Single: 1979
This is an interpretation for a standalone guitar, mixing both bass and guitar elements,
based on the original song (the exact number of chords can vary from one version to another).
For the guitar noises, look some live version to find inspiration. You can for example stroke
B and e strings while muting them with the left hand and sliding it along the neck. Play with
a lot of distorsion, flanger and delay.
[Chords]
D5 x577xx D x57755
C#5 x466xx C x46644
B5 x244xx B x24422
F#5 x9-10-10xx F# x9-10-10-10-9
A 577655
A# 688766
B 799877
[Intro]
(distorsion noises, pick scrapes, various noises...)
(play only the fundamental string)
D5 D5
(in the following lines, play one string, then two, then three)
D5 C#5 B5
D5 C#5 B5
D5 F#5 B5
D5 C#5 B5
D5 C#5 B5
D5 C#5 B5
D5 F#5 B5
D5 C#5 B5
(first strokes of each chord on loud strings, then on all the strings)
D C# B
D C# B
D C# B
D C# B
D F# B
D C# B
D C# B
D C# B
D C# B
D F# B
D C# B
D C# B
D C# B
[Verse 1]
D C# B
White on white translucent black capes Back on the rack
D C# B
Bela Lugosi's dead
D C# B
The bats have left the bell tower The victims have been bled, red velvet
D F# B
lines the black box Bela Lugosi's dead
[Chorus 1]
A A# B (eight regular down strokes for the last chord)
A A# B
Bela Lugosi's dead
D C# B
D C# B
Undead undead undead
D C# B
D C# B
Undead undead undead !
[Verse 2]
D C# B
The virginal brides file past his tomb
D C# B
Strewn with time's dead flowers bereft in deathly bloom
D C# B
Alone in a darkened room The Count
D F# B
Bela Lugosi's dead
[Chorus 2]
A A# B
Bela Lugosi's dead
A A# B
Bela Lugosi's dead
D C# B
Undead undead undead
D C# B
Undead undead undead
D C# B
Undead
D C# B
[Outro]
(distorsion noises, pick scrapes, various noises…)
D5 F#5
(distorsion noises, pick scrapes, various noises…)
D5 F#5 B5
D5 C#5 B5
D5 C#5 B5
D5 F#5 B5
D5 C#5 B5
D C# B
D C# B
(sing crescendo)
D5 C#5 B5
Oh Be la
D5 C#5 B5
Be la's undead
D C# B
Oh Be la
D F# B
Be la's undead
D C# B
Be la's undead
D C# B
Oh Be la
D C# B
Be la's undead
D C# B D C# B
Oh Be la
D C# B
D C# B
D C# B
D5 F#5
Undead
D5 F#5
D5
D5 (pick scraping) F#5
Undead
(pick scraping)