Paul Gilbert Down to Mexico Guitar Tab and Video
Regulars will know I am back into playing the guitar - fully up to speed now after an absence of a few years. Practising several hours a day - things like this
How to Play Paul Gilbert’s Down to Mexico
I love this track, really quirky but very effective video as well.
It’s worth giving it a couple of goes, it will grow on you even if it’s not your usual type of music
Paul Gilbert is responsible for more than a few shred based headaches at the moment but I’m getting there.
One benefit of learning some of Paul’s runs and scale patterns is that the Yngwie Malmsteen stuff is suddenly easier for me to play - guess I’m more used to that neo-classical style.
You can check out both guitarists on YouTube and I heartily recommend you do - you should also get a guitar and start playing - you know it makes sense.
On a separate note I am still waiting on the legendary fret melter to become my friend as previously blogged here
Anyway, we highly recommend Paul Gilbert to all fans of the guitar and particularly terrifying shred guitar
Here is the video to give you the idea and the guitar tablature-music is below
Down to Mexico Guitar Tab
The basic intro riff and theme to the song is tabbed out below. I play it slightly differently but the basic idea for you to work around is there. As there is a rhythmic swing to the song it is important to concentrate on the feel rather than an exact rendition of the notes.
I add quite a few little fills and additions, not that I have the temerity to think I can improve on what Paul has done but it lends itself to it and if not playing in a band the fills make up for the lack of bass and drums.
Let me know how you get on or if you have any problems with the tab
E————————————|
B————————————|
G-7^-7^-7p5—7^-7^-7p5——–5—–|
D————-7————-7–5-7—7—|
A———————————-0-|
E————————————|
E———————————————-|
B——————————————–8-|
G-7^-7^-7p5—7^-7^-7p5——–5—–5—–5-8-|
D————-7————-7——5—–5—–5—|
A————————–5/7—5/7—5/7—–|
E———————————————-|
E————————————|
B————————————|
G-7^-7^-7p5—7^-7^-7p5——–5—–|
D————-7————-7–5-7—7—|
A———————————-0-|
E————————————|
E——————————————————-|
B——-12-14——-12-14——-12-14-13-13————-|
G-12-14——-12-14——-12-14————-14-12—-14-|
D————————————————-14—-|
A——————————————————-|
E——————————————————-|
E—————————————————|
B———————————-1—————-|
G———5—–5-x-x-7———0–2–7^-7^-7p5—–|
D-5-7-x-x—7-5-5-x-x-7–7-5-7–0–0————7-5-|
A——————————-3——————-|
E—————————————————|
Happy Shredding
Rod
Little Brother said,
September 19, 2007 @ 11:32 pm
Rod,
Awesome! reminds me of seeing Joe Satriani’s video to ‘Big, Bad Moon’ all those years ago. Now there’s a track.
Thanks for the tab, I hope it gets the audience it deserves.
Rock on dude!
LB
ps Who’s the amigo with the huge accoustic? he rocks!
Rod said,
September 20, 2007 @ 8:32 am
LB
pleased you like it, you’re right about it beng in a similar vein to the Satch track, intro chords E, G and A if anyone wants them.
Witches of Eastwick said,
September 20, 2007 @ 9:31 am
Rod,
We managed it no problem - on the back of a tuperware tub of course to introduce a little individuality. What we were particularly drawn to was his poncho … we can see you and LB in one of those for your autumnal collection, not the hat though, that stays in Mexico where it can blend into the crowds.
Shredding? At first glance I had to agree but now I’m not so sure…
WoE
Jordan said,
September 20, 2007 @ 9:32 am
RC
Do you have any tab for The Shadows?
Jordan
Rod said,
September 20, 2007 @ 12:10 pm
WoE
I knew you’d master it in a flash !
As to shred for those wondering what shred guitar is …
Listen to Paul playing on the video intro, the parts betwwen the Mexican band are pretty good example of shred guitar.
The 3rd one he does just before it goes into the ’song proper’ could be regarded as a dictionary description of the term !
Rod said,
September 20, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
Jordan
When I master it I shall certainly bring it to this site as a masterclass in guitar playing
I’m still wrestling with apache !
Hank’s at full shred on that one
Best
RC
Jordan said,
September 20, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
RC
You could learn a lot from Hank.
Jordan
Witches of Eastwick said,
September 20, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
Rod,
Is it really necessary to look as though you’ve been stung by a bee at the end of each shred? You must bring your ’shredding’ machine with you and play us a number … doesn’t matter what, we won’t be able to tell anyway.
In conclusion then, great gear, loved all that … he certainly looked at total ease with his guitar as if it were part of him, that must be vital to pull the whole thing off. So to get you up to that standard we must glue some fringing onto your instrument and get you some appropriate gear … and we don’t mean just a neatly laundered Motorhead t-shirt, no it’s got to be more inventive than that … and while you’re at it, get us one of those ponchos.
WoE
p.s. a good many rock guitarists seem to have your build … why we wonder? A guitar slung round the witches just wouldn’t look the same, that’s probably why we haven’t gone into it professionally
Rod said,
September 20, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
WoE
he certainly looked at total ease with his guitar as if it were part of him, that must be vital to pull the whole thing of
You’ve hit the nail on the head, if you listen to the aforementioned solo pieces in the introduction he makes it looks fairly easy to the ‘outside’ eye - but you would not believe how difficult it is or how much practice is required !
You’re also right about the build of guitar heros - they’re all skinny.
You don’t see fat guitar heroes - don’t know why.
In fact rock stars as a whole tend to go that way - many make me look fat as they come in at 26 inch waists !
Perhaps if I’d been playing this lunch time instead of being in Macdonalds I too could have been a contender
Jordan said,
September 20, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
RC & WoE
“Guitar heros - they’re all skinny”
Reason: Lots of, Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll ! Amen to that!
Jordan
Little Brother said,
September 20, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
Rod,
Don’t talk to me about skinny, I’m off to train with Mr.Great Britain this afternoon, he’s ten stone heavier than me!
Not sure I’m looking forward to this.
LB