Part 1: The Unforgettable Fire - Live in Paris (U2 Cover & Tutorial / Lesson)

[Rafal102able]

Keep up the good work Michael !!!

[nicolopez1996]

Hahaha you even look like The Edge (but with hair!) :D

[EdgeFan567]

Who did you have install your Kinmans?

[U2GuitarTutorials]

@EdgeFan567: My guitar tech in NYC.

[U2ThankYou]

Such a great song!

[Justforfrolics]

Top drawer!

[ajaswinski]

Still ahead of its time, awesome

[Tubes12AX7k]

Your delay sounds very tape-like. At first, before reading your description, I thought you were using an Echoplex. Very nice sound.

[U2GuitarTutorials]

@Tubes12AX7k:

Thx, this is old and could probably do better now.

[BENS19777]

Excellent choice of song to cover! You are a very good teacher Mike. Why oh why don't they perform this more often?

[U266]

From another U2 fan with a few guitars - awesome effort

[mllinas16]

your prayers became true....i saw them in paris the 12 july... and indeed, i think, even for the "rookies" that know only U2's last 3 albums, appreciated this song....its heaven

[jules153]

Well done mate. I wouldn't worry about the 'mistake' you were improvising anyway !

[maxdad]

Michael, love this and all your vids. Mind sharing your Axe-Fx settings to achieve the shimmer? Thanks

[U2GuitarTutorials]

Sure.

Multidelay block into filter block into reverb block.

MTD = plex shift, 20+ secs of decay; two of four voices shifted up 12; detune 3.9, 2, -2 and -3.9 on the four voices; 96ms, 175ms, 300ms, 425 ms for four delay times

Filter = lowpass at about 2600 Hz

Reverb = large plate (any will work).

The key is the mix on the reverb should be very high (70-100%). This smooths it out a lot. My delay times have few artifacts but with 100% mix reverb you can use almost any four delay times.

[maxdad]

WOW! Sounds great! A revelation after screwing around with crystals and reverb all day. Love the Ultra (which you inspired me to get, btw) but what a time sink!

Looking forward to your WOWY tut, and eagerly anticipating hearing your sustainer pup.

Thanks again!

[Idratherbeflying89]

Sounds awesome man, love that ebow!!! I was at the concert in D.C. back in September and they played the unforgettable fire in the setlist and it was amazing!!! I wish I could afford a vox right now or even a standard strat.

[jackstraw1021]

Good stuff, and it appears the song has made it back into rotation on tour. Gonna try to see them in Philly in July 2010 at the Linc.

[petertexas]

Hey Michael

Great video, i like the tutorial and what you are doing is very good. Also great sound, What this the axe-fx only?

Keep posting.

[U2GuitarTutorials]

Yes, that's only the Axe-Fx Ultra and nothing else. Thank you for your feedback!

[RareOzzyVideos]

i have a video on my other acount corsalemusic of them playin this live at giants stadium and a video on this account from rosebowl

[U2FANATIC07]

u got ur wish about them playing this song on the tour.

[sushbone]

Hi Michael,

when will you post the next tutorials. Looking really for the tabs to play the live version!! I hope your tutorial will clarify which strings to use.

[U2GuitarTutorials]

Part 4 has been up for a while. It's the first tutorial that starts to go through the notes. I have the entire tutorial recorded. Just editing now. I will post Part 5 and 6 this weekend.

[sushbone]

Ok my fault I've seen you already continued with the tutorials. Great, thanks a lot!

[ericet74]

Yes the infinite guitar is used on this song, it takes the place of the strings on the album version.

[theedge2009]

just when i thought there was no possible way to play this song on the guitar.... you made a video on youtube

[AntiRellik]

Has The Edge ever used his infinite guitar with this song?

[U2GuitarTutorials]

I don't believe so, but not 100% sure. The eBow gives a very specific tone that a sustainer cannot create in my humble opinion. It wouldn't sound the same.

[McPhisto7]

Great cover. But I am sure the alt tuning on Edges tele on UF Paris 87 is DADADF actually.

[U2GuitarTutorials]

I don't claim that what I used is correct. There are some who would agree with you. DADFAF (low to high) has also been suggested and works well. I used DGDDAF because I could not get one or two specific notes without the A tuned to G and I relied on this 1985 interview with the Edge from Guitar Player magazine (the notes in the article go from high string to low string):

[U2GuitarTutorials]

Q: You seem to change guitars a lot. Is this due to different tunings?

It's really because each song suggests to me a different guitar sound. The strange tunings that I have are for the lap steel and the Fender Telecaster. The Tele has a very odd one that I made up: F, A, D, D, G, D. As I was putting down some guitars on The Unforgettable Fire, I was having a little bit of difficulty coming out with something I was pleased with. So I decided to tune the guitar up to the notes that seemed right.

[U2GuitarTutorials]

Certainly the article could be wrong or Edge could have recalled the wrong tuning, but I'm confident I can get every single harmonic note correct with this tuning. I broke down the song note for note. The upcoming tutorials will compare each note in the video with what I'm playing.

[willariza]

Wow man! So, that's how the magic it's done? So complex and so simple, a few chords some efects and your senses goes sky high back and forth.!! thanks God for music!

[theedge2009]

My friends and I went to the 360 tour here in Dublin, Ireland and we hoped they would play this song. I have to admit, it wasn't all what we had expected..... but the concert was still spectacular!!!!!!!!!

