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Stratovarius - "Stratosphere" Guitar Tab

Plain Text Version
More Stratovarius Tabs

Hits: 9898
Rated: 4.12 out of 5 (17 votes)
Updated: 2001-06-25 16:20:54


#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#Unless specified otherwise, this is NOT an official tab from the band members.#
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------#

  Visit MetalTabs.com for more metal tablature
  
          "STRATOSPHERE" by Stratovarius (from "Episode" album)

                          music by Timo Tolkki


Transcribed by "Winds of War" guitarists: Manuele Alessio & Graziano
E-Mail: <windsofwar@geocities.com>
Check out our page: http://windsofwar.freeservers.com

This is the COMPLETE guitar (and some keyboards parts arranged for guitar)
tab of the great instrumental tour de force by the Finland's Malmsteen.
However the real Malmsteen dreams every night to write something heavy like
this ! It's very difficult to play but not so much to tab it (according to
us).  We don't represent the bars, the vertical lines are been used as an
ideal 'separation' of groups of notes.

Legend

 ^ = bend &#1029;   ^^ = bend whole step   / = slide up until the note
 p = pull off   h = hammer on        ~ = let ring the note
 v = tremolo picking

Tune the guitar an half step down

Intro (it's something of the kind of Iron's "Wasted Years" intro ...):

E--12--000--8--000--7--000--5--000--|
B-----------------------------------|
G-----------------------------------|
D-----------------------------------|
A-----------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------|

Play it very fast five times (in the original at the fifth the guitar is
                              doubled by Jens' keyboards).
The classical phrase:

E--12--13--12--10-----------------------------10--12--13--12--10--|
B------------------13--12--10--9--10--12--13----------------------|
G-----------------------------------------------------------------|
D-----------------------------------------------------------------|
A-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------------------------------------|

The variations of the intro:

E--12--000--10--000--7--000--4--000--|
B------------------------------------|
G------------------------------------|
D------------------------------------|
A------------------------------------|
E------------------------------------|

Play again the classical phrase.

Play all this stuff fourth times

The classical-progression:
- some phrases can be played a little bit easily on the B/G strings
  instead of E/B (Timo however play ever with the E string for a
  more clean sound)
- play every bar on the E string as represented in the first
  (do NOT use tapping, please !); very difficult, isn't it ???
- naturally, play it very FAST ! (but don't get discouraged, the
  best must come yet !)
- Two times, please.

E--12p9------9h12p9-13p9-12p9------9h12p9------|
B--------10--------------------10----------10--|
G----------------------------------------------|
D----------------------------------------------|
A----------------------------------------------|
E----------------------------------------------|


E--17-13------13-17-13-18-13-17-13------13-17-13------|
B---------15------------------------15------------15--|
G-----------------------------------------------------|
D-----------------------------------------------------|
A-----------------------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------------------------|


E--10-7-----7-10-7-12-7-10-7-----7-10-7-----|
B--------8--------------------8----------8--|
G-------------------------------------------|
D-------------------------------------------|
A-------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------------|


E--15-12------12-15-12-17-12-15-12------12-15-12------|
B---------13------------------------13------------13--|
G-----------------------------------------------------|
D-----------------------------------------------------|
A-----------------------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------------------------|


E--8-5-----5-8-5-10-5-8-5-----5-8-5-----|
B-------6------------------6---------6--|
G---------------------------------------|
D---------------------------------------|
A---------------------------------------|
E---------------------------------------|


E--14-11------11-14-11-15-11-14-11------11-14-11------|
B---------12------------------------12------------12--|
G-----------------------------------------------------|
D-----------------------------------------------------|
A-----------------------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------------------------|


E--19-16------16-19-16-20--|--16-19-16------|--16-19-16-20-16-19------16-19--|
B---------17---------------|------------17--|---------------------17---------|
G--------------------------|--three times---|--------------------------------|
D--------------------------|----------------|--------------------------------|
A--------------------------|----------------|--------------------------------|
E--------------------------|----------------|--------------------------------|

The alternate picking phrase:
- This is a tricky part. And don't say that you haven't been advised !
- Just play it at the "SPEED OF LIGHT" :)
- Regarding the difficult passage from the B string to the E one: don't
  be conditioned of this tab; play the passage whenever you like (you
  might play it ALL on the E string f.e., except the passage obviously !)
- Two times, please (yes, like before !)

