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Subject: TAB:LeoKottke"Watermelon"
Status: RO
Humphrey's by the sea, San Diego, 1991. Leo Kottke/Tuck
and Patty in concert. A voice from the crowd during Leo's set.
.."Watermelon!!"...."Nah, I don't like that tune" sez Leo. Too
bad. It's my favorite on the Armadillo album and one of my
favorite Kottke tunes of all time. When I first discovered
Kottke's music in the early 70's, and during my formative years
playing the guitar, I must have listened to "Armadillo" a
zillion times. I, like many of you, marveled at the sound.
As I struggled with Freight Train at 10 beats per minute the
possibility of playing anything even slightly approaching what
I heard in Armadillo was beyond my wildest imagination. Still
is!!! Here's a simple fact...Kottke is Kottke and you're not!!
But...his music is accessible when you realize that you'll never
play it exactly like Leo. No sweat, just sit back, get a grip,
and do it your own way....however, the basic Kottke sound is
accessible, albeit with some effort.
"Watermelon" surounds you with a wall of sound. I think the
key to the tune rests in the right hand picking pattern.
The pattern has an almost banjo flavor to it. While a
standard alternating bass with the thumb is there, its the
emphasis of the higher voice created by the fingers that I
think gives Watermelon its distinctive "hook". That combined
with the left hand alternating a slight release of the notes
as the pattern plays out creates the sound. The latter concept
relates to the "nudging someone off a bus" technique Leo
referred to in the "8 Songs" book. Took me awhile to figure
out what he meant by that...I think I understand.
While recorded on a 12 string, Watermelon sounds okay on a 6.
Too bad Leo never re-recorded it 'ala Mona Ray and Ojo on a
6 string. Also, if you haven't gotten into slide guitar yet,
you can also work this one around pretty well without a slide.
This tab is far from accurate but it'll get you headed in the
right direction. A simplified, basic version of the tab was
given to me by fellow Kottke enthusiast Hank Stanley. He
deserves most of the credit....I'm not nearly smart enough
to have figured out the positions Leo plays this thing out
of...positions that in retrospect are ridiculously simple....
Thanks Hank!.
"Watermelon"
Leo Kottke
From: "6&12 String Guitar"
Tab: Hank Stanley/Jim Jarrell
Open D (several 1/2 steps low)
12 string w/ slide
Timing: 4/4? (Dunno!) Speed: Pretty darn fast!
h hammer on
p pull-off
g ghost note: note that, while played, is not accentuated
and/or who's primary purpose is to facilitate
left hand movement or maintain the beat
T thumb or thumb brush down catching several strings
I index finger
' accentuated note,ie. at least partial emphasis
/ slide up the neck (towards saddle)
\ slide down the neck (towards nut)
X mute,dampen or move to/from indefinite position
Section I: A banjo roll of sorts. Rock steady syncopation
with second string creating almost "drone" sound.
No, repeat, no hesitation on "pinches"
d|-------------------------------------|
a|--------0-----0-----0-----0-----0----|
f#-@----3---3-------3---3-------3---3--|
D|-@------0-------0-------0-------0----|
A|----3-------3-------3-------3--------|
D|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
|------0-----0-----0-----0-----0------|
|----1---1-------1---1-------1---1----|
|------0-------0-------0-------0------|
|--2-------2-------2-------2----------|
|-------------------------------------|
|-------0------0--------0--------0------0---|
|-------------------------------------------|
|---0--------0--0-0h1--------1--------0-----|
|-----0--------0------0--------0--------0---|
|-----------------0h2-----------------------|
|-0--------0---------------0--------0-------|
g
Note: 5th string "h" has emphasis over
3rd string "h".
|----0------2/4------2p0-------------0------|
|-------------------------------------------|
|--------0--------0---------0----0----------|
|------0--------0---------0--------0--------|
|-------------------------------------------|
|-0---------0--------0---------0--------0---|
|------------------------------0-------0----|
|-------------------------------------------|
|-0---0------1-----1-------0--------0-------|
|---0------2---2-------2-----0---------0----|
|------------2-------2----------------------|
|--------0-------0-------0--------0---------|
Section II
The weakest part of the tab, this
section befuddles me...too many octave notes
going on at one time. Here's 3 ways it could
be played. Regardless, this section is played
out of a good 'ole, standard tuning E or E7
chord position (I think!)
|-------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------|
|------1-----1-----1------0'------0---------| repeat
|----2---2-------2---2--------0--------0----| many
|------2-------2-------0x-------0-----------| times
|--0-------0-------2--------0--------0------|
(Note: slight damp and accentuated note above)
or maybe its......
|-------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------|
|------1-----1-----1-----0'------0----------|
|----2---2-------2---2-------0--------0-----|
|------2-------0x------2-------0------------|
|--0-------2-------0-------0--------0-------|
or maybe its...a backwards banjo roll...
