-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

” Black Horsemen ” by King Diamond from Abigail
Music and Lyrics by King Diamond
Tabbed and transcribed by Alex Huerta al527439@aniachi.her.itesm.mx

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Legend :
p pull_off Slide down
h hammer_on .. Repeat for a while 🙂
/ Slide up x2 Repeat it that time and another one.
v Vibrato rk Rake ( play the strings one after the other )
tr Trill Natural Harmonics.
r release
bt bend and tap
Guitar1 12-string Acoustic Guitar.
Guitar2 Nylon-acoustic Guitar.
Guitar3 Distorted Guitar.
Guitar4 Distorted Guitar with a strange effect.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes :
King Diamond is GOD!! And this song proves it. This ain’t no easy song,
and it’s a bitch to play it right, but it provides hours of fun for
someone with those hours to waste 🙂
Thanxs go to Balva, a friend of mine and a damned fine guitarist,
who helped me to figure out the 2nd solo ( even tough we never got it
quite right ) and bought some beers and a bag of Nachos and invited me to
his house this weekend to talk and play guitars. And they also go to
Justin for telling me about the 12 string guitar used in the
beginning of the song.
The acoustic parts at the beginning are played with ( you guessed it )
an acoustic with 12 strings ( or a “bajosexto”, as we call them here
in Mexico ), so if you don’t have one, you can do two things : 1) Play
the part as it appears in the transcription, or 2) Play it one octave up
the neck.
When I put the chord names over the lyrics, it means that they should be
arpeggiated as in the beggining of the tune.
Also, don’t expect to play this song without hearing the recording first.
It’s mandatory to hear the song before attempting to play it. The timing on
some of the rhythms (sp?) are kind of wacko, so use your ear, man.
This is my second tab, I may be getting good at this, but, if you find any
mistake, please, e-mail me or send the correction to the tab archives.
( with Guitar1 )
B A x2

e--------0-----------0-----------0-------
B------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-----
G----8-------8---8-------8---6-------6vv-
D--9-----------9-----------7-------------
A----------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------/

e----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----
B---0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0----
G--5---5-5---5-8---8-8---8-5---5-5---5-8---8---
D-7-----7-----9-----9-----7-----7-----9-----9v-
A----------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------/

RhyFig 1 :

----------

( with Guitar3 )

e--------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------
D-7-----------(7)/9-----------(9)7-----------(7)/9------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------------------
E-5-----------(5)/7-----------(7)5-----------(5)/7------------------/

( with Guitar1 )
Aaug5sus2 B Aaug5sus2 B

e-----0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0------
B----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----0-0-----
G---2---2---2---2---8---8---8---8---2---2---2---2---8---8---8---8----
D--3-----3-3-----3-9-----9-9-----9-3-----3-3-----3-9-----9-9-----9vv-
A-0-------0-----------------------0-------0--------------------------
E-----------------7-------7-----------------------7-------7----------/

Solo 1 ( Mike ) ( with the Am and B arpeggiated(sp?) and Guitar2)

---------------

e-------------------------------------7-7vv----
B-------------------------------------7-7vv----
G--4--5--4---------4--5--4vv-------------------
D-----------7vv--7-----------------------------
A----------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------/

e----------------------------------------------
B-8-10-8-8h10p87-7-8-7-5-7-5------------------
G-----------------------------74v-------------
D-------------------------------------4-4vv----
A----------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------/

rk Am B

e---5--5b7-5-------5-7-8-5-7vv-----------------
B--5---------8-7vv-----------------------------
G-5---------------------------------rest-------
D-----------------------------------rest-------
A----------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------/

e-10-12-10h12p108-12-10-8-7-10-8-7-5-8-7-5---7-5-------
B-------------------------------------------8-----8-7vv-
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------/

Lyrics ( w/RhyFig1 ) :
“So there they stood at the top of the stairs
Miriam in the mood, Jonathan was scared. “
Gazing into the dark, Jonathan saw the star
Lyrics ( w/RhyFig1 ) :
“For a second he turned his back
And she was there like a ghost
She pushed him hard and clean
To the bottom of the stairs. “
RhyFig2. ( with Guitar 3 ) :

