Megadeth: Blackmail The Universe transcribed by: Russ Elton (webmaster@abysslord.com) PLEASE DO NOT COPY THIS TAB TO ANOTHER SITE WITHOUT AUTHORS' PERMISSION. THANK YOU! Date last modified: April 26, 2007 Find more Megadeth tabs, including the most updated version of this tab, at: The Vault of Deth: The Ultimate Megadeth Guitar Tab Collection http://abysslord.com/megadeth/ Tuning: Standard Riff 1 (Play 2x) e|-------------------------| B|-------------------------| G|-------------------------| D|-------------------------| ---| A|-------------------------| | E|-0-0-0-3-2-0-0-0-0-5-3-0-| | * * * * * * * * * * * * | "This is..." | e|-------------------------| |--> Play 2x B|-------------------------| | G|-------------------------| | D|-------------------------| ---| A|-------------------------| E|-0-0-0-3-2-0-5-3-0-3-2-0-| * * * * * * * * * * * * "...breaking news..." e|---------------------------------| B|---------------------------------| G|---------------------------------| D|---------------------------------| A|-----444-----333-----222-----333-| E|-222-----222-----222-----222-----| *** *** *** *** "...Middle East..." Riff 1a e|-------------------------| B|-------------------------| G|-------------------------| D|-------------------------| A|-------------------------| E|-0-0-0-3-2-0-0-0-0-5-3-0-| * * * * * * * * * * * * "...missing..." e|-------------------------| B|-------------------------| G|-------------------------| D|-------------------------| A|-------------------------| E|-0-0-0-3-2-0-5-3-0-3-2-0-| * * * * * * * * * * * * "...Secretary of State..." e|---------------------------------| B|---------------------------------| G|---------------------------------| D|---------------------------------| A|-----444-----333-----222-----333-| E|-222-----222-----222-----222-----| *** *** *** *** "...principles of..." e|-------------------------| B|-------------------------| G|-------------------------| D|-------------------------| A|-------------------------| E|-0-0-0-3-2-0-0-0-0-5-3-0-| * * * * * * * * * * * * "...stands at..." e|-------------------------| B|-------------------------| G|-------------------------| D|-------------------------| A|-------------------------| E|-0-0-0-3-2-0-5-3-0-3-2-0-| * * * * * * * * * * * * "...DEFCON 3..." Riff 2 (Play 2x) e|-------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------2-3-4-| E|-2-2--2-0-2-3-5-3-2-0-2-2--2-0-2-3-5-------| * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The greatest crisis..." e|--------------------------------------------| B|--------------------------------------------| G|--------------------------------------------| D|--------------------------------------------| A|--------------------------------------------| E|-2-2--2-0-2-3-5-3-2-0-2-2-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-| * * * * * * * * "I 'red, white and blew it'..." Riff 2a x2 e|--------------------------------------------| B|--------------------------------------------| G|--------------------------------------------| D|--------------------------------------------| A|--------------------------------------------| E|-2-2--2-0-2-3-5-3-2-0-2-2-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-| * * * * * * * * "Betrayal, I peel away..." e|-------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------2-3-4-| E|-2-2--2-0-2-3-5-3-2-0-2-2--2-0-2-3-5-------| * * * * * * * * * * * * * "important, no one will..." e|-------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------| A|---------------------------3-2-------------| E|-2-2--2-0-2-3-5-3-2-0-2-2------5-3-2-0-2-3-| * * * * * * * * * * * * "...found, God get me..." NOTE: Riff 3 is similar to a riff in The Conjuring in that it looks like it should be played all on the E string until the last three notes. This is how I orginally tabbed it and how it could have been recorded. But on live videos Dave's hand is in the 2nd fret position and 4th fret position respectively for these two riffs, so I've written them in that position. This means the last notes can be played with a quick pinky slide. It's possible this change was just for live performances to make it easier, even though The Conjuring is played with all the notes on the E string. The other thing is that on the studio recording, the last note of the 4th position run doesn't even sound, that's why I made it a ghost note. That makes me think it WAS recorded the way it's played live and the pinky slide just didn't sound out well. So basically the notes on this tab are correct, so play it however you feel the most comfortable. Riff 3 e|-------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------| A|--------------2--------------------2-4-5-6-| E|-4-4--4-2-4-5---5-4-2-4-4--4-2-4-5---------| * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Nuclear