Kris Kristofferson's 'Help Me Make It Through The Night'.

[REDLAWMAN]

Hi Everyone,

I've got a really big ask for anyone who knows this song, please.

As many of you may realise by now, I'm very much a beginner.

I've spent two weeks tabbing out the first (and second) verse of the original recording: I believe I've cracked it, all but the final part and despite everything I've tried, I can't seem to get the closing bit correct.

If I could scan my draft in, is there anyone with the Seasonal Charity/time/inclination to help put me right, please?

Many thanks.

[REDLAWMAN]

Groove Master.....are you out there...??

[MalcolmAmos]

First what are you tabbing out, the tune, or the bass line. Normally right at first we don't play the tune we accompany the tune with chord tones laying down a bass line one chord tone (note) at a time. . Until the band gives us a lead break (solo) then we can play 16 bars of the tune. Normally takes a year or two to be ready for that. Now if you play chord tones from the chord progression you can be laying down a bass line in a week or so. So I'm pointing you to bass lines. If you already know how to do that, disregard the following.

Bass line would be my suggestion and for that I would need the chord progression. Ask Google to find you something on the song you like -- Chords, "name of the song" --- Help Me Make It Through The Night lyrics chords | Sammi Smith

C
 Take the ribbon from my hair
                   F
 Shake it lose and let it fall
 Dm                       G7
 Laying soft against your skin
                      C
 Like a shadow on the wall

Sing the song under your breath and grab a C note. One C note per lyric word. Rib-bon will take two C notes. Keep going till you get to the word "let" here you change to the F note and at "Lay-ing" you change to the D note - don't worry with Dm yet. Keep going one note per lyric word. Lay-ing, Aga-inst and sha-dow will take two notes each. See how Sir Paul lays down a bass line. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obFcsEtFIKA Remember he is left handed.

When you get that - fill in with R-5 or in C's case that would be C on the 1 beat, pause on the 2 beat, then G note on the 3 beat and pause on the 4th beat. When that is easy then try R-3-5-8 on C and R-b3-5-8 on Dm.

This will come in handy:

Major Scale Box. 

G|---2---|-------|---3---|---4---| 1st string
D|---6---|-------|---7---|---8---|
A|---3---|---4---|-------|---5---|
E|-------|---R---|-------|---2---|4th string

Google and fake chord can be a friend. If you need help on playing from fake chord, be specific in your questions.

Good luck

[GeoffT]

Congrats on getting the first parts down. Transcribing is difficult at first. Don't give up. If you are having trouble with part of it put your bass down and just listen to it. A lot. Until you know it so well you can sing it. I find that the difficulty/frustration/time spent actually transcribing with bass in hand goes down significantly the more time you prepare by just listening to it over and over.

[REDLAWMAN]

MalcolmAmos: it's the proper, original bass part as per the recording I've tabbed. I started off with the chords as you suggest.

I've got it almost sorted; it's just the very last part I'm struggling with.

Cheers GeoffT, I've got to agree with you there.

[REDLAWMAN]

Nice video of Paul, too.

Interesting technique with both hands: not exactly orthodox!

[REDLAWMAN]

I've just realised that I can attach on here. That will probably make more sense.

[REDLAWMAN]

Could someone put me right, here, please?

It's just the end-part where it's not quite right.

[Dazzare]

Do u have a link to the song?

[REDLAWMAN]

I'm not sure how to do that, Dazzare; apologies!

[REDLAWMAN]

There isn't a plethora of versions: it's a standard song.

[timonvh]

Are you sure you aren't thrown by Kris' humming all kinds of stuff towards the end of the song?

[REDLAWMAN]

Yes; I'm following and tabbing-out the standard bass line, as played.

In any event, we're only talking about the first and second verse, long before he gets groovy. See my tab above,

[mflaherty]

Last two measures...

[REDLAWMAN]

mflaherty:

Thank you, but it's not the end of the song I'm struggling with- it's the end of the first (and second) verse.

[REDLAWMAN]

Do you have the whole bass part in standard notation, please...?

[MalcolmAmos]

Red, you are going to have to give us a little more information - list the lyrics or give us something to base where the verse ends.

Looks like what you are doing is root-five with chromatic runs to the next chord. That's pretty basic and plays a lot of bass. Is it the chromatic runs that are causing you trouble?

[REDLAWMAN]

Exactly, MalcolmAmos!

Root/5 is fine; it's the walking bits towards the end.

What I tabbed out and attached is just the first and second verse. It starts with the slide from G to C on the D string and the first verse ends similarly.

[REDLAWMAN]

I've done the chorus, too, but he plays it so quickly, I haven't even dared to try to play the rest of the song yet!

[MalcolmAmos]

Normally a chromatic walk is -------

Target the next chord's root and then miss it by 3 frets or 3 notes, whatever - then walk to it one fret/note per beat and be on the next chord's root for the chord change.

Finishing up with the G chord going to the tonic C. Drop down to the E string and sound the D#, D, C# and land on C in time for the change. May not be exactly what was done by Kris, but, it'll work. He may be walking from the G chord using F#, E, D and then going to the C note. You both got where you needed to be just took a different chromatic route. A chromatic run is like passing notes - just passing notes getting you from point Y to X.

Wing it, it does not have to be exact. Get as close as you can, then move on to the next song.