My Friend, My Friend
Transcribed by Itay Chamiel (itaych@g<spam>mail.com)
Based on the work of many contributors:
Andy Lemmon
karl schnaitter (kingkarl33@aol.com)
B. Fitzgerald (bfitz363@gmail.com)
Eric Berman (ericbe@microsoft.com)
David Douglas McCallum <kcjonz@wam.umd.edu>
Kevin Gardner <code@wam.umd.edu>
Chris Temeles (casuite211@aol.com)
I have attempted to get as close as possible to Trey's fingerings and chord voicings
according to live footage, while staying faithful to the album version.
Occasionally Trey omits certain notes that are filled in by the rest of the band.
Wherever I considered these notes important, I have added them in parentheses.
Before making any changes please watch the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=d18v_8PuUjM .
Thanks to gdoucette1978 for the excellent footage!
= INTRO =
Count 1-2-3, each "1" is indicated by a dot above the corresponding note.
Start by hitting the open D string for about 15 counts of 1-2-3, then:
(Part 1:)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
E-|-10--7--5--3--2-2-2-3-2-0---------------------------------|
B-|-10--8--7--3--3-3-3-3-3-0-5-h3p2----3--5---10--8---7--5---|
G-|-11--9--7--4--2-2-2-2-2-0-2-----h4--2-(6)-(9)-(7)--6--6---|
D-|--------------0-0-0-0-0-0-2---------4--5---11--9---7--5---|
A-|-------------------------------------------12--11---------|
E-|----------------------------------------------------------|
. . . . . . . . . .
E-|-2---------2------------------------|
B-|-3--h2-3-5---5--5--5--5--5----------|
G-|-4-4--------(6)-4--2--2--2----------|
D-|-4----------(7)-5--4--3--2----------|
A-|-2----------------------------------|
E-|------------------------------------|
(^ Note 1)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
E-|---------------------------------------------------5-6---3-4-------------------|
B-|-5-----2-3-5-5--------------5-7-5---5--6-----5-6-8-6---6-4---4--6--8--8--8--8--|
G-|-2-2h4-------4---4--7-4-6-7-----5------5-5-7-------6-----4---------7--7--5--5--|
D-|-2-----------6-6----5-----------5-5----6---------------------------9--8--7--6--|
A-|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
(the following is very similar to the previous line, up 3 frets)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
E-|--------------------------------------------------------8-9---10-11-------10-----10-----|
B-|-8-----5-6-8-8----------------8-10-8---8--9------8-9-10-9---9-11----11-13-10-----10-----|
G-|-5-5h7-------7---7--10-7-9-10------8------8-8-10--------9-----11----------11-----11-----|
D-|-5-----------9-9-----8-------------8-8----9----------------------------------0-0----0-0-|
A-|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
(Part 2, starts like part 1:)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
E-|-10--7--5--3--2-2-2-3-2-0---------------------------------|
B-|-10--8--7--3--3-3-3-3-3-0-5-h3p2----3--5---10--8---7--5---|
G-|-11--9--7--4--2-2-2-2-2-0-2-----h4--2-(6)-(9)-(7)--6--6---|
D-|--------------0-0-0-0-0-0-2---------4--5---11--9---7--5---|
A-|-------------------------------------------12--11---------|
E-|----------------------------------------------------------|
. . . . . .
E-|-2---------2-------------|
B-|-3--h2-3-5---5--5--5--5--|
G-|-4-4--------(6)-4--2--2--|
D-|-4----------(7)-5--4--3--|
A-|-2-----------------------|
E-|-------------------------|
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
E-|-------------2---------------------2---------0---0---0---0---0-|
B-|-5-----2-3-5-3------3---5-3---0-2—-0---------------------------|
G-|-2-2h4-------4---4--2-2-----2---2--2-1-2-4---------------------|
D-|-2-----------4-4----3-----------2--1-2-2-6---------------------|
A-|-------------2---------------------2-2-4-7-7---7---7---7---7---|
E-|-------------------------------------0-------------------------|
(^ Note 2)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
E-|-----------------------------------------------------------------9--|
B-|-5-----5-6-8-8-----8---9p8-9--------9------9-10-12-10----9-10-12----|
G-|-5-5-7-------8---8-8-------10----10-9-9-11---------9--11------------|
D-|-6-----------9-9---8-8-----11-11----9--------------10---------------|
A-|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
E-|-11--9--11--9--11--9--11----------------------------------------------------12--|
B-|-12--10-12--10-12--10-12----12-------12-13-15-13-------13----15-13-------12-10--|
G-|-11--9--11--9--11--9--11----12-12-14----------14----14-12----------12-14-12-12--|
D-|----------------------------12----------------14-14----13-13-------------12-----|
A-|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
. . . . . . . .
