"Fields of Fire" by Big Country
From the Album "King Biscuit Flower Hour" and others
Tab by Colin Dawson - colin_g_dawson@hotmail.com - May 2005
Updated December 2005.
Comments and corrections welcome!
For more info about Big Country visit www.bigcountry.co.uk
All the studio versions of Fields of Fire (except the demo version)
are mastered at too fast a speed. As a result they end up midway between
the key of E and the key of F instead of D. This means that you can't play
along with these versions using all the open strings which are essential
to this song unless you retune your guitar up by two and a half semitones
which is not a very good idea. I've therefore tabbed this song based on the
live versions which, in my opinion, are far better than the studio versions.
To produce this tab, I started off with the KBFH version but have added bits
from the Final Fling (Come Up Screaming) and other versions. If you play the
whole song in accordance with this tab, it'll be about six and a half minutes
long. It's a stunning way to finish off any gig.
At the very end, I've added one of the harmony guitar bits from "The Crossing"
version, but transposed back into the correct key.
I'll add bits and pieces from other versions of the song when I
get a chance.
h = hammer
p = pull
s = slide
sd = slide down
r = let ring (sustain)
Intro;
There have been various versions of the intro over the years including a version
that has excerpts of "Rebel Rebel" "Should I stay or should I go", "Walk this way"
etc. They would then jam and "scratch" on an A chord before coming in with;
Guitar 1;
A A A A7
E|--------------------------------------|
B|------------------5---------8---------|
G|---------6--------6---------6---------|
D|7--------7----------------------------|
A|7-------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------|
Guitar 2;
Slightly damp the strings but emphasis the * notes
A * * A **** A * * A7 ****
E|-----------------|-------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
B|-----------------|-------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
G|--------------6-9|---------------6-6-|--------------6-9|---------------6-6-|
D|7-77-7-77-7-77---|7-77-7-77-7-77--7-7|7-77-7-77-7-77---|7-77-7-77-7-77--7-7|
A|-----------------|-------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
E|-----------------|-------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
Solo 1; (guitar 2 plays chords)
To make this next bit easieer to read and tab, I've use the following shorthand;
D G D G D D D
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------2-222-222-------222-222-22-------------------|
G|7-777-777-111-4-0-000-000-4-1-7-000-000-00-4-1-7-444-2h4p2-1-|
D|0-000-000-000-0-----------0-0-0------------0-0-0-000-0-----0-|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
D G D G D D D
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------2-222-222-------222-222-22-------------------|
G|7-777-777-111-4-0-000-000-4-1-7-000-000-00-4-1-7-444-2h4p2-1-|
D|0-000-000-000-0-----------0-0-0------------0-0-0-000-0-----0-|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
Solo 2; (shorthand as above) (guitar 2 plays chords)
A A A A D G D A G D D D
E|-----------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------2--------------------------------|
G|9--1-2-2s4--2-1-2-1---4-1s9-1p9------------1---1h2h4-|
D|--------------------------------2rrrr--2s4-----------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------|
To make this next bit easier to tab, I've used the following shorthand;
A A A A D G D A G D
E|2--4-5-5s7--5-4-5-4--9-7-4s2--4p2----|
B|----------------------------------5--|
G|-------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|
Verse 1;
To make this next bit easier to tab, I've used the following shorthand;
7 = 7th fret
8 = 8th fret
9 = 9th fret
0 = open string
X = 10th fret
E = 11th fret
This part is played by guitar 1. Guitar 2 is silent.
D G A D
E|---------------------------XXX---7---9---X--|
B|---------------------------777---8---X---7--|
G|---------------------------777---7---9---7--|
D|---------------------------000---0---0---0--|
A|--------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|
Between a father and a son
D G A D
E|-----------------------------XXX---7---9---X--|
B|-----------------------------777---8---X---7--|
G|-----------------------------777---7---9---7--|
D|-----------------------------000---0---0---0--|
A|----------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------|
Between the city and the one
D A G
E|-------------------------------XXXX---------|
B|-------------------------------7777--X---8--|
G|-------------------------------7777--9---7--|
D|-------------------------------0000--0---0--|
A|--------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|
Before the teacher and the test
G A6 A D
E|--------------------------------------------X--|
B|--------------------------------888---X--X--7--|
G|--------------------------------777---E--9--7--|
D|--------------------------------000---0--0--0--|
A|-----------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|
Before the journey and the rest
Verse 2;
Guitar 1 plays the same as verse 1. Guitar 2 plays the following.
