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Here is a simple version of The Great Divide by Queensryche, another great song from their album TRIBE (2003). The basic riff is quite simple to play, but I'm not quite sure about the key: this version is transcribed from their live performance on THE ART OF LIVE (2004). Edit (18/1/09): some of the chords in the original were a key off; I've corrected them now. Two guitars are required, at least on the choruses and intro, to get the whole effect. Guitar 1 is a distorted electric, and guitar 2 is a clean electric during the verses and a distorted electric during the chorus. The G and F chords in the song are actually played as E chord shapes on the second and fourth frets respectively, with the other strings left open, thus: EADGBe G: 033200 D: 055400 Other chords used: EADGBe Am (5th fret) : 577655 G : 335553 G#maj7 : 446564 If you're playing this acoustic, you can also use open chords: Am (1st fret) : 002210 G : 332010 Guitar 1 plays this throughout the intro and choruses: E|------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------| G|--5b-(let ring)--6b-3b--(let ring)--| D|------------------------------------| A|------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------| Guitar 2 plays the following chords during the intro and the choruses: Em(Vth fret) G C5 D5 (twice) and then end on C5 With that out of the way, let's get to the song itself: The Great Divide Lyrics: Geoff Tate Music: Michael Wilton (who once again constructs a truly memorable song out of simple elements!) Intro: Guitar 1 plays alone for 2 bars. Then Guitar 2 (along with bass and drums) enters for another 2 bars, finally ending on an F5 chord (let it ring!) Verse 1: (Strum C#maj7 once each time and let ring, until the "south", when you should switch to a distorted tone and play F5 continuously.)
G#maj7I'd reconciled my anger, got outside of danger, G#maj7I was waiting for some signal, a sign from angels. G#maj7When the tide turns against you G#maj7it's a strange sensation, a revelation of imagination. G#maj7I could change my course and face the flow, G#maj7reap the seeds that I had sewn or follow that old river sC5outh Here's what I found oC5ut... D5
Chorus: Guitar 1 plays exactly the same riff as the intro. Guitar 2 plays distorted chords as follows:
EmI was Gstanding C5on the Great DivD5ide Emlooking Gout acroC5ss America. D5 EmTrying to Gfind my truth, C5define it for D5myself. EmI died the day when I Gsaw this placeC5. C5I saw what I could loseD5. C5 D5
Verse 2 is exactly the same as verse 1:
G#maj7A very simple mechanism separates the fool from wisdom. G#maj7The lines between us are not real. G#maj7Conditioning is what makes us feel ignorant. And C5apathy will feed our hate. So we can never give in.
Chorus and end:
EmThere I Gwas standing C5at the Great DivD5ide, lEmooking foGr the truth inC5 AmericaD5. EmFor all that timeG I searched, C5when I closed myD5 eyes, EmI found the thing I was loGoking for. C5I had it all the time. D5 C5 D5 C5
and then repeat: So are we standing at the Great Divide? Is there hope for America? Take the flag we wave, the freedoms that we sing. Without respect for one another, it doesn't mean a thing.... End by repeating the chorus riff - the song ends, quite appropriately, on an unresolved note both musically and lyrically. That's about it! There are some fills in between that I couldn't quite figure out: if anyone does, please let me know!