From: "aaron H" 
From: "Riaz Jahangir" 
Subject: t/trans_siberian_orchestra/carol_of_the_bells.tab
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 18:25:17 -0500

"Carol of the Bells"
 as performed by the Tran-Siberian Orchestra off their album The
 Christmas Attic, I think.  I just listened to the song over and
 over till i figured out at least the lead part.  I looked around
 for the tab but couldn't find it, and it's such a kick ass arrangement
 that people deserve to know how to play a little of it. I include the
 time in the song where the riff starts to edge off the confusion. And
 if i screwed up some part of it, lemme know.

Transcription and Tablature by: Aaron Hanenburg
a20wattmusicman@hotmail.com

End Transcription and Tablature by: Riaz Jahangir
riazjahangir@hotmail.com

Here goes the acoustic intro (fingerpick sounds good)
0:00
   (repeat10x)
E-----------------------------
B--------8--7-------8--7------
G-----9----------9------------
D---9----------9--------------
A-----------------------------
E-----------------------------

The violin over the acoustic riff
0:06
E--------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------
D--------9-9-7-----------------7-9-----
A---7-7--------10-9-7-5-7-9-10---------
E--------------------------------------

E---------------------------------
B---------------------------------
G---------------------------------
D-------9-9-7---------------------
A---7-7-------10-9-7-5-7----------
E---------------------------------

At the ritard, violin line ends on open D
And the acoustic line ends on first note.

Then......... HEAVY!
0:32
E--------------------------
B--------------------------  Let ring as the strings
G--------------------------  do the chugging strum
D--2-----------------------
A--2-----------------------
E--0-----------------------

The cool delay guitar in the backround
0:32 (goes throughout whole piece)
E----------------------------
B--0-5--0-0-5---------------- P.M slightly
G----------------------------

Riff 1  (~) means tremelo
0:56
E--3-2-3-0---3-2-3-0--------      ----------------------
B---------------------------      --8-7-8-5~---8-7-8-5~-
G--------------------------- (or) ----------------------
D---------------------------      ----------------------
A---------------------------      ----------------------
E---------------------------      ----------------------

Riff 1 Harmony (after riff 1 plays twice)
1:00
E--7-5-7-3--7-5-7-3--------
B--------------------------
G--------------------------
D--------------------------
A--------------------------
E--------------------------

Then the cool descent
1:04
E--12--12-12-10-----------------------------7----------
B---------------13-12--12-12-10-8-10--10-10---8--5--5-5--
G--------------------------------------------------------
D--------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------

And the cool ascent (supposed to be picked, but whatever)
The chord beneath these runs is B5
1:08
E-----------------5-7-5--------------------5-7-5-----
B------------7-8--------8-------------7-8--------8---
G--------8-9---------------------8-9-----------------
D--9-11--------------------9-11----------------------
A----------------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------------

E------------------------------------------------
B-----------7-8-----------7-8-----------7-8------
G-------8-9-----------8-9-----------8-9----------
D--9-11----------9-11----------9-11--------------
A------------------------------------------------
E------------------------------------------------

E------------------12--or---(24)----
B-----------7-8---------------------
G-------8-9-------------------------
D--9-11-----------------------------
A-----------------------------------
E-----------------------------------

Next riff: The note in( )is a trill and ^ is a bend
1:19
E---------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------
G--9-9-9-7------------------------------  Repeat once
D----------10-9(10)9-7-9^-7-5-5-4-2-----
A---------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------

Higher riff 2x
1:26
E--12-12-12-10---------------------------------
B--------------13-12(13)12-10-12^-10-8-8-7-5---
G----------------------------------------------
D----------------------------------------------
A----------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------

Then its the whole instrumental part
And now the 'Bell'riff
First, power chord build up

E----------------------------------
B----------------------------------
G--9--7--5--4----------------------
D--9--7--5--4----------------------
A--7--5--3--2----------------------
E----------------------------------

And the haunting lead (make it a half step bend)

E--12~--10~--8^-7-----------
B---------------------------


That's all I got. I couldn't make out the screaming lead or the end.
Listen to the song to see when what gets played over what.
Good luck and rock on!

**************************************************************************
This part tabbed by: Riaz Jahangir (riazjahangir@hotmail.com)
h = hammer on
/ = slide up
\ = slide down
p = pull off

Aaron's done a great job on a great rendition.  This tab is also just
for the lead guitar part -- here's my take on the end of the song.
I play it a bit different from Aaron, so let me back up to the descent
and ascent:

The Descent
B--17--17-17-15-13-----------------------------------------------
G------------------16--16-16-14-12-14--14-14-16-14---------------
D--------------------------------------------------14--14-14-14--

The Ascent
B------------------10-12-10-------------
G----------9-11-12-----------12---------
D--9-11-13------------------------------

Haunting Lead
B--17---15---12^--12-- where ^ is a half-step bend

After the haunting lead, the descent and ascent reappear, beginning at
2:20.  After the repeat of the ascent, it's

(2:29)
B---------------------------------------15--17----
G--12--11h12-9---------16\14p12-----12------------
D-------------------------------14----------------

Then it's the descent and ascent again, and after two repetitions
the ascent builds up with repetition, and ends with a longer ascent:

(2:46)
e---------------------------9-10-11-12---
B------------------10-12-13--------------
G----------9-11-12-----------------------
D--9-11-13-------------------------------

Then they go nuts with e--12-- and a tremolo arm for a bit,
then this piece which, if I'm right, is just an easy slide.
But if I'm wrong, it's insanely hard. :)

(2:55)
G--16\4-4/16---  [play 4x]

That's followed by a chord finish at the end of the last repetition:

(3:03)
e--15---17---19---22---24--
B-------15---17---20---24--
G--16----------------------

And the song fades out with the background guitar riff Aaron mentioned.