Rock & Roll

[rymann76]

Hey, I was wondering if any of you knew the the chords to Phish's version of Rock & Roll by Lou Reed. Been listening to the IT version of the song. Thanks

[IamWILSON]

Off of the top of my head I'm pretty sure its |C   |C   |Gm  |Gm  |F    |F   |C   |C  *| The little thing he does that is too hard to explain right now, but what I play (that sounds like what Trey does) is use a Csus chord but in 1st inv (3rd "E" in the bass").  When the lyrics come in you basically play a measure of each of the above chords.  And I think the turnround at the end of the verses is |D  |F  |G  |F  |C  |F  |C  |F  |.... or something like that.  Besides some riffing I don't think there's really much else to it. 

Anyone willing to expand further, or better, on my input?

Goodluck!

[IamWILSON]

just decided to pull out my gtr and check that....so its C - C - Gm -Gm - F - FGF - C - C at the beginning. At least per the 09 show I checked it too. I could swear Trey used to do some Fsus thing in the 90s on F, but maybe my ear is just better now.

[rymann76]

Thanks man I appreciate it!

[Walker done done]

I posted this a while back.  We play this song frequently in our band.  Not sure how much different the Bb6 is from a Gm, but here's how to play it:

Bb6:
x
8
7
8
x
(6)

I play a shortened version without the Bb root on the low E though.

Code Select Expand

Rock n' Roll
The Velvet Underground

C                       Bb6       
Jenny said when she was just five years old you know there's
F             F G F   C
nothing goin' down at all.
C                  Bb6                 F       F G F        C
She turned on that radio and there was nothin' happening at all.
C                  Bb6                     F              F G F    C
She turned on that L.A. station couldn't believe what she heard at all
C                           Bb6
She started dancin' to that fine fine music
    F                 F G F    C
Her life was saved by rock and roll.


         D                     F
chorus:  Despite all the complications they could just
         G                           F
         Dance to that rock and roll station
                      C            Bb6
         And it was alright(it's alright)
                  C            Bb6
         It was alright(it's alright)
                  C            Bb6
         It was alright(it's alright)
                  C
         It was alright.

riff 1:
E ---------------------------------------------------
B ---------------------------------------------------
G ----------------7-^9—-7-7----7-9-10~--^12-10-9-----
D ---10-10~--9^10--------------------------------8---
A ---------------------------------------------------
E ---------------------------------------------------


Jenny said when she was five years old you know her
Parents will be the death of us all.
Two TV sets and two Cadillac cars well they don't
Mean nothin' at all, not at all.

She turned on that L.A. station couldn't believe what she heard at all.
She started dancin' to that fine fine music, her life was
Saved by rock and roll.

chorus

solo over verse chords

1st verse

chorus-end on last "alright"


Riff 2 (Trey's riff at the end which leads into the solo):

E ----------------------8--10^12-12p10^8--------------------
B -----------------8-10------------------10-8---8-----------
G ---------------9----------------------------9---9--7h9~---
D ---------8-10---------------------------------------------
A ------10--------------------------------------------------
E ---^8-----------------------------------------------------

[IamWILSON]

Walker, that is the exact voicing I play as well! No root note, jut the triad on D, G, and B strings like you had written.  Funny because I know my band will start playing this song soon, but I've never thought about the fact that Mike is playing a Bb while Trey is playing what I view as a Gm triad with the 3rd in the bass, hence my saying its Gm.  But yes, the fact that Mike is playing Bb will make it a Bb6 chord.