Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen

[Jamey Pittman]

Contains both standard notation and TAB (see attached PDF). The swinging, rockabilly vibe created by John Deacon's bass playing on this classic Queen hit is undeniably awesome. His nimble and tasty bass lines are what define the spirit of the song and drive it forward. Although I had no issues hearing Deacon's bass notes clearly while transcribing the song, I had a tough time deciding which neck positions he used for certain parts. Thankfully, YouTube had plenty of live Queen performances of the song for me to clarify his preferences (which are not always the neck positions I would elect to use myself).

All transcriptions are made with MuseScore 2.0, an excellent (and free) music composition program. Anyone interested in the MuseScore file for this song can send me a PM.

And here's the list of other transcriptions I've submitted to the forum:
Paradise City - Guns N' Roses
Orion - Metallica
Funk #49 - James Gang
Creeping Death - Metallica
Battery - Metallica
Master of Puppets - Metallica
Welcome to the Jungle - Guns N' Roses
Rocket Queen - Guns N' Roses
Mr. Brownstone - Guns N' Roses

Enjoy,

J

 

[Oddly]

Many thanks. This has just come up as a suggestion in my band and now I can get it down quickly.

 

[Jamey Pittman]

Well, this was a well-timed transcription as far as you're concerned then, huh? Glad it proved to be immediately useful.

 

[SirMjac28]

Very cool the way I've always played it is harder thanks.

 

[SirMjac28]

Man I miss Freddie what a voice just incredible and he was an even better producer and engineer he was a genius with a soundboard. Thanks for posting this I have been playing this song for years an entirely different way it sounded alright but my fingers were all over the place this is a much better way for my old hands.

 

[Jamey Pittman]

I miss him, too; he was one of a kind. Glad you were able to get something from the transcription. And although I've also played this song for years (decades, actually), I always learn something from the transcription process. In this case, it was learning that the neck positions Deacon uses are not the same as mine in all cases, although the notes are the same. I prefer to use the 6th and 8th frets of the E string for the low Ab and C notes near the end of each verse because there's less hand movement that way versus moving down to the 1st fret of the A string for the Ab as he does.

Man I miss Freddie what a voice just incredible and he was an even better producer and engineer he was a genius with a soundboard. Thanks for posting this I have been playing this song for years an entirely different way it sounded alright but my fingers were all over the place this is a much better way for my old hands.

 

[SirMjac28]

I miss him, too; he was one of a kind. Glad you were able to get something from the transcription. And although I've also played this song for years (decades, actually), I always learn something from the transcription process. In this case, it was learning that the neck positions Deacon uses are not the same as mine in all cases, although the notes are the same. I prefer to use the 6th and 8th frets of the E string for the low Ab and C notes near the end of each verse because there's less hand movement that way versus moving down to the 1st fret of the A string for the Ab as he does.

It's funny I've read sheet music from certain songs and then you see that artist live and they play it in a totally different way I think it comes from being on the road and trying to have as little movement as possible to prevent hand fatigue I can now finally play this song without my hands hurting.

 

[bluejack]

These are outstanding ... thanks so much for sharing .... J