battlefields..." e|--------------------------------------------| B|--------------------------------------------| G|--------------------------------------------| D|--------------------------------------------| A|--------------2-----------------------------| E|-4-4--4-2-4-5---5-4-2-4-4-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-| * * * * * * * * "...energized..." e|---------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------------------| G|---------------------------------------------| D|---------------------------------------------| A|--------------4--------------------4-6-7-(8)-| E|-6-6--6-4-6-7---7-6-4-6-6--6-4-6-7-----------| * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Cold wars are..." e|--------------------------------------------| B|--------------------------------------------| G|--------------------------------------------| D|--------------------------------------------| A|--------------4-----------------------------| E|-6-6--6-4-6-7---7-6-4-6-6-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-| * * * * * * * * "...again..." Play Riff 2a "The tensions mounting..." Riff 4 e|------------------------------| B|------------------------------| G|------------------------------| D|--------------2------4/5-4----| A|-----4--------0------2/3-2-5--| E|-2-0-2----0-2----2-0-------3--| * * * * * * e|-------------------------------| B|-------------------------------| G|-------------------------------| D|--------------2------4/5-------| A|-----4--------0------2/3-------| E|-2-0-2----0-2----2-0-----0-0-1-| * * * * * * * * * "The stage..." Riff 5 (Solo Rhythm) e|------------------------------| B|------------------------------| G|------------------------------| D|------------------------------| A|--------------2------4/5-4----| E|-4-2-4~---2-4----4-2-------5--| * * * * * * e|-------------------------------| B|-------------------------------| G|-------------------------------| D|-------------------------------| A|--------------2------4/5-------| E|-4-2-4~---2-4----4-2-----2-2-3-| * * * * * * * * * e|------------------------------| B|------------------------------| G|------------------------------| D|------------------------------| A|--------------2------4/5-4----| E|-4-2-4~---2-4----4-2-------5--| * * * * * * e|----------------------------| B|----------------------------| G|----------------------------| D|----------------------------| A|--------------2-5-4---3-2---| E|-4-2-4~---2-4-------5-----3-| * * * * * * Solo (Poland) e|-------------------------------| B|-------------------------------| G|-------------------------------| D|----------------------13----13-| A|-16p14-16p14----14h16----16----| E|-------------16----------------| e|----------------------------------------------------14-| B|-------------------------------------------14h16h17----| G|----------------13----13-15p13----13-15h16-------------| D|-16p13----13h16----16----------16----------------------| A|-------16----------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------| e|----------------17b19r17--14b16r14-14b16~-| B|-17b19--(19)r18---------------------------| G|------------------------------------------| D|------------------------------------------| A|------------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------------| e|------------------------------------------------------| B|-17b19--(19)r17-16p14---14----------------------------| G|---------------------16----16-15-13----13-------------| D|------------------------------------16----16-14-13----| A|---------------------------------------------------16-| E|------------------------------------------------------| e|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|----------------------------------| D|-13-------------------------------| A|----16-14-13----13----------------| E|-------------16----16-14-12-14-16-| e|-------------------------------------------------| B|-----------------------------------14b16--14-----| G|-------13-16b18----16b19--16-13-16-----------13~-| D|-------------------------------------------------| A|----14-------------------------------------------| E|-16----------------------------------------------| End solo Play Riff 4 "This is your 5 minute warning..." Riff 6 e|---------------------------| B|---------------------------| G|---------------------------| D|-2------0------0h2-----2-3-| A|-2------0------0h2-----2-3-| E|----0-0----0-0-----0-0-----| * * * * * * "...dead man!" e|---------------------------| B|---------------------------| G|---------------------------| D|-4------2------2h4-----4-5-| A|-4------2------2h4-----4-5-| E|----0-0----0-0-----0-0-----| * * * * * * e|-----------------------| B|-----------------------| G|-----------------------| D|-6------4------4h6-----| A|-6------4------4h6-----| E|----0-0----0-0-----0-0-| * * * * * * e|--------------------------------------| B|--------------------------------------| G|--------------------------------------| D|----------------------------------4-3-| A|-11-10-9------7---10-9-8------6---2-1-| E|--9--8-7--0-0-5-0--8-7-6--0-0-4-0-----| * * * * * * Riff 7 