Classic Rock- Long Cool Woman – The Hollies
Sometimes you hear a song and you say, “I have got to learn that!â€
Well, this was one of those songs for me. But I'll be honest, it took me a lo-------ng
time to figure out the intro. That is the toughest part of this song. Get that down, the rest is cake.
Chords used in this song;
-----Em---G----D/F#---E7-----A----E7----G----A----B---E------
e]-------------------------------------------------------------------
b]----0-------------------------------------------------------------
g]----0-----0------2------1-----2----4------4----6----8---1------
d]----2-----0------0------X-----X----X------5----7----9---2------
a]----2-----2------0------2-----4----5------5----7----9---2------
e]----0-----3------2------0-----0----0------3----5----7---0------
If you ever listen to this song, there are two distinct guitars.
One plays almost exclusively on the bottom 4 strings, the other plays on
the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings. I am going to show you the guitar played
on the bass. Playing solo, this will give you the best feel for this song.
When learning a song with multiple guitars, that is what you have to do.
The Intro
e----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
b-------------------0-------0-----------------------------------------------------
g--------0-0-----0-------0------0------------------------------------------0---2
d-------2------4-------2------0--------0-------0-----0-------0------0----0---0-
a------2------------------------------2-------2-----0-------2------0-------2---0-
e--0--0-------------------------------------3------2------3------5---------3---2-
That first chord is an Em. I usually play an Em with my middle and ring
fingers, but on this song I use my index on the 5th string, and my middle
finger on the 4th string. This is so I can reach out to fret that note at the
4th fret on the D string. Do what is best for you. Play the
Em chord with a smooth downward sweep and up-pick the last 2 notes.
Notice that after playing the G and D/F# arpeggios that you have to slide out to the
5th fret of the 6th string to play an arpeggio. The last two chords
(G and D/F#) should be played staccato (abrupt, stopped short). One last thing.
Notice that the arpeggios are played in patterns of 2 notes and 3 notes.
That will help you get the timing on the intro. Play this intro 2 times.
OK, if I haven't bored you to tears, Congratulations! That is one tough intro. It is clear sailing from now on!
Intro Part 2 (also used in verses) I will call this (Riff 1)
------D------D------D------D------U----U--D-----D------D---
e]-----------------------------------------------------------------
b]-----------------------------------------------------------------
g]---1i------2i------4i------2i-----1----1--2-----4--------2---
d]---X-------X------X-------X------X----X--X-----X--------X---
a]---2m-----4r-----5m-----4r-----2----2--4-----5--------4---
e]---0-------0------0-------0------0----0--0-----0--------0—--
This is a blues shuffle. I have shown the fingering and picking pattern.
D= Downstroke, U= Upstroke Let whatever finger is on the 5th
string lightly touch and mute the 4th string. You will hear this riff in many songs like “The Pusherâ€
by Steppenwolf. It has a hollow ring to it.
You will play Riff 1 at the start of all verses. Then you will come to a G to A chord change. Play that like this;
e]------------------------
b]------------------------
g]--------4----------6--- The song always goes to Riff 1 after this.
d]--------5----------7---
a]--------5----------7---
e]---3---3------5---5---
When playing the A, B, and E chords following this, you CAN just strum
eighth notes with a boogie feel. That is what the guitarist does. But
I like to play a 5 chord to 6 chord boogie on the 6th and 5th strings.
e]--------------------------------------------------------------
b]---------------------------------------------------------------------------
g]—6/--//--//--//---------------------------------------------------------
d]—7/--//--//--//---------------------------------------------------------
a]—7/--//--//--//--------------7-7-9----7-9----7---7-7-9---7-9-----
e]—5/--//--//--//----or-------5-5-5----5-5----5---5-5-5---5-5-------
The 2nd version is just something I do. Play as you wish.
OK! That is all the rhythm guitar for this song. There is one simple part left. The solo! It is very simple, but so tasty.
SOLO
e]---------------------------------------------------------------
b]---------------------------------------------------------------
g]--------------------------------------------------------------- X 4
d]---2--2--2--2-----2--------------0------------0---------0----
a]---2--------------------0h--2---------0h--2--------2—(0)--
e]---0-----------------------------------------------------------
That last note is a ghost note. It sound basically comes from picking up your finger.
