Bat Chain Puller by Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band from the album "Shiney Beast (Bat Chain Puller)" (1978) Transcribed by Gut Suitman Tuning: in this version, I guess both guitars are tuned in D (DADF#AD). But.... I have a different opinion on the original 1976 version. See the "Special Notes" at the end of this transcription. 1---*---2---*---3---*---4---*---- [R] D|---------------------------------- A|---------------------------------- F#---------------------------------- D|---------------------------------- A|---------------------------------- D|-12-----\10------10-/12--10-/12--- - after "Bat chain... Puller... bat chain puller" 1---*---2---*---3---*---4---*---- [R1] D|---------------------------------- x4 A|---------------------------------- F#---------------------------------- D|-5---5---5---5---7-------3-------- A|---------------------------------- D|-5---5---5---5---7-------3-------- [R2] D|---------------------------------- x4 A|-5---------------------5---------- F#-----5---------------5------------ D|---------5-------5---------------- A|---------------------------------- D|---------------------------------- [L] D|---------------------------------- x8 A|---------------------------------- F#---------------------------------- D|-0-------0-----------0-------0---- A|---2-------2-------2-------2------ D|-----5-------5---5-------5-------- - Repeat 3 times [R] D|----------------------------|---------------------------- A|----------------------------|---------------------------- F#----------------------------|------------------------20-- D|-/19---17-14-/19-19-17--21--|-/19---17-14-/19-19-17------ A|----------------------------|---------------------------- D|----------------------------|---------------------------- [L] D|----------------------------|---------------------------- A|----------------------------|---------------------------- F#----------------------------|---------------------------- D|-/7----5--2--/7--7--5---9---|-/7----5--2--/7--7--5---8--- A|----------------------------|---------------------------- D|----------------------------|---------------------------- [R] D|----------------------------|---------------------------- A|----------------------------|---------------------------- F#----------------------------|---------------------------- D|-/19---17-14-/19-19-17--21--|-/19---17-14-/19--17-------- A|----------------------------|--------------------17--17-- D|----------------------------|---------------------------- [L] D|----------------------------|---------------------------- A|----------------------------|---------------------------- F#----------------------------|---------------------------- D|-/7----5--2--/7--7--5---9---|-/7----5--2--/7---5-0---0--- A|----------------------------|---------------------------- D|----------------------------|---------------------------- [R] D|-----|------------------------ A|-----|------------------------ F#-----|------------------------ D|-----|------------------------ A|-----|------------------------ D|-12--|-11-12-11-12-11-12-9---- [L] D|-----|------------------------ A|-----|------------------------ F#-----|------------------------ D|-12--|-11-12-11-12-11-12-9---- A|-----|------------------------ D|-----|------------------------ [R] D|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- x2 A|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- F#-----|------------------------|---------------------------- D|-/21-|-/21--19-17-/21-----/21-|-/21-21-21----19---17------- A|-----|------------------------|----------------------17---- D|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- [L] D|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- x2 A|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- F#-----|------------------------|---------------------------- D|-/9--|-/9---7--5--/9------/9--|-/9--9--9-----7----5--0----- A|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- D|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- [R] D|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- x2 A|--17-|--17---------20------17-|--17-17-17------------20---- F#--17-|--17--17-17----------17-|--17-17-17----17---17------- D|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- A|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- D|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- [L] D|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- x2 A|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- F#-----|------------------------|---------------------------- D|-/12-|-/12--10-9-/12------/12-|-/12-12-12----10---9-/12---- A|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- D|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- Then, repeat => => . - after "This train with a grey tube..." * In order to play this section easily, you should take a slide bar off. (Maybe some of you can play it with a slide bar on.... but I can't.) * Basically, each set of phrases starts with Bb. * Both guitar play the same line in unison for the most part. In this studio version, however, the left guitar plays different notes a few times. Although I transcribed those "left-only" notes as well, I think you can ignore them since this section was simply played in unison in later live versions. [1] D|--------------------------------------------------------- A|-----8--8------------------------------------------------ F#--------------9-7---10p9p7------------------------------- D|-----8--8------------------------------------------------ A|----------------------------8---------------------------- D|--8------------------------------------------------------ [2] D|--------------------------------------------------------- A|-----8--8------------------------------------------------ F#--------------9-7------7--------------------------------- D|-----8--8-----------8------------------------------------ A|----------------------------7---------------------------- D|--8------------------------------------------------------ [3] D|--------------------------------------------------------- A|-----8--8------------------------------------------------ F#--------------9-7---10p9p7-7---7------------------------- D|-----8--8------------------------------------------------ A|-----------------------------9--------------------------- D|--8------------------------------------------------------ [4] D|--------------------------------------------------------- A|-----8--8------------------------------------------------ F#--------------9-7---10p9p7--9---------------------------- D|-----8--8----------------------9------------------------- A|--------------------------------------------------------- D|--8------------------------------------------------------ [5] D|--------------------------------------------------------- A|-----8--8-------------------9---------------------------- F#--------------9-7---10p9p7------------------------------- D|-----8--8------------------------------------------------ A|-------------------------------9------------------------- D|--8------------------------------------------------------ [6] D|--------------------------------------------------------- A|-----8--8-------------8---------------------------------- F#--------------10p9p7-----7---7--------------------------- D|-----8--8------------------------------------------------ A|---------------------------9----------------------------- D|--8------------------------------------------------------ [L6] D|--------------------------------------------------------- Left A|-----8--8------------------------------------------------ only F#--------------9h10p9p7-7-7---7--------------------------- D|-----8--8------------------------------------------------ A|---------------------------9----------------------------- D|--8------------------------------------------------------ [7] D|--------------------------------------------------------- A|----8-----8--8------------------------------------------- F#-------------------9-7---10p9p7--9----------------------- D|----8-----8--8-----------------------8------------------- A|--------------------------------------------------------- D|-------8------------------------------------------------- [8] D|--------------------------------------------------------- A|-----8--8---------------------------8-------------------- F#--------------9-7---10p9p7--9---------------------------- D|-----8--8-----------------------8------------------------ A|--------------------------------------------------------- D|--8------------------------------------------------------ [9] D|--------------------------------------------------------- A|-----8--8------------------------------------------------ F#--------------9-7---10p9p7------7------------------------ D|-----8--8------------------------------------------------ A|----------------------------9---------------------------- D|--8------------------------------------------------------ [L9] D|--------------------------------------------------------- Left A|-----8--8-----------8------------------------------------ only F#--------------9-7-------7-------7------------------------ D|-----8--8------------------------------------------------ A|----------------------------9---------------------------- D|--8------------------------------------------------------ [10] D|--------------------------------------------------------- A|-----8--8-----8----------------------------8--8---------- F#--------------------11-----11-----11--------------------- D|-----8--8-----8----------------------------8--8---------- A|--------------------11-----9------11--------------------- D|--8----------------------------------------8--8---------- Then, play the section again. While the right guitar keeps playing , the left guitar is going into a sort of solo.... *--|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4---*----|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4--- [L1] D|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- x2 A|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- F#----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- D|-0--|/5---5-5-8-5-3--------------------|----------------------------- A|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- D|----|-----------------------------0----|/8---8-8-7-5-3--------------- *--|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4--- [L2] D|----|----------------------------- x2 A|----|----------------------------- F#----|----------------------------- D|-0--|/8-------7\5---5---3/5------- A|----|----------------------------- D|-0--|/8-------7\5---5---3/5------- *--|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4---*----|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4--- [L3] D|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- A|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- F#----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- D|-0--|/8-------8\7\5/10----8\7-8\7-5----|/5-------5--/5--------------- A|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- D|-0--|/8-------8\7\5/10----8\7-8\7-5----|/5-------5--/5--------------- Repeat [L2] x1 and [L3] x1 *--|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4---*----|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4--- [L4] D|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- A|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- F#----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- D|-0--|-7--/8---7--/8---7--/8---7--/8----|/5----------/5--------------- A|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- D|-0--|-7--/8---7--/8---7--/8---7--/8----|/5----------/5--------------- *--|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4---*----|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4--- [L5] D|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- A|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- F#----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- D|-0--|/10------8\5--------/10--8\7\5-5--|-----------3/5--------------- A|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- D|-0--|/10------8\5--------/10--8\7\5-5--|-----------3/5--------------- ************************************************ < Special Notes on the original 1976 version > ************************************************ Thanks to the Radar Station, I was able to get MP3 files of the original "Bat Chain Puller" album, recorded in 1976. Having compared the original with the 1978 version, I found some differences in the left guitar part of this song. (I assume that it is due to a personnel change from Denny Walley to Richard Redus.) Also, in my humble opinion, Denny used G tuning (DGDGBD). The following tab (in G tuning) is the left guitar of the original version. 1---*---2---*---3---*---4---*---- [L] D|---------------------------------- x8 B|---------------------------------- G|---------------------------------- D|---------------------------------- G|-7-4-0---7-4-0---0-4-7---0-4-7---- D|---------------------------------- [L] D|----------------------------|---------------------------- B|----------------------------|------------------------3--- G|----------------------------|------------------------3--- D|--7----5--2---7--7--5---9---|--7----5--2---7--7--5------- G|----------------------------|---------------------------- D|----------------------------|---------------------------- [L] D|----------------------------|---------------------------- B|----------------------------|---------------------------- G|----------------------------|---------------------------- D|--7----5--2---7--7--5---9---|--7----5--2---7---5-0---0--- G|----------------------------|---------------------------- D|----------------------------|--------------------0---0--- [L] D|-----|------------------------ B|-3---|-2--3--2--3--2--3--0---- G|-----|------------------------ D|-----|------------------------ G|-----|------------------------ D|-----|------------------------ [L] D|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- x2 B|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- G|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- D|-/9--|-/9---7--5--/9------/9--|-/9--9--9-----7----5--0----- G|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- D|-/9--|-/9---7--5--/9------/9--|-/9--9--9-----7----5--0----- [L] D|-----|-----------/3-----------|---------------------/3----- x2 B|-/3--|-/3---1--0-/3-------/3--|-/3--3--3-----1----0-/3----- G|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- D|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- G|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- D|-----|------------------------|---------------------------- Once