Royal Blood – Typhoons (Bass Live Tab)
Half-Step Down (Eb-Ab-Db-Gb)
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Tabbed by: Sparkky (szawelskim1)
EDIT (February 9th, 2021): Here is the link to the now released live performance which helped me to figure out
the tuning and where exactly Mike plays on the neck:
Edit (05/29/2021) : Mike seemingly plays the chorus riff a little bit differently in the most recent
performances of the song. See at the end of the tab.
Introduction to the tab (Quite long, sorry, but it might be interesting...):
This tab is based on countless views of the live performance (Edit: Now officially released! See above for
the link to the video) of the song and aims to show how Mike, the man himself, exactly plays it. It sounds the
same as the studio release. I wrote it according to the studio version, and only then adapted it to how Mike
plays it during the live performance. Let's say I'm 99% sure of the tab, since I had visual proof of what and
where he plays. No personnal interpretation, it's just about how HIS fingers move.
Starting with the tuning... It's a funny one, I know. He uses his orange Jaguar bass (usually kept in E
standard/Drop D for live performances) with the 2 higher strings tuned a half step down here.
NOT THE 2ND (A) STRING. He keeps this one like in E standard (A) to make the chorus easier to play.
The lowest (E) string? It doesn't matter. Mike doesn't even touch it a single time during the performance
(Like on F# Trouble's Coming!).
Now I know a lot of people seem to think it sounds like C# standard. And it's right. But most of all, it's
WRONG! We are still not used to so much "octave up free" sound coming from him, it's misleading.
Like with Trouble's Coming : when we thought it was B standard right when it came out, who would've thought it
was actually F# standard, the highest tuning he ever used?
I can guarantee you that here it's just about tuning a half step down the D and G strings, and sending in some
effects we'll eventually explain. And hey, it's not even like I wrote that tab by ear only, I watched what he
played, and where he played it on the neck.
Needless to say, I suggest you to keep the song going while you learn it (there is not much to memorize, don't
worry), because the timings are a bit weird sometimes, I'll do my best to keep them "visible" on the tab, but
it's gonna be hard (especially on the bridge).
When I precise to play fast even if there are "-" for spacing between notes, you usually still have to play
fast (Thank me for that logic...). It's just for your reading comfort, and to not mistake for example a note
on the 12th fret with two notes on the 1st and 2nd frets. (Or any other two digits fret numbers.)
About effects: I won't go in deep details regarding effects, I'll just cover the obvious things, or suppose
other things. There is still much to discover about the secrets of this one.
Passionated people (gearheads) are dedicated to that, don't worry, we'll find out everything. We already
figured out the intro riff effect!)
One final introduction note: Michael uses (at least) 3 signal chains: A Bass one (probably Dry=effect free)
that goes to a bass amp, and two "guitar" ones, that goes to guitar amps, where all the effects are. I won't
necesserily detail when to activate or deactivate each amp, it depends on what you have.
If possible, use a distortion effect from start to finish. For now, the 3 distortion pedals we are
"almost sure", or expecting to hear on the upcoming album are: The EHX Cockfight (Trouble's Coming, 100% sure
+ seen in the Fender Check-In video from november 2020) which might be the one used here for Typhoons too, the
Gamechanger Audio Plasma Pedal (confirmed during 2019 tour interview by Gamechanger Audio), and the
ZVEX Mastotron (seen multiple times plugged/lying around other confirmed pedals, like the Cockfight or the
Digitech Synth Wah, in the band's own studio during some 2020 instagram lives/videos).
I'd even say, use at the very least some distortion and an octave pedal. You can of course still play this tab
without all that, but the octave pedal is kind of essential for the intro riff.
(Crazy thing: We will actually use a SUB octave effect on our guitar amp(s). Yep, That is definitely a new
Royal Blood era.)
Alright, let's go.
[Introduction]
(He plays it on the third string only! Which makes sense regarding the tuning. And it's
better, tone wise).
