Face To Face

one-word@ml.ee
Sun, 8 Jun 1997 06:08:43 +0300

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* From: Bunard <bunard@intouch.bc.ca>

I don't know how many members know much about Indian mythology and theology.
At the risk of sounding simplistic, I will try and briefly describe what
Indian God Shiva represents: he is one of the great triumvirate of top
eshalon Indian Gods (the other two being Vishnu and Krishna).

Shiva is the great destroyer (Krishna is the creator and Vishnu the
preserver). Shiva devours entire worlds (a majestic sight to behold).

Why am I telling you all this? Because today I was listening to "Face To
Face" (Shakti, "Natural Elements") and it was so breathtakingly beautiful
that it lifted me to the higher plane of consciousness, where I could
momentarily see swirling worlds being created and destroyed in a spiraling
procession.

I couldn't resist, I grabbed my guitar and started jamming along that
recording.

My God, I've beeen listening to McLaughlin for so long, and practising his
licks, I'm starting to sound so much like him! It's almost embarrasing.

Anyway, back to the topic: I've managed to figure it out. The piece is quite
simple (has only 3 chords -- Em9, F#11/7 and A major). The best part, by all
means, is the middle unison melody, before McLaughlin kicks in with his
maddening solo.

Here is that gorgeous (and almost frightening) melody:

E|------------------------------------9-10-12-10-12-|
B|------------------------------10-12---------------|
G|-------9-----------------9-12---------------------|
D|-11-12---12-11----11-12---------------------------|
A|----------------12--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|

E|-17--14--12----|
B|---------------|
G|---------------|
D|---------------|
A|---------------|
E|---------------|

Now pause here, and let your buddies (the tabla and mridangam players -- if
you don't have them, I'm sure you can meet someone who knows how to play
these instruments in your neighbourhood) do their convoluted, odd-meter
percussive work.

Start the pattern again:

E|------------------------------------9-10-12-10-12-|
B|------------------------------10-12---------------|
G|-------9-----------------9-12---------------------|
D|-11-12---12-11----11-12---------------------------|
A|----------------12--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|

E|-17----14--12--15-12-10-9----9-12-10--9----9------|
B|--------------------------10------------10------10|
G|---------------------------------------------12---|
D|--------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|

E|--------------------------|
B|--------------------------|
G|-9-12----9----------------|
D|------12---11-12-9-11-----|
A|----------------------12--|
E|--------------------------|

Finally, go for the finishing punch:

E|------------------------------------9-10-12-10-12-|
B|------------------------------10-12---------------|
G|-------9-----------------9-12---------------------|
D|-11-12---12-11----11-12---------------------------|
A|----------------12--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|

E|-17----14--12--15-12-10-9----9-12-10--9----9------|
B|--------------------------10------------10------10|
G|---------------------------------------------12---|
D|--------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|

E|---------9-------9----9-10-12----|
B|------10------10---10------------|
G|-9-12------12--------------------|
D|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|

There you have it. It's so simple, and yet it contains all the cycles of
creating, sustaining and destroying countless worlds.

Playing this is easy, but it gets very hard to nail the exact meter. Icannot
do it alone.

Hope you find this as uplifting as I did.

Alex

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