Transcribing Notes From John Neil (Head Transcriber)
More Than a Feeling – Boston – Song Breakdown
One of the many songs Tom Scholz recorded in his basement studio, playing all the instruments (except for drums and vocals). I was lucky enough to come across ALL the tracks for this song, or 21 anyway (there may be reduction mixes like in the drums, as the toms sound close mic-ed but there are no individual tom tracks), so that made it much easier to pick out what each part is doing.
Melody
Brad Delp was an incredible singer. I would think there are magic effects put on his vocals that make them sound so great, but it’s just simply him doubled. And the backing vocals are simply 2 parts … doubled. The tracks I found have no reverb put on them, and they still sound incredible. The vocal range is a whopping D3-G5.
Download the Melody Sheet Music Here
Keyboard
There isn’t a keyboard part in this recording, so I made up a part, which includes doubling the guitar solo at 69, where I also had it play a few different notes reflecting the guitar solo harmonies. It also covers the rhythm guitar part in the 3rd interlude where both electric guitars are busy.
Download the Keyboard Sheet Music Here
Lead Guitar
There are 10 electric guitar tracks total (yikes). Some double another one, some are only in the solo, etc, some are actually track stacked on the backing vocal tracks! Those were the days …. This part follows what the left electric rhythm guitar(s) do, and switches over to what the solo guitars do when applicable.
Download the Lead Guitar Tab Here
Rhythm Guitar 1
This follows what the right electric rhythm guitar(s) do, and switches to the ‘best of’ what all the rhythm guitars do when the lead guitar does other parts. It also catches the guitar harmonies in the 2nd & 3rd interludes, and the last lick in the solo at bar 77.
Download the Rhythm Guitar 1 Tab Here
Rhythm Guitar 2
This is an arrangement of the 2 acoustic 12-string guitars tracks, which one is played a little different than the other in a few cases. I did what sounds most prominent, keeping in mind they are 12-string guitars and high notes could be either the higher string of lower strings, or they could be just higher strings doubled (if that makes any sense).
Download the Rhythm Guitar 2 Tab Here
Strum Guitar/Ukulele
There isn’t really a stand-alone strum or ukulele track in this song, though there is a lot of strumming going on, particularly at the end of the choruses. This track was made up so that you can strum through the entire song.
Download the Strum Tab Here
Download the Ukulele Tab Here
Bass Guitar
Nice bass track with lots of movement. It is played with a pick.
Download the Bass Tab Here
Drums
Sib Hashian’s drums, with a mixture of cross-stick and stick playing. I made this a 4-tom arrangement as the tom fills are a big part of the sound. Mainly basic beats, with 16th note bass drum flourishes throughout.
Download the Drum Music Here
Download the Lead Sheet Here
