"Fracture" from the King Crimson album "Starless and Bible Black"
Transcription by Reginald Hunt
This peice is long, complex, and technically challenging.
Take it one section at a time. Take a riff that seems an essential idea,
practice it slowly, then work it faster & faster. A metronome is a great help.
"<5>" = play open string harmonic at 5th fret.
"5H6" = play note on 5th fret then hammer on 6th.
"6P5" = play note on 6th fret then pull off to 5th.
"5^6" = play 5th fret then bend up to 6th fret pitch.
"X" = Deadened string.
"/" = Slide up the string, "\" = Slide down the string.
"%" = play previous measure again. If a "2" is above it, repeat previous 2 measures.
This INTRO starts extremely quietly, in 5/4, then fades in. Starts on C#.
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
| 9 | |
| 6 8 8 8 | 6 8 8 |
| 6 8 6 6 6 8 | 6 8 6 6 6 8 4 |
| 5 7 5 5 5 7 5 | 5 7 5 5 5 7 5 3 |
| 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 |
Then starts in D#. Moves back to C#.
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4
| 7 9 | |
| 8 10 8 8 | 6 8 |
| 8 10 8 8 8 10 8 | 6 8 6 6 6 8 |
| 7 9 7 7 7 9 7 | 5 7 5 5 5 7 |
| | <6> |
| | |
SECTION [A]****************************************************************************
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
| 9 | 11 |
| 6 8 8 8 | 6 8 8 10 |
| *6 8 6 6 6 8 | 6 8 6 6 6 8 |
| * 5 7 5 5 5 7 5 | 5 7 5 5 5 7 5 |
| 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 |
On repeat: Sweep pick to 11th fret high E w/ slight bend^
Up again to D#. Back to C#.
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4
| 7 9 | |
| 8 10 8 8 | 6 8 |
| 8 10 8 8 8 10 8 | 6 8 6 6 6 8 |
| 7 9 7 7 7 9 7 | 5 7 5 5 5 7 |
| | <5> |
| | |
On repeat: Play 6th fret A string on repeat^
^
Goes up to A.
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
| 17 | 19 |
| 14 16 16 16 | 14 16 16 18 |
| 14 16 14 14 14 16 | 14 16 14 14 14 16 |
| 13 15 13 13 13 15 13 | 13 15 13 13 13 15 13 |
| 14 | 14 |
| 13 | 13 |
[Skip this section on repeat.........................................................
Then up to B. Back to A.
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4
| 15 17 | |
| 16 18 16 16 | 16 |
| 16 18 16 16 16 18 16 | 14 16 14 12 14 14 16 |
| 15 17 15 15 15 17 15 | 13 15 13 13 13 15 13 |
| | |
| | |
.............................................................................]
Goes down to G#
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
| 16 | 18 |
| 13 15 15 15 | 13 15 15 17 |
| 13 15 13 13 13 15 | 13 15 13 13 13 15 |
| 12 14 12 12 14 12 | 12 14 12 12 14 12 |
| 13 | 13 |
| 0 12 | 0 12 |
Kick on distortion
Then up to A#. Back to G#.
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4
| 14 16 | |
| 15 17 15 15 | 13 15 |
| 15 17 15 15 15 17 15 | 13 15 13 13 13 15 |
| 14 16 14 14 14 16 14 | 12 14 12 12 12 14 |
| | |
| | |
SECTION [B] Double tempo **************************************************************
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | 2 4 8 |
| 2 3 5 9 | 7 3 5 9 | 7 3 5 9 | 7 2 4 7 |
| 2 3 5 9 | 7 3 5 9 | 7 3 5 9 | 7 0 2 6 |
| 0 1 3 7 | 5 1 3 7 | 5 1 3 7 | 5 |
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
| | | |
| | | |
| 6 2 4 8 | 6 2 4 8 | 6 6 8 14 |
| 5 2 4 7 | 5 2 4 7 | 5 5 7 13 |
| 4 0 2 6 | 4 0 2 6 | 4 4 6 12 |
| | | |
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
| | | |
| | | |
| 12 6 8 14 | 12 6 8 14 | 12 |
| 11 5 7 13 | 11 5 7 13 | 11 3 5 9 |
| 10 4 6 12 | 10 4 6 12 | 10 3 5 9 |
| | | 1 3 7 |
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
| | |
| | |
| | * | Repeat with the |
| 7 3 5 9 | 7 3 5 9 * | indicated flourishes. |
| 7 3 5 9 | 7 3 5 9 |
| 5 1 3 7 | 5 1 3 7 |
SECTION [C] This is a constant pattern. Starts with G.*********************************
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| | |
| | |
| 5 7 5 7 5 7 | 5 7 5 |
| 6 4 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6 | 6 4 6 6 4 6 6 4 4 6 |
| | 5 3 5 |
Turn off distortion
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| | |
| | |
| 5 7 5 7 5 7 | 5 7 5 5 |
