Crazy Train

[Burn]

I never learned the main gallop riff, every time I hear it live, Zakk or Randy, for that matter, never does the gallop, just some down picking.....whats up with that? I think I can do the gallop with it.... am I just pissing in the wind? [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[mhalsey]

Re: Crazy Train

Dude, if I can learn that riff, anyone can. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Seriously, it's not too tough. My 11 year old son is pretty comfortable with it as well. He's almost learned the entire song (rhythm part anyway). I've been teaching him the riffs and fills one at a time; he just comes to me whenever he's ready to learn a new one and has put it all together rather well. He's just sporadic with what he wants to learn. He's only 11 so I just go with it. No pushing. You just have to practice it like anything else; it'll come. Listening to the many different versions by Zakk and Randy I think I hear the same thing you do. In fact, my son brought it to my attention. Ultimately, one of our more experienced members will be able to confirm this.

[V]

Re: Crazy Train

Both Randy and Zakk both play the "gallop" live. I've seen Zakk play it live several times and heard / seen several Randy Rhoads recordings.

They gallop on the A string, playing the chords A - G# - F# - A (open) in between.

First A chord is on 7th fret of D string (A,C#,E)

G# is 6th fret of D string (G#, B, Eb)

F# is same fingering as the G# but on the 4th fret of the D string (F#,A, D)

The last A's are open.

My explanation of the "weird" chords is terrible but hey, i tried.
I call them weird chords 'cos I don't know what else to call them.

You can hear the "gallop" a little more on the studio recording I guess but I wouldnt say its that much of difference. Its definitely there in the live versions. Just listen for the "digguh digguh's" in between the weird chords! [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

Man my explanations leave a lot to be desired. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Razor]

Re: Crazy Train

It's more fun to play it with the gallop, and sound correct to boot. It was the first riff that I sat down and learnt. At first I just cheated and downstroked, but it didn't sound right at all to me. After I mastered the weird fingering for the chords (hardest part for me), I concentrated on the gallop. It must have taken me two weeks to get it right because I had only been playing for a couple of months at that point. If you listen closely to "Tribute" you can distinctly hear Randy galloping the riff.

I'm with mhalsey on this one. If I can learn it, then for sure anyone can. [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[SeventhSon]

Re: Crazy Train

[ QUOTE ]

They gallop on the A string, playing the chords A - G# - F# - A (open) in between.

[/ QUOTE ]

You got the bass notes of the chords correct, but you're naming them wrong. It's A - E - D - A. The G# is the 3rd of the E chord and the F# is the 3rd of the D chord. Anytime you play that shape chord, the root (and thus the name of the chord) is the note on the B string.

[ QUOTE ]

G# is 6th fret of D string (G#, B, Eb)


[/ QUOTE ]

I'm pretty sure you meant G#, B, E

Sounds like you figured tihs out yourself. Well done! [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

The actual notation and theory is boring, insignificant, nitpicky stuff compared to developing your ears.

[V]

Re: Crazy Train

I knew that I wasn't naming the chords properly but I know how they "sound".
I have a good ear and can figure things out myself pretty easily by listening to how chords are formed and recognising what strings are being played.
Thanks for seeing this as a positive aspect.
I know the fretboard up and down and know most standard chord notation, but have never delved deep into theory. I know it helps a hell of a lot but I've never had the patience and get a long doing what I want to do without it.
Now that you've explaind it I kinda understand, although the 3rds part doesnt mean much to me.
I know it's A E D A, but was confusing myself trying to name the weird chords Randy used. Thats where I get lost. [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]
Thanks a lot for your response man, most people wouldnt be so easy on me for the mistakes [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Madness]

Re: Crazy Train

[ QUOTE ]
My explanation of the "weird" chords is terrible but hey, i tried.

[/ QUOTE ]

ahh.....ebonics for guitarists. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

I hear ya, I'm in the same boat. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

[SeventhSon]

Re: Crazy Train

Learning by ear is the all importnat *skill* that needs to be developed. Theory is just a supporting cast member in the grand scheme of things.

Anyway, the fancy name for the E chord (E G# B also known as root/3rd/5th) played the way they do in Crazy Train is called 1st inversion because the 1st non-root note of the chord is in the bass (G# B E).

B E G# from low to high would be 2nd inversion.

Yeah, whatever. This is the way they give fancy names to the *same* chord played at different places on the neck depending on which note of the chord is in the bass.

The reason why G# is called the 3rd of the E chord is because if you played an E major scale (which corresponds with the E major chord): E F# G# A B C# D# E, the G# is the 3rd note of the scale. The B would be the 5th.

So when you hear people talk about playing 5ths as power chords, in standard tuning, it would be fret x on the low E string and fret x+2 on the A string. The note at x+2 on the A string is the 5th note of the scale rooted at fret x on the E string.

Or if your downtuned, then playing 5ths as power chords would simply be playing fret x on both the low E an A strings.

3rd and 5ths are just an example of "intervals".

Have i bored you to tears yet? [img]/images/graemlins/sleep.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[thetroy]

Re: Crazy Train

I don't think theory is all that important if you're learning other people's songs, but it seems to help me a whole lot when attempting to improvise my own stuff.

[nonamemx]

Re: Crazy Train

I learned the whole thing yesterday, everything but the intro. (because I already knew it) Such a killer song...

Bum Bum. . . . . . . . .Bum Bum. . . .Bum Bum. . .
Bum Bum. . . . . . . . .Bum Bum *SCRAPE!*

Dum Dum na/na\na/na\ dun dun-nuh-na dun dun-nah-nuh
Dum Dum na/na\na/na\ Dum!!!!! DUUUMM!!!

[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[VitaminG]

Re: Crazy Train

cool. Strong Bad Tab!! [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[mhalsey]

Re: Crazy Train

[ QUOTE ]
I learned the whole thing yesterday, everything but the intro. (because I already knew it) Such a killer song...

Bum Bum. . . . . . . . .Bum Bum. . . .Bum Bum. . .
Bum Bum. . . . . . . . .Bum Bum *SCRAPE!*

Dum Dum na/na\na/na\ dun dun-nuh-na dun dun-nah-nuh
Dum Dum na/na\na/na\ Dum!!!!! DUUUMM!!!

[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmmmmm. Interesting. [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img] I coulda swore there was a "Dum" between the two "Dun's". Now I gotta go learn the whole frickin thing over again. Thanx pal! [img]/images/graemlins/poke.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[LesPaulCustom]

Re: Crazy Train

<font color="yellow">Mark...you may want to bring the recording in to one of your officers so that they can break it down for you so you understand [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/eviltongue.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] </font>

[mhalsey]

Re: Crazy Train

At least someone in MY chain of command would get it. Can't say the same for you there, chum(p). [img]/images/graemlins/eviltongue.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/eviltongue.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/poke.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Drake S.]

Re: Crazy Train

I can't read music, &amp; I was born deaf in my left ear so no chance of developeing an ear for tone.
Nonamemx your descrpition takes me back to JR high when I was trying to figure it out the first couple of hundred times [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] I have 3 Tab copies of this song one from a guitar mag some where the Tribute song book &amp; something online so far the Tribute book works the best, even though it's a live transcription of the song.