(no shorthand)
D G A D
E|------------------------------------------------|
B|------------7--------7-10rrrrrrrrrrrrr----------|
G|----7-----------7-------------------------------|
D|7------7----------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------|
The shining eye will never cry
D G A D
E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|------------7----------7-10rrrrrrrrrrrrr----------|
G|----7-------------7-------------------------------|
D|7------7------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|
The beating heart will never die
D G A D
E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------7----7-----10rrrrrrrrrrrrr-----------|
G|----7-----------7---------------------------------|
D|7---------7---------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|
The house on fire holds no shame
G A6 A D
E|----------------------------------------------|
B|----------10-----7----------------------------|
G|--7--------------------7----------------------|
D|7------7------7-------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------|
I will be coming home again
Chorus;
(no shorthand)
Bm Bm A Bm Bm Bm A D
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------5-7s10-10s7-7p5-7-----------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------7-9s1-1s9-9p7---|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------7-|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
400 miles without a word until you smile
Bm Bm A Bm
E|------------------------------------------|
B|-----------5-7s10-10s7-7p5-7--------------|
G|------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------|
400 miles on fields of fire
Bridge;
(no shorthand in the first part)
D D D D
E|----------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------|
G|7-7-77-9-7-7-77-4-7-7-77-4-7-7-77-|
D|0-0-00-0-0-0-00-0-0-0-00-0-0-0-00-|
A|----------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------|
For the next part of the bridge I've used the
following shorthand;
D D D D
E|--------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------|
G|4-4-44-6-4-4-44-1-4-4-44-1-4-4--|
D|0-0-00-0-0-0-00-0-0-0-00-0-0-0--|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Solo 3 first guitar;
To make this next bit easier to tab, I've used the following shorthand;
D G Bm A D G A D
E|7-5-4h5p4---4h5p4---4h5p4---7-5-4h5p4---4--4h5p4-7--|
B|---------5-------5-------5-----------5-------------5|
G|----------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------|
D G Bm A D G A D
E|7-7b9-7p4-7p4---7p4-7p4---7p4-7p4----7-7b9-7p4-7p4---4--4h5p4-7---|
B|--------------5---------5---------5----------------5------------5-|
G|------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------|
Solo 3 second guitar (shorthand as above);
D G Bm A D G A D
E|7-5-4h5p4---4h5p4---4h5p4---7-5-4h5p4--------------|
B|---------5---------------5-----------5---------5---|
G|------------------4--------------------4-4h6p4---4-|
D|---------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|
D G Bm A D G A D
E|7-5-4h5p4---4h5p4---4h5p4---7-5-4h5p4--------------|
B|---------5-------5-------5-----------5---------5---|
G|---------------------------------------4-4h6p4---4-|
D|---------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|
Bridge (no shorthand);
D D D D
E|----------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------|
G|7-7-77-9-7-7-77-4-7-7-77-4-7-7-77-|
D|0-0-00-0-0-0-00-0-0-0-00-0-0-0-00-|
A|----------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------|
Between a woman and a boy, between a child and its toy
For the next part of the bridge I've used the
following shorthand;
D D D D
E|--------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------|
G|4-4-44-6-4-4-44-1-4-4-44-1-4-4--|
D|0-0-00-0-0-0-00-0-0-0-00-0-0-0--|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Solo 3 (first guitar);
To make Solo 3 easier to tab I've used the following shorthand;
D G Bm A D G A D
E|7-5-4h5p4---4h5p4---4h5p4---7-5-4h5p4---4--4h5p4-7--|
B|---------5-------5-------5-----------5-------------5|
G|----------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------|
D G Bm A D G A D
E|7-7b9-7p4-7p4---7p4-7p4---7p4-7p4----7-7b9-7p4-7p4---4--4h5p4-7---|
B|--------------5---------5---------5----------------5------------5-|
G|------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------|
Solo 3 (shorthand as above) (second guitar);
D G Bm A D G A D
E|7-5-4h5p4---4h5p4---4h5p4---7-5-4h5p4--------------|
B|---------5---------------5-----------5---------5---|
G|------------------4--------------------4-4h6p4---4-|
D|---------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|
D G Bm A D G A D
E|7-5-4h5p4---4h5p4---4h5p4---7-5-4h5p4--------------|
B|---------5---------------5-----------5---------5---|
G|------------------4--------------------4-4h6p4---4-|
D|---------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|
Solo 4; (shorthand as above) (guitar 1 unaccompanied except for drums)
This is one of many unaccompanied guitar solos Stuart Adamson played
at this point in the song. Shorthand as per solo 3 above. This is from the
Final Fling version;
Solo 5 is taken from the "Final Fling" version and is a traditional Scottish tune
called "Will ye go lassie go". (Add bass and guitar 2, which plays nothing through
the first half and rhythm guitar through the second half.)
