From cedric.simillion@rug.ac.be Fri Apr 18 10:30:43 1997
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 21:43:05 +0200
From: Cedric Simillion 
To: guitar@olga.net
Subject: tab: "A National Acrobat" by Black Sabbath 

Hi,
I would appreciate it if you would submit this file to the archive. For  
one of the best Sabbath songs (I was amazed that it hadn't already been  
posted).Would it be possible to mail me back (at  
cedric.simillion@rug.ac.be,my brother's e-mail account,since mine is  
only active within a week.)
THANK YOU for your attention and amazing archive !              
           BLACK SABBATH : A NATIONAL ACROBAT
          from the album Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

Transcription by Thomas Simillion (hansolo@mail.dma.be)
This may not be the exact version, but is definitely a way to play it.

Tune all strings 2 frets down

Used symbols :

 v  - vibrato
 h  - hammer next note
 p  - pull off to next note
 b  - bend to pitch next note
 r  - release bend
 >  - articulate
 \  - slide high to low/next note
 /  - slide low to high/next note
P.M.- palm muted

Main Riff (1):

D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
F------->->---------------------->->--5h4---------------
C--0h2--2-2--0h2--0h2--5-4--0h2--2-2------5--0-4h5------
G--------------------------------------------------5(v)-
D-------------------------------------------------------

Fill 1 :

D------------------------------------------------------
A------------------------------------------------------
F------------7-7---------------------------------------
C--2-2--5-5--7-7--5-5----------------------------------
G--2-2--5-5--5-5--5-5----------------------------------
D--0-0--3-3-------3-3----------------------------------

   I am the world that hides...


Riff 2 :

I think Iommi uses some kind of device here :

D----------------------------------------------------
A----------------------------------------------------
F-------------------------------12\-----------12\----
C--0h2--0-0h2-0h2-5-4-0--0-0h2--12\--0-0-0-0--12\----
G----------------------------------------------------
D----------------------------------------------------
                                    |- P.M.-|

Main Solo (The one on the right track) :

D--------------------------------------14p11---------------------------- 
A14p11----14p11-13-14p11-13-14p11----------14-14p11----14p11------------ 
F-----11-------------------------13----------------11-------13-13-13p11-
C----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
G----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
D----------------------------------------------------------------------- 

D-------------------------14b16-14b16-14b16r14-11----11-11-------------- 
A-------------------------------------------------14-------14----------- 
F----13-13-13-13b14r13-11-------------------------------------15\13\11-- 
C-13-------------------------------------------------------------------- 
G----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
D----------------------------------------------------------------------- 

D---------------------------------13b14-13b14-13b14-13b14-13b14-11----11
A-------------------------------------------------------------------14-- 
F-13b15r13-11-13-13b15r13-11-------------------------------------------- 
C----------------------------13-13-------------------------------------- 
G----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
D----------------------------------------------------------------------- 

D----11-11\---------------------------------------14b16-14b16-14b16r14-11
A-14-------14b16-14-11-------------------------------------------------- 
F----------------------13p11-13p11-13-13b14r13-11----------------------- 
C----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
G----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
D----------------------------------------------------------------------- 

D-14p11----------------------------------------------------------------- 
A-------14-14p11----14p11----------------------------------------------- 
F----------------13-------13-13b15r13-11-13-13b15r13-11----------------- 
C-------------------------------------------------------13-11-13\------- 
G----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
D----------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Fill 2 :
                   This part 3 x
D-------------------------------------|---------------
A-------------------------------------|---------------
F--7--7-7--2--------7--7-7--2---------|---------------
C--7--7-7--2-----5--7--7-7--2-----5---|-/9-9-9-9------
A--5--5-5--0--0--5--5--5-5--0--0--5---|-/9-9-9-9------
D----------------3----------------3---|-/7-7-7-7------

And into riff 3a :

D-----------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------
F-----------------------------------------------------
C-----0--2/4--2-----0--2/4/6--2-----0--2/4--2--0------
G--4-------------4---------------4----------------4---
D-----------------------------------------------------

Riff 3b:

D-----------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------
F-----0--2/4--2-----0--2/4/6--2-----0--2/4--2--0------
C--4-------------4---------------4----------------4---
G-----------------------------------------------------
D-----------------------------------------------------


...And into some semisolo - psychedelic things that I haven't  
transcribed.
             
Here's the lyrics / songflow :

Riff 1 x 2
Riff 1 x 2 (second guitar enters)

Fill 1  I am the world that hides
/Riff 1 the universal secret of all time
Fill 1  Destruction of the empty spaces
/Riff1  is my one and only crime

 a
 n      I've lived a thousand times
 d      I found out what it means to be believed
        The thoughts and images,
 s      The unborn child that never was conceived
 o
        When little worlds collide
 o      I'm trapped inside my embryonic cell
 n      And flashing memories
        are cast into the never-ending well
 u
 n      The name that scorns the face
 t      The child that never sees the cause of man
 i      The deathly darkness that belies
 l      the fate of those who never ran
 .
 .
 .
Riff 2 x...

Riff 2 Well I know it's hard for you to know the reason why
 .     And I know you'll understand more when it's time to die
 .
 .     Don't believe the live you have will be the only one
       You have to let your body sleep to let your soul in my heart
       (I want you to listen,I try to get through)

       Love has given life to you and now it's your concern
       Unseen eye of inner life will make your soul return

       Still I look but not to touch
       The seeds of life are sown
       Curtain of the future falls
       The secret stays unknown
Solo
w/Riff2
       Just remember love is life
       And hate is living death
       Treat your life for what it's worth
       And live for every breath

       Looking back I've lived and learned
       But now I'm wondering
       Here I wait and only guess
       What this next life will bring
       (Ha Ha !)
Fill 2

Riff 3a x2
Riff 3b
Riff 3a
...

Hey ! Somebody got Sabracadabra or Killing yourself to live ?
I can't seem to find it on the net.
Comments,corrections,donations : hansolo@mail.dma.be






^Z