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Lightning Crashes by Live

    Composer – Live

    Where to find this song – Throwing Copper track # 5

    Release Date – April 1994

    Live rose to chart success on the strength of its overtly spiritual songwriting. This endeavor earned the group frequent comparisons to the popular band U2. Live first formed in the early ’80s in their hometown of York, Pennsylvania, when future members Chad Taylor, Patrick Dahleimer, and Chad Gracy began playing together under the name “First Aid” while attending middle school. They then decided to recruit singer Ed Kowalczyk to fill the only remaining slot in the band. “Throwing Copper” still sells over 1.4 million copies each year on average, and this album was also considered to be their best to date.

    Main Riff

    This riff will be quite easy to play. What you will want to do is begin with your 1st finger on the first frets of all strings. You will do this by barring the frets. Next, place your 3rd finger on the third fret on the “A” string. Do the same with your 4th finger on the “D” string. Last, simply use your 2nd finger to play the second fret on the “G” string. Play that three times for the first measure. Notice the “x” on the strings after you play the chord. Remember that this means you will need to mute the strings by lightly lifting your fingers off the strings being played, creating a muffled effect. The chord you just played was a Fadd9. For the second measure, you will be playing a Csus2 chord. Do this by barring your 1st finger on the third frets of all strings from the “A” string to the “high E” string. Then, use your 3rd and 4th fingers to play the fifth frets on the “D” string and the “G” string in the same fashion that you did in the first measure. Here, if you look at the tablature, you will be playing the same chord for the entire measure, but just remember to include the mutes and then the open note at the end on the “A” string for accuracy.

    For the third and fourth measure, you will be playing a standard G chord, but in a different way than the traditional G chord. Do this by barring your 1st finger on the third frets of all the strings. Place your 3rd finger on the fifth fret on the “A” string. Place your 4th finger on the fifth fret on the “D” string. Last, use your 2nd finger to play the fourth fret on the “G” string. Play that a few times, remembering to mute and to play the last note
    open on the “low E” string.

    Riff Resources

    Complete Transcription To “Lightning Crashes ” (PDF)

    Complete Transcription To “Lightning Crashes ” (Power Tab)