Tabs
This is the final track of Joe Satriani’s ’Surfing with an Alien’
entitled Midnight. It would definitely help to have a copy of the song to
play along with, as the Satch changes his tempo and intensity throughout the
song.
Satriani played this song by fretboard tapping with both hands.
Some people suggest using a damper or handkerchief to prevent accidental
pull-off noise, but I’ve found with careful muting this problem can be
avoided. I like the sound best with a fairly strong reverb, and setting the
chorus rate rather slow, and adding high depth. I don’t have any other
effects, but a delay could add an interesting flavor to the song. The
notation is standard tablature, with the numbers above the tab indicating
which fingers to tap the strings. The intro is a series of
quadruplets in group in standard 4/4 time. Satch varies the tempo a bit, so
allow a little flexibility. Make sure to hold the note down until the next
note is struck, where the initial note is then released. This will take
some practice.
The body of the song taps chords in an odd time. I’ve found it is
best to listen to the song, and try to isolate the beat of the taps. Again
remember to hold the tapped notes until the next chord is ready to be
struck. You can practice the rhythm by drumming your hands in your spare
time. I am not familiar with drummer notation but the rhythm could be written as
1/16 1/16 1/8 1/16 1/16 1/8 1/16 1/16 1/8 1/16 1/16 1/8 1/16
1/16 1/8 1/16 1/16 1/8
where the fractions are eighth notes and sixteenth notes. I’ve also tried
to help by spacing the chords appropriately.
The outro is similar to the intro, but becomes more difficult with a
wicked ascending tempo towards the the exiting measures.
Have fun and eat your Wheaties before starting. You’ll need ’em.
All notes are tapped with fingers.
Fingering notation: L1 = left index R1 = right index
L4 = left pinky R4 = right pinky
L1 L3 R2 R1 Repeat three times L1 L2 R2 R1 Repeat
three times
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[------------12---------------------------------------------14-----------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[------------------12------------------------------10------------14------------]
[-------9-------------------------------------9--------------------------------]
[--7---------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L1 L3 R2 R1 Repeat three times L1 L2 R2 R1
Repeat ONE time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[------------12-------------------------------------------14-------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[------------------12------------------------------10------------14------------]
[-------9-------------------------------------9--------------------------------]
[--7---------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L1 L2 R2 R1 Repeat ONE time L1 L3 R2 R1
Repeat three times
[---------------14-------------------------------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------------------------12-------------------]
[---------------------14-------------------------------------------------------]
[--------10------------------------------------------------------12------------]
[---9-----------------------------------------------9--------------------------]
[----------------------------------------------7-------------------------------]
L1 L3 R2 R1 Repeat three times L1 L2 R2 R1
Repeat three times
[---------------12-------------------------------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------------------------12-------------------]
[---------------------12-----------------------------9-------------------------]
[--------9------------------------------------------------------12-------------]
[---7-------------------------------------------9------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L1 L3 R2 R1 Repeat once L1
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[---------------11-------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------9---------------------------------------------------------------------]
[---------------------11-------------------------------------------------------]
[---9-------------------------------------------9------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L1 L3 R2 R1 Repeat three times L1 L2 R2 R1
Repeat three times
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[------------12---------------------------------------------14-----------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[------------------12------------------------------10------------14------------]
[-------9-------------------------------------9--------------------------------]
[--7---------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L1 L3 R2 R1 Repeat three times L1 L2 R2 R1
Repeat ONE time
[---------------------------------------------------------14-------------------]
[------------12----------------------------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------14----------]
[------------------12------------------------------10--------------------------]
[-------9-------------------------------------9--------------------------------]
[--7---------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L1 L3 R2 R1 Repeat once L1 L2 R2 R1
Repeat three time
[------------12----------------------------------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------------------12-------------------------]
[------------------12----------------------------------------------------------]
[------10--------------------------------------------------12------------------]
[--9----------------------------------------9----------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------7--------------------------------------]
L1 L3 R2 R1 Repeat three times L1 L2 R2 R1
Repeat three times
[---------------12-------------------------------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------------------------12-------------------]
[---------------------12-----------------------------9-------------------------]
[--------9-------------------------------------------------------12------------]
[---7-------------------------------------------9------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L1 L3 R2 R1 Repeat once L1
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[---------------11-------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------9---------------------------------------------------------------------]
[---------------------11-------------------------------------------------------]
[---9-------------------------------------------9------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
End intro,
Begin body. Start guitar and background clap simultaneously
L3 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------17----------------17---------17---------------------------------------]
[--4------------4----------------4---------------------------------------------]
[--------17----------------17---------17---------------------------------------]
[--2------------2----------------2---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L3 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------16----------------16---------16---------------------------------------]
[--4------------4----------------4---------------------------------------------]
[--------16----------------16---------16---------------------------------------]
[--2------------2----------------2---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L3 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------17----------------17---------17---------------------------------------]
[--4------------4----------------4---------------------------------------------]
[--------17----------------17---------17---------------------------------------]
[--2------------2----------------2---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L3 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------16----------------16---------16---------------------------------------]
[--4------------4----------------4---------------------------------------------]
[--------16----------------16---------16---------------------------------------]
[--2------------2----------------2---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L3 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------20----------------20---------20---------------------------------------]
[--7------------7----------------7---------------------------------------------]
[--------20----------------20---------20---------------------------------------]
[--5------------5----------------5---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L3 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------19----------------19---------19---------------------------------------]
[--7------------7----------------7---------------------------------------------]
[--------19----------------19---------19---------------------------------------]
[--5------------5----------------5---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L3 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------20----------------20---------20---------------------------------------]
[--7------------7----------------7---------------------------------------------]
[--------20----------------20---------20---------------------------------------]
[--5------------5----------------5---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L3 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------19----------------19---------19---------------------------------------]