--------

e-------------------------------
B-------------------------------
G--6--4--6--4--6--4--2----------
D--6--4--6--4--6--4--2---6------
A--4--2--4--2--4--2--0---6------
E------------------------4------/

Lyrics ( w/RhyFig2 ) :
“Now we’re finally alone, Miriam
Abigail is here to stay. “
( w/Fill1 ) 1st time 2nd time

e-------------------------------------- -------------- ---------------
B-------------------------------------- -------------- ---------------
G-------------------------------------- -6-6-6-4-6-4v- ---6-6-6-4-6---
D--6-6-4-6v---6-6-6-4-6-4v---6-6-4-6v-- -4-4-4-2-4-2v- ---4-4-4-2-4---
A--4-4-2-4v---4-4-4-2-4-2v---4-4-2-4v-- -------------- -------------2-
E-------------------------------------- -------------- -------------0-/

Fill1 ( w/Guitar4 ) :

e12vvvv-11vvvv-9vvvv-7vvvv----
B-----------------------------
G-----------------------------
D-----------------------------
A-----------------------------
E-----------------------------/

The birth of Abigail would soon be realized

e--------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------8-8--8--6--8--6v---
A--8-8-6-8-8v--8-8-8--6--8--6v----8-8--6--8--8v---6-6--6--4--6--4v---
E--6-6-4-6-6v--6-6-6--4--6--4v----6-6--4--6--6v----------------------/

The second coming of a devil in disguise

e--------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------8-8--8--6--8--6v---
A--8-8-6-8-8v--8-8-8--6--8--6v----8-8--6--8--8v---6-6--6--4--6--4v---
E--6-6-4-6-6v--6-6-6--4--6--4v----6-6--4--6--6v----------------------/

And the moon did not shine

e--------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------6-6-6-4-6-4v-
D--6-6-4-6-6v---6-6-6-4-6-4v---6-6-4-6-6v---4-4-4-2-4-2v-
A--4-4-2-4-4v---4-4-4-2-4-2v---4-4-2-4-4v----------------
E--------------------------------------------------------/

It was darker than ever before.

e--------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------6-6-6-4-6-4v-
D--6-6-4-6-6v---6-6-6-4-6-4v---6-6-4-6-6v---4-4-4-2-4-2v-
A--4-4-2-4-4v---4-4-4-2-4-2v---4-4-2-4-4v----------------
E--------------------------------------------------------/

On this sacred night the soul of Miriam was crying out in pain.

e--------------------------------------------------------------3--
B--------------------------------------------------------------3--
G-----------------------7/8--7/8--7/8--------------------------0--
D-----------------------5/6--5/6--5/6--------------------------0--
A--4--4-4--2-4-------------------------------4----4-4----2-----2--
E--2--2-2--0-2-------------------------------2----2-2----0-----3--/

Remembering the day, arrival in the rain

e--------------------------------------------------------------3--
B--------------------------------------------------------------3--
G-----------------------7/8--7/8--7/8--------------------------0--
D-----------------------5/6--5/6--5/6--------------------------0--
A--4--4-4--2-4-------------------------------4----4-4----2-----2--
E--2--2-2--0-2-------------------------------2----2-2----0-----3--/

Ohh, ohh, ohh, ohh. Ohh, ohh, ahh AHH!!!

e------------------3------------------3----
B------------------3------------------3----
G------------------0------------------0----
D---9----7----6----0----9----7----6---0----
A---9----7----7----2----9----7----7---2----
E---7----5----4----3----7----5----4---3----/

( w/Fill1 & fill2) 1st time 2nd time

e-------------------------------------- -------------- ---------------
B-------------------------------------- -------------- ---------------
G-------------------------------------- -6-6-6-4-6-4v- ---6-6-6-4-6---
D--6-6-4-6v---6-6-6-4-6-4v---6-6-4-6v-- -4-4-4-2-4-2v- ---4-4-4-2-4---
A--4-4-2-4v---4-4-4-2-4-2v---4-4-2-4v-- -------------- -------------2-
E-------------------------------------- -------------- -------------0-/

