EXPENSIVE SHIT I'm Dan Mash. I couldn't resist. Here's the one guitar part that kicks in right from the start of the tune: E|-2-2--4--4--2-2---5-5--| B|-3-3--3--3--3-3---3-3--| G|-----------------------| D|-----------------------| A|-----------------------| E|-----------------------|
It's only one of many layers of instrumentation that kick in later. You don't have to strike the first chord/interval twice, like I typed. You can strike it once, and wait. The percussion fills in the upbeat anyway. I didn't transcribe it in the right key, since I forget what the right key is. In other words: you'll have to slide the entire figure up or down a bit on your guitar to match the pitches of the song as recorded. I'm formulating the other guitar part in my head, but I don't want to transcribe it without an instrument handy and without the recording handy. Here's the primary [horn] melody of the song as you might play it on a bass guitar: G|-----------------------| D|--5-3-1~~~~~-----------| A|----------------1^3----| E|-----------------------| G|-----------------------| D|--5-3-1~~~~~-----------| A|----------------1^3----| E|-----------------------| G|----3---------------------------------| D|--5----3-5---1--------------1--1------| A|---------------3--------1^3-----3-----| E|-----------------3-3------------------| My transcription there most closely resembles the bari-sax line, I think. I think at least one higher-register horn DOESN'T hit that LOW G. Make sure you move that figure around to find the right key. For the very last 5 tones, whatever you do, DON'T PLAY THIS: D|-------1---------| A|----1^3---1-3----| Some Americans want to do that. Their unconscious urges them to do that. It's some kind of melodic archetype that probably comes from rock music that everyone hears every day. Also, the anthemic melody to Bob Marley's "Fight for your Right"/get-up/stand-up has made severe impressions on people's ears, probably rightfully so. Here's the bassline for Expensive Shit: G|-----------------------| D|-----------------------| A|--3--3-3---------------| E|-----------------------|