Here are the lyrics for those that are interested, although it is actually
played instrumentally with no vocals. If you feel inclined to sing along
Solo 5 comprises one verse and two choruses.
1. Oh the summertime is comin'.
And the trees are sweetly bloomin'.
And the wild mountain thyme
Grows around the bloomin' heather
Will ye go lassie go
Chorus;
And we'll all go together
To pluck wild mountain thyme
All around the bloomin' heather
Will ye go lassie go
2. I will build my love a tower
Near yon' pure crystal fountain
And on it I will place
All the flowers of the mountain
Will ye go lassie go
And we'll all go together
To pluck wild mountain thyme
All around the bloomin' heather
Will ye go lassie go
3. If my true love she were gone,
I would surely find another
To pluck wild mountain thyme
All around the bloomin' heather
Will ye go lassie go
And we'll all go together
To pluck wild mountain thyme
All around the bloomin' heather
Will ye go lassie go
And we'll all go together
To pluck wild mountain thyme
All around the bloomin' heather
Will ye lassie go
.....anyway, I digress.... Here's solo 5. The open strings act as a "drone"
and sound like power chords;
Solo 5; (no shorthand)
G D
E|---------------------------|
B|0h3-0h3p0------------------|
G|0---0-----0h2rr--4h7--4h7rr|
D|0---0-----0------0----0----|
A|----------0------0----0----|
E|---------------------------|
D G D G D
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------10h12--10h12-10h12p10---------------10h12-10h12p10---------------|
G|11-14-0------0-----0--------11s14rr-11-14-0-----0--------11-9h11p9s7rr-|
D|0--0--0------0-----0--------0-------0--0--0-----0--------0--0----------|
A|0--0------------------------0-------0--0-----------------0--0----------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D G D G D
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----7h8--7h8p7-5--3h5p3-0h3rr-0h3-0h3p0-----------------0h3--0h3p0-----------------|
G|9-11-0----0-----0--0-----0-----0---0-----0h2--4h7--4h7rr-0----0-----0h2--4s7--4h7rr-|
D|0-0--0----0-----0--0-----0-----0---0-----0----0----0-----0----0-----0----0----0-----|
A|0-0--------------------------------------0----0----0----------------0----0----0-----|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D G D G D
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------10h12--10h12-10h12p10---------------10h12-10h12p10---------------|
G|11-14-0------0-----0--------11s14rr-11-14-0-----0--------11-9h11p9s7rr-|
D|0--0--0------0-----0--------0-------0--0--0-----0--------0--0----------|
A|0--0------------------------0-------0--0-----------------0--0----------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D G D G D
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----7h8--7h8p7-5--3h5p3-0h3rr-0h3-0h3p0-----------------0h3--0h3p0-----------------|
G|9-11-0----0-----0--0-----0-----0---0-----0h2--4h7--4h7rr-0----0-----0h2--4s7--4h7rr-|
D|0-0--0----0-----0--0-----0-----0---0-----0----0----0-----0----0-----0----0----0-----|
A|0-0--------------------------------------0----0----0----------------0----0----0-----|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Solo 1;
This is played using the palm of the right hand to damp the strings at the bridge.