Fill1 ( w/Guitar4 ) : Fill2 ( w/Guitar2 ):

e12vvvv-11vvvv-9vvvv-7vvvv--- ----------0--0--------------0--0--------
B---------------------------- --------0------0----------0------0------
G---------------------------- ------6----------6------6----------6----
D---------------------------- ----7--------------7--7--------------7--
A---------------------------- ----------------------------------------
E---------------------------- ----------------------------------------/

The pain of labour was so strong that Miriam died

e--------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------
D----------------------------------------------------------8-8-8--6-8-6v---
A--8-8-6-8-8v--8-8-8--6--8--6v----8-8--6--8--8v------------6-6-6--4-6-4v---
E--6-6-4-6-6v--6-6-6--4--6--4v----6-6--4--6--6v----------------------------/

The final seeing was a pair of yellow eyes.

e--------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------
D----------------------------------------------------------8-8-8--6-8-6v---
A--8-8-6-8-8v--8-8-8--6--8--6v----8-8--6--8--8v------------6-6-6--4-6-4v---
E--6-6-4-6-6v--6-6-6--4--6--4v----6-6--4--6--6v----------------------------/

You can still hear her screaming

e--------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------6-6-6-4-6-4v-
D--6-6-4-6-6v---6-6-6-4-6-4v---6-6-4-6-6v---4-4-4-2-4-2v-
A--4-4-2-4-4v---4-4-4-2-4-2v---4-4-2-4-4v----------------
E--------------------------------------------------------/

If You’re walking the stairs in July.

e--------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------6-6-6-4-6-4v-
D--6-6-4-6-6v---6-6-6-4-6-4v---6-6-4-6-6v---4-4-4-2-4-2v-
A--4-4-2-4-4v---4-4-4-2-4-2v---4-4-2-4-4v----------------
E--------------------------------------------------------/

Riding from beyond the 7 Horsemen would arrive before the dawn

e--------------------------------------------------------------3--
B--------------------------------------------------------------3--
G--------------------------------------------------------------0--
D-----------------------7/8--7/8--7/8--------------------------0--
A--4--4-4--2-4----------5/6--5/6--5/6--------4----4-4----2-----2--
E--2--2-2--0-2-------------------------------2----2-2----0-----3--/

Servants of the count, when Abigail was born the first time

e--------------------------------------------------------------3--
B--------------------------------------------------------------3--
G--------------------------------------------------------------0--
D-----------------------7/8--7/8--7/8--------------------------0--
A--4--4-4--2-4----------5/6--5/6--5/6--------4----4-4----2-----2--
E--2--2-2--0-2-------------------------------2----2-2----0-----3--/

Solo 2 ( Andy ) :
Nope!!! Too hard!! Besides, it’s too fast, and not as cool as the last one,
so, if you really, REALLY want it, e-mail me, and I’ll see what I can do.
After the solo …
Oh no… they found her in the sarcophagus

e----------------------------------------------------
B----------------------------------------------------
G----------------------------------------------------
D----------1---2--1vv-------------------------5------
A--2--2--1---1-------------2--2---0--2--3--2-----5v--
E--0--0--------------------0--0----------------------/

Baby Abigail was eating, Oh I cannot tell You

e----------------------------------------------------
B----------------------------------------------------
G----------------------------------------------------
D----------1---2--1vv-------------------------5------
A--2--2--1---1-------------2--2---0--2--3--2-----5v--
E--0--0--------------------0--0----------------------/

“Take her… and bring her to the chapel in the forest

e---------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------
D----------1---2--1vv-------------------------5-----------
A--2--2--1---1-------------2--2---0--2--3--2-----5v-------
E--0--0--------------------0--0---------------------------/

So go now… The ceremony And the coffin’s waiting”

e---------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------
G----------------------------------------------------7v---
D----------1---2--1vv----------------------------5---7v---
A--2--2--1---1-------------2--2---0--2--3--2-----5---5v---
E--0--0--------------------0--0------------------3--------/

RhyFig 3 :

