"Miserlou" Tablature

Dick Dale and the Del-Tones popularized "Miserlou" in 1962. Recently, the Pulp Fiction soundtrack introduced another generation to the tune. In fact, though, "Miserlou" is a Greek folk tune from long ago. Dale's '62 version largely defined the surf sound. He played it on Fender outboard spring reverb tank (along with a classic Stratocaster through a 1961 Showman setup). The original folk tune has lyrics, but--as you surely must know--surf music does *not* have lyrics! In "Miserlou" Dale limited his vocals to shouting "Hya!" and the like a few times.

Dick Dale doublepicked "Miserlou" left-handed, on upside-down strings, at blinding speed. I've simplified this tab to emphasize the melody. The original thus has about four times as many notes as you see here. (Dick Dale apparently learned to speed-pick from his Lebanese uncle, who played an oud with a turkey quill.)

The popular '62 version of "Miserlou" sometimes *sounds* a semi-tone higher than it appears here, especially in the lower ranges. StratoCossack attributes tuning and/or recording flukes to the '62 version, however. Later recordings and observations at live performances bear out the approach set forth here, which resolves in E and puts exactly two octaves between the first and second guitar passages. If you really must mimic the '62 sound, trying bumping up the first guitar passage, on the low E string, by a semi-tone. One Predator suggests picking between the bridge and pickup. At any rate, use heavy strings and a fire-proof pick.



Miserlou
(A.k.a. "the theme from Pulp Fiction.")

Recorded:  Dick Dale and the Del-Tones, 1962
Tabbed:  Tom W. Bell , 1995; rev. '97
(with "Team Cowabunga," esp. StratoCossack, helping with the
lead guitar, and Rick Weber helping with the trumpet)

h     --> hammer-on (and, sometimes, play in same beat)
p     --> pull-off (aka hammer-off)
          (and, sometimes, play in same beat)
/     --> slide up
\     --> slide down
#     --> rest
=     --> hold note a beat
1pick --> singlepick
2pick --> doublepick

Tempo:  Presto con huevos! (for 2:12)
Doublepick all guitar passages unless otherwise indicated.

e|---------|---------|---------|
B|---------|---------|---------|
G|---------|---------|---------|
D|---------|---------|---------|
A|---------|---------|---------|
E|-#-#-7/0-|-0-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-|

             "Ha!" "Hu!"  "Hya!"
e|-----------|------------|---------|-----------|
B|-----------|------------|---------|-----------|
G|-----------|------------|---------|-----------|
D|-----------|------------|---------|-----------|
A|-----------|------------|---------|-----------|
E|-0-0h1-4-5-|-7-7h8-11-8-|-7-7-7-7-|-7-7-7-7/0-|


e|-----------|------------|---------|---------|
B|-----------|------------|---------|---------|
G|-----------|------------|---------|---------|
D|-----------|------------|---------|---------|
A|-----------|------------|---------|---------|
E|-0-0h1-4-5-|-7-7h8-11-8-|-7-7-7-7-|-7-7-7-7-|


e|---------------|---------------|---------|---------|
B|---------------|---------------|---------|---------|
G|---------------|---------------|---------|---------|
D|---------------|---------------|---------|---------|
A|---------------|---------------|---------|---------|
E|-8-7h8-7-8-7-5-|-7-5h7-5-7-5-1-|-4-4-4-4-|-4-4-4-4-|

                                    1pick
e|---------------|----------------|---------|-----7/0-|
B|---------------|----------------|---------|---------|
G|---------------|----------------|---------|---------|
D|---------------|----------------|---------|---------|
A|---------------|----------------|---------|---------|
E|-5/8-7h8-7-8-5-|--7-5h7-5-7-5-#-|-1-4-0-0-|-0-0-----|


e|-0-0h1-4-5-|-7-7h8-11-8-|-7-7-7-7-|7-7-7/0-|
B|-0---------|------------|---------|--------|
G|-0---------|------------|---------|--------|
D|-----------|------------|---------|--------|
A|-----------|------------|---------|--------|
E|-----------|------------|---------|--------|


