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Green Earrings by Steely Dan
Green Earrings
All chord shapes given at the end.
/ = slide
h = hammer on
p = pull off
b = bend
r = release bend
vib = vibrato
Intro
------
Riff: (played over A7sus4)
E-------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------
D----------------------------7----5---------
A---7-9-10---9-7-9---7-5---7----5-------5---
E-------------------------------------8-----
then
B/E A/D A/D G/C B/E A/D A/D G/C
VERSE 1:
--------
The main riff uses a "chord" made up of 3 notes, built by stacking
up two intervals of a fourth. This chord/triad is played three times
in each bar, and the shape is moved down a semitone (one fret)
for the second strum, then back up for the third. You need to play
the first two chords staccato (no sustain), but leave the third to
sustain.
This basic pattern is used throughout the verse, with the position of
the "triad of fourths" moving up and down the neck. On the original,
this part is played by guitar and doubled on the clavinet.
I've written a m11 chord (in brackets) above the tab to indicate the
overall harmony for the parts of the verse that use this "triad of
fourths", but I havn't changed the chord name for each down/up shift
of a semitone as that would have made the tab too cluttered.
Note that for the other chord changes, the chord names again reflect the
overall harmony, and not only what the rhythm guitar plays.
There's a short 5-note riff that comes in during the verse in a couple
of places. This riff is:
E-------------------------
B-------------------------
G-------------------------
D----8-9-10-----7---------
A------------7------------
E-------------------------
It's played by the guitar and bass - I've indicated where it comes
with [Riff] at the appropriate place in the lyrics.
Main riff:
----------
(Am11)
E---8-7-8------8-7-8-----8-7-8------8-7-8---
B---8-7-8------8-7-8-----8-7-8------8-7-8---
G---7-6-7------7-6-7-----7-6-7------7-6-7---
D-------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------
(Am11)
E---8-7-8--------8-7-8-------8-7-8--------8-7-8---
B---8-7-8--------8-7-8-------8-7-8--------8-7-8---
G---7-6-7--------7-6-7-------7-6-7--------7-6-7---
D-------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------
Cold, daring [Riff] no flies on me
(Am11)
E---8-7-8--------8-7-8---------8-7-8---------8-7-8---
B---8-7-8--------8-7-8---------8-7-8---------8-7-8---
G---7-6-7--------7-6-7---------7-6-7---------7-6-7---
D----------------------------------------------------
A----------------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------------
Sorry, angel [Riff] I must take what I see
(Gm11) (Am11)
E------------6-5-6----------8-7-8---------
B------------6-5-6----------8-7-8---------
G------------5-4-5----------7-6-7---------
D-----------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------
Green Earrings I remember
Gm7 Am7 Gbsus2/Bb Bm7 (Bm11)
E------6----8------9--------9---10--10-9-10---
B------6----8------9--------9---10--10-9-10---
G------5----7------8--------8---9---9--8-9----
D---------------------------------------------
A---------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------
The rings of rare de-sign
(Cm11) A/B G/A
E--------11-10-11--------9------------7-------
B--------11-10-11--------10-----------8-------
G--------10-9--10--------9------------7-------
D------------------------9------------7-------
A---------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------
I remember that look in your eye
(Am11)
E----------8-7-8------8-7-8-----8-7-8----
B----------8-7-8------8-7-8-----8-7-8----
G----------7-6-7------7-6-7-----7-6-7----
D----------------------------------------
A----------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------
I don't mind
B/E A/D A/D G/C B/E A/D A/D G/C
VERSE 2:
--------
As above - except the rhythm guitar varies the main riff:
E--8--7--8---11-12-----8--7--8---7-8--x-x--8--7--8---11-12----8-7-8-
B--8--7--8---9--10-----8--7--8---7-8--x-x--8--7--8---9--10----8-7-8-
G--7--6--7---11-12-----7--6--7---6-7--x-x--7--6--7---11-12----7-6-7-
D-------------------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------
Use this idea throughout the verse, with ad lib rhythmic variations.
(The 5-note riff is played only by the bass in this verse, except for
the one right at the end, after "I don't mind", which is played by bass
and guitar)
(Am11)
Greek medallion [Riff] sparkles when you smile
(Am11)
Sorry angel [Riff] I get hungry like a child
(Gm11) (Am11)
Green Earrings, I remember
Gm7 Am7 Gbsus2/Bb Bm7 (Bm11)
The rings of rare design
(Cm11) A/B G/A
I remember that look in your eye
(Am11)
I don't mind, I don't mind [Riff]
INSTRUMENTAL:
--------------
I've written out some of the great rhythm guitar playing separately
for this instrumental section. The line of tab above the chords is
the melody line (lead guitar), and the tab below the chords is the
rhythm guitar part. For this rhythm part, let the notes ring and
sustain as long as possible as the different chords are spelled out.
The chord names are based mainly on the clavinet part and give the
"overall" harmony. For the Bm7 chords you could try a Bm9 shape
(e.g 797779 or 7 9 7 7 10 9) as an alternative.