| 6 4 6 6 4 6 6 6 6 6 | 6 4 6 6 4 6 6 4 4 6 6 |
| | 5 |
Moves up to A.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| | |
| | |
| 7 9 7 9 7 9 | 7 9 7 7 9 |
| 8 6 8 8 6 8 8 8 8 8 | 8 6 8 8 6 8 8 6 6 8 |
| | 7 |
Up to C#
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| | |
| 6 8 6 8 6 8 | 10 |
| 7 5 7 7 5 7 7 7 7 7 | 11 7 9 5 7 |
| | 12 10 6 8 8 8 10 10 6 8 |
| | |
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| | |
| 6 8 6 8 6 8 | 6 8 6 |
| 7 5 7 7 5 7 7 7 7 7 | 7 5 7 7 5 7 7 5 5 7 |
| | 6 4 6 |
| | |
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| | |
| 6 8 6 8 6 8 | 6 8 6 6 |
| 7 5 7 7 5 7 7 7 7 7 | 7 5 7 7 5 7 7 5 5 7 7 |
| | 6 |
| | |
Up to D#.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| | 8 10 |
| 8 10 8 10 8 10 | 8 10 8 8 10 |
| 9 7 9 9 7 9 9 9 9 9 | 9 7 9 9 7 9 9 7 9 |
| | |
| | |
Up to a higher C#.
1 2 3 4
| 9 11 9 11 9 11 |
| 10 8 10 10 8 10 10 10 10 10 |
| |
| |
| |
| |
A little bridge.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| 13 | |
| 14 14 10 | |
| 14 14 14 10 10 10 | 6 2 6 6 |
| 15 11 7 11 11 | 7 7 3 3 7 7 7 7 |
| 8 | 4 0 0 4 |
| | |
Play as chords, letting notes ring.............................................
SECTION [D] ***************************************************************************
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
| | |
| 6 6 6 6 6 6 | 6 6 6 6 6 6 |
| 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 | 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 |
| 3 5 6 | 5 3 5 6 |
| 4 | |
| | |
Let the notes ring in this section
Slide up four frets and play previous 2 measures again.
Slide up ANOTHER four frets and play previous 2 measures again.
1 2 3 4 5
| |
| 6 6 6 6 6 6 |
| 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 |
| 5 3 5 6 |
| |
| |
Second little bridge.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| 17 | |
| 14 14 14 10 10 | 6 |
| 14 14 14 10 10 10 10 | 10 6 6 6 6 |
| 15 11 7 | 11 11 7 7 7 7 7 |
| | 8 4 4 |
| | |
Play as chords, letting notes ring.............................................
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
| | |
| 10 10 10 10 10 10 | 10 10 10 10 10 10 |
| 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 | 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 |
| 7 9 10 | 9 7 9 10 |
| 8 | |
| | |
1 2 3 4 5
| | Slide up four frets and play |
| 10 10 10 10 10 10 | previous 3 measures again. |
| 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 | Slide up ANOTHER four frets and play |
| 9 7 9 10 | previous 3 measures again. |
| |
| |
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| 17 13 9 5 | 9 5 |
| 14 14 14 14 10 10 6 6 | 6 6 6 6 6 |
| 14 14 10 6 | 6 6 6 6 |
| | 7 7 |
| | 8 8 |
| | |
Play as chords, letting notes ring.............................................
SECTION [E] Same pattern as [C]. Starts with C#.***************************************
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| | |
| 6 8 6 8 6 8 | 6 8 6 |
| 7 5 7 7 5 7 7 7 7 7 | 7 5 7 7 5 7 7 5 5 7 |
| | 6 4 6 |
| | |
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| | |
| 6 8 6 8 6 8 | 6 8 6 6 |
| 7 5 7 7 5 7 7 7 7 7 | 7 5 7 7 5 7 7 5 5 7 7 |
| | 6 |
| | |
Up to D#.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| | |
| 8 10 8 10 8 10 | 8 10 8 |
| 9 7 9 9 7 9 9 9 9 9 | 9 7 9 9 7 9 9 7 7 9 |
| | 8 6 8 |
| | |
Back to C#.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| | |
| 6 8 6 8 6 8 | 10 |
| 7 5 7 7 5 7 7 7 7 7 | 11 7 9 11 13 |
| | 12 10 6 8 8 8 10 10 10 12 |
| | |
Up to G.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| | |
| 12 14 12 14 12 14 | 12 14 12 |
| 13 11 13 13 11 13 13 13 13 13 | 13 11 13 13 11 13 13 11 11 13 |
| | 12 10 12 |
| | |
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| | |
| 12 14 12 14 12 14 | 12 14 12 12 |
| 13 11 13 13 11 13 13 13 13 13 | 13 11 13 13 11 13 13 11 11 13 13 |
| | 12 |
| | |
Up to A.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| | |
| 14 16 14 16 14 16 | 14 16 14 14 16 |
| 15 13 15 15 13 15 15 15 15 16 | 15 13 15 15 13 15 15 13 13 15 |
| | 14 |
| | |
Up to higher C#.
