From: [email protected]
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 1995 11:34:48 -0400
Subject: Toccata (and Fugue) in Dm
Toccata (and Fugue) in Dm
BWV 565
By Johann Sebastian Bach (the greatest composer who ever lived)
Submitted by: Ben Pratt
[email protected]
I have seen a few transcriptions of this song in =
The Guitar/Tab directory, and I would like to =
Submit my version. Unlike the other transcriptions =
I have seen, this one is in Dm, but it is virtually =
Impossible to play the Fugue in Dm, with the =
Counterpoint, on the guitar, so this is simply the =
Toccata. I was originally turned on to this piece =
By the obscure heavy metal band ‘Cirith Ungol’ who =
Has a version of this song on their CD ‘King of the =
Dead’. My version is very similar to theirs, except =
That mine is for solo guitar whereas theirs was for =
Two guitars and a bass. I think they also used an ebow, =
Which gave the song a neat tone. The piece is written =
In Common Time(4/4) and begins Adagio. One thing to =
Keep in mind is that adagio in the Baroque Period =
Was faster than that in following eras, so it should =
Be played at about 80bpm. In measures six — eight, =
The rhythmic pattern is 16th triplet, 16th triplet, =
16th triplet, 16 duple, 16th triplet, 16th triplet, =
16th triplet, 16th duple. It gives the section a very =
Forced sound and adds to the feeling of solemnness =
That horror movie composers have liked for so long. =
Measures 9-13 are the most difficult of the whole song. =
I have tried tapping it, but it presents the problem of =
Running up and needing to be picked at the beginning of =
Each run with another finger. If anyone can find an =
Easier way to play it, please let me know. Their are =
Also 4 or 5 measures near the end that I did not include =
Because it sounds very weak without both staves and is =
Impossible to play without 2 guitars. One other thing =
To keep in mind is that the rhythm sounds very broken =
Because it is riddled with fermatas and other devices.
Instead of worrying about the time, play it how you =
Think it should feel. Oh yeah, drop the low E to a D. =
I hope you enjoy it and I would appreciate any comments.
E—17—15—17———15—13—12————————-|
B———————————15—14—15————-|
G———————————————————|
D———————————————————|
A———————————————————|
D———————————————————|
E———————————————————|
B—10—8—10———————————————|
G———————9—-10—————————-|
D———————————11—-12—————-|
A———————————————————|
D———————————————————|
E———————————————————|
B———————————————————|
G———————————————————|
D———————————————————|
A—12—10—12———10—8—7—————————-|