Steelworker tab by Big Black

Tabs

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			   STEELWORKER – Big Black
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Tabbed by: Ciaran Rooney
Email:[email protected]

Tuning: Normal

This enticing little number is off Big Black’s first ever release, the “Lungs” E.P, which a young Steve
Albini recorded around some apartments in Chicago on a 4-track to attract other musicians for
his band. Roland lays down a steady rhythm and about 10 seconds in comes this chiming guitar part.
Use distortion for that dirgy sustain, and maintain a solid rhythm THROUGHOUT.

Main Riff:

e|------------------------------------------------------------------|
BB|-8-----9--8---9--8--9--8--9-8-9-8---9--8---9-8-9-8-8-8--9--8-8-8-8|
G+G|------------------------------------------------------------------|
D MajorD|------------------------------------------------------------------|
A augmentedA|------------------------------------------------------------------|
E MajorE|------------------------------------------------------------------|

You’ll get the idea – after a while Steve starts jamming some funk-like rhythms in there, and adds variations like;

e|------------------------------------------------------------------|
BB|-8--9-9-9-9-9-9-9-8-11---8----9-8---------------------------------|
G+G|------------------------------------------------------------------|
D MajorD|------------------------------------------------------------------|
A augmentedA|------------------------------------------------------------------|
E MajorE|------------------------------------------------------------------|

and so on. The next part is thus:

e|------------------------------------------------------------------|
BB|---15----13------12-----11----11-12-11-12-11-12-11-8--------------|
G+G|------------------------------------------------------------------|
D MajorD|------------------------------------------------------------------|
A augmentedA|------------------------------------------------------------------|
E MajorE|------------------------------------------------------------------|

And then you’re back into the riff. He also goes up and octave during the second (?) verse, so you’re playing,

e|-15-15-15-15-15-16-15---------------------------------------------|
BB|------------------------------------------------------------------|
G+G|------------------------------------------------------------------|
D MajorD|------------------------------------------------------------------|
A augmentedA|------------------------------------------------------------------|
E MajorE|------------------------------------------------------------------|

And that’s about it, just several variations of above riffs. For the craic, you can try a CHORDS version of this song, that goes,

G+G				   G#G# G+G
The only good policeman is a dead one, the only
G+G            G#G#  G+G
good laws aren’t enforced,
G+G				   G#G# G+G
I've never hung a darkie, even a big one, I've never seen an Indian on a horse

And so on, and then,

D MajorD	C majorC	BB	A#A#

G+G		G#G# G+G

et cetera. Trust me, it’s fun. Here’s the lyrics:

The only good policeman is a dead one,
the only good laws aren’t enforced
I've never hung a darkie, even a big one
I've never seen an Indian on a horse
And I live like this 'cause I like it
And seen too much to pretend
You can't ignore the beauty in the things that you love
Like you can't stand the hatred and the lies
Have you always hunted with your hands?
Can you show me what you've done?
Have you always hunted with your hands?
If you catch it, can you kill it?
You don't understand, see you don't understand
See, I'm like a murderer, see, I'm like a murderer
And I could rip you limb from limb
And I could rip you limb from limb
Great big thing crawlin' all over me
Great big thing crawlin' all over me
See, I'm like a murderer, I kill what I eat
See, I'm like a, I'm a hunter-gatherer, see, I kill what I eat
See, I'm a steelworker, I kill what I eat
See, I'm, I'm a bricklayer, I kill what I eat
See, I'm a, I'm a murderer, I kill what I eat
See, I'm a, I'm a hunter-gatherer, I kill what I eat
See, I'm a steelworker, I kill what I eat
I'm a, I'm a bricklayer, I kill what I eat
Great big thing crawling all over me
Great big thing crawling all over me
Great big thing crawling all over me
Have you always hunted with your hands?
Can you show me what you've done?
Have you always hunted with your hands?
If you catch it, can you kill it?
I live like this 'cause I like it
And I've seen too much to pretend
You can't ignore the beauty in the things that you love
Like you can't stand the hatred and the lies
See, see, see I'm a murderer, I kill what I eat
See, I'm, I'm a bricklayer, I kill what I eat
See, I'm a steelworker, I kill what I eat
It's a great big thing crawlin' all over me
Great big thing crawlin' all over me
Great big thing crawlin' all over me

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