How to play 'Grabbag' (Duke Nukem Theme) on Guitar!

[ryansilas]

Awsome video, i like this version better than the other. I kept wondering why all of the tabs i found where completely off.

[OstedipMC]

Jackson RR5? I want a black one with black matte pickguard :D

[OldSkOoLnOoB11]

The Dislike Bar Is Just Like Beiber's Dick. YES! NON EXISTING!!

[D3ADPIXELZ]

dude this is the duke nukem 64 theme. kinda sucks i relized this only after i finished learning it.

[TheJonnyDeath]

@D3ADPIXELZ

The only things from the DN64 theme are the intro and the scale at 1:09. Everything else is from the original (The 64 theme is only 30 seconds long, has no synths or solos).

[D3ADPIXELZ]

@TheJonnyDeath ive played the song back to back with both the original and the N64 version and the N64 version was identical while the original sounded quite different.

[TheJonnyDeath]

@D3ADPIXELZ

DN64 is approx. 35 seconds before looping, the Original is 2 minutes. DN64 has no synths. DN64 has no solos. DN64 has an intro. DN64 doesn't do the 'extended verse' that is found in the original version.

This version I'm playing is 2 minutes, has synths, the extended verses, solos, follows the exact same order as the original, but has the 64 intro.

Either way, the riff is exactly the same. If someone calls you out for playing the 64 version and not the original, they got issues.

[TheJonnyDeath]

@D3ADPIXELZ

Also forgot to mention the 64 version is a little faster and a very small change to the riff when the backup lead kicks in. :P

And the quality of course, the 64 version sounds more realistic while the original is clearly (what sounds like) midi/virtual instruments.

[Oscillor]

I'd LOOOOVE to see you and charlieparradelriego do something together

My 2 favourite guitar players youtube

[as2421]

is it possible for you to send me the backing track? I looked for it on your website but all i see is the full song. Thanks!

[TheJonnyDeath]

@as2421 Ah, I just realized when I did the major site update I didn't put the backing track link up there. I will have it up there later today, thanks for letting me know.

[as2421]

@TheJonnyDeath Still looking for the backing track download link. Tried looking on the page you pointed to on your homepage update, but it's still absent as far as I can see. Am I missing something?

[TheJonnyDeath]

@as2421 It's under the video (says backing track with a little no guitar icon)

I've added the direct link to the download in the description here, that should help. :)

[ChaoticGood64]

@ThorGodofThunder10 actually this is the best how to play i've seen. So i say hats off to TheJonnyDeath

[Icecool3r]

AWESOME, i've been llookin for this

[zeppelinman69]

What's the tuning?

[ChaoticGood64]

Nice cover Jonny. I swear i've seen you in a porno

[TheJonnyDeath]

@ChaoticGood64

Uh oh!

[ProfessorTomoe]

I'm going to have to dig up my original Cakewalk .wrk file and check something. I *think* you might have a wrong note on the arpeggio in the solo at 1:20 in the above video. Still one of the best covers I've heard - Thanks!

(BTW, did you know I wrote it in 3 stages? Stage 1 was a short, looped MIDI before the solo for main title. Stage 2 was a looped VOC that included the bridge out of the solos, for end of level. Stage 3 linked 1 and 2 w/the solos to make the final version of the song.)

[TheJonnyDeath]

@ProfessorTomoe

I never thought THE Lee Jackson would comment on my Duke Nukem cover. Awesome. (If you really are him anyways!) It's an honor to know you think it's one of the best you've heard.

Going back and listening there is one note I got wrong. Maybe 2.

[ProfessorTomoe]

@TheJonnyDeath It's me - I've come out from behind my alias every once in a while here. Ask around. ^_^

[TheJonnyDeath]

@ProfessorTomoe

Well thats spectacular. I know you've probably been told this 10000 times but without Grabbag, Duke Nukem would've only been like half the game/series it turned out to be.

Thanks again! :)

[Refaatonious]

Finally! Dude, you have proved there's SOMEONE out there, who realizes the importance of the N64 version's intro, and the original solo at the end. Thank you. Thank you, and keep it up! (Oh and respect to the jackson too, I have a KE3 in crimson swirl myself XD)

[Z3usw0lf]

@gastong16 the CnC series kicks serious ass. Especially the first few games like the origional CnC AND RedAlert. My fave is Tiberian Sun :3 and i know this has nothing to do with the video but its an amazing song! i already know how to play it too :3

[gamingfreak442]

WOW 95 likes an 0 dislikes WOW

[MrMika317]

thanks for the tabs:D

[gastong16]

realy nice cover and lesson!!

do you play Hell March from Command And Conquer Red Alert?? its a realy nice song on guitar!

[AnKun2]

I think solo is played with the intervals, not with single notes like on your tab

[bigmethodman]

fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucking awesome man fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck yeah

[bigmethodman]

@bigmethodman is this droped d tuning?

[VirgilwithanE]

@bigmethodman Nah, that's D Standard.

