Chords for Polar Music Prize interview with Robert Trujillo of Metallica
Tempo:
108.2 bpm
Chords used:
F
F#
B
E
Tuning:Standard Tuning (EADGBE)Capo:+0fret
Start Jamming...
and I play with the band Metallica.
Can you tell me a bit about why does Jaco mean so much to you and how has he influenced your playing?
Well, Jaco is the one bass player that represented attitude and edge.
So when I saw him play as a teenager, the thing that I was most captivated by was
the fact that he really did bring the bass to the forefront.
And he was also a great composer.
So as a composer and as a performer on stage within a genre of music
that I think you were supposed to really be more subdued and just kind of hold it down in the back.
This guy was bringing it out to the front and he was making a statement.
And at that time, in around 1979, 1980, you know, there was a mystique to a lot of these performers.
You would hear about them and you would hear their music,
but you didn't always know a lot about them because we didn't have the Internet.
So you couldn't just go on your computer and find out exactly who they were.
You had to really discover these musicians.
And Jaco represented, he kind of opened the doors for me and let me know that it's OK to be who you want to be
as a performer and as a composer with the bass.
And he had such a unique sound.
And even when I saw the first photo of him, I think it was on the Heavy Weather album,
he just looked, I couldn't even figure out what nationality he was because he looked so wild and exotic.
And then when I saw him on stage at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium,
you know, he reminded me a lot of my surfer skateboarder friends from Venice and Santa Monica.
You know, a lot of the older [F#] guys that were really cool.
So I was just like, this guy is really cool.
And then as time went on, I met his family back in 1995, 1996, around that time.
And we became really great friends.
And then I sort of inherited the project and then I ended up becoming the producer.
And I, you know, it became my baby, so to speak.
And here we are now.
Well, for Metallica, you know, number one, again, we go back to Jaco and the edge and the attitude.
In order to play in this band, you've got to have that.
That's one of the most important things.
You can be an incredible player, but when you get on stage, you've got to be yourself.
And you've got to bring it, as we say, and that just means give 120%.
Because it is a gig that requires a lot of energy.
And there's an intensity in the music that sort of carries you [F] through the show
and turns you into maybe somebody [B] that you aren't normally in your day-to-day casual existence.
So that's a lot of fun.
But at the same time, there's a groove factor.
And I also go back to Jaco Pastorius because it was always about the groove.
So no matter what he was playing, whether it was a ballad or a bebop song or something really funky,
there was always the groove.
And it's the same thing in Metallica.
I always say James Hetfield is one of the best drummers in the world on his guitar
because he is really a groove machine with that instrument.
And it's an unusual combination of players, but it works.
Everybody's unique and different in their own way.
And we come together and we do what we do.
And I think it's what the crowd feels when they see us or when they hear our music.
The new album, to me, is interesting because I feel a very powerful presence
actually in the rhythm section on this record, which is really exciting to me.
[F] What does it feel like performing on stage?
That's hard to describe.
The closest thing I can describe it to is I love surfing and riding a wave
and getting what we call a barrel or a tube is one of those [E] feelings.
It's an automatic sensation.
I just feel so great.
It's that, you know.
And sometimes I start laughing because I'm feeding off the crowd and it makes me so happy.
So there you go.
It takes a long time to get that kind of energy from your fan base.
And we've been very fortunate all these years.
But Metallica's worked hard for that.
Can you tell me a bit about why does Jaco mean so much to you and how has he influenced your playing?
Well, Jaco is the one bass player that represented attitude and edge.
So when I saw him play as a teenager, the thing that I was most captivated by was
the fact that he really did bring the bass to the forefront.
And he was also a great composer.
So as a composer and as a performer on stage within a genre of music
that I think you were supposed to really be more subdued and just kind of hold it down in the back.
This guy was bringing it out to the front and he was making a statement.
And at that time, in around 1979, 1980, you know, there was a mystique to a lot of these performers.
You would hear about them and you would hear their music,
but you didn't always know a lot about them because we didn't have the Internet.
So you couldn't just go on your computer and find out exactly who they were.
You had to really discover these musicians.
And Jaco represented, he kind of opened the doors for me and let me know that it's OK to be who you want to be
as a performer and as a composer with the bass.
And he had such a unique sound.
And even when I saw the first photo of him, I think it was on the Heavy Weather album,
he just looked, I couldn't even figure out what nationality he was because he looked so wild and exotic.
