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Midnight Tabs by Joe Satriani

Midnight tab by Joe Satriani

Guitar 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
🎸
Accuracy Rating: - Votes: -
  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------------------------------------------------------]

Midnight tab

Joe Satriani tabs for Midnight

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