Pop Star

Author: Leonard Latest revision: December 12, 2021
Author’s Notes: “Pop Star” is not only a reflection on Cat’s prior fame and status but it also serves as a sign-post for the next guy in line trying to get into the music business for all the wrong reasons (“to have bread and fame and get chicks”). Alun provided the baseline riff on which the E7 and A7 spiel is based on. The bits of the intro where Alun drifts off into freeforming for a great many bars, with the manic bits charging in, proved too challenging for our transcription skills (any help is appreciated). Just playing the song for a bit gives you good feel for it, though.
Each guitar tab is the author’s own work and represents his or her own interpretation of the song.
Visitors may use the guitar tabs offered here only for private study, scholarship, or research.

                 
                       "Pop Star"
                     by Cat Stevens
                   
                 from the original album
                  MONA BONE JAKON (1970)
 

Standard tuning
(low to high) E-A-D-G-B-E
played with a medium pick

in 4/4 time (mostly)


INTRO

             A7                                  E7
   /   /     /   /   /   /     /   /   /   /     /   /   /   /     /   /   /   /
E|---------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-5\--3---|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G|---------|---------0-------|-0---0---0-------|-----------------|-----------------|
D|---------|-----------------|-----0h2---------|-----------------|-----0-------0h2-|
A|---------|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-0h2-------------|
E|---------|-----------------|---------------0-|(0)--------------|-----------------|

   /   /   /   /     /   /   /   /     /   /   /   /     /   /   /   /
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G|-1---------------|---------1-------|-----------------|---1-------------|
D|-----------------|-----x-------0---|-----0h--2-------|-0---------------|
A|-----------------|-0h2-------------|-2-0-------------|-------------2-2-|
E|---------0---3b--|-----------------|-----------------|-------------0-0-|
             (b=bend up 1/4 step)

   /   /   /   /     /   /   /   /
E|-----------------|-----------------|-...  
B|-----------------|-----------------|-...  Note:  From the bend on, the Intro starts trail-
G|-----0---0h--1---|-1---------------|-...         ing off into freeform riffing, with the 
D|---------0h--2---|-2---------x-0h2-|-...         E major chord being hammered on and pulled    
A|-0h2-----0h--2---|-2---------------|-...         off and muted on repeat.
E|-------0---------|-0---0-----------|-...     
                                                
                                                 
VERSE 1                                           
                                                   
           E7                                  A7 
Well I'm going to be a Pop Star,     yes I'm going to be a Pop Star now
          E7                        G        Bm/F#
Yes I'm going to be a Pop Star.     Oh mama! mama see me
 A*                   (E7)           E7
Mama-mama see me I'm a Pop Star    | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |


VERSE 2

           E7                                 A7
Well I'm going on the T.V. now,     yes I'm going on the T.V.
          E7                   G        Bm/F#
Yes I'm going on the T.V.      Oh mama! mama see me
 A*                     (E7)         E7
Mama-mama see me on the T.V.       | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |


VERSE 3

      E7                                     A7
I'm going on my first gig now,     yes I'm going on my first gig
          E7                       G        Bm/F#
Yes I'm going on my first gig.     Oh mama! mama see me
 A*                                  E7
Mama-mama see me on my first gig   | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / |
                                                        Now listen to me...


INSTRUMENTAL 1

  D   A     E   D     A   E     D
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
  La___________________________la,
  D                   E     F# B/F#
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
  La_______________________bop bah,
  E                         F# B/F#
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
  La_______________________da  da, 
  A                 (D D#) E   E7      E7       x6
| / / / / |  /  /  /  /  | / / / / |:| / / / / |:|
  Da_____________________ da  da.  (Oh so good!)
 

VERSE 4

           E7                                             A7
Well I'm going to the cold bank, cold BANK,     yes I'm going to the cold bank now
          E7                         G        Bm/F#
Yes I'm going to the cold bank.      Oh mama! mama see me
 A*                                  E7
Mama-mama see me at the cold bank  | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
                                                                  Mama see me!


INSTRUMENTAL 2

  D   A     E   D     A   E     D
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
  La___________________________la,
  D                   E     F# B/F#
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
  La_______________________bop bah,
  E                         F# B/F#
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
  La_______________________da  da, 
  A                 (D D#)   E7       x8
| / / / / |  /  /  /  /  |:| / / / / |:|
   Here comes catch  da   da.  


VERSE 5

           E7                                         A7
Well I'm coming coming coming home now,     yes I'm coming coming coming home now
          E7                         G        Bm/F#
Yes I'm coming coming coming home... Oh mama! mama see me
 A*                   E
Mama-mama see me I'm HOME!



CHORDS
======

  E(7)    A(7)    A*       Note:  In the tablature E7 and A7 only indicate intended     
022100  x02220  x0222x            harmonies. Actually, regular E and A chords are 
-MRI--  --IMR-  --III-            being played, only with hammer-ons, pull-offs and
                                  lots of palm-muting, and primarily striking only 
   G     Bm/F#     D              the E and D strings for the E major chord and the 
3x0003  xx4432  xx0232            A and G strings, respectively, for the A major chord.
R----L  --RLMI  ---IRM            So whenever E7 or A7 shows up, start riffing!

  F#     B/F#
244322  xx444x
TRLMII  --RRR-


Tablature notation:   h = hammer-on
                      p = pull-off
                      \ = legato slide (gliss) down the fret
                      b = bend

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