e|--------------------------------| B|--------------------------------| G|---------0----------------------| D|-----4-----0---2------4/5--4----| A|---------------0----0-2/3--2-5--| E|-2~----2-----2----2----------3--| * * * * e|--------------------------------| B|--------------------------------| G|---------0----------------------| D|-----4-----0--------------------| A|------------------7/8-7/8---2---| E|-2~----2-----2-0--5/6-5/6-3---0-| * * * e|--------------------------------| B|--------------------------------| G|---------0----------------------| D|-----4-----0---2------4/5--4----| A|---------------0----0-2/3--2-5--| E|-2~----2-----2----2----------3--| * * * * e|------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------| G|---------0--------------------------| D|-----4-----0------------------------| A|------------------7/8-7/8---7/8-7/8-| E|-2~----2-----2-0--5/6-5/6-0-5/6-5/6-| * * * e|--------------------------------| B|--------------------------------| G|---------0----------------------| D|-----4-----0---2------4/5--4----| A|---------------0----0-2/3--2-5--| E|-2~----2-----2----2----------3--| * * * * e|--------------------------------| B|--------------------------------| G|---------0----------------------| D|-----4-----0--------------------| A|------------------7/8-7/8---2---| E|-2~----2-----2-0--5/6-5/6-3---0-| * * * e|--------------------------------| B|--------------------------------| G|---------0----------------------| D|-----4-----0---2------4/5--4----| A|---------------0----0-2/3--2-5--| E|-2~----2-----2----2----------3--| * * * * e|---------------| B|---------------| G|---------0-----| D|-----4-----0---| A|---------------| E|-2~----2-----2-| * * Riff 8 (Solo Rhythm, Play 2x) e|------------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------------------| G|------------------------------------------------| D|----2--------3---------4------------------------| A|------------------------------------------------| E|-0----3-2-1-----3-5-2-----5-3-2-3-5--2-3-5--2-3-| * * * * * * * * * * * * e|------------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------------------| G|------------------------------------------------| D|----2--------3---------4------------------------| A|------------------------------------------------| E|-0----3-2-1-----3-5-2-----5-3-2-3-5--2-3-5--3-2-| * * * * * * * * * * * * Riff 8a (Solo Rhythm) e|---------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------------| G|---------------------------------------| D|-----14------------12----------10------| A|-------14------------12----------10----| E|-12------12-11-10------10-9-8------8-7-| e|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|----------------------------------| D|----8----------6----------4-------| A|------8----------6----------4-----| E|-6------6-5-4------4-3-2------2-1-| Solo (Poland) e|----------------------------| B|----------------------------| G|------16-15-16-15------14~--| D|-/14--------------17~-------| A|----------------------------| E|----------------------------| e|---------------------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------------------------------| G|----14-16------------------------------------------------| D|-17-------14-14b16~--(16)r14-12h14p12--------------------| A|--------------------------------------14p12--------------| E|--------------------------------------------15-12--(12)\-| e|-15b17--(17)b18--17b19--15-17-19--15-17-19--15-17-19-| B|-----------------------------------------------------| G|-----------------------------------------------------| D|-----------------------------------------------------| A|-----------------------------------------------------| E|-----------------------------------------------------| e|-20b22--------------15b17-17b19-{16}--15b17r15-| B|--------22b24-20-22----------------------------| G|-----------------------------------------------| D|-----------------------------------------------| A|-----------------------------------------------| E|-----------------------------------------------| e|--------------------------------------------------------| B|-17-15-[16]17----(17)r16-17p15-17p15--------------------| G|-------------------------------------17p16p14-17p16p14\-| D|--------------------------------------------------------| A|--------------------------------------------------------| E|--------------------------------------------------------| e|---------------------------------| B|-----------------10-12-13p12-10\-| G|---------9-11-12-----------------| D|-12p9-12-------------------------| A|---------------------------------| E|---------------------------------| e|------------------------------------------------------| B|-10-8-7---------8-7-----------------------------------| G|--------10-9-7------10-9-7----9-7---------------------| D|---------------------------10-----10-9-7b8^----(8^)r7-| A|------------------------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------------------------| e|-----------------------12----12----------12-------| B|-15b17----{15}-(17)r15----15----15p12-15----15b17-| G|--------------------------------------------------| D|--------------------------------------------------| A|--------------------------------------------------| E|--------------------------------------------------| e|-12----------12-------12----------12-------| B|----15p12-15----15b17----15p12-15----15b17-| G|-------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------| e|-12----------12-------12----------12----------| B|----15p12-15----15b17----15p12-15----15b19r15-| G|----------------------------------------------| D|----------------------------------------------| A|----------------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------------| e|-12----12----------------------------12-15/17-| B|----15----15-13p12----------12h13h15----------| G|-------------------14-12h14-------------------| D|----------------------------------------------| A|----------------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------------| e|-(17)b19--(19)b20--21b22~----22b24~-| B|------------------------------------| G|------------------------------------| D|------------------------------------| A|------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------| End