And then when I saw him on stage at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium,
you know, he reminded me a lot of my surfer skateboarder friends from Venice and Santa Monica.
You know, a lot of the older [F#] guys that were really cool.
So I was just like, this guy is really cool.
And then as time went on, I met his family back in 1995, 1996, around that time.
And we became really great friends.
And then I sort of inherited the project and then I ended up becoming the producer.
And I, you know, it became my baby, so to speak.
And here we are now.
Well, for Metallica, you know, number one, again, we go back to Jaco and the edge and the attitude.
In order to play in this band, you've got to have that.
That's one of the most important things.
You can be an incredible player, but when you get on stage, you've got to be yourself.
And you've got to bring it, as we say, and that just means give 120%.
Because it is a gig that requires a lot of energy.
And there's an intensity in the music that sort of carries you [F] through the show
and turns you into maybe somebody [B] that you aren't normally in your day-to-day casual existence.
So that's a lot of fun.
But at the same time, there's a groove factor.
And I also go back to Jaco Pastorius because it was always about the groove.
So no matter what he was playing, whether it was a ballad or a bebop song or something really funky,
there was always the groove.
And it's the same thing in Metallica.
I always say James Hetfield is one of the best drummers in the world on his guitar
because he is really a groove machine with that instrument.
And it's an unusual combination of players, but it works.
Everybody's unique and different in their own way.
And we come together and we do what we do.
And I think it's what the crowd feels when they see us or when they hear our music.
The new album, to me, is interesting because I feel a very powerful presence
actually in the rhythm section on this record, which is really exciting to me.
[F] What does it feel like performing on stage?
That's hard to describe.
The closest thing I can describe it to is I love surfing and riding a wave
and getting what we call a barrel or a tube is one of those [E] feelings.
It's an automatic sensation.
I just feel so great.
It's that, you know.
And sometimes I start laughing because I'm feeding off the crowd and it makes me so happy.
So there you go.
It takes a long time to get that kind of energy from your fan base.
And we've been very fortunate all these years.
But Metallica's worked hard for that.
Key:
F
F#
B
E
F
F#
B
E
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
and I play with the band Metallica.
Can you tell me a bit about _ why does Jaco mean so much to you and how has he influenced your playing?
Well, Jaco _ is _ _ the one bass player that represented attitude and edge.
So when I saw him play as a teenager, _ the thing that I was most captivated by was
the fact that he really did bring the bass to the forefront.
_ And he was also a great composer.
So as a composer and as a performer on stage within a genre of music
that I think you were supposed to really be more subdued and just kind of hold it down in the back.
This guy was bringing it out to the front and he was making a statement.
And at that time, in around 1979, 1980, _ _ you know, there was a mystique to a lot of these performers.
You would hear about them and you would hear their music,
but you didn't always know a lot about them because we didn't have the Internet.
So you couldn't just go on your computer and find out _ exactly who they were.
You had to really _ discover these musicians.
And Jaco represented, _ he kind of opened the doors for me and let me know that it's OK to be who you want to be
as a performer and as a composer with the bass.
And he had such a unique sound.
And even when I saw the first photo of him, I think it was on the Heavy Weather album,
he just looked, I couldn't even figure out what nationality he was because he looked so wild and exotic.
And then when I saw him on stage at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium,
_ you know, he reminded me a lot of my surfer skateboarder friends from Venice and Santa Monica.
You know, a lot of the older [F#] guys that were really cool.
So I was just like, this guy is really cool.
And then as time went on, I met his family back in _ 1995, 1996, around that time.
And we became really great friends.
And then I sort of _ inherited the project and then I ended up becoming the producer.
And I, you know, _ _ it became my baby, so to speak.
And here we are now. _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ Well, for Metallica, you know, number one, again, we go back to Jaco and the edge and the attitude.
In order to play in this band, you've got to have that. _
_ That's one of the most important things.
You can be an incredible player, but when you get on stage, you've got to be yourself.
And you've got to bring it, as we say, and that just means give 120%.
Because it is a gig that requires a lot of energy.
And there's an intensity in the music that sort of carries you [F] through the show
and turns you into maybe somebody [B] that you aren't normally in your day-to-day casual existence.
So that's a lot of fun.
But at the same time, there's a groove factor.
And I also go back to Jaco Pastorius because it was always about the groove.
