How to Play Closing Time by Semisonic
How to Play Closing Time by Semisonic
Hey guys, Brad Litton from SimpleGuitar.com. This is the write-up of my YouTube lesson on Closing Time by Semisonic — power chords, the verse/chorus rhythm, the keyboard parts on guitar, the bridge, and the octave solo.
I started playing this back when I first started guitar. Late '90s, huge song, I loved it.
Grab the tab: simpleguitar.com/closingtime
The Power Chords You Need
Three-string power chords. This is the fundamental basis of the verse and the chorus:
- G — root on the sixth string: 3–5–5 (first finger on 3 of the sixth, third finger on 5 of the fifth, pinky on 5 of the fourth)
- D — root on the fifth string: first finger on 5, then 7 and 7 on the fourth and third strings
- A — shift: 5–7 on the sixth string (and the matching fifth-string note)
- C — on the fifth string: 3–5–5, just like the G shape moved over
G, D, A, C. That's it for verse and chorus.
We'll use different chords in the bridge. For the guitar solo, a different G and D, then A: G up at 10 on the fifth string and 12 on the third and fourth (I bar those with my third finger), then D on 10 and 12 of the sixth string, then down to 5 and 7 for A.
Time Signature and Strumming
The pattern mixes eighth notes and 16th notes. It is not a hard, same-every-measure pattern. Use your ear for the small details.
Get this down first: eighth-note downstrokes. Two chords per measure: G for two beats (four strums), D for two beats (four strums), then A two beats, C two beats, repeat. Count 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and.
That doesn't sound like the record yet. Add upstroke 16ths. 16ths split each eighth in two — four notes per beat. Count 1 e and a.
The rhythm I teach: 1 and 2 and-a 3 and 4 and-a (and you'll hear 3 e and in places). The hardest part is getting used to that count. Keep the motion in your wrist, and only play the three strings of the power chord.
Pause and practice that before the chorus.
Chorus
Same four chords, same progression. Add distortion. (In the video I'm using a Bad Cat Hot Cat for clean and a modified Marshall JCM800 for dirt.)
Strumming changes: 1 2 and-a 3 and-a 4 and-a (with some measures a little different — watch the video). Muted / chunky strums. To mute, lay your first finger lightly across all the strings.
That's most of the choruses. Final chorus: don't worry about the lead. Just strum. Go wild.
Keyboard / Piano Part (Intro and Verse)
Handy if your band doesn't have a keys player. Key of G.
Use this G: seventh fret third string, eighth fret second string, seventh fret first string. We're mostly worried about the first and second strings. Alternate first string, second string.
First finger on 7, second finger on 8 of the second string. Pinky down on 10 of the first string, lift off to 7. Then third finger on 8 of the first string, take it off. That's the figure. It pops back up later too, including the end.
Bridge Chords
The bridge shifts gears. Strings on the record — most bands won't have strings, so here's what you can play.
Power chords, half a measure each (I just do half notes):
- B-flat — 6–8–8 on the sixth string
- A-flat — 4–6–6
- Slide up to E-flat — 11–13
- Down to C — 8–10
Play that three times, then back into G D A C. I palm mute eighth notes while it builds. On the final C, kick on distortion and go into the solo.
Bridge Keyboard Lead
Six notes: on the second string 8 (first finger), 9 (second), 11 (pinky). On the first string 8 (first), 10 (third), 11 (pinky).
Start with 11 on the second string, then 9 on the second, 11 on that string, over to the first string on 8, then 11. Come back down: 10, then 8, then back to the second string 11, then 8 and 11. That's the whole thing — get the rhythm from the video.
Since the chord progression happens three times, play the lead three times. Last time, end on 8 of the second string and go straight into the verse figure. Build into the guitar solo.
Guitar Solo
Octaves and power chords. Octaves on the fifth string and third string together. First finger and pinky (or first and third). Mute the fourth string in between with your first finger so we don't hear it.
Starts on the C (third fret of the fifth string), climb to D on 5, up to E on 7, then all the way up to 10. Then the G, D, and A power chords in the new positions: 10 and 12 for G, down to D, down to A.
Second half of the solo: same idea starting on E (7). Play 7, 9, 10, 14, and 16. Then the same chords.
After the solo: a tiny verse (a couple of lines, same as before), they hold out, distortion back on for the final chorus. At the very end they repeat the guitar solo again, then a bit of verse material, and end on G.
Full Song Structure
- Intro (keyboard figure on guitar)
- Verse — G D A C, cleaner rhythm
- Chorus — same chords, distortion, muted chunks
- Verse / chorus as on the record
- Bridge — Bb, Ab, Eb, C (three times) + optional keyboard lead, then palm-muted G D A C into the solo
- Solo — octaves, then G D A shapes up the neck; second pass starts on E
- Short verse, hold, final chorus (just strum)
- Solo figure returns; end on G
Play along with the recording on the video. Kick clean and dirty like I do.
Practice Tips
- Nail G D A C as power chords before the 16ths.
- Wrist only. Three strings only.
- Grab the tab: simpleguitar.com/closingtime
If you want a simple place to start, grab my free Top 10 Things to Learn on Guitar First at http://simpleguitar.com/top10.
And hang out with other adult guitar players in the Simple Guitar Facebook group: http://facebook.com/groups/simpleguitar.
About the Author
Brad from Simple Guitar helps adult learners play the songs they love without the frustration. Visit simpleguitar.com for more free resources and lessons.
