Transcribing Notes From John Neil (Head Transcriber)
Clint Eastwood – Gorillaz – Song Breakdown
Melody
An optimistic song with both singing and talking parts. The singing part range is Db3-Eb4 (or Db3-Db5 if we’re counting the “Hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo” at the beginning). The talking range depends on where the performer’s voice is. I put the approximate “notes” in those parts, but that doesn’t need to be strictly adhered to.
Download the Melody Music Here
Keyboard
The entire song consists of keyboards, samples and drum machine (or plugin), so I had to divide the keyboards up amongst the instruments. There are some duplicate parts here and there in order to keep players busy. I had the keyboards do the basic piano part, then venture off into whatever part was most keyboard-like at certain times, like the string synth reoccurring melody and the harmonium. When both of those are present, I have the guitar do the harmonium and keys do string synth because those parts make the most sense for those instruments.
Download the Keyboard Sheet Music Here
Lead Guitar
I had the lead guitar start off with the basic chords of one of the piano parts, then at bar 23 it ventures off to other keyboard parts (doubling keyboards). Then later it resumes the basic piano part, then back to other keyboard parts, etc. It does a lot of the harmonium lead parts, but it’s pretty basic, and should be easily done with guitar.
Download the Lead Guitar Tab Here
Rhythm Guitar
This part consists of a guitar sample/bass (the bass notes on 1 and 3) and the basic piano parts (upper chords). This leaves the keyboards open to play the other keyboard parts along with the lead guitar. It’s pretty repetitious, but there are subtle changes and occasional breaks to keep an eye out for. It’s also tuned down a half step to cover the correct key.
Download the Rhythm Guitar Tab Here
Strum Guitar
There isn’t a strum guitar part in this song, so a part was made up to go along with it. It’s done with barre chords to simplify all the chromatic movement, and avoid having to tune down. In verse 2, there is a pedal point of Eb (on almost all chords), but I left that out, as it’s not really needed to get the point across, and is relatively short-lived.
Download the Strum Tab Here
Bass
Another synth part in the song. It’s based on Ebm, so I have the bass tuned down a half step. It should sound fine played with the fingers as opposed to a pick. The Ab (or A once bass is tuned) note that occurs before section changes acts more like a TR-808 boom bass drum than an actual note (hence no Ab/A chord put there).
Download the Bass Tab Here
Drums
This is a drum machine (or plugin) part along with a sample (or samples) adapted for normal drum kit. So a lot of it is basic stuff, but when the chorus comes in (and elsewhere), the sample(s) come in which spruce the part up a bit, and make it more complicated.
Download the Drum Music Here
Download the Lead Sheet Here