E-------------5--------------------------------5--------------
B--7------------6-5------------7-----------------6-5----------
G-------------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------
Bm7 F#m9 Bm7 Aadd2
E------------9-----------4-------------------9------------0---
B--------9h10---------4h5--5-------9h10p9h10--10----------0---
G-------9------------4------------9---------------------2-----
D----12------------7----------(12)--------------------2-------
A--9-------------4-------------9--------------------0---------
E-------------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------
B--5-------------------8-6---------4-3---4---3-------4b5-
G--------------------5-----------------5----------3------
D------------------7-------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------
Dm9 Cm9 Bbmaj7 Ebmaj7 Aadd2
E------------12-12-----------------------------------------
B------12h13-------13-----------8---------------------0----
G------12-------------12------------------------------2----
D----15-----------------------8---8------7---5--------2----
A--12-----------------------6------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------------------
The last note of the lead guitar part (melody line) is bent up
very slowly.
(short drum break for a bar or so)
First Guitar Solo:
-------------------
This is another great solo by Denny Dias. To keep the runs sounding
fluid you have to use all your fingers - the fourth finger in particular
is used a lot (the first slide should be played with the 4th finger).
Fm9
E---12/11--8p7-10--6--8---6--6--6/8\6---6------------------------------
B--x--------------------9-------------8---8--6--6/8----6------------6--
G-x------------------------------------------------------7---5--7-8----
D----------------------------------------------------------8-----------
A----------------------------------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bb/Eb Ebm9
E-------6-8-7-6---10-8-6---6----------------------------6/8--6------
B---7-8---------8--------8---6-8-7-6--6----------6--9-6--------x----
G----------------------------------------6--------------------------
D-------------------------------------------8-----------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ab/Db E/F#
E---6/4-----------4-----------------------------4-4/6---------------
B--------4--4h5h6---4---------------------4-5-7-------7-9--9-9/11---
G----------------------6-5------3-4-6---6---------------------------
D--------------------------6----------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------
F/G
E--------------------------9----8/10--8--10-----8p7-------5--------
B--11/12--12-12/14--12--12------------------10-------8-------6-----
G------------------------------------------------------9-------7---
D------------------------------------------------------------------
A------------------------------------------------------------------
E------------------------------------------------------------------
E---3-------1-------3----5--
B------5-------3-------5----
G--------5-------3----------
D---------------------------
A---------------------------
E---------------------------
B/E A/D A/D G/C B/E A/D A/D G/C
Second Guitar Solo:
--------------------
The 2nd guitar solo is played over the main riff (Am11).
The rhythm guitar uses the same patterns as Verse 2.
(Am11)
E--------------------5-------------------------------------------
B--------------------5-------------------------------------------
G----------------5---7b8r7p5------5--------------------5--------
D-----5-5--5-7-7--------------7-7---7-5h7-7p5--7-7-5-7----5-7---
A-5h7-----------------------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------
B----------------8---------------------8-8-8---
G------------7s9-------------------7s9---------
D----7-7-7-7-----------7-7-7-7-7-7-------------
A----------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------
^^^^^^^^^
There are actually a lot more notes here than
I've written out, so just repeat the note very
fast (listen to the original to get the idea).
(Am11)
E-------------------------------------------------------
B-----------------8-8-8-8--7-5-7p5----------------------
G-------------7s9-------------------7-5-7p5-------------
D---7-7-7-7-7--------------------------------7p5-7-7p5--
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
(Am11)
E-----5--5vib----------------------------------5----5----3------
B----x--------8-7-8vib---5-5vib---------------------------------
G---x---------------------------7-5vib--------------------------
D--x-----------------------------------7--5--7---7----7----5----
A---------------------------------------------------------------
E------------------------------------------------------------3--
After the solo, the song returns to the verse at the point where
the main riff moves down to Gm11:
(Gm11) (Am11)
Green Earrings, I remember
Gm7 Am7 Gbsus2/Bb Bm7 (Bm11)
The rings of rare design
(Cm11) A/B G/A
I remember that look in your eye
(Am11)
I don't mind, I don't mind
B/E A/D A/D G/C B/E A/D A/D G/C
Outtro:
--------
Repeat the main riff over an A bass and fade.
Chord Shapes:
--------------
Just to make typing easier, a=10, b=11
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
x0778x x79877 x57655 x35433
A7sus4 B/E A/D G/C
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
3xx331 5xx553 6xx674 7xx775
Gm7 Am7 Gbsus2/Bb Bm7
The shapes above work well for "rings of rare design" line,
but you might find them a bit awkward to play. I think they
echo the sound of the vocal harmonies nicely, but you can try
the following shapes for something a bit easier:
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
3x333x 5x555x 6x667x 7x777x
Gm7 Am7 Gbsus2/Bb Bm7
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
xx99a9 xx7787 7x7777 x9799x x5355x x3133x
A/B G/A Bm7 F#m9 Dm9 Cm9
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
x0965x 6x776x x6878x x0242x x8688x x68766
Aadd2 Bbmaj7 Ebmaj7 Aadd2(II) Fm9 Ab/Eb
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
For a smoother change between these
two chords, leave off the top note.
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
x6466x x46544 2x2100 3x321x
Ebm9 Ab/Db E/F# F/G
----------------