#This file is the author’s own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#——————————————————————————##
From: [email protected] (Roisin Ryan)
Motorcycle Emptiness
by
the Manic Street Preachers
(music James Dean Bradfield)
transcribed by Matt Bennett
5/7/94
Riff 1 x x x x x x Riff 2
—–|————-|————————————–|——-
—–|————-|-2h4-4-4-4h6-6-6-6h8-8-8-8h9/11——-|——-
—–|————-|————————————–|——-
-9^9-|-7h9p7h9-9^9-|——————————–13^13-|-11h13p
—–|————-|————————————–|——-
—–|————-|————————————–|——-
twice twice
x x x x x x Riff 3
————|———————————-|——-|———–
————|-2h4-4-4-4h6-6-6-6h8-8-8-8h9/11-8-|——-|———–
————|———————————-|-12^12-|-12h14p12–
11h13-13^13-|———————————-|——-|———–
————|———————————-|——-|———–
————|———————————-|——-|———–
twice
———-|
———-|
h14-12^12-| ascending run as above
———-|
———-|
———-|
INTRO and FIRST verse
Riff 1 Riff 2 Riff 3
SECOND verse
Riff 1 Riff 3 Riff 2
CHORUS consists of simple chord progression based on E major
SOLO
—————————-|————————————
-12-(12)^12–9—9-12-15^15-|-14-(14)^14–12-10-10^10———-12
—————9————|————————-11-11/13—
—————————-|————————————
—————————-|————————————
—————————-|————————————
=
————————-/–15———————————-
-12-(12)^12–9—9-12–15——–15—–trill-section————
—————9————————————————-
—————————————————————–
—————————————————————–
—————————————————————–
OUTRO
—-|————-|———————————————-
-12-|-12p10——-|———————————————-
—-|——-13-11-|-13-12^12–13-^-13-11h13p11h13-13^13———-
—-|————-|———————————————-
—-|————-|———————————————-
—-|————-|———————————————-
x6
——————–|—————–10-10^10-p8h10p8–8h10p8h10
——————–|-/10-12p10h12p10—————————-
—9-6-9–9/11^11-9-|——————————————–
-9——————|——————————————–
——————–|——————————————–
——————–|——————————————–
-10^10-|——————–|————-|
——-|–11-(11)———–|————-|
——-|–11^-9———-9–|——9-9—-|
——-|————9h11—-|-9h11——–|
——-|——————–|————-|
——-|——————–|————-|
repeat over and over
NOTES: I transcribed this using a classical guitar, and
consequently had some problems with the fast, high neck section
at the end of the solo. It’s just a matter of getting the
rhythm, so as soon as i get hold of my electric i’ll complete
this part and send it in.
When i’ve seen this played live, James doesn’t mute the
notes on the ascending part of the main riff. I actually think
it sounds better that way.
At a gig in Bournemouth a couple of years ago, i saw
Richey play the opening couple of bars of this song. Curious
because he was famed for just standing there pouting, and
playing air-guitar to a backing tape. Anyone know what his
playing is like these days?
TAB guide:
9^9 bend up one whole step and return
/
10 bend up one whole step
=
/
10 bend up one half step
9/11 slide from ninth to eleventh
x play noted ‘palm-muted’
Reach me on temporary email – [email protected]
