Spring tab by Antonio Vivaldi

"Spring" by Antonio Vivaldi is one of the best
loved pieces from the baroque period of the
1700's. Published in 1725 it still remains fresh
and instantly recognizable. The music tells the
story of spring and includes some excellent
virtuoso sections. Any of you not familiar with
the "Four Seasons" collection are greatly
encouraged to pick up a copy on CD.

My adaptation for guitar(s) is probably going to
cause Antonio to roll over in his grave, because
it is impossible to do justice to the harmony,
melody, and counter-point of the piece, with only
two hands. However, with a little work and a
little listening to the CD we can probably
obtain a reasonable rendition of the tune.

The piece begins with an intro and then the main
theme which I have harmonized to incorporate both
the lead and harmony violins. Feel free to
interpret this as much as you like (May I suggest
some delay and perhaps a tremolo drop here and
there)? Or try this with two guitarists and a
bass for some harmonizing that would make
Satriani proud.

The piece is "Allegro" or fast, and some of the
parts are 32nd notes which, for all intents and
purposes, are just blurs. Such sections have
asterisks above them to denote "play as fast as you can."

The bass notes (E&A strings) are intended to be
played by a bass player or another instrument,
as the fingerings get kind of tough to play the whole
thing together. Most of the time they are straight
quarter notes and therefore might help to clarify
the count in the TAB.

Of course we all know that TAB is for fingerings only
and is nearly worthless without the sheet music..or
an excellent understanding of the tune..but give it
a shot anyway.

So here we go with the first movement of "Spring"
from the Four Seasons.

tr = trill
tp = right hand tap
^ = hammer on or pull off


                    Spring
                                 - A. Vivaldi

Original guitar adaptation by Mike Livengood

Intro theme
1                       2
E-0--4-4-4-----7---7-5-]-4-4-4-----7---7-5-]
B-0--5-5-5-7-5-9-------]-5-5-5-7-5-9-------]
G----------------------]-------------------]
D----------------------]-------------------]
A-7--7---7-----7-7-----]-7---7-----7-7-----]
E----------------------]-------------------]

3
[-4--5^7^5----------]
[-5--5-----9-7------]
[------------8-8----]
[--------------9-9--]
[-7--7-----------9--]
[--------5-6-7------]

4                       5
[-0--4-4-4-----7---7-5-]-4-4-4-----7---7-5-]
[-0--5-5-5-7-5-9-------]-5-5-5-7-5-9-------]
[----------------------]-------------------]
[----------------------]-------------------]
[-7--7---7-----7-7-----]-7---7-----7-7-----]
[----------------------]-------------------]

6
[-4--5^7^5--------]
[-5--5-----9-7----]
[------------8----]
[-----------------]
[-7--7------------]
[--------5-6-7----]

Main theme
7                      8
[---7----------7-9--7--]---7----------7-9--7-]
[-9-9--10^9-10-9-10-9--]-9-9--10-9-10-9-10-9-]
[-9-----9---9----------]-9-----9---9---------]
[----------------------]---------------------]
[-7-7-------7----7----7]---7-------7----7---7]
[----------------------]---------------------]

9                      tr
[---9--7----5--4--2-0--2(4)--0--0----]
[-9-10-9----7--5-------4--------0----]
[-9-----------------------------1----]
[----------------------9--------2----]
[---7----7-----7----------------2----]
[-----------7-----0----------7--0----]

10                     11
[-0-7----------7-9--7--]-0-7----------7-9--7-]
[-0-9--10^9-10-9-10-9--]-0-9--10-9-10-9-10-9-]
[-------9---9----------]-------9---9---------]
[----------------------]---------------------]
[---7-------7----7----7]---7-------7-----7---]
[----------------------]---------------------]

12                     tr        tr   tr
[-0-9--7----5--4--2-0--2(4)--0--7(9)--7(9)-]
[-0-10-9----7--5-------4-------------------]
[------------------------------------------]
[----------------------9-------------------]
[---7----7-----7---------------------------]
[-----------7-----0----------7---0---------]

Measures 13-21 are meant to imitate birds
singing, so try to follow along with an
aviary in mind. Feel free to improvise.

