The Battle of Los Angeles
Rage Against the Machine
Tabbed by Paul Taylor
1. Testify
2. Guerrilla radio
3. Calm like a bomb
4. Mic Check
5. Sleep now in the fire
6. Born of a broken man
7. Born as Ghosts
8. Maria
9. Voice of the voiceless
10.New millennium homes
11.Ashes in the fall
12.war within a Breath (Tabbed by: John Darrow)
Notes: Tom used only five stomp-boxes live they are The Whammy Pedal, Delay,Wah-Wah,Flanger and an EQ used
as a volume boost. I have desribed how to make some of the noises rather than tab them
1. Tstifie
Drop-D tunning (Guitar used: Fender Telecaster)
Intro/verse
"Set the Whammy harmonizing +7th and tremolo pick the low D string. Then while doing this
rock the Wah back and forth slowly. In the intro it is random but in the verse it is rocked
over a four bar phrase by the bass."
Chorus:
e:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|--------------------|
b:-6---------------|-----------------|-6---------------|-------------12bu13-|
g:-5---------------|-----------------|-5---------------|-------------12bu14-|
d:-4---------------|-----------------|-4---------------|--------------------|
a:-5-----------3---|-----5-3-xx0-----|-5-------0-3-10--|-0---5-3-x-0--------|
D:-----3-5-0-------|-0-------xx0-5-3-|-----3-5-0-3-10--|-0-------x-0--------|
Bridge:
Cleaner tone (be awear that Tom doesn't use two amp settings he prfers to drop the guitar's volume for
the cleaner bits)
e:-------------------------------------|
b:-------------------------------------|
g:-17---X-X-17---X-X-17---X-X-17---X-X-|Play eight
d:--x---X-X--x---X-X--x---X-X--x---X-X-|times
a:-15---X-X-15---X-X-15---X-X-15---X-X-|
D:-------------------------------------|
Solo:
Switch on EQ and Wah, Unplug guitar and touch against the 'ashtray'(metal bit of a telle) on the guitar
Create the rhythm by touching it and talking it of and the tone is changed with the wah pedal.
Pre-Chorus Build up:
e:---------|-----------|-----|-----|
b:---------|-----------|-3---|(3)--|
g:-10------|(10)-------|-2---|(2)--|
d:-10------|(10)----10-|-0---|(0)--|
a:-8-------|(8-)----10-|-0---|(0)--|
D:---------|--------10-|-0---|(0)--|
Ending:
e:--------------------|
b:--------------------|
g:-8\7--8\7--8\7--8\7-|
d:-8\7--8\7--8\7--8\7-|
a:-6\5--6\5--6\5--6\5-|
D:--------------------|
Guerrilla Radio:
Standard tunning (Ibanez hollow body with bulit in auto-wah and tremolo)
Intro:
With harmony +5th and tremolo efect to replicate 16 times per bar (aprox 416 times per minute)
e:---------------------------------|
b:---------------------------------|
g:---------------------------------|
d:---------------------------------|play eight
a:-------------------------0---2---|times
E:-0---2---2---0-2---0-2-----------|
Chorus
(I think to make this sound heavier Tom put the whammy to harmonises down
an octave although it may just be distorted bass, it is probably both. This means
you will have to change quickly between patches while playing!! I have to play in bar feet and use my big toe!!)
play seven times
e:---------------------------------|-----------------------------|
b:--------------------------------o|-----------------------------|
g:---------------------------------|-2--------------1------------|
d:---------------------------------|-----------------------------|
a:-------------------------0---2--o|-----------------------------|
E:-0---2---2---0-2---0-2-----------|-----2------0-------2------0-|
Verse:
Turn on wah and drop volume for a clean tone
e:---------------------------------|
b:--------------------------------o|
g:---------------------------------|Play 15
d:---------------------------------|times
a:--------------------------------o|
E:-0-2---0-0-2---0-0-2---0-0-2---0-|
+ o + o + o + o
Interlude:
w/ slow flanger (13 cycles per minute)
e:---------------------------------|
b:---------------------------------|
g:---------------------------------|
d:---------------------------------|play eight
a:-------------------------0---2---|times
E:-0---2---2---0-2---0-2-----------|
Solo:
w/ whammy set +two octaves (Using both the wet and the dry signal to create a masive two octave
harmony) wah-wah pedal (rocked forward on every note exept in bar 2) and use togle switch
to create rhythms. Tom also claims to have used a talk-box but it must be very low in the mix
coz I cant here one. It's also worth noting that there are about five guitars playing on the record
all playing with verious efects and notes so every Tom can't play it good live.
