Duran Duran - Sound of Thunder (1981)

Tabbed by: trevgreg
Email: trevgreg1227@hotmail.com

Tuning: Standard


“Sound of Thunder” is the seventh track of Duran Duran’s first self-titled album. Though 
its
fair share of Andy Taylor on guitar, the parts are pretty simple for even most beginners 
take a decent
hold of. For the most part, the song consists of minimal barre chords, along with some 
notes, muting
and slides on the choruses and the last part of the song. Andy also contributes a solo 
the
middle eight as well.

The first two verses are pretty straight-forward. Andy plays each barre chord twice with 
a slight
palm-mute at the beginning of each of them when he enters them. He also plays them all 
the A string,
so that should be easy enough to remember. Let the last D5 echo out when you’re at the 
of each verse
as well.

       E5           G5           B5          D5
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--x--9---9----x--12---12----x--4---4----x--7---7-------------------|
D|--x--9---9----x--12---12----x--4---4----x--7---7-------------------|
A|--x--7---7----x--10---10----x--2---2----x--5---5-------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|


Here’s what Andy plays at the end of the first two verses, where Simon begins to sing 
“I gave up
asking…” and “and I just lie here…” lines.

e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--3(v)----3\5----3----1(h)------------3(v)----3\5----3----1(h)---------|
E|----------------------------3(h)--------------------------------3(h)---|


At the beginning of the middle eight, you can hear Andy echo out the sixth string by it 
at least once.
Afterwards, he introduces some sliding or a few notes by themselves and repeats that 
times.

e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------2----2\9----9/7----7/3--------------------------|
E|--0(h)-----------------------------------------------------------------|


Before the final verse, Andy starts a new barre chord arrangement, this time only 
each chord once after
the initial palm muting. This part extends all the way to the “… I might fly off“ line 
Simon holds at the
end of the verse. Also let the final E5 chord in the verse echo here too.

     F#5      A5      C#5      E5
e|------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--x--11----x--14----x--6----x--9----------------------------|
D|--x--11----x--14----x--6----x--9----------------------------|
A|--x--9-----x--12----x--4----x--7----------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------|


Andy plays a simple palm-muting part over the chords during the “world spins so fast” 
of the final verse
too. Go buck wild on them as you play between the chords.

e|------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x------------------|
D|--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x------------------|
A|--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------|


This is Andy’s final lead part in the song, which he plays during the outro. Like the 
lead part in the song,
it really just consists of some single notes and sliding too. Play with it to get the 
for whatever works
better for you.

e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|----------4\6----6/2----2\4----4\6----6\8----8\4--------------------------|
E|--2(h)--------------------------------------------------------------------|

Andy also apparently throws in a solo in the middle 8, though to be honest, it almost 
like a keyboard from
me. He did a much different one though during the live shows he played with the band in 
and 2006.

E5                        G5          B5                   D5
I've been in this grass here for the last 10 hours
E5                        G5          B5                   D5
My clothes are dirty but my mouth isn't dry
E5                        G5          B5                   D5
How does it happen?  Does it fly through the air?
E5                        G5          B5                   D5
Oh I gave up asking days away
(first lead part 2X)
I gave up asking
(first lead part 2X)
Days away

E5                        G5          B5                   D5
And now I'm lying here waiting for the Sound of Thunder
E5                        G5          B5                   D5
Waiting for the Sound of Thunder
E5                        G5
Here I am, I'm a dotted line
B5                                  D5
Cut the corner, stick me to your door
E5                        G5          B5                   D5
I'm the man who stepped off the path
(first lead part 2X)
and I just lie here
(first lead part 2X)
It's what I was made for

(second lead part 4X)

F#5     A5     C#5     E5

F#5                               A5          C#5                       E5
And now my eyes are closing, but I still feel the land
F#5                               A5          C#5                       E5
Leaning out for the touch of my hand
F#5                               A5 (with palm muting)
The world spins so fast that I might fly off
C#5                               E5 (with palm muting)
The world spins so fast that I might fly off
F#5                               A5                C#5                 E5 (with palm muting)
The world spins so fast, I might fly off

(Final lead part for the rest of the outro)
Waiting for the Sound of Thunder
I'm waiting for the Sound of Thunder
I'm waiting for the Sound of Thunder
I'm waiting for the Sound of Thunder
I'm waiting for the Sound of Thunder
I'm waiting for the Sound of Thunder
I'm waiting for the Sound of Thunder