Transcribing Notes From John Neil (Head Transcriber)
Interstate Love Song – Stone Temple Pilots – Song Breakdown
Melody
This one actually began as a bossa nova song with a country riff added, and then became what it is today. The lyrics are basically about Scott Weiland lying to his fiancé about being clean on the road. The vocal range comes in at C#3 to E4.
Download the Melody Sheet Music Here
Keyboard
There isn’t a keyboard part on this recording, so I made one up that follows the basic groove of the song. I had it play electric piano because that blends in good with many rock songs in my experience.
Download the Keyboard Sheet Music Here
Rhythm/Lead Guitar
Both guitars play similar parts with the exception of the intro, where the lead guitar plays the slide solo, and the rhythm guitar plays the more picking electric. For the rest, like many other rock songs, there are 2 guitar parts pretty much doubled left and right in the stereo spectrum, but played a little differently to make it a more full sound.
Download the Lead Guitar Tab Here
Download the Rhythm Guitar Tab Here
Strum Guitar
There is strum guitar in the intro, which is represented here, but then I kept it going for the rest of the song as well.
Download the Strum Tab Here
Ukulele
There is no ukulele in this recording, so a part was made up. It’s similar to the strum part, except that it plays the main riff in the intro and re-intros.
Download the Ukulele Tab Here
Bass
A nice bass part with a lot of movement. It’s played with the fingers, and quite forcibly starting at bar 7.
Download the Bass Tab Here
Drums
A pretty funky drum part. There are different levels of hi-hat opening – normal, loose, more loose, & open. There is also a case where I use “T” for tight, which happens amidst loose hi-hats. I figured this would look less messy, and also will give a heads up for the tighter hits that would get lost in standard notation. It’s a feel thing as well, but he generally keeps to the formula notated.
Download the Drum Music Here
Download the Lead Sheet Here