13 tr          tr      tr          tr
[-7(9)----------------7(9)--------------]
[-----10-9-10-9(10)-------10-9-10-9(10)-]
[---------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------]

14    *             *
[-7-7-----------7-7---------]
[----10^9^7--------10^9^7---]
[-----------9-------------9-]
[---------------------------]
[---------------------------]

15 tr          tr      tr          tr
[-7(9)---------------7(9)-------------7-9-11-]
[-----10-9-10-9(10)------10-9-10-9(10)-------]
[--------------------------------------------]
[--------------------------------------------]
[--------------------------------------------]
[--------------------------------------------]

16                  17   *          *
[12-11-9------------]7-7--------7-7--------]
[-------12-10-9-----]---10^9^7-----10^9^7--]
[--------------11-9-]---------9----------9-]
[-------------------]----------------------]
[-------------------]----------------------]
[-------------------]----------------------]

18    *
[-7-7----------7-9-11-12-11-9------------]
[----10^9^7------------------12-10-9-----]
[-----------9-----------------------11-9-]
[----------------------------------------]
[----------------------------------------]
[----------------------------------------]

19           speed up >>>           tr
[----------------------------------------]
[-9--10^9--10^9--10^9--10^9--10^9--9(10)-]
[----------------------------------------]
[----------------------------------------]
[----------------------------------------]
[----------------------------------------]

20            21
[-7--7-12-7-9]7--7-12-7-9-7-12-7-9-7-12-7-9-7]
[------------]-------------------------------]
[------------]-------------------------------]
[------------]-------------------------------]
[------------]-------------------------------]
[------------]-------------------------------]

22                        tr
[-12-7-9-7-12-7-9--7--0--4(5)-]
[-----------------------------]
[-----------------------------]
[-----------------------------]
[-----------------------------]
[-----------------------------]
23
[--------------------------------------------]
[-0--0-5-0-2-0-5-0-2-0-5-0-2-0-5-0-2-0-5-0-2-]
[--------------------------------------------]
[--------------------------------------------]
[--------------------------------------------]
[--------------------------------------------]
      24
-----]---------------------------------------]
-0---]---------------------------------------]
-----]-----4--------4-----4-----4-----4------]
---2-]-2--2-2-4-2--2-2-4-2-2-4-2-2-4-2-2-4-2-]
-----]---------------------------------------]
-----]---------------------------------------]
25
[---------]  Repeat main theme from meas. 7-9
[---------]
[--4------]
[-2-2-4-2-]
[---------]
[---------]

This section represents flowing fountains,
so maintain a smooth legato feel. Play the
harmony with another instrument or just the
higher pitch line if playing on one guitar.

29
[-0-----------------------------]
[-0-----------------------------]
[-1-1^2^4^2^4^2^1^2^1^2^4^2^4^2-]
[-2-2^4^6^4^6^4^2^4^2^4^6^4^6^4-]
[-2-----------------------------]
[-0-----------------------------]

30
[---------------------------------]
[-------------------------0^2^0^2-]
[^1^2^1^2^4^2^4^2^1^2^1^2^1^2^1^2-]
[-2^4^2^4^6^4^6^4^2^4^2^4---------]
[-2-------------------------------]
[-0-------------------------------]

31
[---------------------------------]
[-4^5^4^5^7^5^7^5^4^5^4^5^7^5^7^5-]
[-4^6^4^6^8^6^8^6^4^6^4^6^8^6^8^6-]
[-4-------------------------------]
[-2-------------------------------]
[---------------------------------]

32
[------------------------------------]
[-4^5^4^5^7^9^7^9^10^9^10^9^7^10^9^7-]
[-4^6^4^6^8^9^8^9^11^9^11^9^8^11^9^8-]
[-4----------------1-----------------]
[-2----------------2-----------------]
[------------------------------------]

33
[---------------------------------]
[-9^7^5^--------------------------]
[-9^8^6-8^6^4^2^1^2^1^2^4^2^4^2---]
[-9-----9^7^6^4^2^4^2^4^2^4^2^4---]
[-7-------------------------------]
[---------------------------------]