Play three times play three times
e:------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------------|-7--6--5--2-|
b:-----------------o|---------------------------------|----------------------o|-7--6--5--2-|
g:--------------2---|-4-------------------------------|-4---2-4---4bu6bd4-2---|-7--6--5--2-|
d:-4---2-4---2-4----|---------------------------------|-4---2-4-------------4-|------------|
a:-----------------o|---------------------------------|----------------------o|------------|
E:------------------|---0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0---|-----------------------|------------|
wah o o o < < < < < < < < < < + + +
Outro:
This definatly used the down an octave harmony effect from the whammy.
You have time to change the setting while the line 'it has to...' is happening.
e:---------------|------------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x--|
b:--------------o|------------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-o|
g:---------------|------------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x--|
d:---------------|------------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x--|
a:---------9\---o|---------9\-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-o|
e:-0-2---0-------|-0-2---0----x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x--|
Calm Like a Bomb (cheap knackered department store guitar)
Intro:
fret the high B (12th fret on second string) and while tremolo picking it rock
the whammy pedal forward (with +15ma pitch shift) evenly over the course of one
bar. Tom actualy uses the toggle switch to get the tremmolo sound the switch is
similar to that of a fender stratocaster with the middle conection severed so
for each flick there are two on signals.
bridge to pre chorus:
w/ wah fully forwad
e:---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
b:---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
g:---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
d:---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
a:-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|
E:---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
Pre-chorus:
w/down octave harmony
e:---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
b:---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
g:---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
d:---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
a:-0-2-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-|-x-0-2-0-2-----2-----2---5-------|
E:---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
Chorus
w/down octave harmony
e:---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
b:---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
g:---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
d:---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
a:-0-2-x-2-5---2---x-x-x-5-----2---|-0-2-x-2-5---2---0-------5---2---|
E:---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
Solo
Since it is played entriely on the b: srting i will not do the rest
b:-12-0-0-0-0-0-12-0-0-0-0-0-12-0-0-0-0-0-12-0-0-0-0-0-12-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-|play four times
b:-12-0-0-0-0-0-12-0-0-0-0-0-12-0-0-0-0-0-12-0-0-0-0-0-12-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|
delay whammy (+15ma)<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>oo o o o o o o o o o o<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
b:-7-7-7-7-10-10-7-7-7-7-10-10-7-7-7-7-10-10-10-10-7-7-7-7-10-10-7-7-7-7-10-10-| Play 3 times
+ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o <<
Mic Check ("Arm the Homeless" guitar with floyd rose whammy bar)
Main guitar riff
Played through a very clean amp setting. Try a bit of reverb, chrous ect for the synth effect
w/ delay set to repeat on every quaver with two repeats
e:----------14----(14)----(14)-|----------16----(16)----(16)-|----------14----(14)----(14)-|
b:-------14---(14)----(14)-----|-------14---(14)----(14)-----|-------14---(14)----(14)-----|
g:----14-----------------------|----14-----------------------|----14-----------------------|
d:-16--------------------------|-16--------------------------|-16--------------------------|
a:-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
E:-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
e:----------13----(13)----(13)-||
b:-------14---(14)----(14)-----||
g:----14-----------------------||
d:-16--------------------------||
a:-----------------------------||
E:-----------------------------||
Bridge:
Guitar 1
e:--0-----0-----0-----0--|-0-----0-----0-----0--|
b:--5-----4-----5-----4--|-5-----4-----5-----4--|
g:--0-----0-----0-----0--|-0-----0-----0-----0--|
d:-----------------------|----------------------|
a:-----------------------|----------------------|
E:-----------------------|----------------------|
Guitar 2
Slide hand up and down | Rest during this bar |
Low E string and pick 3 |in last chorus include|
times durring each beat |this but put some |
Mute string with left |scratching in |
hand | |
Solo:
first section 2:09 (right after the line "We come down with a worior sound Ugh!")
Take a slide or somthing else metal in left hand (I use a 9V batery) and slide
it along the low strings between the pickups and flick the togle switch with
the right hand. here is the rhythem
1=on
0=off
\=slide down
/=up
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 | 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 | 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 | 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e +
4 |
1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 \ / 1 0 1 0 1 0 \ / 1 0 1 | kinda the same but with a bit more syncopation that
I can't be arsed with
Second section 2:18
Switch on wah and put fully forward throught
Dive bomb on first beat then slide left hand palm on strings and flick togle switch with right hand
Dive bomb on last beat of second bar.