That's it. That is the whole song. Hope you stuck it out. The intro to this song is tough. But everything else is pretty easy.
Long Cool Woman
Intro
Intro Part 2 (Riff 1)
(Riff 1)Saturday night I was downtown
(G)Working for the (A)FB-(Riff 1)I...
(Riff 1)Sitting in a nest of bad men
(G)Whisky bottles (A)piling (Riff 1)high..
(Riff 1)Bootlegging boozer on the west side
Full of (G)people who are (A)doing (Riff 1)wrong..
(Riff 1)Just about to call up the DA man
When I (G)heard this woman (A)singing a (Riff 1)song.....
A (A)pair of 45's made me open my eyes
My (B)temperature started to rise
She was a (A)long cool woman in a black dress
Just a (G)5'-9†beautiful (E)tall..
With (A)just one look I was a bad mess
'Cos that (G)long cool woman had it (E)all
SOLO- After solo play Riff 1 four times.
(Riff 1)I saw her heading to the table
Well a (G)tall walking (A)big black (Riff 1)cat
(Riff 1)When Charlie said I hope that you're able boy
Well I'm (G)telling you she (A)knows where it's (Riff 1)at...
(Riff 1)Well, then suddenly we heard a siren
And (G)everybody (A)started to (Riff 1)run..
(Riff 1)Jumping out of doors and tables
Well I (G)heard somebody (A)shooting a (Riff 1)gun....
(Riff 1)Well the DA was pumping my left hand
And (G)she was (A)holding my (Riff 1)right...
Well I (E)told her don't get scared
'Cos you're (G)gonna be spared
Well I'm (A)gonna be forgiven
If I wanna spend my living
With a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a (G)5'-9†beautiful (E)tall..
With (A)just one look I was a bad mess
'Cos that (G)long cool woman had it (E)all....... (Riff 1)
Had it all...
Had it all...
Had it all!
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
Wes I swear I'm going to take my vacation and come bug you! :D Great song. Thanks!
We need to change your name to Encyclopedia of Great Classic Rock songs. :P
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -- "WOW--What a Ride!"
Thanks Twisty
I am at work where I have this song downloaded on my computer. Going over it I found several places where I added an A chord that didn't belong.
I also found several places where I indicated Riff 1 where you simply strum a regular E chord
e---X------
b---X------
g---1------
d---2-----
a---2-----
e---0-----
Just strum this in an eighth note shuffle.
Sorry for the mistakes. It should be correct now.
Classic Rock Rules!
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
Brilliant, Wes!!! I actually thought I had the intro down to this but there were a couple of places I was slightly out......
First chance I've had to look at this properly, had a nightmare weekend so me and the Mrs cleared off for a couple of days........
Ah well, back to the forums.........
Thanks again for this one, if it was in my power you would have an honorary Knighthood for services to musicians........
:D :D :D
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Wes
Nice tab !!!!
I love the intro.
It seemed to fall into place after I decided which notes I could use an upstoke on.Then the pattern came together.
I was never any good at muted strings before and your explantion and this combination of chords were great.
Thanks ..
timbit
Thanks Vic & Timbit
It is nice to know that people find these tabs helpful. I read an article once by a guitar teacher who said why play boring exercises when you can play songs and learn the same techniques? This song is good for practicing arpeggios and muting strings. Plus, it Rocks!
Just for the info, the 2nd guitar on this song plays this riff (in case you jam this song with someone else). This is over Riff 1
e---0------------------------0-0--------------------
b---0-----2-----3----2-----0-0----2----3-----2---
g---1-----2-----4----2-----1-1----2----4-----2---
d---2-----2-----2----2-----2-2----2----2-----2---
a---2------------------------2-2--------------------
e---0------------------------0-0---------------------
This is an old blues riff. That 3rd chord is just part of an E7. Hold a barre with your index for the partial A chord, just put your ring finger on the g string and middle finger on the b string for the E7
e--4---------
b--3---------
g--4--------- This is just a D7 chord moved up a whole step to make E7
d--2---------
a-------------
e-------------
The cool thing about this riff is that it is easily moved up and down the neck.
e----5----------------------5-5------------------------
b----5----7----8----7-----5-5----7----8----7--------
g----6----7----9----7-----6-6----7----9----7--------
d----7----7----7----7-----7-7----7----7----7--------
a----7----------------------7-7-------------------------
e----5----------------------5-5-------------------------
This is the riff in A. Just move it up 2 frets to play it in B and you have a good solid rhythm part for a Blues in the key of E.