you've learned the part in D tuning, it's very easy to play in G tuning - all the same fingering, with your hand repositioned five frets lower and one string higher. Anyway, here's the tab in G tuning.... [1] D|-----3--3------------------------------------------------ B|--------------4-2---5-p4p2------------------------------- G|-----3--3------------------------------------------------ D|----------------------------3---------------------------- G|--3------------------------------------------------------ D|--------------------------------------------------------- [2] D|-----3--3------------------------------------------------ B|--------------4-2------2--------------------------------- G|-----3--3-----------3------------------------------------ D|----------------------------2---------------------------- G|--3------------------------------------------------------ D|--------------------------------------------------------- [3] D|-----3--3------------------------------------------------ B|--------------4-2---5-p4p2-2---2------------------------- G|-----3--3------------------------------------------------ D|-----------------------------4--------------------------- G|--3------------------------------------------------------ D|--------------------------------------------------------- [4] D|-----3--3------------------------------------------------ B|--------------4-2---5-p4p2--4---------------------------- G|-----3--3----------------------4------------------------- D|--------------------------------------------------------- G|--3------------------------------------------------------ D|--------------------------------------------------------- [5] D|-----3--3-------------------4---------------------------- B|--------------4-2---5-p4p2------------------------------- G|-----3--3------------------------------------------------ D|-------------------------------4------------------------- G|--3------------------------------------------------------ D|--------------------------------------------------------- [6] D|-----3--3-------------3---------------------------------- B|--------------5-p4p2-----2---2--------------------------- G|-----3--3------------------------------------------------ D|---------------------------4----------------------------- G|--3------------------------------------------------------ D|--------------------------------------------------------- [7] D|----3-----3--3------------------------------------------- B|-------------------4-2---5-p4p2--4----------------------- G|----3-----3--3-----------------------3------------------- D|--------------------------------------------------------- G|-------3------------------------------------------------- D|--------------------------------------------------------- [8] D|-----3--3---------------------------3-------------------- B|--------------4-2---5-p4p2--4---------------------------- G|-----3--3-----------------------3------------------------ D|--------------------------------------------------------- G|--3------------------------------------------------------ D|--------------------------------------------------------- [9] D|-----3--3------------------------------------------------ B|--------------4-2---5-p4p2------2------------------------ G|-----3--3------------------------------------------------ D|----------------------------4---------------------------- G|--3------------------------------------------------------ D|--------------------------------------------------------- [10] D|-----3--3-----3----------------------------3--3---------- B|--------------------6------6------6---------------------- G|-----3--3-----3----------------------------3--3---------- D|--------------------6------4------6---------------------- G|--3----------------------------------------3--3---------- D|--------------------------------------------------------- *--|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4---*----|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4--- [L1] D|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- x4 B|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- G|----|----------------------------------|-0---0-0/3-0----------------- D|----|----------------------------/3----|------------/3--------------- G|----|/3---3-3-2-0----------------------|----------------------------- D|-0--|------------/3--------------------|----------------------------- *--|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4--- [L2] D|----|----------------------------- x2 B|----|----------------------------- G|----|----------------------------- D|-0--|/8------/8-----5---3/5------- G|----|----------------------------- D|-0--|/8------/8-----5---3/5------- *--|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4---*----|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4--- [L3] D|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- B|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- G|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- D|-0--|/8-------7\5/10------8\7-8\7-5----|/5-------5--/5--------------- G|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- D|-0--|/8-------7\5/10------8\7-8\7-5----|/5-------5--/5--------------- *--|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4--- [L2b]D|----|----------------------------- B|----|----------------------------- G|----|----------------------------- D|-0--|/8-------7/8\7-5---3/5------- G|----|----------------------------- D|-0--|/8-------7/8\7-5---3/5------- *--|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4---*----|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4--- [L3b]D|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- B|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- G|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- D|-0--|/8-------7\5/10------8\7-8\7-5----|/5-------5--/5-----------5\-- G|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- D|-0--|/8-------7\5/10------8\7-8\7-5----|/5-------5--/5-----------5\-- *--|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4--- [L2b]D|----|----------------------------- B|----|----------------------------- G|----|----------------------------- D|-0--|/8-------8\7---5------------- G|----|----------------------------- D|-0--|/8-------8\7---5------------- *--|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4---*----|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4--- [L4] D|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- B|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- G|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- D|-0--|-7--/8---7--/8---7--/8---7--/8----|/5----------/5--------------- G|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- D|-0--|-7--/8---7--/8---7--/8---7--/8----|/5----------/5--------------- *--|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4---*----|-1---*---2---*---3---*---4--- [L5] D|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- A|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- F#----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- D|-0--|/10------8\5--------/10--8\7\5-5--|-----------3/5--------------- A|----|----------------------------------|----------------------------- D|-0--|/10------8\5--------/10--8\7\5-5--|-----------3/5---------------