34
[---------------------------------]
[-1^2^1^2^4^2^4^2^1^2^1^2^4^2^4^2-]
[-2^4^2^4^6^4^6^4^2^4^2^4^6^4^6^4-]
[-9-------------------------------]
[-7-------------------------------]
[---------------------------------]

35      Slow down
[-------4-----5-----------]
[-------------------------]
[-1-----------------------]
[-2--2--2--2--1--1--1--1--]
[--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2-]
[-------------------------]

36
[-4-----------2-----------]
[-------------------------]
[-------------------------]
[-2--2--2--2--4--4--4--4--]
[--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2-]
[-------------------------]

37
[-------4-----5-----------]
[-------------------------]
[-------------------------]
[-2--2--2--2--1--1--1--1--]
[--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2-]
[-------------------------]

38
[-------4-------]
[-------------7-]
[-1-----------8-]
[-2--2--2--2--9-]
[--2--2--2--2-2-]
[---------------]

Repeat main theme a 4th lower.
39                    40
[--------------------]--------------------]
[-4--7-------7-9-7---]-4--7-------7-9-7---]
[-4--8-9-8-9-8-9-8---]-4--7-------7-9-7---]
[--------------------]--------------------]
[--------------------]--------------------]
[-7--7-------7-7---7-]-7--7-------7-7---7-]

41                   tr
[---------------------------]
[-4---9-7---5-4-2-0--2(4)---]
[-4---9-7---6-4-------------]
[-------------9-------------]
[-----------9---7----9------]
[-----7---7---------------2-]

This section is thunder, so get out that
grunge sound. All notes are 32nd notes.

42 1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +
[----------------------------------]
[-0--------------------------------]
[----------------------------------]
[----------------------------------]
[---222222222222222222222222222222-]
[----------------------------------]

43 * (a blur of eight 32nd notes)
[-------0-2-4-5-7----------0-2-4-5-7-]
[-0-2-4--------------0-2-4-----------]
[------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------]

44
42 1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +
[----------------------------------]
[----------------------------------]
[----------------------------------]
[----------------------------------]
[222222222222222200000000000000000-]
[----------------------------------]

I have charted this virtuoso section (which
is supposed to represent lightening and rain)
to incorporate two-hand tapping because of the
speed with which it must be played.
But it doesn't have to be. Even though it
is fast, it has a distinct triplet feel
so don't lose count while you are playing.
(notes are 16th's)

43*     tp   tp        tp   tp
[-7^4^7-12^7-12--7^4^7-12^7-12-]
[------------------------------]
[------------------------------]
[------------------------------]
[------------------------------]
[-4----------------------------]

44*     tp   tp        tp   tp   tp
[-7^4^7-11^7-11--7^4^7-11^7-11----9----]
[--------------------------------------]
[--------------------------------------]
[--------------------------------------]
[--------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------5----]

45*     tp   tp        tp   tp
[-9^6^9-14^9-14--9^6^9-14^9-14-]
[------------------------------]
[------------------------------]
[------------------------------]
[------------------------------]
[-6----------------------------]

46*     tp   tp        tp   tp   tp
[-9^6^9-12^9-12--9^6^9-12^9-12----11----]
[---------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------------]
[---------------------------------7-----]

47*       tp    tp          tp    tp
[-11^8^11-16^11-16--11^8^11-16^11-16-]
[------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------]
[-8----------------------------------]

48*       tp    tp          tp    tp  tp
[-11^8^11-14^11-14--11^8^11-14^11-14--12----]
[-------------------------------------------]
[-------------------------------------------]
[-------------------------------------------]
[-------------------------------------------]
[--------------------------------------9----]

49*       tp    tp          tp    tp
[-12^9^12-16^12-16--12^9^12-16^12-16-]
[------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------]
[-9----------------------------------]

50*       tp    tp          tp    tp
[-11^7^11-16^11-16--11^7^11-16^11-16-]
[------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------]
[------------------------------------]
[-7----------------------------------]

51*     tp   tp        tp   tp
[-9^5^9-14^9-14--9^5^9-14^9-14-]
[------------------------------]
[------------------------------]
[------------------------------]
[------------------------------]
[-5----------------------------]