[MrFlamful]

teach each part, dont show it i cant see what ur doin

[DarkSonic1000]

i totally agree that a song sounds better if sliding sounds better if it comes naturally, as soon as i learn this song i'd add tht personally, awesome job btw

[csnation]

Great !

[zoltanben90]

I never seen a fozzy shirt like that anywhere where did you get it?

[TheJonnyDeath]

@zoltanben90

Got it off Amazon, I think I got the last one. It's my favorite shirt.

[BluesfireTV]

Good tutorial if you know how to read music.I fail at that, Wish I had tabs.

[Wingguitar26]

What strings do you use for this man? I was thinking of buying DR DDT heavy strings for this kind of music

[TheJonnyDeath]

@Wingguitar26

I am religious to Elixer Strings. They feel amazing, and while any new set of strings feel amazing, they retain that fresh-new-string feel for an absurdly long time. They may cost a few dollars more but it's well, well worth it, and they're the only strings I recommend to anyone.

Also I use medium gauge (.11 - .49 I think), but what gauge you use is mostly personal preference. Medium is perfect for me since I do both rhythm's and lead's and play in DGCFAD tuning.

[mxtorq]

It's weird how you don't use your pinky.

[TheJonnyDeath]

@mxtorq

Oh I do, just when I have to, which is mainly complex leads, but the solo in this song, and the song in general, aren't all that complex so I don't use it so much.

[theSuperdavid999]

@TheJonnyDeath how the hell are you so good i wanna trash my guitar and get an elecric just for this song (and he's a pirate)

[WumboWarrior]

Lawl, I'm never going to be able to play my guitar well enough to be worth listening to

[jdibiase1635]

Hey, whats your tuning and also, could you make some tabs im having trouble with the video

[nikossnx]

I Feel like Duke everytime i play this on my guitar.Thanks XD

[SerbianDukePwnage]

@nikossnx please make video on how to play it :(

[igrimy]

I dont play guitar but still love watching this!

:D

[TheMightyElo]

Why is it that everytime I listen to Duke Nukem Music my muscles grow bigger and more hair grows on my chest?

[WhiteZilla117]

@TheMightyElo becuase it brings out your inner most desire to kick ass like Duke.

[dascookieman]

awesome thanks

[TheJonnyDeath]

@OneManArmy144

Numbers = frets

P.M. = Palm Mute

/ = slide

x = dead note (when you lightly press on the string and hit it to make a sorta 'chk' sound)

curved lines attaching numbers = these are ties, showing that this note is actually this note + this note in length. Like, if a quater note 5 is attached to a half note 5, it's actually just one note, but 3 beats in length.

Doesn't get much more difficult than that. You can always just focus on the numbers and ignore the standard notation stuff.

[OneManArmy144]

@TheJonnyDeath thanks dude

[th3KID96]

thank you! 

[ChristianHinton]

this is perfect

[VirgilwithanE]

Aw man! I was gonna do a vid like this! Oh well, least I know I had it right. Well done dude! I salute you and the Duke would be proud!

[stuff3]

I think most of the backing stuff is power chords.

Try listening by ear and find the root notes and then just add a 5th.

Or go up like 7 half step and add that to your root note.

[GokuPacMan25]

is that a triforce tattoo on your wrist? thats awesome!!!!!!!!!

[GokuPacMan25]

dude your skills are epic

[younggunsfan]

Someone likes Fozzy!

[JohnnyApfelkern]

when I grow up I wanna be like you :>

[LifelessFawks]

I dont even play guitar, but I still love watching these vids.

Keep up the awesome work, man. :D

[stuff3]

lol classic guitar stance ftw.

[TheJonnyDeath]

@stuff3

Haha, I actually tend to look around alot but it looked funny on video so I had to take the 'classic stance'.

[MrNoobWarrior]

@TheJonnyDeath im looking actual video how to play not this i aint used to it :(

[TheJonnyDeath]

@MrNoobWarrior

If by that you mean.. how to play guitar, period, then yea, I'd definitely recommend something else.

[MrNoobWarrior]

@TheJonnyDeath can u make a video for the cords? please also u look like my neigbour a bit :D

[stuff3]

@MrNoobWarrior

power chords?

[MrNoobWarrior]

@stuff3  any

[TheJonnyDeath]

@MrNoobWarrior

stuff3 hit the nail on the head. It's nothing more than simple power chords on F#, D, and E (which, on the D string, would be 4th fret, open, 2nd fret), it's not too hard to pick out what order they are in by listening to the song.

I'll see if I can get around to tabbing it out though. I was going to include it in the video but it was seemed kind of simple and boring and it was already almost 9 minutes. :)

[piczogame]

awesome once again. Thanks a million for your duke nukem contributes.

[killmer215]

Thanks, the video helped a lot. I put like 5 song suggestions on your page hah.

[AvengedOutcast]

Damn man I dig your Guitar. That's some serious;y awesome shredding. I wish I could play guitar, but I don't have a lot of time on my hands. You think maybe one day you could do the Doomsday Zone Theme from Sonic 3 and Knuckles?

[TheJonnyDeath]

@AvengedOutcast

Perhaps some day. I do plan on covering it for GaMetal sometime, so we'll see!