[sushbone]

Hi Michael,

your U2 Tutorials are always the best on youtube. looking forward to the next part of The Unforgettable Fire Tutorial.

BTW: YOu are right, great great great song! Happy they are really playing it live (seems your request has been heard ;-) ).

[jdupond123]

joli !

[joshuau2edge]

Hi Michael.

Great Tutorials.

At 5:44 I am not 100% sure myself but going on what I have seen I think Edge could be hitting the back of the Telecaster neck for the open note deeper sound.

I am going to try it myself, as this part always puzzled me.

[U2GuitarTutorials]

joshuau2edge, yes I think you are correct. I'll try this. Thank you for the feedback/suggestion. Great catch!

Michael

[joshuau2edge]

I am working on this song also thanks to you.

Will have a video up soon.

[WatchingViking]

i also wanted them to play this on the 360 tour.. i got my wish..

its my third favourite after streets and walk on

[saferbytheshore]

Nice playing man. How are you stick the ebow to the guitar? Velcro? I love that little device, I use a little table that snaps onto a mike stand so I can switch between it and picking quickly. Your idea looks a little more secure, whatever it is?

[U2GuitarTutorials]

Velcro. Yes, I know, what was I thinking?

[rafaelgrec]

xcellent! A 5-star lesson/performance once again

[jpjoffa]

It seems you got your wish dude, they played UF in Barcelona on the opening night. There's a video of it on here somewhere.

[TheSouthernAccent]

Great Cover, sounds awesome, how did you mount the ebow on your guitar?

[U2GuitarTutorials]

You will cringe - velcro. I don't recommend it if you don't want to damage your guitar finish.

[whiteonsolo]

How the hell do you get that effect you called "shimmering"? Any pedal has this?

[U2GuitarTutorials]

Shimmer is when a one delay is fed back into another delay, and then again into another delay and then possibly again into a 4th delay (all at different ms times). What you get is a smooth, violin-like sound. Add a pitch shift to provide a different octave to complement the notes played on the guitar. But don't go out and buy multiple delays.

[U2GuitarTutorials]

The Line6 Verbzilla will do this. I use the multi-delay block (four delays) on the Axe-Fx (set to Plex Shift) and I pitch shifted three of the delays one octave up.

[Zenon2006]

damn you're long winded :) just start playing already

[U2GuitarTutorials]

I deserved that one. ;-)

[Zenon2006]

I was just messing around, I like watching you tutorials. You should do Acrobat!!

[U2GuitarTutorials]

The word is that U2 rehearsed this song on 6/17. Let's hope they play it on tour.

[unchainedguitars]

Unforgettable Fire is my favorite U2 record, by far.

Everyone picks Joshua Tree, but i think the one before it is superior.

[XenSmithy]

Great cover.

Have to agree with on how good this songis, best song on the album.

[bondstreet15]

once again awesome job......i got an e-bow...haven't even tried it yet....sounds cool.....thx for taking the time

[u2ZOOTV2]

Thank you for this vid, i had no idea how to play it. It's maybe my favorite U2 song ever, really magic sounds in it.

[gtrefxman]

Fantastic job as always. Sometimes wonder if this song might have 2 delays? 100% agree with what you said about this song and how it the band should play it again on tour as it is an epic piece of songwriting and production...my favorite u2 song-thanks for covering it!

[U2GuitarTutorials]

Thx! I'll listen to the song again on a flight tomorrow. If there are two delays, then I missed it. Might be a subtle slapback in there perhaps.

[mrdavidn3]

Yes Mike !!! I love these tutorials...you are the best

[theedge2009]

good work. thanks mike :-)

[tootone76]

do you tune the G-string (3rd) down to a D or up to a D?

[U2GuitarTutorials]

Great question. I took a chance and tuned it down.  It might break going up to D. So basically I have two D strings. Only reason for this is that it seems Edge plays the eBow on this third "G" string and the only way for me to get the right fret positions was with this tuned down to D. Also, the first harmonic chord at the beginning on the DVD has a lot of D tone in it, so having two D stirngs brings this D tone out more.

[U2GuitarTutorials]

One other point. You can tune the original "G" string to F also and you will get a very nice chord. I'm told by others more experienced than me that there are other live versions that indicate a different tuning. Namely: DADFAF (from low to high). So I'm not claiming this is the only way, but it worked for me for the Paris DVD July '87 version. I might not play it exactly like the Edge, but I beleive I was able to match up the right notes.

[McPhisto7]

Hi Michael, great job. How do you attach the eBow to the guitar? :)

[U2GuitarTutorials]

Those that care about their finish on their guitar will cringe at this.... I used velcro. I'm never selling it and velcro makes it convenient for the eBow. I hated having to pick it up from a desk or shelf. So I just slapped a strip of velcro on it. ;-)

I won't dare remove it from the guitar as it will certainly chip the guitar nitro. I don't recommend this if you don't want to risk your guitar finish.

[McPhisto7]

Thanks for the info. I use the drink holder on the mic stand for the eBow, but this is also interesting.

[petedechop]

Fantastic Michael. I really enjoyed that, and I will learn a lot by watching it a few times (or more). EWB

[joshuau2edge]

GREAT PITCH

[u2MRtheFLY]

great cover. i was soo psyched to see you doing a tutorial on this.

this is one of THE most underrated u2 songs out there. one of my favorite songs by them. they HAVE to bring this back.

thanks again !!!