I know no one asked for this, but I just thought it might be good to understand a Classic Blues riff.
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
Hey I love that "second guitar" riff - the sort of thing you could do a 12-bar blues with.......now that I have to get down!!!
I've said it before and I'll say it again - you're never too old to learn! And I've learned something new today!
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
heard this song over the weekend and I thought i had remembered Wes transcribing it awhile back. Well it was really beyond my lack of guitar prowess then but i tried it today and its isnt as hard. The intro is gonna take alot of practice but i love the verse riff! Really sounds good w/ the tele and HRDeluxe! thanks Wes!!!
Thinkin' bout the times we had
Some were good and some were bad
guitar fightin' the tv
i was thinkin bout you and me
Gutfiddle
Hey, you brought this tab back from the dead, thanks.
I have often thought of going back and correcting my early tabs before I learned the Code feature. This is a good place to start, should be much easier to read. I'm gonna take out all those rambling instructions. Plus, here is a clip of the song to listen to. :D
http://media.putfile.com/Long-Cool-Woman-In-a-Black-Dress--The-Hollies
When the song begins minimize (-) that page and you can listen along as your read the lyrics. Really helps you nail the parts and changes. Found some mistakes I had made this way. Should be very close now.
Classic Rock- Long Cool Woman – The Hollies
Chords used in this song;
Em G D/F# E7 A E7 G A B
e-------------------------------------------------
b----0--------------------------------------------
g----0----0----2----1----2----4----4----6----8----
d----2----0----0----X----X----X----5----7----9----
a----2----2----0----2----4----5----5----7----9----
e----0----3----2----0----0----0----3----5----7----
The Intro
sweep
e-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
b--------------------0-----0----------------------------------------------------
g----------0-0-----0-----0-----0-----------------------------------0----2------- X 2
d-------2--------4-----2-----0-----0------0------0------0------0---0----0-------
a------2-------------------------2------2------0------2------0-----2----0-------
e--0--0-------------------------------3------2------3------5-------3----2---(0)-
Intro Part 2 (also used in verses) I will call this (Riff 1)
d d d d u u d d d
e]-----------------------------------------------------
b]-----------------------------------------------------
g]---1i-----2i-----4i-----2i----1-1----2-----4-----2---
d]---X------X------X------X-----X-X----X-----X-----X---
a]---2m-----4r-----5m-----4r----2-2----4-----5-----4---
e]---0------0------0------0-----0-0----0-----0-----0—--
You will play Riff 1 at the start of all verses. Then you will come to a G
to A chord change. Play that like this;
e]-----------------
b]-----------------
g]------4------6--- The song always goes to Riff 1 after this.
d]------5------7---
a]------5------7---
e]---3--3----5-5---
When playing the A and B chords following this, you CAN just strum
eighth notes with a boogie feel. That is what the guitarist does. But
I like to play a 5 chord to 6 chord boogie on the 6th and 5th strings.
e]-------------------- e]-------------------
b]-------------------- b]-------------------
g]—6/--//--/-/-------- or g]-------------------
d]—7/--//--/-/-------- d]-------------------
a]—7/--//--/-/-------- a]--7--7---9---7--9--
e]—5/--//--/-/-------- e]--5--5---5---5--5—-
The 2nd version is just something I do. Play as you wish.
OK! That is all the rhythm guitar for this song. There is one simple
part left. The solo! It is very simple, but so tasty.
SOLO
e]---------------------------------------------------
b]---------------------------------------------------
g]--------------------------------------------------- X 4
d]---2--2--2--2-----2----------0----------0----------
a]---2------------------0h--2------0h--2------2—(0)--
e]---0-----------------------------------------------
Long Cool Woman
Intro
Intro Part 2 (Riff 1)
(Riff 1)Saturday night I was downtown
(G)Working for the (A)FB-(Riff 1)I...
