Transcribing Notes From John Neil (Head Transcriber)
Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra
This song was particularly challenging (a fun challenge) to arrange for a standard band, with all the orchestration involved (after all, the “O” of ELO does stand for orchestra).
Melody
Lots of vocals going on here, as is he case with ELO. The main Jeff Lynn vocals come in at the range of D3 to A4, and adding backing vocals it comes in at D3 to C5. And adding the notes I gave the vocoder solo, it comes in at C3 to C5.
Download the Melody Music Here
Keyboard
For the keyboards, I did the main piano (acoustic & electric), some strings, the vocoder solo, some choir, & some backing vocal parts … which should keep you pretty busy. FYI – the vocoder part at the ending is there because the album this is from originally came out as a double l.p. (and tape and whatever else), and it’s instructing the listener to turn the album over (or whatever medium … I assume it applied to those too).
Download the Keyboard Sheet Music Here
Lead and Rhythm Guitars
I had these parts cover the guitar parts, as well as some of the orchestration/choir parts the keyboards weren’t able to do without playing with their nose.
Download the Lead Guitar Tab Here
Download the Rhythm Guitar Tab Here
Strum/Ukulele
There isn’t really a strum guitar or ukulele in this recording (although a ukulele is such a happy instrument, that would have worked well. I’ll tell Jeff). So I wrote a part based on the groove of the song.
Download the Strum Tab Here
Download the Ukulele Tab Here
Bass
A happy bass part, which sounds like it’s played with a pick, and looks like it in old live videos.
Download the Bass Tab Here
Drums
A pretty basic drum part with lots of triplet fills. I notated the big hits (like in bar 23) as cowbell or ride bell. I believe the actual instrument is anvil, if you could manage that instead.
Download the Drum Music Here
Download the Lead Sheet Here