Rock PRINCE '1999'

GT RATING MODERATE

I•••• Helps improve your: • Knowledge of transposing for solo • Usage of signature riffs/licks • Recognising main grooves

"The combination

of fretted and open strings helps create

the illusion of polyphonic

. " mUSIC.

YOUR GTTUTOR • ERIC ROCHE

38 Guitar Techniques JULY 2oo3

(- TRACK RECORD '1999' IS TAKEN FROM PRINCE'S 1987 ALBUM OF

THE SAME NAME

PRINCE RECORDED AN D PRODUCED his fi rst album 'For You' in 1978 .. Since then he's had a long run of char t-topping albums and singles. In 1984 the

album, single and movie 'Purple Rain' made Prince a household name and

' 1999' came three years later. He entered the '90s with another huge success in 'Diamonds And Pearls'. His numerous albums and movie soundtracks, as well

as writing and production credits, have ensured his place in pop music history.

I know what you'r.·e thinking ...

why do this tune four years 'late'? Well, L worked out a solo arrangement well over four

years ago, but the complex world of copyright clearance foiled us and it's been siLting on the GT shelves for all that time. As you know from Lhis column and my live shows, I am always drawn to create cover arrangements from the least obvious material - some of you will hopefully have enjoyed learning my interpretations of Van Halen's 'Jump' and Van Morrison's 'Moondance' in recent years. Highly polished and produced pop by Prince may seem like a no-go area for fingerstyle, but that's exactly whaL attracted me to do it! It's given me a chance to hone the arrangement, re-record the audio and satisfy the requests I've had for this tune over the years.

Prince Roger Nelson was born in 1958 in Minneapolis and was, of course, one of the great songwriter/performer/producer/ guitarists of the '80s and '90s. His

songs defmed and set the tone for pop music for over two decades. The multi-talented pop genius has many strings to his bow, being equally comfortable at the mixing desk and on stage. He even owns his own record label, 'Paisley Park'!

'1999' was a huge worldwide hit for the artist in 1987.

TECHNICAL NOTES I've arranged '1999' in standard twting and the key of E - well, E ntixolydian to be exact. In solo guitar arranging, this affords us the luxury of a strong deep tonic note (in this case E) on an open string. The combination of fretted and open strings can help to create the illusion of polyphmlic music (that's music with different things happening at once, folks). The essential ingredients for a good strong solo guitar arrangement are: + Capturing the main melody accur ately + Playing, or at least implying, the basic chord changes + Inclu ding the m ain s i gn a t UI·e

riffs or licks + Reproducing the overall

•= SOUND ADVICE MILLENNIUM BUG

FOR THIS RECO RDING I used my Lowden 0 I 0 model with Cedar top and mahogany back and sides. The

guitar was recorded direct to a Tascam 788 hard disc recorder via a

groove and rhythms of the original recording.

Easy?! No, it's noL always, though there are a few tricks to make it easier. l often start working from the bass line upwards. A good bass line will often combine the harmonic (ie, chord changes) and rhythntic (ie, drums, percussion, tempo etc) elements of the song. My arrangement of' 1999' has a steady, thumping bassline underpinning Lhe chords and melody. When you are practising it, pay attention to the importanL role the bassline plays.

Some simple arrangement ideas include transposing the melody up an octave to create the sense of harmonic and textural development (old classical terms that mean: start building it up and fleshing it out!) . I use this trick on the second chorus to take the song into Lop gear.

It's only a small touch, buL I quite like Lhe ouLro groove where 1 include an E9#9 (no third) . It adds a delicate spice to a chord that has been played throughout the arrangement. Well, I like it anyway.

The techniql!e is standard stuff with the thumb playing the bass line, and the index, nliddle and ring fingers tackling the chords and melody. Watch out for the right­hand fingering in. the bass line in BAR 2 and subsequent bru·s. Good luck. See you next month with something a bit more traditional. [iii

Fishman Rare Earth blend system. I put the magnetic part of the pick up through a Yamaha AG Stomp Box - a foot-controlled processor. The strings are 0.0 13 gauge EXP phosphor bronze-coated str ings by

D'Addario. Fingernails by Sally Hansen, available from Boots.

E MIXOLYDIAN The fifth mode of the major scale. It is a major scale starting on its fifth degree. E mixolydian is

the A major scale start ing on E and has

the notes:

E F# G#A B C# D

The essential flavour is

the seventh notes {the b7) and the third note (major third), an earthy, bluesy sounding mode.

JULY 2oo3 Guitar Technique; 39

Rock PRINCE ' 1999'

' 1999' Words & Music by Prince© 1983 Copyright Universai/MCA Music Limited. Used by permission of Music Sales Limited. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.

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