Michael Jackson' "Black and White"

[lasido]

The band has been asked to add Michael Jackson's "Black and White" to our list. It seems like a straight forward song.

That said, I have two questions:

1. Where is the best place to find the tab for it?

2. Any idea what type guitar/amp/effects to get close to the sound?

Thanks.

Live version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyR2Faf8uHI

Song only: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjZwi_PJiio

 

[Lution]

cool! you guys gonna do the rap in the middle?

 

[lasido]

Probably, though i hope it's not me!

My amp is a Hot Rod Deluxe, guitars are Strat and LP.

 

[sws1]

Is there more to the song than just Esus4, E, Eadd2, over and over and over?

 

[A-Bone]

Is there more to the song than just Esus4, E, Eadd2, over and over and over?

It has a breakdown/bridge in it before and during the rap section that sounds like it makes use of additional chords, plus there is this brief, really fast note flurry directly preceding the rap which always sounded like keyboards to me, but which might be processed guitar.

 

[Lution]

It has a breakdown/bridge in it before and during the rap section that sounds like it makes use of additional chords, plus there is this brief, really fast note flurry directly preceding the rap which always sounded like keyboards to me, but which might be processed guitar.

Right and that would be way cool to reproduce if the band was up to the task.

 

[binge]

There's a pretty decent tab on Ultimate Guitar.

 

[lasido]

Thanks binge, that's a good tab. And we may do that flurry part before the rap, we will see.

Thanks guys.

 

[Mayfield]

We do this song and we took out the rap. We have an MC/Singer that has great skills covering hip hop....but the lyrics of that rap are so outdated...and I know it is sacriligious to alter an MJ song....but crowds love it and no one has complained about taking out the rap as we cut to a verse of Bad during that section, then go back to Black and White....so we made it work.

 

[lasido]

We do this song and we took out the rap. We have an MC/Singer that has great skills covering hip hop....but the lyrics of that rap are so outdated...and I know it is sacriligious to alter an MJ song....but crowds love it and no one has complained about taking out the rap as we cut to a verse of Bad during that section, then go back to Black and White....so we made it work.

Interesting approach. I'm definitely ok without the rap. Thanks for the idea.

 

[jhumber]

I've gigged that song before quite a few times. Great fun!
The poster above is right, it's pretty much E, Esus4, Esus2 all the way, with A and B power chords in the pre-chorus. There's a neat little funk part under the rap, which I hope you get to do. In terms of tone, any mild/medium gain OD should cut it live. I've used all kinds of guitars/amps/pedals for it and no-one's complained yet....
Note: just before the rap section there's a truly monstrous keyboard line (played in groups of 5, I think) - good luck with whoever takes that on! I tried to cover it with some ridiculous tapping line - not sure if I ever fooled anyone but it sounded close enough for the 1.5 seconds it lasted
Good luck!
Cheers
Jordan

 

[chucke99]

Just remember, that's Slash on guitar on the original.

 

[gproud5150]

Just remember, that's Slash on guitar on the original.

Only the beginning part with the kid and dad yelling at each other. The actual song is not Slash.

 

[tsar nicholas]

Only the beginning part with the kid and dad yelling at each other. The actual song is not Slash.

^ whoa, really? That's the first I've heard of that.

 

[smcgov]

Pretty sure it's all Slash....

 

[badhorsie551]

Great song but i think slash only played the intro thing when the kid is listening to the music.

I read some interview a few years ago where slash said he didn't play on the song at all.

 

[NB_Terry]

Tim Pierce played on this.

 

[sws1]

Who ever played the original, probably only played 1 bar. The copy / paster played the rest of the song.

 

[english_bob]

Great song but i think slash only played the intro thing when the kid is listening to the music.

I read some interview a few years ago where slash said he didn't play on the song at all.

Slash played on another song from the album IIRC, "Give In To Me" or something. I'm pretty sure that's not him on "Black or White".

 

[tonyhay]

The bit in the middle is the most interesting bit, before the rap part. We do the flurry part on guitar....sounds great.