----------
e--------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------------------------5vv---------------------------0--------
A----------10--7vv--4-5-6-7-5--------------10--7vv----0-1-2---2-1-0--
E--0--0-0--------------------------0--0-0-----------0----------------/

Repeat RhyFig3 3 times, then :

e-------------------------------
B-------------------------------
G--7----------------------------
D--7--7--------------0----------
A--5--7-----0--1--2-----2--1--0-
E-----5---0---------------------/

Then, repeat RhyFig3 ( with a lot of weird screams and “ahhs” and a deadly
” Black Horsemen!!! ” that makes my mother scream in fear 🙂 ) 4 times;
after that, :

e-----------------------------------------------------------------
B-----------------------------------------------------------------
G-----------------------------------------------------------------
D----------0-----------------0---------------------0--------------
A----0-1-2---2-1-------0-1-2---2-1--------0--1--2-----2--1--------
E--0-------------0v--0-------------0v--0---------------------0----/

Lyrics ( w/RhyFig2 ) :
“That’s the end of another lullaby
Time has come for me to say Goodnight… “
and with that, we get to THE solo.. one of the most moving, well-done
pieces of music, this solo is easy, but because it’s set way back in the
mix, it’s kinda hard to capture every nuance of Mike’s playing; so,
take this transcription as a guide, and inprovise where you like ( I know
I do 🙂 )
Solo 3 ( w/RhyFig2 ):

e---------------------------------------------9--11--11b13r11--9--11vv-
B-------------------------------------------9--------------------------
G--8b9--6vv----6--8--9--6--8--9-11vv---11b13---------------------------
D------------6---------------------------------------------------------
A----------------------------------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------------------------------/
e--11h12p12-9-11-9---9-11-12-12b14vv--------9--11--9---11-12-11-9-11-9b11-
B------------------9--------------------12--------------------------------
G-------------------------------------11--11-11--11-11--------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------/
e------14b16vv--14-12-14-12h14p1211-12-9-11-9--------------------
B-----------------------------------------------------------------
G----------------------------------------------11vv--9-8-9-6vvv---
D----------------------------------------------------------------
A-//------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------/

Random slides

e-----------------------------------------------------------------
B-----------------------------------9------9-10----9-10-12b14vv---
G-------8------8-9----8-9-11-8-9-11---9-11------11----------------
D--9-11---9-11-----11---------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------/
e--9-11-12----14----12----14----12----14-12--
B----------12----12----12----12----12----12--
G---------------------------------------------
D---------------------------------------------
A---------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------/

Harmony :

e-----------------------------------------------
B--9-10--9vv--9-10-9h10p9-----------------------
G-------------------------11-9-8------8-9-------
D---------------------------------11v-----9vv---
A-----------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------/

e-----------------------------------------------
B--9-10--9vv--9-10-9h10p9-------------------
G-------------------------11-9-8------8-9-------
D---------------------------------11v-----------
A-----------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------/

Bend up with tremolo bar

e------16--14vv--14-16-17-19v--17-16-14------9-11-12-11tr12---11--12vvv-
B--14-----------------------------------14vv----------------------------
G-----------------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------/

B Fade out….

e--------0-----------0-----------0-------
B------0---0-------0---0-------0---0-----
G----8-------8---8-------8---8-------8vv-
D--9-----------9-----------9-------------
A----------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------/

Whew, what a great song!!! With the exception of the second solo, I think
that everything’s pretty accurate… I didn’t tab some of the acoustics
behind, by example, RhyFig2, for 2 reasons : 1) They’re easy to figure out,
and 2) I ( when I 🙂 ) play in a one-guitar band, so the acoustic behind the
electric is a no-no ( mind you, we’re so desperate that I sing this one!!! )
Any comments, flames, requests, or if someone knows how to play any
Steve Vai-era David Lee Roth songs or any Kansas song ( except
Dust in The Wind and Carry On.. ) , or if someone has the tabs to
“Roundabout” by Yes ( or any other Yes song, for that matter ),
please feel free to e-mail me at : al527439@aniachi.her.itesm.mx