[--7------------7----------------7---------------------------------------------]
[--------19----------------19---------19---------------------------------------]
[--5------------5----------------5---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L3 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[--------17----------------17---------17---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--9-----17-----9----------17----9----17---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--7------------7----------------7---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
***Tricky part
L3 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[--------15----------------15---------15---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--9-----16-----9----------16----9----16---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--7------------7----------------7---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L3 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[--------17----------------17---------17---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--9-----17-----9----------17----9----17---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--7------------7----------------7---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
***Tricky part
L3 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[--------15----------------15---------15---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--9-----16-----9----------16----9----16---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--7------------7----------------7---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L3 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[--------20----------------20---------20---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--11----20-----11---------20----11---20---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--9------------9----------------9---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L3 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[--------22----------------22---------22---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--11----22-----11---------22----11---22---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--9------------9----------------9---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L3 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat THREE times
[--------19----------------19---------19---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--11----19-----11---------19----11---19---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--9------------9----------------9---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
End clapping rhythm
L2 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--11-----------11--------------11---------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--10-----------10--------------10---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L2 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------14----------------14---------14---------------------------------------]
[--11-----------11--------------11---------------------------------------------]
[--------14----------------14---------14---------------------------------------]
[--10-----------10--------------10---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
***Tricky part
L2 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------15----------------15---------15---------------------------------------]
[--11-----------11--------------11---------------------------------------------]
[--------16----------------16---------16---------------------------------------]
[--10-----------10--------------10---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L2 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------17----------------17---------17---------------------------------------]
[--11-----------11--------------11---------------------------------------------]
[--------17----------------17---------17---------------------------------------]
[--10-----------10--------------10---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L2 R2 L2 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------11----------------11---------11---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[--------11----------------11---------11---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L2 R2 L2 R2 L2 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--8------------8---------------8----------------------------------------------]
L2 R2 L2 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------11----------------11---------11---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[--------11----------------11---------11---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L2 R2 L2 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--7------------7---------------7----------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--7------------7---------------7----------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L2 R2 L2 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------11----------------11---------11---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[--------11----------------11---------11---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L2 R2 L3 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--11-----------11--------------11---------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--10-----------10--------------10---------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L2 R2 L2 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat one time
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[--------12----------------12---------12---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
L2 R2 L2 R2 L3 R2
L1 R1 L1 R1 L1 R1 Repeat three times while
slowing the tempo gradually
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[--------11----------------11---------11---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[--------11----------------11---------11---------------------------------------]
[--9------------9---------------9----------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
Outro, return to single note tapping.
[----------------------------------------------------------12------------------]
[-------------12----------------------14---------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------------------------------12---------9---]
[------------------12-----------9----------14-----------9----------------------]
[-------9------------------8----------------------7--------------------9-------]
[--7---------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-----------11-------------------12---------------------14------------------12-]
[-------9----------------------------------------------------------------------]
[----------------11---------7---------12----------9----------14----------------]
[---9------------------7---------------------8-------------------------9-------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------7-----------]
Repeat previous two measures four times, increasing tempo with each repeat.
Cadenza
Repeat three times
[------------12-------------------12-------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-----------------12-------------------12--------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-------8--------------------8-------------------------------------------------]
[---7-------------------7------------------------------------------------------]
Repeat three times
[------------11-------------------11-------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-----------------11-------------------11--------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-------9--------------------9-------------------------------------------------]
[---7-------------------7------------------------------------------------------]
Repeat one time
[------------12-------------------12-------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-----------------12-------------------12--------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-------8--------------------8-------------------------------------------------]
[---7-------------------7------------------------------------------------------]
DO NOT REPEAT
[------------15-------------------15-------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-----------------15-------------------15--------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-------8--------------------8-------------------------------------------------]
[---7-------------------7------------------------------------------------------]
DO NOT REPEAT
[------------12-------------------12-------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-----------------12-------------------12--------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-------8--------------------8-------------------------------------------------]
[---7-------------------7------------------------------------------------------]
Repeat 2 1/2 times
[------------11-------------------11-------------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-----------------11-------------------11--------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------------------------------------------------]
[-------9--------------------9-------------------------------------------------]
[---7-------------------7------------------------------------------------------]
