---------------------------------------------|

Intro by Rick -
This is played twice on his own, then 4 times with whole band, (Francis plays the main 
exactly the same as Rick)

Verses -
Francis plays the chords as power chords (5ths) using the A and D strings, he also palm 
throught the verses. Rick plays power chords using the A,D and G strings. He plays the
of the chord on the A string, and then plays the G and D strings as upstrokes, listen
to the song for idea of the rhythm in which he does this.

V1 -

A
Say you need me, Say you need me
C
Tell me that you want my love,
D                               (main riff x2)
Say you will be mine and I am yours

V2 -

A
You think that you're way above me
    C
I'm telling you that I can see
D                                   (main riff x2)
All the things that you might wanna be


Chorus -

E  E  E {stop dead} [Riff 2]
I am yours,
  A (palm muted)
Tonight
E      E  E  {stop dead} [Riff 2]
You'll be mine
   A (palm muted)
Tonight

|| D D || E E  || A {let ring} || A {stop dead} ||


<< Main Riff >> x2 with Rick on his own, although Francis plays the D and C part of the 
Then x2 with the whole band.

V3 -
Same playing styles again for verses.

A
You keep telling me that you're not having me
    C
I'm telling you that I can see
D                                   (main riff x2)
All the things that you might wanna be

v4 -

A
Say you need me, Say you need me
C
Tell me that you want my love,
D                               (main riff x2)
Say you will be mine and I am yours

Chorus
Same as previous chorus.
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/s/status_quo/big_fat_mama_tab_ver_3.html ]
|| D D || E E  || A {let ring} || A {stop dead} ||


Instrumental Part 1 -
Play this twice, clean channel reccomended for first time through. Played by both 
and both use palm muting. There are other ways of playing this but here is the simplest -

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------0-2-0-----------0-2-2-------0-2-0-----------0-2h3p2-2---------------|
A|-0-2-3-------3-2-0-2-3-------0-2-3-------3-2-0-2-3-------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-2-3-2-0----------2-3-2-0----------2-3-2-0---------------------------------|
A|---------2-3-2-0----------2-3-2-0----------2-3-2-0-2-3-2---0---------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------3-----------------|

Instrumental Part 2 -
Lead by Francis whilst Rick picks around an Am in the open position. He also adds in 
sus4s and other notes to add flavour.

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------6-4\3-3-3~~~--2-2-2----------|
A|------------------0-2--2/3-3-3~~~--3/7-7-7~~~------------------------------|
E|-3/5--4/5--4/5~~~----------------------------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-5-5-2-3-0~~~~~let ring~~~~~-----------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Last section.
<< Build up on Riff 3, play all the chords of this section in the famous Quo shuffle 
E.g (exaple of the A)

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-7-7-9--7-7-9--7~---9--7---------------------------------------------------|
E|-5-5-5--5-5-5--5~-5-5--5--etc----------------------------------------------|


<< Riff 3 build up >> played 8 times (I think). 4 with palm muting, 4 without.

A
I've got a big fat mama with a big fat boy!
D                              A
Really thinks she's somethin' else!
       A
But I love that women like a fish loves the water,
B                     E
And there aint nobody else,
          A
I'm gonna tell you women, better do as your told!
           D               C# C      B{stop dead} B
And if you don't I'm gonna bring you down!
           A                        C      D    A
I've got a big fat mama and there's no-one else around!

        A
I said say you need me!
        C
I said say you need me!
            D
Come on and say you need me! Alright!

(riff 4)

A
Say you need me!
       C
I said say you need me!
            D
Come on and say you need me! Yeah!

A g A g A g A g

and into solo, play in A minor with the 'say you need me' section chords as backing 
timing.)

End with A g A g A g A g A g A

Thankyou.
Curtis

Please e-mail me your comments- Rocker4500@aol.com


| /  slide up
| \  slide down
| h  hammer-on
| p  pull-off
| ~  vibrato
| +  harmonic
| x  Mute note