To make this next bit easieer to read and tab, I've use the following shorthand;
D G D G D D D
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------2-222-222-------222-222-22-------------------|
G|7-777-777-111-4-0-000-000-4-1-7-000-000-00-4-1-7-444-2-4-2-1-|
D|0-000-000-000-0-----------0-0-0------------0-0-0-000-0-0-0-0-|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
D G D G D D D
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------2-222-222-------222-222-22-------------------|
G|7-777-777-111-4-0-000-000-4-1-7-000-000-00-4-1-7-444-2-4-2-1-|
D|0-000-000-000-0-----------0-0-0------------0-0-0-000-0-0-0-0-|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
This part played without palm muting (shorthand as above);
D G D G D D D
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------2-222-222-------222-222-22-------------------|
G|7-777-777-111-4-0-000-000-4-1-7-000-000-00-4-1-7-444-2h4p2-1-|
D|0-000-000-000-0-----------0-0-0------------0-0-0-000-0-----0-|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
Solo 2 (shorthand as above);
A A A A D G D A G D D D
E|--------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------2-----------------------------------------|
G|9--1-2-2s4--2-1-2-1---4-1s9-1p9-----------1h2p1-1h2p1-1h2p1---|
D|--------------------------------2rrrr--2s4-----4-----4-----2--|
A|------------------------------------------------------------2-|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------|
To make this next bit easier to tab, I've used the following shorthand;
A A A A D G D A G D
E|2--4-5-5s7--5-4-5-4--9-7-4s2--4p2----|
B|----------------------------------5--|
G|-------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|
To make this next bit easier to tab, I've used the following shorthand;
7 = 7th fret
8 = 8th fret
9 = 9th fret
X = 10th fret
E = 11th fret
This part is played by guitar 1. Guitar 2 is silent.
D G A D
E|---------------------------XXX---7---9---X--|
B|---------------------------777---8---X---7--|
G|---------------------------777---7---9---7--|
D|---------------------------000---0---0---0--|
A|--------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|
Between a woman and a boy
D G A D
E|-----------------------------XXX---7---9---X--|
B|-----------------------------777---8---X---7--|
G|-----------------------------777---7---9---7--|
D|-----------------------------000---0---0---0--|
A|----------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------|
Between a child and a toy
D A G
E|-------------------------------XXXX---------|
B|-------------------------------7777--X---8--|
G|-------------------------------7777--9---7--|
D|-------------------------------0000--0---0--|
A|--------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|
Before the following of the west
G A6 A D
E|--------------------------------------------X--|
B|--------------------------------888---X--X--7--|
G|--------------------------------777---E--9--7--|
D|--------------------------------000---0--0--0--|
A|-----------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|
Before the journey and the rest
Chorus;
Drums and vocals with scratch guitar rhythm (I think it's done on a
bass, but please yourself)
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
400 miles without a word until you smile
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
400 miles without a word until you smile
(no shorthand)
Bm Bm A Bm
E|------------------------------------------|
B|-----------5-7s10-10s7-7p5-7--------------|
G|------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------|
400 miles on fields of fire
Solo 3 first guitar;
To make Solo 3 easier to tab I've used the following shorthand;
D G Bm A D G A D
E|7-5-4h5p4---4h5p4---4h5p4---7-5-4h5p4--------------|
B|---------5---------------5-----------5---------5---|
G|------------------4--------------------4-4h6p4---4-|play 5 times
D|---------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|
Solo 3 second guitar (shorthand as above);
D G Bm A D G A D
E|7-5-4h5p4---4h5p4---4h5p4---7-5-4h5p4--------------|
B|---------5---------------5-----------5---------5---|
G|------------------4--------------------4-4h6p4---4-|
D|---------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|
D G Bm A D G A D
E|7-5-4h5p4---4h5p4---4h5p4---7-5-4h5p4---4--4h5p4-7--|
B|---------5-------5-------5-----------5-------------5|
G|----------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------|
D G Bm A D G A D
E|7-7b9-7p4-7p4---7p4-7p4---7p4-7p4----7-7b9-7p4-7p4---4--4h5p4-7---|
B|--------------5---------5---------5----------------5------------5-|
G|------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------|
For this next part, the only shorthand is;
0 = 10th fret
D G Bm A D G A D
E|0-9-7h9p7h9--7h9p7h9--7h9p7h9--0-9-7h9p7h9--7--7h9p7-0----|
B|-----------0--------7--------0------------0------------7--|
G|----------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------|
and for this part you shift the last part up an octave so the shorthand is;
D G Bm A D G A D
E|2-1-9h1p9h1--9h1p9h1--9h1p9h1---2-1-9h1p9h1---9--9h1p9-2---|
B|-----------2--------9--------2-------------2-------------9-|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
Solo 6;
This is from the King Biscuit Flower Hour version and is just guitar 2,
bass & drums. The shorthand is;
Bass and drums continue for another 3 times through the chord sequence,
then the bass drops out and it ends with a drum solo.
I'll paste a selection of other parts from the song here when I get round to it.
As a starter, here's a harmony for Solo 1 from "The Crossing" version;
