“e alk This Way” had dhree big commercial payoffs for Aerosmith. Is releaseasa sin. le from Toys in the Attic got the band major airplay on Top 40 radiowaves in 1975; two years later, after bowing to pressure from Aerosmith management, Cokimbia Records released the single again, providing the band witha Top 10 hit in 1977; and in 1986 (during the band’s "comeback", revolutionary rap= sters Run-DMC covered “Walk This Way"— resworking Aerosmiths original tracks (Joe Perry re-cut his guitar tracks fr the project) and exposed a whole new audience to the song and to Aerosmith atthe same time. The Run-DMC/Aerosmith version became a #4 single in the United States and literally put Aerosmith “back in the saddle.” ‘The tran: scription that follows depicts the classic ver sion of “Walk This Way. from Toys inthe Ati, ‘nits original glory. THE INTRO. The songs lassic opening riff (Riff A) is comprised of notes straight out of E minor pentatonic (E-G-A-B-D), with the addition of A [Fig 1). This A# functions asa chromat jc passing tone and bridges the gap between the notes A and B along the 5th string. Joe Perry plays this single-note figure in synco pated 16ih notes (counted: “one-ee-and-uh, tworee-and-uh, three-ee-and-uh, four-ee- and-uh?), Chances are, you've heard this tune so ‘many times you won't need to bother count ing out the tricky rhythms. However, geting your pick hand groovingon par with Joe Perry ‘may provide you with a challenge. All you need to dois synchronize your pick hand to a steady 16th-note groove, using an alternate WALK THIS WAY picking motion beginning with a down stroke, ‘THE VERSES This funky figure (RMB) is played in ath position and s rooted in the mods scale of C Mbxolydian (Fig 2). Perry also plays this pas- ‘sage in steady T6th notes, with the exception of the te that connects the note G (10th fret, Sth string) between beats 1 and 2 in the frst measure. This riffs essentially a creative sin fle-note variation of a stock boogie pattern [Fig. 31a form of blues-based accompani- ment—which also acts as the foundation for the forthcoming chorus section, horus section features @ ‘all and response” type of interplay between, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford. After Gut 1 per: forms a quasi-boogie pattern riff that involves first C5, C8, and C7 dyads in mea- sures 1 and 3, and then P5,F6, and F7 dyads inmeasures 2 and 4, Gwr2 responds with the shythumic repetition ofa trtone (E>-A) inter val. Interestingly, the rhythm employed by Gur at this point is perfectly synchronized with Steven Tyler vocal "Walk this way. ‘THE LEADWORK This song features a pair of fou guitar solo sections (1:06 and 2 Which functions as a dramatic building block, foreshadawing Joe Perry's ‘burning outro solo (2:35), Both ofthese brief melodie outbursts are played over Rif B, using the C minor pentatonic scale [Fig, 4A) with shades of C Dorian [Fig. 4B|—the sec: fond one occasionally borrowing from ‘major pentatonic (Fig. 4C}. Inthe outro gui tar solo, Joe's leadwork fluctuates between F ‘minor pentatonic [Fig. 5A) and E Dorian {Fig, 5B], with the occasional addition ofthe note GE (the major or “raised” Sr). each of Fig. 1 minor pentatonic passing tone LB ¢ Fig. 2. Mixolydian Fig. 3 Stock Boogie Pattern ; o « “ee 1 i Bee eg Fig. 4A C minor pentatonic Fig. 4C-C major pentatonic Fea Ton fexxaeey TH Trt oer EAD e-ppee c oe ooo i a)WALK THIS WAY ‘As Recorded By Areosmith (From the Columbia Recording AEROSMITH'S GREATEST HITS) Transcribed by Troy Nelson Words & Music by Steven Tyler and Joe Peny ‘Tablature Explanation page $1 Intro Moderate Rock J=110 yc wits wm) g Get) Verse NCD = = =—— es = = — a a ——— = : tne stroke lov < et al ways id= in “neat talk to 300," my dad yy si. “You ‘sw swing-in” with We Coys in the shook” and your feet fy” iw "up in hea 1 sing Bid See Additonal Lyris wire nd a Sm: 2 ef by — & i = SS Aint seen noth- n't you're down ona muffin and you're sue to be acchang- in! your ways" Tome a Wey, didedie “GM dy"oith'yoor “kt ty im ie mid de “ofthe swing” ke sou did mt cae So i DECEMBER 1998 + GultarOne 63Walk This Way be a (62S See cheer lead en was a real young bled -er alll the times 1 coud reminisce. — ‘Cause the wok a big’ chance’ “St he high School dance “" with a’ miss-y who Was fea y to play Wasa et Pitt! as est things in ows in! with ait = wr and a cous ly stat-ed with a lite tle ins, this ime "she was. 100l-n' “ease she Kew what she was “do Tose wis here to sla)" hen she toh! me to === Zs Saar eee . ref 10 1210, Chorus cscs walk this way, (atk this way. walk this ay, | 2 as OO ats Fig 1a, ———t eee —— eS - ? L % 64 GuitarOne + DECEMBER 1998walk this way, wath this ways walk this way Ah, just gimeme a Fd Rhy. Fi 1 DECEMBER 1998 » QuitarOne 65Walk This Way Guitar Solo NCA? oxi & 6 + = SS 3 — - Ss Anke Interlude i. ew RATA DS. al Coda Gr 2 cet (take repeat as Ne . Coda 00, un Chorus Gime 8 2: why Figs LE 1A es oF (Walk this way. walk this way. valk this way Fs Fs p co 1 So wok ts walk this an cs i, e + Ore bah Ae, ' =» ftp & : SSS Ab just gim- me a kis walk this way 66 uitarone + OFCEMBER 1000Walk This Way Nich ~ Outro.Guitar Solo Ne. aS on (1 Rue 1: wR Cl fade Ne DECEMBER 1998 « @uitarOne 67Walk This Way Nc As en : a ef FP £ fie ates ee, ne ro (68 GuitarOne +» DECENEER 1908Walk This Way Fade Ou Additional Lyries 3. School gitl skinny with a classy kinda sassy. Lie skin's climbin’ way up her knee. ‘There was three young ladies ina school gym Locker when I noticed they was lookin’ at me. Twas high school loser, never made it with a lady "Tl the boys told me somethin’ I missed. ‘Then my next-door neighbor with a daughter had a favor Soll gave her just a litle kiss, alike this! 4. Seeasw swingin’ with the boy’ in the school ‘And your feet flyin’ up in the air 1 sing, "Hey. diddle diddle.” with your kitty in the middle Of the swing like you didn’t care So I took a big chance at the high school dance With a missy who was ready to play. Was a me she foolin’ ‘cause she knew what she was doin’ ‘When she told me how to walk this way. She 10k! me (00... DECEMBER 1998 + QuitarOne 68