E-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
B--10-13-12-10-9-12-10-9--|--10-13-12-10-12-15-13-12-13-17-15-13-14-17-15-14-|
G--------two times--------|--------------------------------------------------|
D-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
A-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|

E--10-13-12-10-9-12-10-9--|--10-13-12-10-11-14-12-11-12-13-12-10-------------|
B--------two times--------|---------------------------------------13-12-10-9-|
G-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
D-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
A-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|

E-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
B--10-13-12-10-9-12-10-9--|--10-13-12-10-12-15-13-12-13-17-15-13-14-17-15-14-|
G--------two times--------|--------------------------------------------------|
D-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
A-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|

E--10-13-12-10-9-12-10-9--|--10-13-12-10-11-14-12-11-12~--|
B--------two times--------|-------------------------------|
G-------------------------|-------------------------------|
D-------------------------|-------------------------------|
A-------------------------|-------------------------------|
E-------------------------|-------------------------------|

As you can see, the two parts are identical except the end. There's even a keyboard
harmonization ... it starts in this way (transcribed for guitar):

E--8-10-12-10-8-7-10-9-7--| etc. (can't figure out, maybe later !)
B--------two times--------|
G-------------------------|
D-------------------------|
A-------------------------|
E-------------------------|


The simple & fast alternate passage. Every note must be stroke quickly, fuse
that plectrum !

     v    v
E---19---16----v------------------------------------------------|
B-------------17----v----v----v---------------------------------|
G------------------16---14---13----v----------------------------|
D---------------------------------14----v----v----v-------------|
A--------------------------------------14---12---11----v----v---|
E-----------------------------------------------------13---10---|


The "Stratovarius" theme (It will be used another time at the end).
It is armonized (tab the armonizing notes together, don't worry !).

E---------------------------|
B--9--10--6--9--5--6--3--5--| <- Left Guitar
G--9--10--7--9--5--7--4--5--| <- Right Guitar
D---------------------------|
A---------------------------|
E---------------------------|


E-------|
B-------|
G---2---|
D---2---| (let ring and pull the bar down slowly)
A---0---|
E-------|


The wonderful slow-melodic passage; cool keyboard work by
Jens here, eh ? We've tabbed some of those parts too.

Keyboard chords arranged for guitar:

E----8---|---7---|---5---|---3---| (The other chords are: D minor, F major
B---10---|---8---|---5---|---3---|  and E major)
G----9---|---7---|---2---|---0---|
D--------|-------|-------|-------|
A--------|-------|-------|-------|
E--------|-------|-------|-------|


Guitar phrases:

E---------------------------------------|----------------------------|
B---------------------------------------|----------------------------|
G------5~--7/9--7~--4-------------------|------5~--7/9--7~--/12--9~--|
D----------------------5----------7-7~--|----------------------------|
A--/7---------------------5--5/7--------|--/7------------------------|
E---------------------------------------|----------------------------|


These notes are harmonized (call your band's right guitar to perform it !):

Left Guitar (the same both times)

E------------------------------------------------------|
B---------------10~--12--13--12^--(12)--10~--/13--12~--|
G--9-9--9^--12-----------------------------------------|
D------------------------------------------------------|
A------------------------------------------------------|
E------------------------------------------------------|

Right Guitar (first time)

E-------------------------------------------------|
B------------5--6~--8--10--8^^--(8)--6~--/10--9~--|
G--5-5--5^^---------------------------------------|
D-------------------------------------------------|
A-------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------------------|

Right Guitar (second time)

E-------------------------------------------------|
B------------5--6~--8--10--8^^--(8)--6~--5h6--5~--|
G--5-5--5^^---------------------------------------|
D-------------------------------------------------|
A-------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------------------|

First End

E-----------------|
B-----------------|
G--9^--7--10--9~--| Bend the first note and release,
D-----------------| play the last one with an artificial harmonic.
A-----------------|
E-----------------|

Repeat once more

Second End (last two notes are harmonized):

