Vai Steve

Vai Steve - Frank guitar tab

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Subject: v/vai_steve/frank.tab

A likely reason that this song was not (to my knowledge)

tabbed before is that it is neither the typical soft

ballade by Vai or the heavy-style material most

people like of him, but something in the middle.

Also, there are parts in which you would *need* more

than one guitar to get the sound, but I decided to tab

this approximation because it's better than nothing & didn't want

to risk forgetting several beautiful chords. Distorsion

is used freely in the original recording, although I think it may

do well with a clean sound (or with an oukelele, for that matter :-)

As for most Vai stuff it becomes playable -at least for me-

at around 80 % of the original tempo, so take it easy.

And by the way, it is supposed to be a tribute

to Frank Zappa. Corrections and improvements welcome. Cheers.

Frank, by Steve Vai. From the album 'The Ultrazone'.

TAB by Javier Dobroide

-|-5---3---3---1---1---3--|1---0---0------------|-1---0---0-----------0-|-

-|------------------------|-----------3---3---1-|-------------3---3-----|-

-|-3----------------------|2--------------------|-0---------------------|-

-|------------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|-

-|------------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|-

-|------------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|-

-|------------------|------------------------|---------------|-3--------|-

-|3-1-1-------------|------------------------|1--------------|-3--------|-

-|--------3---3---2-|-2---h3p2p0------0------|---------------|-0--------|-

-|3-----------------|----------3-------------|---------------|----------|-

-|------------------|-1----------------------|---------------|----------|-

-|------------------|------------------------|-----1/--3-----|-3--------|-

-|------------|------------------|-------------------|------------------|-

-|------------|------------------|-------------------|------------------|-

-|------------|-5----5-5---5---5-|-------------------|------------------|-

-|------------|-5h7--7-7---5---5-|-5---5---5---5---5-|-3----3-3---3---3-|-

-|------------|------------------|-5h7-7p8-7---5---5-|-3h5--5-5---3---3-|-

-|3-3-3-3-3-3-|------------------|-------------------|------------------|-

-|---------------------|-----------------8----|-------------------------|-

-|---------------------|------------------8---|-------------------------|-

-|---------------------|-5----5-5--5--5-------|-------------------------|-

-|-3---3----3---3---3--|-5h7--7-7--5--5-------|-5----5----5---5--5------|-

-|-3h5-5h6--5---3---3--|----------------------|-5h7--7p8--7---5--5-7\5--|-

-|---------------------|----------------------|-------------------------|-

-|-------------|--------------------|-------------|---------------------|-

-|-------------|--------------------|-1-----------|---------------------|-

-|-------3---2-|--------------------|-0-----------|-------------0-------|-

-|-3---3-3-3-3-|-3----3----3---3----|-------------|2h3--3-3-3-3-0--3----|-

-|-3h5-5-5-3-3-|-3h5--5h6--5---3----|-3-----------|1----1-1-1-1-1-------|-

-|-------------|--------------------|----5\3-1-1--|---------------------|-

-|--------------3--|------------------------|--------------------------|-

-|---------------3-|------------------------|--------------------------|-

-|-----------------|------------------------|------------------------0-|-

-|-0h2--2-2-3-2----|-2h3--3-3-3-3/5-3-------|-0h2--2-2-3-2h3p2p0-------|-

-|-3----3-3-3-3----|-1----1-1-1-1-----------|-3----3-3-3-3--------3----|-

-|-----------------|------------------------|--------------------------|-

-|----------------------|-----------------3/5--5\3-|-------------------|-

-|----------------------|-----------------3/5--5\3-|-------------------|-

