the devil smiles
guitar pro tab
&
sheet music
the
devil smiles
guitar pro tab
&
sheet music
Hey, rugrats. Discord Admin Meepus here.
I have dreams, you know.
When I was just a boy, far before I moved over to Australia, I loved rhythm games. More specifically, those ones with the plastic instruments. There was just something about that experience.
Cheering crowds, face-melting guitar solos, explosions of colors, gold stars, triple-digit percentages that told little Meepus “you are literally perfect.”
I was a living room superstar.
Also a world record holder!
courtesy of Guinness World Records 2017 Gamer's Edition
That love of the genre, as well as my passion for music, led to me buying an actual instrument.
A cheap acoustic guitar - flaky white finish, buzzy low E string, action so high that made me wonder if the strings were trying to leap off to try and find a more comfortable home.
But like Kurt Cobain rocking thrift store guitars, I wouldn’t let quality get in my way of my first real dream: becoming a rock star.
Unfortunately, to my surprise, going from five colored plastic buttons to six steel strings and 20+ frets was not a smooth transition.
Still, after a handful of instructional videos teaching me the most basic of basics (names of the strings, pick-holding etiquette, how to strum, scales [which, even in the most basic of terms, I could not and do not comprehend]), I wanted to start down the path of stardom.
So, I took to Google.
Google told me that I should learn Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl”.
I hadn’t heard that song in several years, but if Google was telling me that it was a beginner song then surely I could figure it out quickly.
I clicked the provided link and saw the main chords: G, C, and D, at which point I realized that I had no idea what chords were.
I returned to the instructional videos, this time learning some of the basic chords. I even learned what a D7 is, which was helpful because that happened to be the little surprise Van Morrison threw into his biggest hit, a much more digestible surprise than the questionable and concerning ones on his latest record, but like the G, C, and D chords, we’ll keep it simple here.
However, even with my new knowledge of chords, I couldn’t really grasp how to line up what I was playing to what the record was playing.
Due to my rhythm game background, I struggled to know when to play what without the visual companion. I also just didn’t really give a damn about Van Morrison.
Bent but not broken, I returned to Google.
The results were pretty much the same, but something different caught my eye this time: “Wonderwall” by Oasis.
A timeless tune, played all over the world by wannabe singer/songwriters, much to the dismay of nearly everyone in the vicinity. More importantly, a song I actually knew by heart.
This was exactly what I needed to push through my beginner’s ignorance.
Once again, I clicked the provided link and was greeted by some eldritch horrors known only as Em7, Dsus4, A7sus4, and Cadd9.
I promptly said, “Fuck this,” and went back to playing Guitar Hero, where I could play all the hits without getting calluses and all the virtual people would love me for it.
And now, so many years later, I am here, the same distance from my dream as I was all those years ago.
Sure, life’s about adjusting dreams, so of course I’ve got some new ones. Nevertheless, there’s always that first dream.
Through The Devil Smiles, I am ready for another chance to live that dream.
For better or worse, nepotism is a trend these days, and just like that one unfortunate week we all referred to things as “very demure,” I’m ready to hop right on this trend while I still can.
Because, y’know, I do work for Under the Rug. I don’t just have access to their audience, I have access to them. I have a way into becoming a rock star.
To make them consider having me fill that admittedly cursed fourth spot in the band... all it takes is one performance.
One undeniable vocal display, one soulful guitar rendition, one musical triumph.
And as scary as taking a chance like this can be, the narrator of The Devil Smiles faced a whole lot of change that was making them afraid, but if there’s one thing we can all take away from that song, it’s this:
Oh, bring it on, what will be!
Plus, the chords for this song are, like, super easy. I totally got this.
With that said, please gather ‘round to witness my star-making performance.
Well, there goes that dream.
Thankfully, I am at least capable of doing other things, such as drawing up some tablature/sheet music for songs, which is exactly what I’ve done for The Devil Smiles!
If you’ve made it this far, there’s a fair chance you want me to shut up. However, that is not something I’m capable of, so you’ll have to bear with me as I run through three (and a half*) things that interested me about this track.
If you’re not into that, I’ll show you some mercy by telling you that you can scroll to the bottom of this page to get a download link to a Guitar Pro tab and sheet music for The Devil Smiles.
For the true fans, read on for a mini deep dive into the track!
There's a fucking banjo
It’s true.
For all the rats out there who yearned for more banjo after the curious instrument made a brief appearance on happiness is easy, you’ve got your wish. Were you able to make it out?
It shows up momentarily during the short chorus - a plucky tease - before appearing again in the extended chorus, blending in with the barrage of building instruments so well that I originally thought it was part of the guitar track.
If you’re having trouble making it out, check out this clip where I’ve turned down all the tracks and boosted the banjo, playing along to sheet music of the instrument, because of course I tabbed this secret staple of the song!
snaresnaresnaresnaresnaresnare
Going through these separated tracks, I couldn’t help but remember this message from The Rat Chat’s very own Tara:
The song as a whole has an interesting rhythm, built around triplets that appear on nearly every instrument’s sheet music (and as seen in the banjo clip above).
Brendan’s drums play a major part in that feeling, but hearing them on their own really brought out his playing, especially how much he’s working the snare during the verses.
So you can get a better idea of it, I’ve isolated the drum track from the beginning through to the return to the verse in this audio clip:
Wildly correct, indeed!
The Finer Points of the Guitar
While the tab for the acoustic guitar is correct (including strumming patterns), there are some intricacies that were left out just for the sake of convenience and readability.
If you’re hardcore and want to play your guitar along to the record as accurately as possible, watch the following short video where I’ll get you a bit closer to doing just that.
Don’t worry, I won’t sing this time.
And that is The Devil Smiles!
I hope happiness found you (and for as low as five bucks a month, no blind dealing required!) during this write-up. Finally, you can click the button below to get access to the goods.
Hey Meepus! I love your determination, focus and ability to take UTR songs, break them down and articulate part of what makes the music so unique and complex. I love how there are often so many layers and such a variety of instruments that are sometimes almost hidden within the song but each one enhances it. Brilliant
Thank you for doing this and for everything you do for the band and this community. I’m glad you are here, my friend
You’re the best Meepus! Can’t wait to watch these videos, but I’m sneak reading at work and Can’t listen yet. ❤️
Thanks also for sharing your early “wanna be a rock star” dream. Also your gaming record! WOW
Also, thanks Lyd for supporting Meepus in this venture. You’re an adorable couple and both are integral parts of this Rugrat community and help make our discord membership experience feel like the family that it is
wowwww meepus look at you stealing MY job – jk friend this is amazing thank you