1 2 3 4
| |
| 14 16 14 16 14 16 |
| 14 12 14 14 12 14 14 14 14 14 |
| |
| |
| |
Third little bridge
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5
| 13 9 | |
| 14 10 10 | 6 |
| 14 10 10 10 10 | 6 2 6 6 6 6 |
| 15 11 7 11 11 | 7 7 3 3 7 7 7 6 |
| 8 | 4 0 0 4 4 |
| | |
Play as chords, letting notes ring..........................................
SECTION [F]****************************************************************************
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
| | |
| 6 6 6 6 6 | 6 6 6 6 6 |
| 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 | 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 |
| 5 4 5 4 5 | 5 4 5 4 5H6 |
| | |
| | |
Let notes ring in this section.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| 6 6 6 6 | 6 6 8 8 10 |
| 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 | 6 6 6 8 8 8 10 10 |
| 5 4 5 4 | |
| | 4 6 8 |
| | |
Slide up four frets and play previous 4 measures again.
Slide up ANOTHER four frets and play previous 4 measures
again (except for last beat).
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5
| 17 13 | |
| 14 14 14 14 14 10 | 10 |
| 14 14 14 14 10 10 | 10 10 10 6 2 6 |
| 15 11 | 7 11 11 7 7 3 3 7 6 |
| | 8 4 0 0 |
| | |
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
| | |
| | |
| 6 6 6 6 6 | 6 6 6 6 6 |
| 7 7 7 7 6 7 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 7 6 7 7 7 7 7 |
| 6 4 6 4 6 | 6 4 6 4 6H7 |
| | |
1 2 3 4
| | |
| | 4 4 6 |
| 6 6 6 6 | 6 6 4 4 4 6 6 |
| 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 |
| 6 4 6 4 | 0 2 4 |
| | |
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
| | |
| 6 6 6 6 6 | 6 6 6 6 6 |
| 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 | 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 |
| 5 4 5 4 5 | 5 4 5 4 5H6 |
| | |
| | |
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| 6 6 6 6 | 6 6 8 8 10 |
| 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 | 6 6 6 8 8 8 10 10 |
| 5 4 5 4 | |
| | 4 6 8 |
| | |
Slide up four frets and play previous 4 measures
again (except for last beat).
Distortion fades in here.
Fourth little bridge.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| 17 13 9 5 | 11 15 17 |
| 14 14 14 14 10 10 6 6 | X 10 X 14 X |
| 14 14 10 6 | 8 12 14 |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Play as chords, letting notes ring..............................
SECTION [G] Same pattern as [C]. Starts with low C#. **********************************
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | 5 |
| 4 6 4 6 4 6 | 4 6 4 4 6 6 |
| 5 3 5 5 3 5 5 5 5 5 | 5 3 5 5 3 5 5 3 5 |
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | 5 |
| 4 6 4 6 4 6 | 4 6 4 4 6 6 |
| 5 3 5 5 3 5 5 5 5 5 | 5 3 5 5 3 5 5 3 5 |
Up to D#.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | 5 7 |
| 6 8 6 8 6 8 | 6 8 6 6 8 |
| 7 5 7 7 5 7 7 7 7 7 | 7 5 7 7 5 7 7 5 7 |
Up to higher C#.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | 5 |
| | 6 8 10 |
| 6 8 6 8 6 8 | 6 8 8 10 |
| 7 5 7 7 5 7 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 9 9 |
| | 6 8 8 |
| | |
Up to higher C#.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| 9 11 9 11 9 11 | 9 11 9 |
| 10 8 10 10 8 10 10 10 10 10 | 10 8 10 10 8 10 10 8 8 10 |
| | 10 8 10 |
| | |
| | |
| | |
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| 9 11 9 11 9 11 | 9 11 9 9 |
| 10 8 10 10 8 10 10 10 10 10 | 10 8 10 10 8 10 10 8 8 8 10 12 |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Up to D#.