E-|-10-8-10-8-10----------|
B-|-10-8-10-8-10----------|
G-|-11-9-11-9-11----------|
D-|-----------------------|
A-|-----------------------|
E-|-----------------------|
(Part 3, mostly cut and pasted from previous parts:)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
E-|-10--7--5--3--2-2-2-3-2-0---------------------------------|
B-|-10--8--7--3--3-3-3-3-3-0-5-h3p2----3--5---10--8---7--5---|
G-|-11--9--7--4--2-2-2-2-2-0-2-----h4--2-(6)-(9)-(7)--6--6---|
D-|--------------0-0-0-0-0-0-2---------4--5---11--9---7--5---|
A-|-------------------------------------------12--11---------|
E-|----------------------------------------------------------|
. . . . . .
E-|-2---------2-------------|
B-|-3--h2-3-5---5--5--5--5--|
G-|-4-4--------(6)-4--2--2--|
D-|-4----------(7)-5--4--3--|
A-|-2-----------------------|
E-|-------------------------|
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
E-|-------------2---------------------2---------0---0---0---0---0-|
B-|-5-----2-3-5-3------3---5-3---0-2—-0---------------------------|
G-|-2-2h4-------4---4--2-2-----2---2--2-1-2-4---------------------|
D-|-2-----------4-4----3-----------2--1-2-2-6---------------------|
A-|-------------2---------------------2-2-4-7-7---7---7---7---7---|
E-|-------------------------------------0-------------------------|
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
E-|--------------------------------5-6---3-4-------------------|
B-|---------5-7-5---5--6-----5-6-8-6---6-4---4--6--8--8--8--8--|
G-|-7-4-6-7-----5------5-5-7-------6-----4---------7--7--5--5--|
D-|-5-----------5-5----6---------------------------9--8--7--6--|
A-|------------------------------------------------------------|
E-|------------------------------------------------------------|
(^ Note 3)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
E-|--------------------------------------------------------8-9---10-11----13-12-12-12-12..(fast tremolo picking)..--|
B-|-8-----5-6-8-8----------------8-10-8---8--9------8-9-10-9---9-11----11-------------------------------------------|
G-|-5-5h7-------7---7--10-7-9-10------8------8-8-10--------9-----11-------------------------------------------------|
D-|-5-----------9-9-----8-------------8-8----9----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A-|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Note 1: You may find it easier to play these notes as follows:
E-|-------0-2--|
B-|-0-2-3------|
G-|------------|
D-|------------|
A-|------------|
E-|------------|
Note 2: This chord and its trailing notes have been tabbed elsewhere as follows, it can sound nicer when playing alone:
. . . . . .
E-|-0---0---0---0---0---0-|
B-|-0---------------------|
G-|-1---------------------|
D-|-0-0---0---0---0---0---|
A-|-2---------------------|
E-|-0---------------------|
Note 3: On the album version there are two extra measures here, during which Trey plays fret 8 on the B string.
Intro Chords:
-------------
Main theme:
|: D G/D D G/D D A (Bm7/A->A7) A G/A F#m/A A7 Bm7 A (falling chords: G6b5, F#m7, Fmaj7#5, A)
This then leads into one of the 3 endings below:
1: A E G C Fm Bbm Abm G (falling single note Bb->A->Ab) C G Bb Eb Abm Dbm Ebm D :|
2: A Bm Dm A B7 E (A/E->E7) E+5 AbmMaj7 Eb Db E Am B A/B B A/B B A/B B G Am Cm G A D :|
3: A Bm Dm A B7 E (A/E->E7) G C Fm Bbm Abm G (w/falling note) C G Bb Eb Abm Dbm Ebm
= VERSE =
Chords:
The following chords sound fine to my ears:
Fm7 F#13 Bbm C# C
E-|-13---------13-------15--|
B-|-13---16----14--14---17--|
G-|-13---15----15--13---17--|
D-|-13---14----15--15---17--|
A-|------------13--16---15--|
E-|-13---14-----------------|
However, Trey plays somewhat different chords as clearly seen in the video:
Fm7 F#13 Bb7#9 C# C7
E-|-13------------------------|
B-|-13---16----14----14---17--|
G-|-13---15----13----13---15--|
D-|-13---14----12----15---17--|
A-|------------13----16---15--|
E-|-13---14-------------------|
The former set of chords are used henceforth - substitute the latter if you wish.