Again, spacing is to keep it easy to read. It's a fast strumming (refer to the song).
Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| Db|--0-0-0-0----15-15-15-15----12-12-12-12--------X-X-10-12-12-12-10-12-12-12-| A |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| x2 E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
IMPORTANT NOTE: Key effect on that riff: 1 octave down, 50% Dry. Otherwise it will sound off, way too high.
You can achieve this with probably any octave pedal. I use the EHX Pitchfork. Half the signal (only a half!)
is bringed one octave lower. That's what gives that thickness and messiness to the riff, to the sound.
And thus, a part of why it's been mistaken for C# standard. You can't properly reproduce that "3D" sound
without the 50% dry sub octave effect he uses here. (You can hear this effect right after the bridge too.)
That's what gives the impression that the distorted sound is on "multiple floors" (without even counting the
dry bass amp in the mix, only the guitar amps related signal chains, that is what I refer to by "distorted
sound") which is, kind of, literally the case.
Fun fact: This effect is also the reason you might feel like you're hearing something different each time,
when you are listening to this riff multiple consecutive times. You might unconsciously focus on one half of
the resulting sound from that 50/50 signal! That happened to me.
All amps (bass and guitar) active when starting the song.
[Verse 1]
(Same riff as introduction.)
Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| Db|--0-0-0-0----15-15-15-15----12-12-12-12--------X-X-10-12-12-12-10-12-12-12-| A |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| x4 E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Pre Chorus] (" 'Cause all these chemicals... ")
Effects note: Deactivate bass amp, if you use multiple amps. Only one guitar amp active. Deactivate the 50%
octave down effect right after the second line of that part. Or maybe right at the start of the pre chorus?
Not 100% sure on that one, effects wise.
Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Db|--5555555555555555333333333333333000000000000000000000000000000------------|
A |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
(Fast playing, hope you don't
Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| mind the formatting.)
Db|--5555555555555555333333333333333000000000000000---------------------------|
A |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|(Deactivate sub octave effect now if not already done!)
("If I wanted too...")
Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| Db|--X-X-10-12-12-12-10-12-12-12----------------------------------------------| A |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| (Spacing for reading comfort. E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| Play fast.)
[Chorus 1]
Effects note: There is definitely some phase shifting effects right there. Very obvious during the live
performance, way more subtle on the studio release, in which the effect is only on one guitar signal chain.
During live, it sounds like it's on both.
Also, send in the bass amp if you use multiple amps! All amps active.
Gb|-------------------------------------------0-------------------------------|
Db|---------------------------------7-----------3-2-0--0--3-2-0---------------|
A |--12-12-12-11--9--7~-------7--9-----9~-------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| \
}x2
Gb|------------------------------------5~-------------7----7p5h7p5------------| /
Db|------------------------------5--7--------0--5--7---------------7----------|
A |--12-12-12-11--9--7~-------7-----------------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|(He plays the open Gb string for comfort reasons).
[Post Chorus] (What a wonderful riff. Counterintuitive timing. Refer to the song.)
Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| Db|--3--4--5--5-5--6---6-6---7--7----10-11-12-10-11-12------------------------| A |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| Db|--3--4--5--5-5--6---6-6---7--7----15-14-12-15-14-12------------------------| A |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Verse 2]
(Same riff as before, with a little different timing for the first iteration of the riff on that verse...
Blank time filled by Ben's drums, refer to the song.)
Effects note: reactivate the 50% dry sub octave effect!
Gb|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| Db|--0-0-0-0----15-15-15-15----12-12-12-12-----------------------------------10-12-12-12---------| A |----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| x1 E |----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| Db|--0-0-0-0----15-15-15-15----12-12-12-12--------X-X-10-12-12-12-10-12-12-12-| A |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| x4 E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Pre-Chorus] (" 'Cause all these chemicals..." )
Effects note: Deactivate sub octave effect and bass amp. Exactly like during the first prechorus.
Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Db|--5555555555555555333333333333333000000000000000000000000000000------------|
A |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
(Fast playing, hope you don't
Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| mind the formatting.)
Db|--5555555555555555333333333333333000000000000000---------------------------|
A |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|("If I wanted too...")
Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| Db|--X-X-10-12-12-12-10-12-12-12----------------------------------------------| A |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[2nd Chorus] (Same as last time, but 2,25X longer)
Effects note: See first chorus. All amps active.
Gb|-------------------------------------------0-------------------------------|
Db|---------------------------------7-----------3-2-0--0--3-2-0---------------|
A |--12-12-12-11--9--7~-------7--9-----9~-------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| \
}x4
Gb|------------------------------------5~-------------7----7p5h7p5------------| /
Db|------------------------------5--7--------0--5--7---------------7----------|
A |--12-12-12-11--9--7~-------7-----------------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|Finish the chorus by playing the 2nd line one more time, as follows:
Gb|------------------------------------5~-------------7----7p5h7p5------------| Db|------------------------------5--7--------0--5--7---------------7\---------| A |--12-12-12-11--9--7~-------7-----------------------------------------------| x1 E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Bridge]
Effects note: See below for amp information. Phase shifting effect is going crazy on that bridge.
Again, refer to the song to get used to that counterintuitive timing.
Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Db|--3--4--5--5-5--6---6-6---7--7----10-11-12-10-11-12------------------------|
A |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| \
}x3
Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| /
Db|--3--4--5--5-5--6---6-6---7--7----15-14-12-15-14-12------------------------|
A |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|(Play these two lines two times without the bass amp activated. Then, throw in the bass amp and play the two
lines one more time.)
[Chorus/Bridge interlude] (It's just the chorus riff.)
Effects Note: Bass amp deactivated, main guitar chain deactivated, only the guitar chain including the phaser
pedal is active in the studio release. Heavy phase shifting and distortion effects.
Activate the sub octave 50% dry effect for that part!
Gb|-------------------------------------------0-------------------------------| Db|---------------------------------7-----------3-2-0--0--3-2-0---------------| A |--12-12-12-11--9--7~-------7--9-----9~-------------------------------------| E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| Gb|------------------------------------5~-------------7----7p5h7p5------------| Db|------------------------------5--7--------0--5--7---------------7----------| A |--12-12-12-11--9--7~-------7-----------------------------------------------| E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| Gb|-------------------------------------------0-------------------------------| Db|---------------------------------7-----------3-2-0--0--3-2-0---------------| A |--12-12-12-11--9--7~-------7--9-----9~-------------------------------------| E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| Gb|------------------------------------5--------------------------------------| Db|------------------------------5--7-----------------------------------------| A |--12-12-12-11--9--7~-------7-----------------------------------------------| E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Deactivate the 50% dry sub octave effect right now!
[Final Chorus] (Almost the same as the second half of the second chorus, only the last line is different!
You end that final chorus by replaying the first line instead of the second line.)
Effects note : See previous chorus effects notes.
Gb|-------------------------------------------0-------------------------------|
Db|---------------------------------7-----------3-2-0--0--3-2-0---------------|
A |--12-12-12-11--9--7~-------7--9-----9~-------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| \
}x2
Gb|------------------------------------5~-------------7----7p5h7p5------------| /
Db|------------------------------5--7--------0--5--7---------------7----------|
A |--12-12-12-11--9--7~-------7-----------------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| Finish the chorus by playing the 1st line one more time, as follows:
Gb|-------------------------------------------0-------------------------------| Db|---------------------------------7-----------3-2-0--0--3-2-0---------------| A |--12-12-12-11--9--7~-------7--9-----9~-------------------------------------| x1 E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
NOTE: In the live performance, he actually plays the 2ND line of the chorus one more time, instead of the 1st
one as shown just above. Here, I represented the studio version of the last chorus. Do as you wish.
