Cathedral Chords
Cathedral by Edward Van Halen is a moderately challenging guitar song played in the key of C. It uses the chords C, F, Em, B, G and D. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
CATHEDRAL
Edward Van Halen
----------------------------
C F Em C B
{ Part 1
E -0--1--0--0------0--3--0--0-----------------------------------------------
B -1--1--0--1------1--1--0--1---------4---------8----------12------------16-
G -0--2--0--0--4---0--2--0--0--4-----4-4-------8-8--------12-12---------16--
D -2--3--2--2--4---2--3--2--2--4----4---4-----8---8------12---12-------16---
A -3-----2--3--2---3-----2--3--2---2-----2-4-6-----6-8-10-------10-12-14----
E --------------------------------------------------------------------------
} |<- I think this is wrong ->|
E ----------------------------------------------------------------------
B ------------12-------7------10-------5--------------------------------
G 16---------12-12----7-7----10-10----5-5----7--4-----------------------
D -16-------12---12--7---7--10---10--5---5--------5-3-5-3---------------
A --14-12-10--------5------8--------3-----3---------------5-3-2---------
E ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Then, repeat Part 1 (the section within the {}s) followed by...
E -----------------------------------------------------------------------
B ----17-------19-------21--21--21--21-----------------------------------
G ---17-17----19-19----21--21--21--21------------------------------------
D --17---17--19---19--21--21--21--21-------------------------------------
A -15------17-------19---------------19-21-17-19-15-17-14-15-12-14-10-12-
E -----------------------------------------------------------------------
{ Part 2 (repeat a few x) }
E ---------------------+-----------------------------+----------------------
B ---------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------
G ---------------------|-------------7---------------|----------------------
D ---------------------|---------------7-5-4---------|----------------------
A 9-10-7-9-5-7-3-5-2-3-|-------5-7-5---------5-7-5-7-|-5-7-5-7-5-7-5-7-7~~--
E ---------------------+-3-2-3-----------------------+----------------------
Here follows the tablature to Cathedral, from the Diver Down album. The
piece is played entirely using the left hand to hammer notes, with the right
hand controlling the volume knob to make the notes fade in, giving them
a cello-like sound. Essential to the piece is the use of a digital-delay unit.
Technique and Timing:
---------------------
Right-hand - turn the volume up after the left-hand has hammered the note,
so there is no 'attack', and the note just 'swells' in volume. IT takes
a fair amount of practice to get it right.
Left-hand - apart from the chords at the beginning, which can be strummed
with the RH before fading them in, every note in this piece is hammered-on.
Delay unit - try around .42 - .44 seconds. Hopefully the following will
explain how get your timing right with the delay...
If you play the following notes - G B D B G
Have the delay repeat the notes like - G B D B G
So the net result would be: G B G D B B D G B G
timing -----> | | | | | | | | | | | |
*********
You found it at E-Chords
Submitted By: David Campbell
Ontario Canada