CLASSIC TRACK
Travel back half a century to 1973 and learn Queen’s first single and opening track from their debut self-titled album
At 76 years old, Brian May is still rocking as hard as ever, and his legendary career with Queen has now spanned an incredible five decades. It all started in 1973 with the first song Brian wrote with the band, which contains elements he favoured such as muted galloping rhythms, multitrack harmonies and intricate key changes.
As a rhythm guitarist, Brian uses a combination of chord shapes which he is able to quickly switch between, plus tight single-note riffing. Brian’s lead work is melodic with a distinctive voice-like sustain and vibrato. His multi-track guitar arrangements sometimes feature up to five interwoven parts. In our transcription we have created a single playable part which seamlessly moves between rhythm, lead and harmony parts.
SOUND ADVICE
B rian used his Red Special guitar with the bridge and middle pickups in the parallel settingforahumbuckingtone.The classic Queen guitar sound is a Vox AC30 with a treble boost pedal in front of the amp, which focuses the low end and adds some extra gain and sustain. Brian also adds a phaser effect which adds dimension. His pick of choice is an Old English Sixpence; its serrated edge adds the perfect scratchy attack.
