The Smiths - The Headmaster Ritual guitar tab

From: "Jeff Noel"

Subject: s/smiths/the_headmaster_ritual.crd

Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2001 13:37:16 -0500

The Headmaster Ritual by the Smiths

(Marr/Morrissey)

from the album "Meat is Murder"

Transcribed by: Jeff Noel jnoel@sover.net

Chords:

Mainly 1st position or closest barre except:

Cadd9

E -------------------------||

B ---3---------------------||

G ---0---------------------||

D ---2---------------------||

A ---3---------------------||

E -------------------------||

Riff 1:

Based on E13sus4, this looks deceptively simple, but get ready for a

stretch:

E ---------------------------------------||

B ---------------------------------------||

G ---------2-1--------2-1----------------|| middle to index

D -------0----------0--------------------||

A -----4------------4--------------------|| pinky

E -0-------------0-----------------------||

Intro: (also used in the chorus)

Cadd9 A E (x2)

Cadd9 D G

Cadd9 A

Riff 1 (x4)

Cadd9 A Riff 1

Verse:

A B E Cm

Belligerent ghouls..

A B Riff 1

Spineless swine...

B A E Cm

Sir leads the troops...

B Abm

He does the military...

Pre-Chorus:

Cm B Abm A

I want to go home..

AM7 DM7 Abm A

Give up education...

Cm B Abm A

Midweek on the playing...

AM7 DM7 Abm

Knees you in the groin, Elbow in the...

A Abm

I want to go home...

Chorus:

Same as intro....

The rest of the arrangement, you'll figure out. It's the same elements.

Notes: This is just the most prominent guitar track. As usual, Marr layers

numerous tracks, in this case at least one acoustic and at least three

electric. Over Riff1, the acoustic plays this, coming in at the third

repeat:

E 1 measure + 1 beat

E ---12-------------------||

B ---12-------------------||

G ---13-------------------||

D ---14-------------------||

A ------------------------||

E ------------------------||

D 3 beats

E ---10-------------------||

B ---10-------------------||

G ---11-------------------||

D ---12-------------------||

A ------------------------||

E ------------------------||

Also, in the pre-chorus, Marr embellishes the Cm, B, and A chords with sus2

and sus4 hammers and pulloffs, which adds to the richness. Hit those A and

D major 7s hard for maximum effect.

Sounds best drenched in reverb, with a touch of chorus.

Corrections and embellishments are welcome.