Moonchild (Tab)

Date Submitted: 14-May-98
By: Uwe Hoppe (uwe.hoppe@hamburg.netsurf.de)

MOONCHILD

Written by Fripp/McDonald/Lake/Giles/Sinfield
Album: In The Court of the Crimson King (1969)

The whole song which is in the key of A minor consists of
5 different parts:

1. introduction (main riff played twice)
2. verse section (main riff)
3. chorus 
4. guitar solo (over main riff)
2. verse section
3. chorus
5. free group improvisation (lasting for almost 10 minutes!)

Since transcribing the last part would not make much sense
(after all it is completely improvised), let us just take a
look at the basic elements of the "song section" that lasts 
for only about two minutes but is complete in itself.

SOUNDS: The leadguitar (guitar 1) is heavily distorted but
distortion is only used to get enough sustain to let the notes
ring out as long as possible. Furthermore, a lot of reverb is
being used in order to achieve a sort of dreamy atmosphere that
fits the basic theme of the song very well. It also seems that
Robert uses a volume pedal or something for there is hardly any
audible pick attack.
There are no effects on the rhythm guitar (guitar 2). Nevertheless,
it sounds very warm, possibly due to the use of a guitar with 
humbucking pickups (either a Gibson ES 335 or Les Paul or something
like that).


1. Introduction
---------------
This part which is played twice introduces the main riff which is based
on the A minor chord with a descending "bass" line (A - G - F# - F):


e---------12-------------------------I
b---10-------------------------------I
g-9----------------------------------I guitar 1
D------------------------------------I
A------------------------------------I
E------------------------------------I


     Am       C/A       
e--------------------------------------I
b----------5-------5--------5-------5--I
g----------5-------5--------5-------5--I guitar 2 (main riff)
D-------7--------5--------4-------3----I
A----0--------0--------0-------0-------I
E--------------------------------------I


2. Verse section
----------------
Play main riff 4 times.


3. Chorus
---------

    Dm7     Em7             Fmaj7   Em7   Am          Dm7      Em7              Am
e--------------------------------------------------I------------------------------------I
b--------6--------8----------10------8-----5-------I---------6--------8----------10-----I
g--------5--------7-----------9------7-----5-------I---------5--------7-----------9-----I
D-----7--------9-------------10------9-----7-------I------7--------9-------------10-----I
A--5--------7-----------------8------7-----0-------I---5--------7-----------------0---0-I
E--------------------------------------------------I------------------------------------I

Talking to the trees of the  cob -  web   strange  sleeping on the steps of a fountain
Sailing on the wind  in a    milk   white gown     dropping circle stones on a sun dial

    Dm7     Em7                Fmaj7   Em7   Am        Dm7      Em7              Am
e---------------------------------------------------I-----------------------------------I
b--------6--------8-------------10------8-----5-----I--------6--------8-----------1-----I
g--------5--------7--------------9------7-----5-----I--------5--------7-----------2-----I
D-----7--------9----------------10------9-----7-----I-----7--------9--------------2-----I
A--5--------7--------------------8------7-----0-----I--5--------7-----------------0---0-I
E---------------------------------------------------I-----------------------------------I

Waving silver wands to the     night-  birds song    waiting for the sun on the mountain
Playing hide and seek with the ghosts  of    dawn    waiting for a smile from a sun child


4. Guitar Solo
--------------
Guitar 2 plays main riff 4 times.
The solo is something like this (corrections welcome!). Check out the
recording for note values (" / " indicates a slide).

                     
e---------12--I-13--16 / 20-19-20-19---20--17-19--19 / 12---8-10-8--------12--I
b---10--------I-----------------------------------------------------9--10-----I
g-9-----------I---------------------------------------------------------------I guitar 1
D-------------I---------------------------------------------------------------I
A-------------I---------------------------------------------------------------I
E-------------I---------------------------------------------------------------I