Third section 2:24
wierd whammy bar abuse Three dive bombs lasting two beats each with a rocking back of the wah then another
with the wah switched off.
Sleep Now In The Fire (arm the homeless)
Main riff used in Intro/Outro/Chorus and Rythem in solo:
hold bend
e:-------------------------|------------------------|-----------------------|------------------------|
b:-------------------------|------------------------|-----------------------|-7bu8--8bd7-------------|
g:--------------5----------|-------------5----------|-------------5---------|-7bu8--8bd7--5----------|
d:--7-7---5--7------7----7-|-7--7--5--7------7----7-|-7--7--5--7------7---7-|---------------7--7p5h7-|
a:--0-0---0--0------0----0-|-0--0--0--0------0----0-|-0--0--0--0------0---0-|------------------------|
E:-[*---------]----[-------------------]----[-------------------]----[-----]-------------------------|
* Let open A string ring in between brackets
Verse
w/ whammy harmonised -3rd
e:-----------|--------------|--------|-------|
b:-----------|--------------|--------|-------|
g:-----------|-----------17-|--------|-------|
d:-----------|--------------|--------|-------|
a:-15--------|-(15)---------|-15-----|-(15)--|
E:-----------|--------------|--------|-------|
Guitar solo
How tom does it: Tom's 'Arm the homeless' guitar feedsback to the same harmonic f# note. You can hear this
Note by playing the harmonic at the fourth fret on the D-string. With the feedback he then uses the wammy
bar to change pitch and uses his right hand to create rhythms with the togle switch.
How I do it: Coz my guitar is cheap the only feedback I get is that horrid microphonic seagull sound plus I
don't have a whammy bar so I found another way to do it that sounds identical. Take a 9V battery and slide it
up the low E string untill you find the f# (it should be about 2 inches from the bridge) then uses the switch
to created the rhythms and move the 'slide' around but keep it in roughly the same spot.
Born of a broken man (Telle)
Droped D
verse
Drop guitars volume for clean sound
1 2 3 + 4
e:------------------------------|----------------|----------|-------------||-------------------|
b:------------------------------|----------------|----------|-------------||-------------------|
g:-14---14---14---14--14-14-ect-|-13--------16---|-0--------|-4----2--2-/-||-Swell volume into-|
d:--0----0-0--0----0---0--0-----|--0-strum---0---|-0-strum--|-0----0--0-/-||-Chorus------------|
a:--0----0-0--0----0---0--0-----|--0---------0---|-0--------|-0----0--0-/-||-------------------|
D:--0----0-0--0----0---0--0-----|--0---------0---|-17-------|-0----0--0-/-||-------------------|
Chrous
w/ fill 1 3rd time play four times
e:--------------------------------|-------------------------------|
b:--------------------------------|------------------------------o|
g:--------------------------------|-------------------------------|
d:--------------------------------|-------------------------------|
a:----5bu6bd5-3---0-----0---3---0-|-X-X-X-X-3---0-----0----3---0-o|
D:-0----------3---0---7-0---3---0-|-X-X-X-X-3---0---7-0----3---0--|
__________________________________
/ fill 1 \
| e:-------------------------------| |
| b:-----------------bend up grad.-| |
| g:---------------2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-| |
| d:-------------------------------| |
| a:-X-X-X-X-3---0-----------------| |
| D:-X-X-X-X-3---0-----------------| |
\__________________________________/
Bridge
e:--------------------------------------|
b:--------------------------------------|
g:--------------------------------------|
d:-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-10---10-10h12~~~~~~~~~-|
a:-0-0-0-0-0-0-0------------------------|
D:-0-0-0-0-0-0-0------------------------|
Guiatr interlude
Chorus riff twice but with wah wah pedle on. Push the rocker all the way forward then knock it back a little
if it sounds too extream.
