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Gangsters

Specials

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#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------# #This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the # #song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. # #------------------------------------------------------------------------------## From: Winston Campbell Subject: *GANGSTERS* by The Specials I was looking in the guitar archives for some Specials songs I could play and learn but to my dissatisfaction (I do not know if that is the right word I should use) I could not find any Specials songs. So I decided to try to figure out one and transcribe it and send it to the archive at Nevada. Well here is the bass line and chords for The Specials 1979 UK hit, -Gangsters-. My friend veronica figured out some of the bass parts (I should give credit,of course, her email address is angst@eden.rutgers.edu) and I figured out the rest of the bass and guitar line. The way how to play the guitar line (as in most ska songs) is to mute the downstroke and play staccato the upstroke and repeat. (That is you play downstroke first then upstroke). I have not written down the lyrics because frankly, I cannot understand most of the words the lead singer is singing. But here goes the bassline thingy. The verses are the following: (Intro) Am G# Am (played 2x) G -------------------------------|----------------------------------------- D -------------------------------|-------2-----------1---------------2-2-2- A -------------------------------|-0--3-----3-----3-----3--0--3--0--------- E -5--3--0--3--5-5--5-3-3--0--3--|-------------4--------------------------- The first chorus is: D C Em G ---------------------------------|----------7---5---3---2-| D ---------------------------------|-2----------------------| A -5---------------3---------------|--------7---5---3---2---| E -----5-5-5-5-5-5-----3-3-3-3-3-3-|------------------------| The song goes to another verse then the second chorus is: C G Em G ---------------------------------|----------7---5---3---2-| D ---------------------------------|-2----------------------| A -3-------------------5-5-5-5-5-5-|--------7---5---3---2---| E -----3-3-3-3-3-3-3---------------|-0----------------------| Then the song goes back to the intro riff. The bassline for the solo follows: Am G# Em Am Em Am G# G ---------------7---5---3---2-|---------------7---5---3----2-|----------- D -----------------------------|------------------------------|----------- A -0--3-----3--7---5---3---2---|-0--3--0--3--7---5---3---2----|-0--3------ E -------4---------------------|------------------------------|-------4--- Em D C Em G ------7---5---3---2-|---------------------------------|---7---5---3---2- D --------------------|---------------------------------|----------------- A -3--7---5---3---2---|-5---------------3---------------|-7---5---3---2--- E --------------------|-----5-5-5-5-5-5-----3-3-3-3-3-3-|----------------- I will try to attempt to transcribe the guitar solo: E ------------------------------|------------------------------| B -5------------5-6-5-----------|-5------------5-6-5-----------| G -----8--5--8--------8-5-4-2-0-|-----8--5--8--------8-5-4-2-0-| D ------------------------------|------------------------------| A ------------------------------|------------------------------| E ------------------------------|------------------------------| E ------------------------------|-5--5-5-5--5--5-7--7-7-7--7--7-| B -5------------5-6-5-----------|-------------------------------| G -----8--5--8--------8-5-4-2-0-|-------------------------------| D ------------------------------|-------------------------------| A ------------------------------|-------------------------------| E ------------------------------|-------------------------------| E -12--12-12-12-12-12-12-12---12--12-12-12--| B ------------------------------------------| G ------------------------------------------| D ------------------------------------------| A ------------------------------------------| E ------------------------------------------| After that, there is yet another verse and the second chorus. Then there is sort of like a bridge section which just plays Am to G# once in measure, then the second chorus is played again. At the end of the song the intro bass line plays with an A chord played over it and that is it. The Chords Played are: E A D G B E ----------- Am x x 7 5 5 5 G# x x 6 5 4 4 D x x x 2 3 2 C x 3 5 5 5 x Em x 7 9 9 8 x G x x 5 4 3 3 A x x 7 6 5 5 Now I know I might have made errors in transcribing this song, so if you have and corrections or comments, I would appreciate it if you would email me at jieuryli@eden.rutgers.edu Thank you for your consideration.
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