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
|----1-----1-------1-----0'-----------|
|------2-----2---2---2--------0---0---|
|--------0-----0-------0--------0-----|
|--0---------------0--------0---------|
While not tabbed, you could also throw in the the
4th fret, 6th and 4th string and 3rd fret,3rd string
during part of above section...lots of options
The remaining part of this section is an example
of one of the many reasons why Kottke is Kottke and
you and I aren't....
|------0---------------0------2/4-0-------|
|------------------------0----------------|
|----0---0-1-0-------------------------0--|
|------0-------2-0----------0--------0----|
|------------------2-0--------------------|
|--0-------------------0--------0---------|
I T I T I T I
If,like me, you have trouble with the thumb/index
flatpick style finger run try this variation..
|------0--------------------0-----2/4--0-----|
|-------------0-----0---------0--------------|
|----0---0------1-----0---0----------------0-|
|------0----------2-----0-------0---------0--|
|--------------------------------------------|
|--0--------0---------------0-------0--------|
Section III
Constant, subtle vibrato throughout on 3rd string
|-------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------|
|------7/8-----8-----8-----8----------|
|----0-----0-------0---0-------0---0--|
|------0---------0-------0-------0----|
|--0---------0-------0-------0--------|
"7/8" slide above is very subtle (ghost slide?)
|----------------------------------| repeat 1st
|----------------------------------| two measures
|------6-----6-----6-----6*--------| of section then..
|----7---7-------7---7-------7---0-|
|------7-------7-------7-------7---|
|--0-------0-------0-------0-------|
*on recording the
high "g" string octave is emphasized..I get
the note by reaching down with my right index
finger to get better pull up to get the note...
yeah, I know...picky,picky,picky
|-----------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------|
|------7-----7-----7-----7----------|
|----0---0-------0---0-------0---0--|
|------0-------0-------0-------0----|
|--0-------0-------0-------0--------|
|----------------------------------|
|----------------------------------|
|------3------3------3----3--------|
|----4----4--------4----------4----|
|------0x-------0x-----0x-------0x-|
|--4--------4--------4------4------|
dampen notes above with finger fretting 6th string
Next measure all with slide
|----------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------|
|------5-----5-----5---5---------7-----7----7---7\x--|
|--------5-------5-----5-----------7------7-----7\x--|
|------5-------5-----5-----5-----7-------7----7------|
|--x/5-----5-------5-----5---5/7-----7------7--------|
Section IV All fretted notes with slide
and tons of vibrato
|-----X/12----12------12------12----------|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-------------------0-----0---------0-----|
|-----0-----------0---------0---------0---|
|-----------------------------------------|
|--0--------0----------0----------0-------|
|-----X/11----11------11------11\X--------|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-------------------0-----0-----------0---|
|-----0-----------0---------0-------------|
|-----------------------------------------|
|--0--------0----------0------------0-----|
|-------5-----5-----5-----5---------------|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-------5---------5---5--------5\X--------|
|-------5-------5-------5------5\X--------|
|----5------------------------------------|
|--X/5-----5--------5--------5------------|
T' T' T'
|-----2/4---2/4---2/4-----2p0---------|
|-------------------------------------|
|-----------------------0--------0----|
|-----0-----0---------0--------0------|
|-------------------------------------|
|--0-----0--------0--------0----------|
You really do have to listen to last measure to
get the feel and timing....but that's true for
entire tune
Repeat sections I and IV then section I to fade
Comments, questions and corrections welcome!
Jim Jarrell Work: JarrellJ@N4.OPNAV.NAVY.MIL
Home: KQTJ46A@prodigy.com
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