The Smiths - Bigmouth Strikes Again - Guitar Tab

About Bigmouth Strikes Again

Johnny Marr wrote the central riff for this track during a soundcheck in 1985, and that origin story tells you a lot about how it feels to play: it has the loose, spontaneous energy of something discovered rather than labored over. The riff sits in C major in E Standard tuning at 120 BPM, a tempo that pushes forward with real urgency without being unmanageable. Marr's part draws heavily on his rhythm-lead hybrid style, where chord stabs, melodic fills, and driving strums are woven together in a single guitar part rather than kept separate. Getting that blend right is the real challenge here, and it takes careful attention to right-hand dynamics to keep the riff from sounding either too choppy or too smooth. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the main riff slowed down until your pick attack and muting feel natural together. The Smiths and their brand of Alternative Rock lean heavily on feel, so once the notes are under your fingers, spend time getting the rhythmic swagger right.

• The signature riff, written during a 1985 soundcheck, blends melodic lead lines with rhythm guitar in a way that demands careful right-hand control.
• The song is in C major, E Standard tuning at 120 BPM, making it approachable in terms of speed but demanding in terms of feel and groove.
• Marr has cited the Rolling Stones' 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' as a key influence on this track, so studying that song's riff approach can inform your tone and attack here.