e|-0-0h1-4-5-|-7-7h8-11-8-|-7-7-7-7-|-7-7-7-7-|
B|-----------|------------|---------|---------|
G|-----------|------------|---------|---------|
D|-----------|------------|---------|---------|
A|-----------|------------|---------|---------|
E|-----------|------------|---------|---------|


e|-8-7h8-7-8-7-5-|-7-5h7-5-7-5-1-|-4-4-4-4-|-4-4-4-4-|
B|---------------|---------------|---------|---------|
G|---------------|---------------|---------|---------|
D|---------------|---------------|---------|---------|
A|---------------|---------------|---------|---------|
E|---------------|---------------|---------|---------|

                                    singlepick
e|-5/8-7h8-7-8-7-5-|-7-5h7-5-7-5-#-|-1-4-0-0-|
B|-----------------|---------------|-------0-|
G|-----------------|---------------|-------0-|
D|-----------------|---------------|---------|
A|-----------------|---------------|---------|
E|-----------------|---------------|---------|


Begin trumpet lead passage (singlepick with vibrato).

e|-----------------|------|---------|------|----------|
B|-----------------|------|---------|------|----------|
G|-----------------|------|---------|------|----------|
D|-----------------|------|---------|------|----------|
A|-----------------|-0===-|-------0-|-2===-|-#-0h2-3=-|
E|-#-0-1-4-5-0-1-4-|------|-4h5p4---|------|----------|


e|---------|-------|-----------------|-------------|--------|
B|---------|-------|-----------------|-------------|--------|
G|---------|-------|-----------------|-------------|--------|
D|-----1==-|-1-2==-|-#-3-2h3p2h3-2-0-|-2-0h2p0h2-0-|--------|
A|-2h3-----|-------|-----------------|-------------|-3-2==-#|
E|---------|-------|-----------------|-------------|--------|


e|--------------|------|---------|-----|
B|--------------|------|---------|-----|
G|--------------|------|---------|-----|
D|--------------|------|---------|-----|
A|#-5-3h5p3h5-3-|-2===-|-0-2-0---|-----|
E|--------------|------|-------1-|-0==-|


Basically repeat the trumpet passage.  In the original, the
trumpet plays only the first measure of this second take. To
capture the same effect with guitar, try doublepicking from
the second measure.

  "trumpet"          guitar-->       "Hu-Ha!"    "Ha!"
e|-----------------|------|---------|------|----------|
B|-----------------|------|---------|------|----------|
G|-----------------|------|---------|------|----------|
D|-----------------|------|---------|------|----------|
A|-----------------|-0000-|-------0-|-2222-|-#-0h2-33-|
E|-#-0-1-4-5-0-1-4-|------|-4h5p4---|------|----------|

   "Hya!"
e|---------|-------|-----------------|-------------|--------|
B|---------|-------|-----------------|-------------|--------|
G|---------|-------|-----------------|-------------|--------|
D|-----111-|-1-222-|-#-3-2h3p2h3-2-0-|-2-0h2p0h2-0-|--------|
A|-2h3-----|-------|-----------------|-------------|-3-222-#|
E|---------|-------|-----------------|-------------|--------|

                                   begin piano trills
e|--------------|------|---------|------|------|
B|--------------|------|---------|------|------|
G|--------------|------|---------|------|------|
D|--------------|------|---------|------|------|
A|#-5-3h5p3h5-3-|-2222-|-0-2-0---|------|------|
E|--------------|------|-------1-|-0000-|-0000-|


Continue piano trills and rhythm guitar for three measures.

Return to high E guitar passage.

Continue trills, bass, and drums to fade.

Fin.

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(C) 1996-2003 Tom W. Bell. All rights reserved. Fully attributed noncommercial use of this document permitted if accompanied by this paragraph.

"Miserlou" Tablature - tomwbell.com/Music/Miserlou.html - v. 2003.06.24