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Linus & Lucy
------------

As played by Stu Hamm.
Lesson by Jeff Trout threshar@torgo.978.org

This document will attempt to explain to the reader how to play Linus & Lucy (The peanuts (Charlie Brown)) theme on the bass, just like Stu. Wether Stu likes it or not, he'll probably be forever known as "that bass guy who plays the charlie brown song!". A lot of people wonder how he does it, and hopefully we'll help you out.

This document assumes you know how to tap. If not, you need to STOP reading and learn tapping. Please see the other documents on the site for an explanation of tapping.

So, the main riff. There are two parts - the left hand and right hand. They are played at the same time. But lets focus on the left hand first. This is the hardest part as it requires a crazy stretch. In tab form we have this:

G---------------------------
D-----5-----5---------------
A---5-----5-------5-7---5-7-
E-3-----3-------3-----3-----

It is two parts: The first part is your standard "power chord" and should be easy enough to play. Hit the G with your index finger and the D and G with your ring and pinky respectively. (You can use your middle and ring, but I find it a more natural position to use the ring & pinky)

Ok. Now play it really REALLY slow. This will ensure it will sound better when we speed it up. In fact, don't even try to play it at full speed until you can play it perfectly at half speed. Metronome is your friend. Love it. Use It.

Practice that a bunch. Make sure you get the rhythm right. Try moving that around a bit. Get comfy with it.

The second half is much harder as it has a crazy stretch in it. There is no way around it. None. You just have to play it just like above, except hitting the E (on the A) instead of the G. Some tricks you can use to help this are a slide from the D to the E, but that doesn't sound as good. This part is hard. I am making sure that is clear, but keep practicing and your fingers WILL stretch.

Now, at this point play the above riff many, many times until it sounds good. Be sure to start slow as you cannot play this very fast from the start. If you can, you are likely making mistakes and not realizing it or you happen to be unnaturally good at bass.

Now, onto the right hand part. This is much easier. In tab form we have

G--12-14-16--16-14-12--14--12--12-14-16--16
D------------------------------------------
A------------------------------------------
E------------------------------------------

Play this by tapping it on your right hand. You have two choices in how to play this one. You can either use your index finger to tap each one, or use your index, middle and ring. I find the 2nd technique is a little trickier, but makes it easier in the long run. So, give that a whirl. Make sure you play with your right hand. Play slow, try to get the rhythm right.

Now, the hard part: combining the two.

You start out by playing the left hand part twice. Then the right hand comes in.

This song is nice, because the two hands work in unison instead of the left hand doing something totally different from the right.

So when you go up

    5
  5 
3

Each time you hit one of those notes, play the corresponding right hand note. It will feel a little wierd when you go up the G-D-G and you go down the B-A-G on the right hand, but you'll get used to it.

Practice this part a bit. Just the G-D-G and the G-A-B part.

Now comes the hard stretch part with the G-D-E. This is tricky because you have the killer stretch. The good part is that the right hand is simple: it is just A-G. So when you play the G on your left hand the first time you hit the A on right hand and then when you end up back at the G on your left hand (the 2nd time through that little riff) you hit the G. Luckly your right hand doesn't have to do anything while your body copes with dealing with that strech on the left hand.

At this point you need to pratice more. Go slow, you will likely make many mistakes. Don't worry - this is a hard thing to play, but boy oh boy if you practice, take it slow, you will be able to impress a LOT of people with it :).

So at this point you know the "main riff". But wait, there is more!

After you play that first riff a few times you'll need to do something else, but don't worry - it is easy.

Simply move the left hand part up to the A# (6th fret instead of 3rd).

While you do that the right hand will be playing

G--14----12-12--14-14

By this point you'll know what you are supposed to play. The rhythm is sort of similar to "part two" of the main riff. I leave that up to the reader.

And the final part is some simple strumming. I simple use a few fingers and go from a "fist" position to open fingers, strumming the strings as I go. You'll get it. It is simple.

G--5-5-5-7--12-12-12-12-12-14-12-12-12-12-
D--5-5-5-7--12-14-14-12-14-14-12-14-14-12-
A--3-3-3-5--------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------

Then do the same, but move everything up a couple frets so the D-G-D (3rd fret) moves up to G-A-G (7th fret) and so on. You'll recognize it.

And there you have it.

Linus & Lucy. It will be hard, but it is a good thing for showing off.

You can find the full tab for this here - You can find it in the medly "Quahogs Anyone?" on the album The Urge.

Send comments / flames to threshar@torgo.978.org

Lesson from Count Zero: Stu Hamm's Official Unofficial site http://www.stuarthamm.net/