Notice
YES can play real Rock & Roll, the approach to this Tune is flat out too ambitious and awkward for Rock, but it simply ROCKS!!! "Siberian Khatru" has been the (1970's Yes Lineup) Opening Song on numerous Tours, and they make it look amazingly easy On-Stage.
What we have here is basically 3 Songs melded into one Bone Crunching Steve Howe Guitar Piece, though every Band Member has a key role in this Song, Solos abound (short, but Band interaction is never better). Rick Wakeman, what can I say... when on Earth was the last time you heard a "Hot" Harpsichord Solo?
It is interesting to note (as I read somewhere long ago) that the Outro Solo played by Steve Howe on "Siberian Khatru" was played entirely with his Monitor turned off, and Headphones on. So he was simply playing by feel, with no idea of the sound that was being laid to Tape!!
Although not credited as a co-writer, Bill Bruford contributed greatly to "Siberian Khatru", being responsible for the repeating guitar riff that Howe plays through much of the Track (first heard at 0:25). Sadly though, Bruford left to join "King Crimson" before the Album was released, effectively ending what many still consider to be the Band’s "Classic" lineup.
Steve utilizes the Blues Scale during the Main Riff (G, Bb, C, C#, D, F, G) of the Verses.
Both Guitar Solos (Middle and Outro), Steve sticks with the Key of A Major (A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#), occasionally jumping to D Major (D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#).
The "Ghost Notes" added during the Keyboard Main Theme Section have been added for pure convience, for the Guitar Player, that is. The actual Keyboard Part being played are the non-Ghost Notes Only.
Because of space constraints on my Ancient Computer, I have at times had to "cram" Measures into the working space, as it looks like 276 Measures are my limit. As a result, I have had to leave the last 6 Measures with no Keyboard Rhythm. This is not critical to the Song, as the Keyboard Rhythm basically repeats the same part all through the Outro through the Fade Out.
And, along these lines, I have had to leave out the Organ Rhythm Parts during the Main Guitar Solo (Measure 114 thru 126), but these are no more than simple Organ Fills (and Key Gliss), rather I hope that I have included the most important parts of "Siberian Khatru", which do appear on this Guitar/Bass Score.
Most of "Siberian Khatru" is Straight-Forward Plucked Notes, rather than "Hammer-On's". I have often times wondered why Steve Howe rarely uses Hammer-On's, which is obviously a fixture among every single Modern Day Guitarists' Arsenal.
But, there was a time (I suppose) when this was "frowned upon" (believe it or not), and the Era in which Howe learned to play required "Jack Armstrong" type fingers to do this (or even Bend Strings), as String Gauges were incredibly thick, and Amplification was no advantage either (not to mention the absense of Distortion). So Hammering was basically a waste of time. So, I guess Howe simply Mastered Arpeggios and Scales instead, as that was the most desireable path.
Of course, this Song is Much Easier to play using Hammer-On's (It makes more sense for me to do so), but please remember that this is Yes' arrangement, not my own. I have simply Transcribed what is on the Recording.
Enjoy this Tablature!!
The Bass Score was written mostly by Lionel Gibaudan and Miguel Falcao. More of their Bass Transcriptions can be found at: www.ChrisSquire.com, thanks for the Bass Tab Help!!
I myself Scored Measures 216-233, the Drum and Bass Jam "Jazz" Break. I too also corrected a timng problem in the Bass Transcription (Measures 86-92).
Keyboard Note:
The "Harpsichord Solo" was taken from the "Siberian" Mix, which appears on "Close To The Edge" (Remastered), as a Bonus Track of sorts. What that Bonus Track is, is nothing more than an early version of the Song, minus all of the Solos (except the Keyboard), which plays a nearly identical Solo on Organ. It is the same, except for the 3rd Measure of the Solo (Measure 100). The Fidelity and Tone of the Harpsichord make it very difficult to pick out Notes, but I may update that one Measure in the Future.
Keyboard Note:
The Keyboards (String Ensemble and Organ) have been tuned Down one Octave, as this is easier to translate to the Guitar, and it has a much truer Sound (to the Actual Recording) on the Final Score.
