Dylan wrote:They will forever hold a special place in my heart, no matter how many Rubin-fucked records they make.
By the way, I have heard three different interpretations of the beginning of "For Those About To Rock" - which one do you favour?
1st & 2nd string, round about the 12th fret
1st and 2nd string, open B
1st & 3rd string, 12th fret-ish
In my mind's ear, it's not an open string, and the interval seems farther apart than one string--you know, in terms of timbre, the way a fretted low A seems deeper than a ringing A string.
So I think the third option.
This gets to the genius of the rhythm playing--Malcolm very, very rarely plays more than four strings tops, and most of the time it's two or three.
And he selects the particular strings and voicings and his chord positioning very deliberately.
And he will play a given riff two or three different ways depending on where it is in the song--intro build-up, post-chorus comedown, rave-up part. Often the rhythm is the same, but he will add a note, play it farther up the neck, play a previously fretted note on an open string, etc.
Not even getting into his picking technique, muting, etc. It's extremely sophisticated playing.
You can learn most of what there is to know about playing hard rock rhythm guitar by listening carefully to all of Back in Black. It's basically all there. And he continues to get it right on every record, even when the songs are not up to snuff. He's absolutely terrific.
zero.