(Riff 1)Sitting in a nest of bad men
(G)Whisky bottles (A)piling (Riff 1)high..
(Riff 1)Bootlegging boozer on the west side
Full of (G)people who are (A)doing (Riff 1)wrong..
(Riff 1)Just about to call up the DA man
When I (G)heard this woman (A)singing a (Riff 1)song.....
A (A)pair of 45's made me open my eyes
My (B)temperature started to rise
She was a (A)long cool woman in a black dress
Just a (G)5'-9†beautiful (E)tall..
With (A)just one look I was a bad mess
'Cos that (G)long cool woman had it (E)all
SOLO- After solo play Riff 1 four times.
(Riff 1)I saw her heading to the table
Well a (G)tall walking (A)big black (Riff 1)cat
(Riff 1)When Charlie said I hope that you're able boy
Well I'm (G)telling you she (A)knows where it's (Riff 1)at...
(Riff 1)Well, then suddenly we heard a siren
And (G)everybody (A)started to (Riff 1)run..
(Riff 1)Jumping out of doors and tables
Well I (G)heard somebody (A)shooting a (Riff 1)gun....
(Riff 1)Well the DA was pumping my left hand
And (G)she was (A)holding my (Riff 1)right...
Well I (E)told her don't get scared
'Cos you're (G)gonna be spared
Well I'm (A)gonna be forgiven
If I wanna spend my living
With a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a (G)5'-9†beautiful (E)tall..
With (A)just one look I was a bad mess
'Cos that (G)long cool woman had it (E)all.......
Had it all... (Riff 1)
Had it all...
Had it all!
I hope this makes learning this song even easier. It is a great song, one of my all-time favorites.
Wes
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
Great stuff Wes,
That media file really gets you into the groove too.
BTW I have always thought that other great Hollies song "The Day That Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam McGhee" was very similar, in fact almost a natural development from "Long Cool Woman" just a bit rougher round the edges. What do you think?
Or is it my crazy sense of hearing?
Anyway keep up the good work Wes.
Chris
ps (16/10/06) found a good youtube link for LCW:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U389stYtu_8
Alan Clarke on lead guitar, very unusual! and just listen to that drum and bass intro too. Hope you dont mind my indugence Wes but I love this song.
The guitar is all right John but you'll never make a living out of it! (John Lennon's Aunt Mimi)
Wes I have found that if you add a note to the solo by playing an open G string just before returning to the same pattern its sounds really good
e]--------------------------------------------------------
b]--------------------------------------------------------
g]-----------------------------------------------------0-- X 4
d]---2--2--2--2-----2----------0----------0---------- --
a]---2------------------0h--2------0h--2------2—------
e]---0----------------------------------------------------
Like this
as opposed to yours which is
e]---------------------------------------------------
b]---------------------------------------------------
g]--------------------------------------------------- X 4
d]---2--2--2--2-----2----------0----------0----------
a]---2------------------0h--2------0h--2------2—(0)--
e]---0-----------------------------------------------
Be excellent to each other & party on dudes!
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=686668
Rodders
I think I heard that note. :D
This song forever turns me on, it is just one of those songs I think every guitar player (at least back in the 70s) had to learn, especially the incredible intro.
I have always been a big fan of the Hollies, they wrote a lot of great songs.
Found this old video on YouTube, worst lip-syncing I've ever seen. But the song Rocks.
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
Terrific Wes, love the way they bob up & down to the music.
Yeah the Holies were great. Carrie Anne, Bus Stop, Sorry Suzanne, Stop Stop Stop. All memorable tracks from my Youth, but I think Long Cool Woman has the edge over all of them and nobody sings them better than Alan Clarke.
Be excellent to each other & party on dudes!
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=686668
I've always liked this song and just stumbled upon this tab...what a find! Thanks for you tab efforts and explanations. I've got the intro down now and am working on the rest.
Harri3
Hi, welcome to GuitarNoise! :D
Glad you like the tab, the 2nd one is more orderly and easier to read. Looks like there are a lot of ol' Hollies fans here.
Keep coming back, we have lots of fun here.
Wes
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