Solo Riff 9 (Solo Rhythm) e|-------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------| E|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-| * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e|-------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------2-3-5-3-2---------| E|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-2-3-5-----------5-3-2-0-| * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Solo (Mustaine) e|-------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------| E|-12-12-12-10-10-10-13-13-13-12-12-10-| e|-------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------| A|-------------11----------------11----| E|-12-10-13-12----13-12-10-13-12----13-| e|-------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------| D|-14-14-14-12-12-12-15-15-15-14-14-12-| A|-------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------| e|-------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------| G|-------------13----------------13----| D|-14-12-15-14----15-14-12-15-14----15-| A|-------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------| e|-------------------------| B|-9p6-------6-9p6-------6-| G|-----9-7-9-------9-7-9---| D|-------------------------| A|-------------------------| E|-------------------------| e|-------------------------------| B|-12p9---------9-12p9---------9-| G|------10-9-10--------10-9-10---| D|-------------------------------| A|-------------------------------| E|-------------------------------| e|-------------------------------------| B|-15p12----------12-15p12----------12-| G|-------13-12-13----------13-12-13----| D|-------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------| e|-------------------------------------| B|-18p15----------15-18p15----------15-| G|-------16-15-16----------16-15-16----| D|-------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------| (NOTE: Alternate between tapping and pulling-off) x2 e|----------------------------------------| B|-t17p12-17p12-t17p12-17p12-t17p12-17p12-| G|----------------------------------------| D|----------------------------------------| A|----------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------| x2 e|----------------------------------------| B|-t18p12-18p12-t18p12-18p12-t18p12-18p12-| G|----------------------------------------| D|----------------------------------------| A|----------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------| x2 e|----------------------------------------| B|-t17p12-17p12-t17p12-17p12-t17p12-17p12-| G|----------------------------------------| D|----------------------------------------| A|----------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------| x2 e|----------------------------------------| B|-t18p12-18p12-t18p12-18p12-t18p12-18p12-| G|----------------------------------------| D|----------------------------------------| A|----------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------| e|----------------------------------------| B|-t17p12-17p12-t17p12-17p12-t17p12-17p12-| G|----------------------------------------| D|----------------------------------------| A|----------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------| e|----------------------------------------| B|-t18p12-18p12-t18p12-18p12-t18p12-18p12-| G|----------------------------------------| D|----------------------------------------| A|----------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------| e|----------------------------------------| B|-t17p12-17p12-t17p12-17p12-t17p12-17p12-| G|----------------------------------------| D|----------------------------------------| A|----------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------| e|----------------------------------------| B|-t18p12-18p12-t18p12-18p12-t18p12-18p12-| G|----------------------------------------| D|----------------------------------------| A|----------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------| e|---------------------------------| B|-14b16--14-14--12-12^--14-14--12-| G|-14b16--14-14--12-12^--14-14--12-| D|---------------------------------| A|---------------------------------| E|---------------------------------| e|------------------------------------------| B|-12-14-12----12-14-12----12----12-14-12~--| G|-12-14-12-14-12-14-12-14-12-14-12-14-12~--| D|----------14----------14----14------------| A|------------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------------| End Solo Riff 10 