So no matter what he was playing, whether it was a ballad or a bebop song or something really funky,
there was always the groove.
And it's the same thing in Metallica.
I always say James Hetfield is one of the best drummers in the world on his guitar
_ because he _ _ _ is really a groove machine with that instrument.
_ And it's an unusual combination of players, but it works.
Everybody's unique and different in their own way. _
And we come together and we do what we do.
And I think it's what the crowd feels when they see us or when they hear our music.
The new album, to me, is interesting because I feel a very powerful _ presence
actually in the rhythm section on this record, which is really exciting to me.
[F] What does it feel like performing on stage? _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ That's hard to describe. _ _
The closest thing I can describe it to is I love surfing and riding a wave
and getting what we call a barrel or a tube is one of those [E] feelings.
It's an automatic _ sensation.
I just feel so great.
It's that, you know.
And sometimes I start laughing because I'm feeding off the crowd and it makes me so happy.
So there you go.
It _ takes a long time to get that kind of energy from your fan base.
And we've been very fortunate all these years.
But Metallica's worked hard for that. _ _ _
and I play with the band Metallica.
Can you tell me a bit about _ why does Jaco mean so much to you and how has he influenced your playing?
Well, Jaco _ is _ _ the one bass player that represented attitude and edge.
So when I saw him play as a teenager, _ the thing that I was most captivated by was
the fact that he really did bring the bass to the forefront.
_ And he was also a great composer.
So as a composer and as a performer on stage within a genre of music
that I think you were supposed to really be more subdued and just kind of hold it down in the back.
This guy was bringing it out to the front and he was making a statement.
And at that time, in around 1979, 1980, _ _ you know, there was a mystique to a lot of these performers.
You would hear about them and you would hear their music,
but you didn't always know a lot about them because we didn't have the Internet.
So you couldn't just go on your computer and find out _ exactly who they were.
You had to really _ discover these musicians.
And Jaco represented, _ he kind of opened the doors for me and let me know that it's OK to be who you want to be
as a performer and as a composer with the bass.
And he had such a unique sound.
And even when I saw the first photo of him, I think it was on the Heavy Weather album,
he just looked, I couldn't even figure out what nationality he was because he looked so wild and exotic.
And then when I saw him on stage at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium,
_ you know, he reminded me a lot of my surfer skateboarder friends from Venice and Santa Monica.
You know, a lot of the older [F#] guys that were really cool.
So I was just like, this guy is really cool.
And then as time went on, I met his family back in _ 1995, 1996, around that time.
And we became really great friends.
And then I sort of _ inherited the project and then I ended up becoming the producer.
And I, you know, _ _ it became my baby, so to speak.
And here we are now. _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ Well, for Metallica, you know, number one, again, we go back to Jaco and the edge and the attitude.
In order to play in this band, you've got to have that. _
_ That's one of the most important things.
You can be an incredible player, but when you get on stage, you've got to be yourself.
And you've got to bring it, as we say, and that just means give 120%.
Because it is a gig that requires a lot of energy.
And there's an intensity in the music that sort of carries you [F] through the show
and turns you into maybe somebody [B] that you aren't normally in your day-to-day casual existence.
So that's a lot of fun.
But at the same time, there's a groove factor.
And I also go back to Jaco Pastorius because it was always about the groove.
So no matter what he was playing, whether it was a ballad or a bebop song or something really funky,
there was always the groove.
And it's the same thing in Metallica.
I always say James Hetfield is one of the best drummers in the world on his guitar
_ because he _ _ _ is really a groove machine with that instrument.
_ And it's an unusual combination of players, but it works.
Everybody's unique and different in their own way. _
And we come together and we do what we do.
And I think it's what the crowd feels when they see us or when they hear our music.
The new album, to me, is interesting because I feel a very powerful _ presence
actually in the rhythm section on this record, which is really exciting to me.
[F] What does it feel like performing on stage? _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ That's hard to describe. _ _
The closest thing I can describe it to is I love surfing and riding a wave
and getting what we call a barrel or a tube is one of those [E] feelings.
It's an automatic _ sensation.
I just feel so great.
It's that, you know.
And sometimes I start laughing because I'm feeding off the crowd and it makes me so happy.
So there you go.
It _ takes a long time to get that kind of energy from your fan base.
And we've been very fortunate all these years.
But Metallica's worked hard for that. _ _ _