The Smiths - Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now (guitar cover)

http://www.myspace.com/johnnymare
Guitar cover - MIDI backing track used. Equipment: Mexican Fender Telecaster through Line 6 Pocket POD, direct into sound card. Audio recorded using Audacity.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• smiths
• morrissey
• johnny
• marr
• mare
• johnnymare
• heaven
• knows
• i'm
• miserable
• now
• guitar
• cover

[FPSMatthew]

This is amazing.

Are you using standard tuning?

[johnnymare]

@FPSMatthew: thanks for the kind comment. Yep, it's standard tuning (with capo 2).

[chbath1]

Hey great video! But please help! How on earth do you do that picking pattern part from 1:00 onwards? I've got the whole of the rest of the song learnt but I still can't work out how to play that part- I thought it was fingerpicking but you don't seem to be doing that??? Your vid is the closest I've ever heard anyone play that bit of the song.

[johnnymare]

@chbath1: I know what you mean - most people covering this (including tribute acts I've seen) improvise the section, but I think it's one of Johnny's best guitar parts. Check out smithsonguitar.blogspot.com for the tab. It's from the Louder Than Bombs rock score. To start you off, the first chord I hold is (relative to the capo): fret 4 on the G, 5 on the B and an open high E.

[chbath1]

@johnnymare Yeah I have the louder than bombs book on a pdf its really superb. I just wondered how it is you pick that part- I thought it was banjo picking or something using the ring and middle finger but you don't seem to be doing that in your video??? It seems impossibly difficult to go between the three strings that fast just using a plectrum- how do you manage it???!!!

[johnnymare]

@chbath1: I had a look at the LTB tab (I often play things differently if it makes it easier), but the tab is pretty much what I play. If you think of the riff as a 4-bar riff, there's a hammer-on at the start of bar 3 (fret 4 to 6 on the G) which helps. In terms of the picking hand, I'd suggest trying to get the rhythm in your head, play the riff slowly to start with and build up the speed. It's classic Johnny - it sounds deceptively simple but is tricky to play!

[OhmygeeitsJulia]

This is really amazing c:.

You should make a tutorial.

[trumusichead]

A tele is excellent for those chimey tones.

[Paranormalaccnt9]

your interpretations are great! very nice!

[chbath1]

@johnnymare Hey thanks a lot for all your pointers. I've finally finally managed to get over the worst of it today and cracked the four bars! Still a long way to go to get it perfect but its a massive relief! A week ago I really thought that pattern was impossible for me! Cheers! :)