-|-5\3----------3/5-3---|--------------------------|-------------------|-

-|-5\3--0-0-0-0-3/5-3---|-0h2--2-2-3--2------------|-2h3--3-3-3-3/5--3-|-

-|-3----1-1-1-1-1/3-1---|-3----3-3-3--3------------|-1----1-1-1-1------|-

-|----------------------|--------------------------|-------------------|-

-|-------------------|------------------------|------------------------|-

-|-----------3/5\3-1-|--------------/5\3/5----|-------------3/5\3-1----|-

-|-----------2/4\2-0-|--------------/4\2/4----|-------------2/4\2-0----|-

-|---3--7-5----------|---3---7--5-------------|-----3--7-5-------------|-

-|--3--7--5----------|--3---7---5-------------|---3--7---5-------------|-

-|-1--5---3----------|-1---5----3-------------|-1--5-----3-------------|-

-|------------------------|--------------|/10--------10----------|-

-|---1-----5------3-------|--------------|---12-10-----10--------|-

-|-----0-----5----0-------|--------------|---------------10------|-

-|--0----------5--0-------|--------------|-----------------------|-

-|------------------------|--------------|-----------------------|-

-|-1------5-------3-------|--3-3-3-3-3-3-|-----------------------|-

-|---------------------|------------------------|--------------------10-|-

-|-/12----------10-----|------------------------|--------------------10-|-

-|----12-10-9h10--10-9-|------------------------|-------------12-12--10-|-

-|---------------------|-12h14-12-10-9h10-------|-------12-12-12-12--10-|-

-|---------------------|------------------12----|-10-10-10-10-10-10--10-|-

-|---------------------|------------------------|-----------------------|-

-|----------------15---|-------------------------|------------------13--|-

-|-13----13-13-13---15-|-------------------------|-10h1211-11-10-10---13|-

-|-12h14-14-14-12------|-12----12----12-12-------|-10---10-10-10-10-----|-

-|---------------------|-12h14-14h15-14-12-14\12-|-10h1212-12-10-10-----|-

-|---------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|-

-|---------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|-

-|---------------------------------|------------------------|-

-|---------------------------------|-13----13-13-13-/13-----|-

-|-10----10----10-10---------------|-12h14-14-14-12----14-12|-

-|-10h12-12h13-12-10---------------|------------------------|-

-|------------------/12-10-8-/12-10|------------------------|-

-|---------------------------------|------------------------|-

-|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-

-|---------------------------------------|-10h11-11-11-10-10---|-

-|-12----12----12-12-12------------------|-10----10-10-10-10---|-

-|-12h14-14h15-14-12-12-14p12\10---/14-12|-10h12-12-12-10-10---|-

-|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-

-|---------------------------------------|-------------------13|-

-|--------------------------------|-------------------------|-

-|-10h11-11/13\11----10-----------|-------------------------|-

-|-10-------------10-10-----------|-9h10-10-10-10-10-/12\10-|-

-|-10h12-12/14\12-10--------------|-8-----8--8--8--8-/10\8--|-

-|----------------------10\8------|-8-----8--8--8--8-/10----|-

-|---------------------------8-8--|-------------------------|-

-|------------------8-|----------------------|-------------------------|-

-|---------------8--8-|----------------------|-------------------------|-

-|-9h10-9--9-10--9----|9h1010-10-10-10-/12\10|-9h10-9--9-10-9h10p9-7---|-

-|10---10-10-10-10----|8----8--8--8--8-/10\8-|10---10-10-------------10|-

-|--------------------|8----8--8--8--8-/8----|-------------------------|-

-|--------------------|----------------------|-------------------------|-

-|-8--8\6----------------|-----------------------------|-

-|-8--8\6-6-6-6-6--/10---|---------------8-------------|-

-|-9--9\7-7-7-7-7--/10-10|-9h10-9--9-10--9-10--9-10--9-|-

-|10-10\8-8-8-8-8--/10-10|10---10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-|-

