| 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. |
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"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
Playing Cat Stevens 