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| 11 13 11 13 11 13 | 11 13 11 11 13 15 |
| 12 10 12 12 10 12 12 12 12 12 | 12 10 12 12 10 12 12 10 12 14 |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Faster Tempo (about double)
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| 17 19 17 19 17 19 | 21 |
| 18 16 18 18 16 18 18 18 18 18 | |
| | 2 2 2 |
| | 2 2 2 |
| | 0 0 0 |
| | |
SECTION [H] ***************************************************************************
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 2 | | | 2 4 8 |
| 2 3 5 9 | 7 3 5 9 | 7 3 5 9 | 7 2 4 7 |
| 0 3 5 9 | 7 3 5 9 | 7 3 5 9 | 7 0 2 6 |
| 1 3 7 | 5 1 3 7 | 5 1 3 7 | 5 |
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
| | | |
| | | |
| 6 2 4 8 | 6 2 4 8 | 6 6 8 14 |
| 5 2 4 7 | 5 2 4 7 | 5 5 7 13 |
| 4 0 2 6 | 4 0 2 6 | 4 4 6 12 |
| | | |
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
| | | |
| | | |
| 12 6 8 14 | 12 6 8 14 | 12 0 0 0 |
| 11 5 7 13 | 11 5 7 13 | 11 3 5 9 |
| 10 4 6 12 | 10 4 6 12 | 10 3 5 9 |
| | | 1 3 7 |
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
| | |
| | |
| 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0 |
| 7 3 5 9 | 7 3 5 9 |
| 7 3 5 9 | 7 3 5 9 |
| 5 1 3 7 | 5 1 3 7 |
SECTION [I] Performed a bit rubato, alternates with violin ****************************
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | | | | | |
| 10 | | 8 | \\\\6 | | "< >" indicates |
| | | | | | | notes to |
| | | | | | | fade in, fade out. |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
< > < > < >
Slide down to 6
1 2 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
< Slide up neck
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
< > < > < >
1 2 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
< < >
Bend up slowly
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
< > < > < > < >
Violin plays by itself
1 2 1 2 3 1 2 3
SECTION [J] Mute the A string slightly with side of pick hand**************************
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4
| | |
| 10 10 10 10 | 10 10 10 10 |
| | | Note | This last measure |
| 7 7 7 7 7 7 | 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 | is more like (4 1/2)/4 |
| 0 X 0 0 X 0 X 0 0 X | 0 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | (5/8 + 4/8). |
| | |
Band comes in
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
| | |
| 10 10 10 10 10 10 | 8 8 8 8 8 8 |
| | 2 |
| 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 5 | 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 2 |
| 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
| | |
SECTION [K]****************************************************************************
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
| | | |
| | | |
| 4 2 4 2 4/5 | % | 4 2 4 2 2 |
| 5 3 5 3 5/6 | | 5 3 5 3 3 5 3 |
| | | 4 6 |
| | | |
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
| | | |
| 4 2 4 2 4/5 | | 4 2 4 2 |
| 4 2 4 2 4/5 | % | 4 2 4 2 2 4 6 |
| | | 3 5 7 |
| | | |
| | | |
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
| | | |
| 8 6 8 6 8/9 | | 8 6 8 6 |
| 8 6 8 6 8/9 | % | 8 6 8 6 6 8 9 |
| | | 7 9 10 |
| | | |
| | | |
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
| | | |
| 11 9 11 9 11/12 | | 11 9 11 9 |
| 11 9 11 9 11/12 | % | 11 9 11 9 9 11 13 |
| | | 10 12 14 |
| | | |
| | | |
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
| 0 0 0 0 0 | | 0 0 0 0 |
| 15 13 15 13 15/16 | | 15 13 15 13 9 12 |
| 15 13 15 13 15/16 | % | 15 13 15 13 9 12 |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Bass guitar dual solo .........................................
SECTION [L] ***************************************************************************
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3
SECTION [M] Faster tempo in 7/4 *******************************************************
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
| | | |
| | | |
| | | % | Repeat these 2 measures |
| 3 5 6 | 5 3 5 6 | | 5 more times |
| 4 | | | moving up 4 half steps each time. |
| | | |
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
| | | |
| | | |
| | | % | Repeat these 2 measures |
| | | | 8 more times |
| 4 6 7 | 6 4 6 7 | | moving up 4 half steps each time. |
| 5 | | |
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Start to slow down
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| | | 21 |
| | 18 | |
| | //16 16 | |
| //11 | 15 15 | |
| 0 12 10 | | |
| | | |