E--12^--10--13--12~---19-19~--|
B---------------------21-21~--|
G-----------------------------|
D-----------------------------|
A-----------------------------|
E-----------------------------|


The armonic progression:
(NOTE: every second bar is the keyboard part arranged for guitar)

E--/12--9---------------|----------------------------|
B----------10-----------|----------------------------|
G--------------12--10~--|----------9--10------9--10--|
D-----------------------|--11--12---------12---------|
A-----------------------|----------------------------|
E-----------------------|----------------------------|


E--/10--7-------------|-------------------------|
B----------8----------|-------------------------|
G-------------10--9~--|---------7--9------7--9--|
D---------------------|--9--10--------10--------|
A---------------------|-------------------------|
E---------------------|-------------------------|


E--/8--5------------|-----------------------|--------------------|
B---------6--5------|-----------------------|--------------------|
G---------------7~--|-----4--5--7--4--5--7--|--/8--11--8-----9~--|
D-------------------|--7--------------------|-------------9------|
A-------------------|-----------------------|--------------------|
E-------------------|-----------------------|--------------------|

Play two times.

Easy, isn't ? Unfortunately now the track resumes fast as the start.

Play the intro again, the classical phrase (on the end three times) ...

The reprise of the "Stratovarius" Theme: (Timo used it formerly at the
end of the instrumental "Stratovarius" on the "Fourth Dimension" album,
remember ?).

E--12--13-|-10--12-|-----10-|--------|--------|--------|
B---------|--------|-13-----|-12--13-|-10--12-|-9--10--|
G---------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
D---------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
A---------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
E---------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|

(Slow down ! Don't run !)

E--------|------|-------|-------|------|-------|
B--------|------|-------|-------|------|-------|
G--9--10-|-7--9-|-7-----|-------|------|-------|
D--------|------|----10-|-9--10-|-7--9-|-6--7--|
A--------|------|-------|-------|------|-------|
E--------|------|-------|-------|------|-------|

(Slower)

E-------|------|------|------|-------|
B-------|------|------|------|-------|
G-------|------|------|------|-------|
D-------|------|------|------|---3---|
A--7--8-|-5--7-|----5-|------|---3---|
E-------|------|-8----|-7--8-|---1---|


E-------|--------|
B-------|--------| Let ring F5 chord since the last but one
G-------|-----2--| sextuple, then play E5 chord and immediately
D--(3)--|--2--2--| after the A5 chord
A--(3)--|--2--0--|
E--(1)--|--0-----|


That's all. Eh ? What ?! Where is the end scale ??? Ok, ok, no bluff !
It's very hard to decipher ! The flying finnish performs the notes too
much quickly: however, according to us he uses in the beginning some
notes taken by case (HERESY !), but maybe the fault is by the mixing.
The rest of the phrase is exact.

Note - It's monstruosly difficult. Don't blame us if you can't play it !
     - For 'good' axe-man: Timo uses pratically the A minor scale in all his
       extension; improvise, make it easier to play ... Use legato, sweep
       and all that you are able to play ! (We've modified the end of the
       phrase in a simple sweep, the result is nearly equal).

E------------|----------------------|----------------------|
B------------|----------------------|----------------------|
G------------|----------------------|----------------------|
D------------|----------------------|------------12-14-15--|
A--????????--|------------12-14-15--|--12-14-15------------|
E--12-13-15--|--12-13-15------------|----------------------|

E----------------------|----------------------|------------13-15-17--|
B----------------------|------------13-15-17--|--13-15-17------------|
G------------12-14-16--|--12-14-16------------|----------------------|
D--12-14-15------------|----------------------|----------------------|
A----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
E----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|

THE END.

Yeah ! This was our first tab ! Enjoy yourself ? No ???
A little complex, I concur. Wait for other tabs ... (easier, ok ?).
Write us if you have any comments or requests (anyway we'll tab only the
songs that we like to listen !).

Transcribed by "Winds of War" guitarists: Manuele Alessio & Graziano
E-Mail: <windsofwar@geocities.com>
Check out our page: http://windsofwar.freeservers.com

  Visit MetalTabs.com for more metal tablature

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