e|-------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------| ---| A|-------------------------------------------------| | E|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-3-2-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-3-| | * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * | "Blackmail the universe..." |--> Play 3x e|-------------------------------------------------| | B|-------------------------------------------------| | G|-------------------------------------------------| | D|-------------------------------------------------| ---| A|-------------------------------2-3-5-3-2---------| E|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-5-3-2-3-5-----------5-3-2-0-| * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "...greatest of calamities..." e|-------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------| A|-----------------------------------------5-------| E|-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-6-5-5-5-5-8-5-7-8---8-7-5-| * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Lawful possessor..." e|-------------------------| B|-------------------------| G|-------------------------| D|-------------------------| A|-------------------------| E|-1-1-1-1-4-1-1-3-4-3-2-1-| * * * * * * * * * * * * "...the world's last 24 hours!" Play Riff 9 Solo Rhythm Solo (Mustaine) e|------------------------------12--------------------| B|-15b17~--15p12-15b17~-------12---15------12---------| G|-----------------------12h13--------12h13--14b16r14-| D|----------------------------------------------------| A|----------------------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------------------| e|----------------------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------------------------------| G|-16\14-13\10----------------------------------------------| D|-------------12-11-10-9/11--------------------------------| A|---------------------------14-13-12-11----11-------11-----| E|---------------------------------------13----13-12----12\-| e|-7-------4-7/10--------7-10/13----------10-13/16----------13-16/-| B|-------6-------------9---------------12----------------15--------| G|---4h7----------7h10-----------10h13-------------13h16-----------| D|-----------------------------------------------------------------| A|-----------------------------------------------------------------| E|-----------------------------------------------------------------| NOTE: Heavy whammy bar dipping and vibrato on first note: e|---------------------------------------| B|-15~----(15~)----(15~)----(15~)----17~-| G|---------------------------------------| D|---------------------------------------| A|---------------------------------------| E|---------------------------------------| End Solo Riff 10a Guitar 1 e|-------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------| ---| A|-------------------------------------------------| | E|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-3-2-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-3-| | * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * | "Terror and ugliness..." |--> Play 3x e|-------------------------------------------------| | B|-------------------------------------------------| | G|-------------------------------------------------| | D|-------------------------------------------------| ---| A|-------------------------------2-3-5-3-2---------| E|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-5-3-2-3-5-----------5-3-2-0-| * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "...reveal what death..." e|-------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------| A|-----------------------------------------5-------| E|-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7-6-5-5-5-5-8-5-7-8---8-7-5-| * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "All along only..." e|---------------------------| B|---------------------------| G|---------------------------| D|---------------------------| A|-------------------------2-| E|-1-1-1-1-4-1-1-3-4-3-2-1-0-| * * * * * * * * * * * * "...another region of hell!" Guitar 2 x2 e|---------------------| B|---------------------| G|---------------------| D|-9----10---11----12--| A|-7-----8----9----10--| E|---------------------| e|-------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------| D|-9----10---11----12----13----14---10----9\-| A|-7-----8----9----10----11----12----8----7\-| E|-------------------------------------------| Notation: 10^ = bend a quarter step. 10b11 = bend a half step. 10b12 = bend a full step. 10b12r10 = bend and release. [10]12 = pre-bend. [10]12r10 = pre-bend and release. {14} = pick the 14th fret while holding the most previous bend. <17> = touch the string above the 17th fret while previous note(s) is(are) still ringing. 10b13* = tremolo bar bend, from the 10th fret to the 13th fret. 7d4* = tremolo bar dive, from the 7th fret to the 4th fret. 12~* = tremolo bar vibrato. x = mute with fret-hand * = palm mute X\\ = pick slide h = hammer-on p = pull-off ~ = vibrato t = finger tap / = slide up \ = slide down h. = natural harmonics a = artificial harmonics (9) = ghost note tm = trem picking tr = trill