Born as ghosts (Arm the homeless guitar used)
Intro
Guitar One with wah toe-down
e:---------------------------------|
b:---------------------------------|
g:---------------------------------|
d:---------------------------------|
a:---------------------------------|
E:-0\with bar/(0)---0\with bar/(0)-|
Guitar two with wah toe-up
e:----------------------------------|
b:----------------------------------|
g:----------------------------------|
d:--------------PB-5/RB with bar\(5)|
a:----------------------------------|
E:----------------------------------|
Chorus
e:-------||-----------------------------|
b:-------||o---------------------------o|
g:-X-7---||--------7bu8--9bu10bd9--X-7--|
d:-X-7---||--------7bu8------------X-7--|
a:-------||o-2-------------------------o|
E:-------||--0--0-----------------------|
Solo
First eight bars get out ya 9V batery and do as in Sleep now in the fire but
with wah full forward. Then
e:----------10-----------|--------10---|-------10---14-|--------10-|------10----|--------10-|----------------|
b:----------10-----8-----|o-------10--o|-------10------|--------10-|------10--8-|-----8--10-|---8---(8)---10-|
g:---------(*whammy on)--|-------*-----|-------*-------|--------*--|------*-----|-----------|---**--***---$--|
d:-----------------------|-------------|---------------|-----------|------------|-----------|----------------|
a:-----------------------|o-----------o|---------------|-----------|------------|-----------|----------------|
E:-6---------------------|-6-----------|-10------------|-10--------|-6----------|-6---------|----------------|
use switch to get sextuplet rhythem and manipulate tone with wah for low notes
*Whammy set for +4th
**Whammy set for +5th
***Whammy set for +oct
$Whammy set for +7th
Maria
Verse
Strike high G# (21st fret) on B-string and let ring throughout entire verse
Use the delay to replicate infinites quarter notes and set whammy to -whole tone.
(to do this you must use both the out puts and use dropped tune function down all the way)
Pre Chorus
Guitar one hit E5 chord (open)
Guitar two slowly scoops E5 Chord over one bar
Both guitars with Wah Toe up
Chorus riff
e:--------------------------|----------------------|
b:--------------------------|----------------------|
g:--------------------------|----------------------|
d:--------------------------|----------------------|
a:-7-5-7----5-2-5-----------|----------------------|
E:-----------------5-3-5-0--|-3-0-3--5-3-5---7-5-7-|
Bridge with whammy as before
play X4 play X4
e:-------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
b:-------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
g:-------1-----------------1-----|---------13-----------------------13-----|
d:-----2---2---2---------2---2---|------14----14----14-----------14----14--|
a:---2-------2---2-----2---------|---14----------14----14-----14-----------|
E:-0-----------------0-----------|-0------------------------0--------------|
Solo
all on high E tremolo picked with whammy as before
e:-22----17--0--16--0--16--0--|
e:-22----17--0--16--0--16--0--|
e:-22----17--0--17--0--17--0--|
e:-0--17--0---12-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-|
e:-22-x-22-x-22-x-22-x-x-x-x-x-|
e:-22-x-22-x-22-x-22-x-x-x-x-|
e:-----------------------------|-------------22----17----------22----17---16-17-|-17-------|
b:-2/6-4--4/8-6-6/10-8-8/12-10-|-10/14-16-18----21----18----18----21----18------|-18-------|
g:-----------------------------|-------------------------18---------------------|----------|
d:-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------|----------|
a:-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------|----------|
E:-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------|----------|
Ending
e:-0-------------------|
b:-3 slow bend up to 5-|
g:---------------------|
d:---------------------|
a:---------------------|
E:---------------------|
Voice of the voicless (telle)
Dropped D!
Veses
alow guitar to feedback to the G located as a harmonic on the 12th fret of the g string.
then flick through whammy presets. The mellody is a result of the harmonies.
TIP: when my band does this live our other guiarist holds the g with a e-bow and i flick around with
the whammy pedal.
Chorus tag: Chorus:
e:-----|--------------------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|
b:-----|--------------------------------|o------------------------|---------------------o|
g:-----|--------------------------------|-------------------------|---------------5------|
d:-----|--------------------------------|-------3-----------------|------3--------5p3----|
a:-5-3-|-5---3-0-3----------------------|o-3h5------5p3-5--3h5-5--|-3h5-----5p3-5-----5-o|
D:-----|-------------5-3-5---3-0-3---5--|-(0)---------------------|(0)-------------------|
New Millennium Homes (arm athe homeless)
Main riff/Chorus
play three times
e:---|--------------------|---------------------|-------------------|------------------|-----|
b:---|o-------------------|--------------------o|-------------------|------------------|-----|
g:---|--------------------|---------------------|-------------------|------------------|-----|
d:---|--------------------|---------------------|-------------------|--/5-----7--------|-----|
a:---|o-5-----------5h7---|---5----------5h7---o|--5---------5h7----|------7-----------|-----|
E:-0-|-----5\-0--0------0-|------5\-0--0------0-|-----5\-0-0------0-|-----------0--3-5-|-0---|
Verse
Tom playes open E string to this rhythm
1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a
E:--0-----0---0-0-----0-----0-0-|
Pre Chorus:
e:-------------------------0---|
b:-------------------------3---|
g:-----------------------------|
d:-----------------------------|
a:---------7-7-7---------------|
E:-0-0-0-----------0-0-0-------|
Solo
two guitars
Guitar 1 w/ whammy +3rd
e:--------------------------|
b:-(15)PB17BD15-X8-per-bar--|
g:--------------------------|
d:--------------------------|
a:--------------------------|
E:--------------------------|
Guitar two.