-|-----------------------|-----------------------------|-

-|-----------------------|-----------------------------|-

-|-8-8\6-6-6-6-6-/13-13-|--------------------|---------------|-

-|-8-8\6-6-6-6-6-/13-13-|--------------------|-10/12--10-----|-

-|-9-9\7-7-7-7-7--------|------10------14-12-|-10/12--10--12-|-

-|1010\8-8-8-8-8--------|---10-------14---12-|------------12-|-

-|-------------------12\|-8-------12------10-|---------------|-

-|----------------------|--------------------|---------------|-

-|-----------------|---/12---10---/12--|------------------|-

-|-----------------|---/12---10---/12--|------------------|-

-|----10----14--12-|-------------------|-----10---14--12--|-

-|--10----14----12-|-------------------|---10----14---12--|-

-|-8----12------10-|-------------------|--8-----12----10--|-

-|-----------------|-------------------|------------------|-

-|---------------|----------------|----------------|-------10--------10|-

-|--10/12-10-----|--------10------|---------10-----|---------10------10|-

-|--10/12-10-12--|-----------10---|------------10--|-----12-----12---10|-

-|-----------12--|------10--------|-------10-------|-------------------|-

-|---------------|---/8-----------|---/12----------|--10---------------|-

-|---------------|----------------|----------------|-------------------|-

-|/19p17-15------|--------------|--------------------|------------------|-

-|---------15h17-|18p17-15-13-12|13-12---------------|------------------|-

-|---------------|--------------|------14-12-14-12-10|-9-h10p9----------|-

-|---------------|--------------|--------------------|--------12-10-9---|-

-|---------------|--------------|--------------------|---------------12-|-

-|---------------|--------------|--------------------|------------------|-

-|----10----8------|-----5-----------|----------------|-----------5-6p5-|-

-|-----10----8-----|----5-5------5---|--------3---/8--|-6------1--6-----|-

-|-----------------|---5---5----5-5--|-------4--------|-5-----2---5-----|-

-|-----------------|-----------4---4-|------5---------|-7----3----------|-

-|10------8----7\5-|-5--------5------|-----5----------|-----3-----------|-

-|-----------------|-----------------|---3------------|----1------------|-

-|----3-------|------10------8|-----7-8p7-|------5---1-|--------------3-|-

-|---3-----6--|----11------9--|---8-------|----6-----3-|---1---1---1--0-|-

-|--4-----7---|--10------8----|-7---------|--5-------4-|--0---0----0--0-|-

-|-------8----|---------------|-----------|----------5-|-3---2-----0----|-

-|------8-----|---------------|-----------|----------5-|----------------|-

-|3----6------|---------------|-----------|----------3-|--------------3-|-

-|-/15-----------------|----------------------|---------------------|-

-|-----15--------------|-15/17\15-------------|-/15-13--------------|-

-|--------14h16--16----|---------14\12--------|-------12/16---------|-

-|---------------------|----------------------|---------------------|-

-|---------------------|----------------------|---------------------|-

-|---------------------|----------------------|---------------------|-

-|-15--13--11--10------|-10h11-10-------------|-/15-----------------|-

-|-15--13--11--10------|---------10\9/10------|----15-16-15---------|-

-|-16--14--12--11------|----------------------|---------------------|-

-|--------------0------|----------------------|---------------------|-

-|---------------------|----------------------|---------------------|-

-|---------------------|----------------------|---------------------|-

-|---------------------|----------------------|----14--15-14--------|-

-|--16---17------------|----------------------|--15--15------14-----|-

-|---------------------|----------------------|---------------------|-

-|---------------------|----------------0-----|---------------------|-

-|---------------------|----------------------|---------------------|-

-|---------------------|-------12-\-----------|---------------------|-

bend bend

-|------19-----------|-19-20-19--------------|-15-17-15--------------|-

-|-19------19--------|---------17\15---------|----------15\13--------|-

-|--19------14h16/18-|---------------12h14/16|---------------12h14-12|-

-|-------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-

-|-------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-

-|-------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-

ambulance here (whamy), then repeat part #1 with minor variations

-|-15------------------|----------------------|---------------------|-

-|---------------------|----------------------|---------------------|-

-|---------------------|----------------------|---------------------|-

-|---------------------|----------------------|---------------------|-

-|---------------------|----------------------|---------------------|-

-|---------------------|----------------------|---------------------|-

****************************************************************************

Hi. I found your tab for "Frank" really helpful, and it's always great to

see new Steve Vai tabs come online. He's pretty underrepresented on tab sites,

most likely because his songs are so hard to figure out. Anyway, as far as I

can tell the tab is correct, except I read in an interview that Steve does the

entire "solo" using a combination of whammy bar and natural harmonics. I tried

it out, and doing it this way sounds a lot closer to the album, and feels more

natural to play since its all in one area of the guitar. My copy of Ultra Zone

was stolen from my car a few months ago along with a whole bunch of other CDs,

but based on memory and your tab, this is how I think he plays it:

"Frank" Solo

By Aaron Goldman (aaronlg@hotmail.com)

Notation:

= natural harmonic on the 5th fret

1

/ = hit the harmonic and then go up one fret with wammy bar

(like a normal bend)

\

1 = hit harm, then go down 1fr /w/ bar

1

/ \ = hit harm, go up 1fr /w/ bar, then go back down

(like a bend and release)

1____

/ = keep the pitch 1fr higher even as you hit the second note

(like a hold bend)

there are no non-harmonics anywhere in this part of the song, so any number

not in 's will invariably be part of the whammy bar notation

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

B|--------------------|---------------|-------------4--|--------------|

G|-----------------|-----2---------|---------/---|-\-------1-|

D|----------2____--|-/-\--------|-------------|-\2--/1\|

A|---------/----|--------\---|-------------|-----2--/-\|

E|--------------------|------------2--|----------------|--------------|

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

B|-----------------|----------------------|-------1_----|-----------|

G|----1------------|----------1--------|----1__/-----|-----------|

D|-/---------|------/-\----|-/-----|--------|

A|----------\-/-|----------------------|-------------|-----------|

E|--------------1--|----------------------|-------------|--\-----|

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

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

G|------------------------|---------------------|

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

A|------------------------|-----------------/---|

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

E|-----1--\------------|-----------------------|

B|-/-\----2-----2---|-----2-----------2-----|

G|--------------/------|-/-\-------/--|

D|------------------------|-----------------------|

A|------------------------|--------\-----------|

E|------------------------|-----------2-----------|

E|------/\/\/\-----------

B|-----/------\/\/\------

G|-/------------\/\/\-

D|-----------------------

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

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

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