“EVERLONG”

Foo Fighters

THIS MODERN ALTERNATIVE rock classic is one of Dave Grohl’s finest masterpieces, not due to its complexity, but rather its minimalist simplicity and great musical appeal.

Using drop-D tuning and small, two-finger chord voicings on the bottom three strings, the guitarist begins the song with a super-catchy, drummer-like riff, which he later enhances at bar 15 with a complementary higher guitar part (Gtr. 4) that he layers on top of the foundational riff. The two parts then serve as the song’s verse accompaniment, becoming supportive to the vocals.

The pre-chorus, beginning at section D (bar 37) features an exciting build, with a climbing strummed-octaves figure on the A and G strings that sandwiches the ringing open middle D string. Unlike the usual fretting technique for playing strummed octaves on these strings, for which you want to intentionally mute the D string with your index finger, the object here is to make the finger “stand tall” and keep clear of the D string, which is part of the riff.

Interestingly, for the song’s third pre-chorus (see section H, bar 69), which comes after an instrumental breakdown, Grohl develops this strummed-octaves idea with a countermelody that moves in contrary motion, starting one octave and 12 frets higher up the neck, on C#

(16th position), then descending the D major scale while the foundational riff ascends it. Again, simple stuff, but compositionally very effective indeed.

Grohl makes great use of the distinctive roar of drop-D power chords for the song’s climactic chorus (see section E, bar 41), using the conveniently-fingered stacked roots and 5ths to create a thunderous, thick-sounding anthemic accompaniment. Notice the prescribed “1 and 4” fingerings for these power chords illustrated at the beginning of the transcription. Feel free to fret the G-string notes with your ring finger (3) instead of the pinkie (4), for a more “sure-footed” grip.