The rhythm for the chords in the verse is more-or-less bass note on the first beat of the measure,
then the rest of the chord on the third beat.
Fm7 F#13
My friend, my friend he's got a knife
Fm7 F#13
A statement from his former life
Bbm C#
When he was easy but alone
Bbm C#
Beside him was an empty throne
Fm7 F#13
But what of silver silken blade
Fm7 F#13
Affix his gaze, his features staid
Bbm C#
Grasps the handle, clips the cable
Bbm C#
One steps up, sits at his table
C
My friend, my friend, he's got a knife
Fm7 F#13
My friend, my friend, he's got a wife
(same chords as previous verse)
My friend, my friend, the clever ruse
Persuasion through his thoughts peruse
A hidden relic from his past
That wasn't there when he looked last
He feels it ticking like a bomb
Feeding fear, assaulting calm
Takes the object, starts the game
Moves it closer to the flame
My friend, my friend, the clever ruse
My friend, my friend, he lights the fuse
At this point, if you have Jedi powers, activate various distortion and feedback effects and hold your guitar
against a microphone stand such that it covers the first fret. Gradually slide the fretboard so that the tone
rises, while the following progression plays 4 times:
Fm7 F#dim7 Gdim Ab Adim Bbm Bdim C7
The rest of us mere mortals can simply play the following line 4 times:
Fm F#6 Gdim G# Adim Bbm Bdim C
E-|--------------------------------
B-|-1--4---2----4--4----6---6----8-
G-|-1--3---3----5--5----6---7----9-
D-|-3--4---5----6--7----8---9---10-
A-|--------------------------------
E-|--------------------------------
(The above two chord progressions are different because they come from different sources. Anyone wishing
to fix this may do so.)
C
My friend, my friend, he's got a knife
My friend, my friend, he's got a knife
The solo continues over the same chord progression. Here is the tab by Chris Temeles (casuite211@aol.com):
1 1 1 1 1
E-8/20slowly----------16^----18^---18^----------18----18^---------
B--------------16^------------------------------------------------
G-----------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 1
E-------16---18^(18)----16-------------18^----18---16--------16---
B--18-------------------------18------------------------18--------
G-----------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 1 1
E---18---18^---18^(18)---16------------------16-------------------
B-----------------------------18-------18----------18^(18)--------
G------------------------------------------------slow bend-and----
D---------------------------------------------------release-------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 1
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
B---13---16---13---16---13----16^---13-------13-------------------
G---------------------------------------15--------15---15^(15)----
D-----these five notes fast---------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 1
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
B-----------------------------------------------------------------
G---13------13---15^---15^---13---15---13---15---13---------------
D-------15-------------------------------------------15-----------
A-------------------------------------------------------15--14--13
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------
B----------16--16----------------------------
G---15/17----------13-------13--13-----------
D-----------------------15-------------------
A--------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------
E---13--10--------------------------------------------------------
B-----------12----------------------------------------------------
G-------------------13--10----------------13----------------------
D---------------------------12--------15------14------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 1 1 1 1 1
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
B-----------------------------------------------------------------
G---3^(3)---1---3----3^(3)---3^(3)---3^--------1---3^(3)----3^----
D------------------------------------------5----------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
1
E-------------------------------------------1------------------
B---------------------------------------3----------------------
G---3^(3)---1-------------------1---4--------------------------
D--------------3------------3----------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------0--------------
This arpeggio is hard to hear, and might be
inaccurate. But he definitely uses some
type of diminished lick.
1 1 1
E---16^---16----13--------13----------13------13------------------
B--------------------16--------16^--------16------16---13---------
G-----------------------------------------------------------15^---
D-----------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 1
E-----------------------------------------------------13----------
B---13--------------------------------------------13--------------
G--------15^~~~---------13------15--13-------15^------------------
D------------------15-------15------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------15---16---------------
B-------16------------18---16----------18-------------------------
G---17------17-----------------17---------------------------------
D-----------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
Play this phrase fast!!!!!!!!!!!
E---------------------------------16------16--------
B------15----15-----18--15--18--------18------------
G---16----16----------------------------------------
D---------------------------------------------------
A---------------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------------
1 1 1 1
E---18^---18^---18^---18^----repeat a couple of times and let-----
B-----------------------------------them all ring.----------------
G-----------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------
This solo was probably the hardest thing I've ever attempted. And
there's certainly a few notes missing. It's not the complexity of the
solo itself. But the fact that it's very hard to hear. The singing
throughout the solo(my friend my friend he's gotta knife) didn't help
much either. Any questions or comments, let me know. Enjoy.