If you are a novice, the first part of the chorus is a bit easier to play, so I'd suggest you to finish with
it like in the studio release. In that case, you can ignore this little note and just follow the tab as it is.
[OUTRO] (The sick bridge riff, one last time.)
Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Db|--3--4--5--5-5--6---6-6---7--7----10-11-12-10-11-12------------------------|
A |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| \
}x2
Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| /
Db|--3--4--5--5-5--6---6-6---7--7----15-14-12-15-14-12------------------------|
A |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|Play these 2 lines two times to end the song. Congrats!
EDIT (05/29/2021) BONUS :
Mike plays the chorus a little bit differently in the most recent performances of the song. The tuning stays
the same, the riff stays the same, he just plays exclusively on the 2 higher strings (he doesn't touch the A
string). I actually prefer that way of playing the chorus, I find it more comfortable. The tone also feels
sharper and more agressive on the lighter strings with all the effects mentioned throughout the tab.
The references used for that alternative way of playing are:
The video "Royal Blood Answer Questions About ‘Typhoons’ Only Using Instruments" on YT (4:50):
https://youtu.be/VTu426JBflo?t=290 (cool short video by the way)
The Jimmy Kimel Live performance : https://youtu.be/105EDwL0KXs
The live set from Brighton Pier for BBC Radio 1's Big Week end. (only available in the UK, on the BBCR1
website)
So here is how he plays it now:
Gb|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Db|----8-8-8-7--5--3~---------3-h5-/7-\5~------5--3\2-0--0--3-2-0-------------|
A |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| \
} x2
Gb|------------------------------------5~-------------7----7p5h7p5------------| /
Db|----8-8-8-7--5--3~---------0-h5-h7--------0-h5-h7---------------7----------|
A |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| You'll notice there is ONE different note, the first open Db string of the second line. I checked again and
again the latest live material and that's definitely what he plays. Whereas throughout the tab, I placed this
note on A7 (seventh fret of the A string), which here would be Db 3 if we play it on the Db string. I checked
again the first live performance that helped me wrote this tab when the song came out, and listened again to
the studio release... the way I first tabbed it still looks right to me, according to these references.
Maybe he really changed that one note live only, which makes the 2 following hammer ons comfortable to play.
Or maybe that's what he always played and I was wrong on that note before... It really doesn't make a
huge difference at all. When playing the whole thing fast, nobody other than yourself would make a difference.
But I'd prefer to play that latest "version" if you ask me. As I said earlier, more comfortable.
With all that said, just replace the two chorus lines which are alternated and get repeated (The two lines
in the [Chorus 1] part, if it's not clear), and there you go. Enjoy the latest Mike Kerr flavour!
Well, I hope I helped you fulfill all your Mike Kerr impersonation needs. Again, this is likely exactly how
HE plays it. By that, I mean how his hands move. When the live performance officially comes out (EDIT: which
is now the case, see at the very top of the introduction to the tab for the link to the live performance),
you'll be able to check it out yourself with your own eyes and ears, along checking that E/A/Db/Gb tuning is
indeed the exact tuning he plays the song in.
Still have to figure out most of the effects part. Which of course are necessary here. If you don't have the
"necessary gear" (at least distorsion and octave pedals), you should maybe give a try to a C# standard
trasncription. But again, C# standard is not the original tuning. You wouldn't be able to bring half of
it down one octave, and thus, you wouldn't have that specific 3D messiness for the intro riff. That tuning is
already too low to undergo that effect. In the end, if all that matters for you is to properly reproduce
Mike's sound, now you know you won't go anywhere by playing it in C# standard.
But if you don't have a choice, it's better than nothing, of course.
Now you'll have something to do while waiting for the next single, and the album release on april 30th!
Don't hesitate if you have any question.
I wish you a lovely day and a lot of fun learning this amazing song.
| / Slide up
| \ Slide down
| ~ Let ring (with a slight vibrato)
| h hammer on
| p pull off
************************************************************************************************************