Mute A-string and tap with metal object such as a key or allen wrench at the 12th fret to a 16 beat
per bar pattern. Then with the whammy set
to up an octave rock it back and forth randomly.
Ashes in the fall (arm the home less)
intro (w/ whammy +2oct)
e:-5-----5-----5---|-5-----5-----5---|-6-----6-----6---|-6-----6-----6---|-8-----8-----8---|-8-----8-----8--|
b:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|
g:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|
d:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|
a:---5-5---5-5-----|---5-5---5-5-----|---5-5---5-5-----|---5-5---5-5-----|---5-5---5-5-----|---5-5---5-5----|
E:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|
use toggle switch to create rhythms
e:-6-----6-----6---|-6-----6-----6---|
b:-----------------|-----------------|
g:-----------------|-----------------|
d:-----------------|-----------------|
a:---5-5---5-5-----|---5-5---5-5-----|
E:-----------------|-----------------|
Verse (w/ delay and whammy +2oct)
e:------------------|--------|--------------|------|
b:------------------|--------|--------------|------|
g:------------------|--------|--------------|------|
d:--19/+2oct\\\\\\\-|-(19)---|-17/+2oct\\\\\|-(17)-|
a:------------------|--------|--------------|------|
E:------------------|--------|--------------|------|
o + \\\\\o o + \\\\o
begin decent on beat two
Chorus (w/ wha as filter (o))
e:-0--------|-0--------|
b:-1--------|-1--------|
g:-3---rest-|-3---rest-|
d:-2--------|-2--------|
a:-3--------|-3--------|
e:----------|----------|
Bridge Go mad with whammy pedal until the line 'like the reaper' then
e:----------------|------|----------------|------|
b:----------------|-o--/-|----------------|-o--/-|
g:-2-----2-----2--|---/--|----------------|---/--|
d:---0-0---0-0----|--/---|-3-0-0-3-0-0-3--|--/---|
a:----------------|-/--o-|----------------|-/--o-|
E:----------------|------|----------------|------|
Outro:
e:---------------|
b:---------------|
g:-13------------|
d:--------14-----|
a:---------------|
E:---------------|
War Within a Breath
Dropped D tuning and down 1/2 step
Intro:
(whammy pedal set up 2 octaves)
let ring--------------------------------|
e|----0-----------------------------------------------|
b|----0-----------------------------------------------|
g|----0-----------------------------------------------|
d|----0-----------------12----------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------|
Riff 1
e|--------------------------------------------------|
b|--------------------------------------------------|
g|-----14----14--------13----13--------12----12-----|
d|--12----12----12--12----12----12--12----12----12--|
A|--------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------|
e|--------------------------------------------------|
b|--------------------------------------------------|
g|-----11----11-------------------------------------|
d|--12----12----12----------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------|
Riff 2
e--------------------------------------------------|
b--------------------------------------------------|
g--------------------------------------------------|
d--------------------------------------------------|
A--0------------3---5----3-------------------------|
D--0---3----5------------3-------------------------|
Ending Riff
(with whammy set up 2 octaves)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
e--0---------------------0-------------------------|
b--0------------------r--0-------------------------|
g--0------------------e--0-------------------------|
d--0------------------s--0-------------------------|
A--0------------------t--0-------------------------|
D--0---------------------0-------------------------|
e--------------------------------------------------|
b--------------------------------------------------|
g--------------------------------------------------|
d--------------------------------------------------|
A----let ring--------------------------------------|
D---13---------------------------------------------|
That's it have fun. This took me a while so I would apreciate any corections or E-m@ails
