Song: Big Empty
Artist: Stone Temple Pilots
Author(of this version): Russ Allen
This is the first time I've posted to the OLGA, and I was hesitant to
do it at all. I was looking through the collected versions of "Big
Empty" just for the lyrics, because I already knew how to play the
song. I noticed that none of the other versions are particularly clear
on a couple of things, and there is no tab at all for the solos before
the verses. Since the solos are an important part of the song, I
figured I'd post my own version. Before I start, I'd like to say that
I'm not insinuating that MY way is the RIGHT way to play the song, and
that everyone else who has posted is wrong. All I'm saying is that my
version is acceptable to me, and on the few occasions that I've played
in front of a crowd, everyone there seems to agree that I appear to
have it right. So here it is.
Chords for the verses:
Em7: 022030
C9: 332333 The easiest way to play this chord(for me anyway) is to
use your thumb to bar the top two strings on the third fret, your index
finger to hit the third string on the second fret(you can lay your
index finger across all the strings just to get that one string), and
your ring finger to bar the last 3 strings on the third fret. If you
finger the chord this way, it's easy to do, it's almost like grabbing
the neck of the guitar, you don't have to think about it.
Chords for the chorus:
G: 355433 (To me it sounds better with the barred G than the regular G)
F: 133211
C: 335553 (Again, I think it sounds better with the barred chord)
The above chords are for the "Time to take her home, her dizzy head is
conscious laden...etc." part. When you get to "..Conversation
kills.." use this chord progression:
G: 355433
F: 133211
Esus4: 022200
E: 022100
For the two E chords, play them one after the other. When playing the
Esus4 chord, use the regular E fingering, and just stick your pinky
down on the fourth string down, then lift it to play the E.
When going back into the verse after the chorus, start with the C9
chord, then go into the regular rhythm for the verse starting with Em7.
Okay, now for the solos. There are two solos, one before the first
verse and another before the second. I'm pretty sure STP used a Dobro
guitar with a slide for these solos.
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/s/stone_temple_pilots/big_empty_crd.html ]
Solos:
(The only strings I use to play these solos are the two high stings, e
and B. So I won't go to the trouble of typing out all 6. It's
pointless. In case you wonder why I only use these two strings, it's
because I play this with a slide, and I'm tabbing it with that in mind)
Legend:
~~ = Vibrato
x/y = Slide up from note x to note y
x\y = Slide down from note x to note y
x\\ = Slide from note x down until sound is gone
x// = Slide up from note x until sound is gone
First Solo:
e------------------------------3/7-10~~~~-7-10-6~~~\3-3-5-6\5-3--5-3|
B----8~~~7-8-7~~~~\3-3-3~~~~--0------------------------------------|
e--3/7-10~~~7-10-6~~~~-------|
B----------------------------|
Second Solo:
e---10/12\3-3/6~~~-----3-5-6~~~~3-5-3-3/7-10~~~10/12\10-6~~~\\-3/6-|
B------------------3/5---------------------------------------------|
e--3/5-------|
B-----3/5~~~~|
That's it for the solos. They play a few little runs during the
verses, but you can improvise just using the notes you play for
the actual solos.
Last of all, the lyrics:
(play solo 1 along with the Em7 and C9 chords, then the verse starts)
[verse 1]
Em7 C9 Em7
Driving faster in my car
Falling farther from just what we are
Smoke a cigarette and lie some more
These conversations kill
Driving faster in my car
(start playing the second chord progression)
[chorus]
G F
Time to take her home
C
Her dizzy head is conscience laden
Time to take a ride that leaves today
No conversation
Time to take her home
Her dizzy head is conscience laden
Time to wait to long
To wait to long, to wait to long
(start playing the third chord progression)
G F Esus4 E
(Go back to first chord progression, start with C9 and play second solo,
then the verse starts)
[verse 2]
Too much walkin' shoes worn thin
Too much trippin' and my soul's worn thin
Time to catch a ride that leaves today
Her name is what is means
Too much walkin' shoes worn thin
(play the chorus)
(play the third chord progression again)
G F Esus4 E (let ring) G F Esus4 E(etc.)
...Conversation kills...
Well, that's it. If anyone feels a need to correct me on anything, just
write me at ryoma@uwyo.edu. Enjoy playing!
