"Vermillion, pt. 2"
Slipknot
[as heard by me, Whispers ( VVhispers@gmail.com )]
Tuned down one half step: Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb
Intro/Verse/Outro are in Common (4/4) Time.
Rest of song is in Waltz (3/4 or - in this case - 6/8) timing.
*All keys sound one half step lower than written due to tuning*
Intro/Verse/Outro in key of Am (Relative to C)
Pre-chorus in key of Dm (Relative to F)
Chorus/Interlude/Bridge in key of Cm (Relative to Eb)
This is notated for one guitar. Although it is played on two, the only difference with
it on one is a weaker melody line since you're strumming
instead of plucking.
Theory junkies will be able to pick out the two guitar parts from this transcription (hopefully).
Chord shapes used (listed in order of appearance for your convenience) - Finger
appear below their respective chord:
*All chords sound one half step lower than written due to tuning*
Am C Em6 |Bb | Ebsus4 Dsus4 Cm(b6) C5 D5 Eb5 Ab5 |Bb5| |B5 | Gm Csus2 Dsus2
Eb|(0)(0)(0)---(6)---4------3-----4------------------------------(3)-(3)---(5)-----|Eb
Bb|-1--1--1---3(6)---4------3-----4-------------------------------3---3-----5------|Bb
Gb|-2--0--0---3-7----3------2-----0----5--7---8-------3-----4-----3---5-----7------|Gb
Db|-2--2--2---0-8----1------0-----1----5--7---8---6---3-8---4-9---5---5-----7------|Db
Ab|-0--3--2---1-8-----------------3----3--5---6---6---1-8---2-9---5---3-----5------|Ab
Eb|------(0)----6---------------------------------4-----6-----7---3----------------|Eb
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Eb:(0)(0)(0)~~x(1)~~~4~~~~~~4~~~~~4~~~~x~~x~~~x~~~x~~~x~x~~~x~x~~(1)~(1)~~~(1)~:Eb
Bb:~1~~1~~1~~~4(1)~~~3~~~~~~3~~~~~3~~~~x~~x~~~x~~~x~~~x~x~~~x~x~~~1~~~1~~~~~1~~:Bb
Gb:~3~~0~~0~~~3~2~~~~2~~~~~~2~~~~~0~~~~4~~4~~~4~~~x~~~4~x~~~4~x~~~1~~~4~~~~~4~~:Gb
Db:~2~~2~~2~~~0~4~~~~1~~~~~~0~~~~~1~~~~3~~3~~~3~~~4~~~3~4~~~3~4~~~4~~~3~~~~~3~~:Db
Ab:~0~~3~~3~~~1~3~~~~x~~~~~~x~~~~~2~~~~1~~1~~~1~~~3~~~1~3~~~1~3~~~3~~~1~~~~~1~~:Ab
Eb:~x~~x~(0)~~x~1~~~~x~~~~~~x~~~~~x~~~~x~~x~~~x~~~1~~~x~1~~~x~1~~~1~~~x~~~~~x~~:Eb
Chord names and positionings for verse/outro motif (if played on one guitar):
Am Am7 Am+
Eb|-(0)-(0)-(0)-----|Eb
Bb|--1---1---1------|Bb
Gb|--2---4---2------|Gb
Db|--2---2---3------|Db
Ab|--0---0---0------|Ab
Eb|-----------------|Eb
| | | \
Eb:~(0)~(0)~(0)~(0)~:Eb
Bb:~~1~~~1~~~1~~~1~~:Bb
Gb:~~3~~~4~~~2~~~2~~:Gb
Db:~~2~~~2~~~3~~~4~~:Db
Ab:~~0~~~0~~~0~~~0~~:Ab
Eb:~~x~~~x~~~x~~~x~~:Eb
*Note the two possible fingering positions for the augmented A minor (Notated below as
and Am+ii respectively).
The first is more easily achieved the first time the chord is played and vice versa.*
Legend:
^ --- Hammer-on/Pull-off
/.\ - Fermata (Hold until natural fade)
Now the fun part!
*Rhythm is notated above each section with Upstrokes(^) and Downstrokes (v)
It's as close as possible and my own rendition. Listen to the song if it's not
good enough for you.*
VERSE:
*Guitar 1 plays the chord shapes above the following transcription for Guitar 2*
*If played on one guitar, use the above chord forms (in parenthesis below) and no
to simulate the motif*
[ Tab from: http://www.guitaretab.com/s/slipknot/215680.html ]
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^
(Am+ii)
Am (Am7) (Am+i)(Am) (Am) C Em6
Eb|----------------------------------------------------------------------|Eb
Bb|----------------------------------------------------------------------|Bb
Gb|--2-----4-------------------------------------------------------------|Gb
Db|--------------3-----2-----2^3^2---------------------------------------|Db
Ab|--------------------------------0^3---------------3^2-----------------|Ab
Eb|----------------------------------------------------------------------|Eb
Pre-Chorus:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
v v ^ v ^ v v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^
Bb x2
C x2
Chorus:
1 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 3 &
v v ^ v ^ v v ^ v ^
Ebsus4 Dsus4
Cm(b6) Dsus4 (Repeat this four-chord progression three times)
1 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 3 &
v v ^ v ^ v v ^ v ^
Ebsus4 Dsus4
Interlude:
1 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 3 &
v v ^ v ^ v v ^ v ^ v v ^ v ^ v v ^ v ^
C5 D5 Eb5 Ab5 Bb5
1 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 3 &
v v ^ v ^ v v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^
D5 C5 B5 C5
Bridge:
1 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 3 &
v v ^ v ^ v v ^ v ^ v v ^ v ^
Gm Csus2
1 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 3 &
v v ^ v ^ v v ^ v ^ v v ^ v ^ v v ^ v ^
Gm Dsus2 Csus2 x2
Outroduction:
[Rhythm figure 1]
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
v v ^ v ^ v v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^
Am
C x2
Verse Rhythm Figure x4
Rhythm Figure 1 x2
Ending:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
/.\
Eb|--5-----7-----------------------------|Eb
Bb|--------------6-----5-----------------|Bb
Gb|--------------------------------------|Gb
Db|--------------------------------------|Db
Ab|--------------------------------------|Ab
Eb|--------------------------------------|Eb
Technicalities:
This was completely done by ear. It is most likely not 100% accurate but it is 100%
correct as far as my ears tell me.
If the chord shapes prove cumbersome, there is no problem with substitutions (say, the
power chords, or just major/minors [Stay in key, kids!]).
The rhythm is rather tough. Keep the pendullum effect (moving the strumming hand up and
at a constant rate) going and listen to the song, strumming
muted strings to get the rhythm.
There are three main rhythms, if you notice. The first is steady eighth notes, the
follows 3/4 time but adds two beats of tied eigthths to keep
it common (see pre-chorus and outro), the third follows the same principle as the
but with a continuous feel of the waltz (see Chorus and
bridge).
Hopefully, that will help in establishing what is really not a complex rhythm once you find it.
Since most - if not all - the theory from the song is herein, feel free to expand upon
This is the way I play along to the studio version, but in
solo I continue the Am-C progression through the outro instead of the Verse rhythm
(You can throw the Em6 in there for plagal cadence if you
feel so inclined), and when I feel broodish I fingerpick it (Quite a task and treat when
the melody).
Have fun with it, it's a great song which is open to infinite interpretation.
-k-