52*     tp   tp        tp   tp
[-7^4^7-12^7-12--7^4^7-12^7-12-]
[------------------------------]
[------------------------------]
[------------------------------]
[------------------------------]
[-4----------------------------]

53*     tp   tp        tp   tp
[-5^2^5-11^5-11--5^2^5-11^5-11-]
[------------------------------]
[------------------------------]
[------------------------------]
[------------------------------]
[-2----------------------------]

54*     tp  tp      tp  tp
[-4^0^4-9^4-9--4^0^4-9^4-9-]
[--------------------------]
[--------------------------]
[--------------------------]
[--------------4-----------]
[-0------------------------]

55*     tp  tp      tp  tp
[-4^-^4-9^4-9--4^-^4-9^4-9-]
[---4------------4---------]
[--------------------------]
[--------------------------]
[--------------------------]
[-4------------------------]

56*     tp  tp      tp  tp
[-4^-^4-8^4-8--4^-^4-8^4-8---9-]
[---4------------4-------------]
[------------------------------]
[------------------------------]
[----------------------------4-]
[-4----------------------------]

Main theme again a 3rd lower than at first.

57                    58
[----4-------4-5-4---]----4-------4-5-4---]
[-5--5-7-5-7-5-7-5---]-5--5-7-5-7-5-7-5---]
[-6--------8---------]-6--------8---------]
[--------------------]--------------------]
[--------------------]--------------------]
[-9--9-----9---9---9-]-9--9-----9---9---9-]

59                   tr
[-4-5-4---2--0--------------4-]
[-5-7-5---4--2--4-2-4(5)-2--5-]
[---------------------------6-]
[---------------11----------6-]
[------------11--------11---4-]
[---9-----9---------9-----4---]

This covers the first main section of the tune.
If anyone puts in the time to learn it, great!
Any questions or clarifications will gladly
be addressed promptly.

"If it's not Baroque...don't fix it."


A. Vivaldi: The Four Seasons/ Spring
violin solo arr. for guitar

|-7---7-12-7-12-|----|-7---7-11-7-11-|----..-9---|
|---9-----------|----|---9-----------|-----------|
|---------------|-0/-|---------------|-0/--------|
|---------------|-/0-|---------------|-/0--------|
|---------------|----|---------------|-----------|
|---------------|----|---------------|-----------|

|-9----9-14-9-14-|----|-9----9-12-9-12-|----..-11---|
|---11-----------|----|---11-----------|------------|
|----------------|-0/-|----------------|-0/---------|
|----------------|-/0-|----------------|-/0---------|
|----------------|----|----------------|------------|
|----------------|----|----------------|------------|

|-11----11-16-11-16-|----|-11----11-14-11-14-|---..-12---|
|----13-------------|----|----13-------------|-----------|
|-------------------|-0/-|-------------------|-0/--------|
|-------------------|-/0-|-------------------|-/0--------|
|-------------------|----|-------------------|-----------|
|-------------------|----|-------------------|-----------|

|-12----12-16-12-16-|----|-11----11-16-11-16-|----|-9----9-14-9-14-|----|
|----14-------------|----|----12-------------|----|---10-----------|----|
|-------------------|-0/-|-------------------|-0/-|----------------|-0/-|
|-------------------|-/0-|-------------------|-/0-|----------------|-/0-|
|-------------------|----|-------------------|----|----------------|----|
|-------------------|----|-------------------|----|----------------|----|

|-7---7-12-7-12-|----|---------11----11-|----|-------9---9-|----|
|---9-----------|----|-10-7-10----10----|----|-9-7-9---9---|----|
|---------------|-0/-|------------------|-0/-|-------------|-0/-|
|---------------|-/0-|------------------|-/0-|-------------|-/0-|
|---------------|----|------------------|----|-------------|----|
|---------------|----|------------------|----|-------------|----|

|-------9---9-|----|-------8---8-|---..-9---|
|-9---9---9---|----|-9---9---9---|----------|
|---8---------|-0/-|---8---------|-0/-------|
|-------------|-/0-|-------------|-/0-------|
|-------------|----|-------------|----------|      0/
|-------------|----|-------------|----------|      /0 : repeat last bar
arranged by Pinter Denes
(dpinter@eik.bme.hu)