Do you ever hear people yell “More cowbells” and wonder what’s going on?
The request stems from a reference to the song Don’t Fear The Reaper, which the Blue Oyster Cult made famous. Written and sung by Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser in 1976, the song is as famous for its progressive guitar as the infamous cowbell track. In fact, the timeless guitar hook that opens the song is instantly recognizable, and a crucial riff is found on Don’t Fear The Reaper Tabs.
While many beginning students are intimidated by the rhythmic fingerpicking of this intro riff, after examining the notes on the Don’t Fear the Reaper tabs, people are often surprised by the simplicity of the part. This section is based on an A minor, G, F, G progression with an open G pedal tone, and with some practice it can be mastered by beginners. As the song progresses, intermediate guitarists may also find guitar parts challenging to learn.
These more challenging sections are for players who want to learn guitar in the style of ’70s prog rock, where there are often long lead sections and complex rhythms. If one breaks down the bridge section of these Blue Oyster Cult tabs, there’s a 12-bar, 96-eighth-note phrase played by one guitar and a solo by another. To learn guitar rhythm sections as complicated as this one, the best strategy is to break it up into sections. For the Don’t Fear The Reaper bridge section, there are three sections that are approximately 12 bars long. After learning each of these sections, the Don’t Fear the Reaper guitar solo is a must for lead guitarists.
The lead guitar section features an unusual guitar scale: the Phrygian G with a major third or a B natural note. Often referred to as the Spanish Phrygian mode, this scale mode gives the solo an exotic flavor. The addition of stylized string bends and trills can give lead guitarists some new ideas to incorporate into other styles as well.
Dissecting the notes of a good set of Don’t Fear the Reaper tabs will teach a guitar player clever guitar hooks, some new guitar scales, call and response techniques, and how to play a true guitar classic.
