"Excavation" Tabs Pack: Rock Phrasing and Tapping Firepower

Welcome to the “Excavation” guitar tabs pack. One thing I’ve always admired about Paul Gilbert is the way he talks about his songs—not just as finished tracks, but as collections of ideas that genuinely excite him. That mindset rubbed off on me when writing this piece. It’s full of unexpected turns, rhythmic pushes and pulls, and phrases that still feel fresh every time I revisit them.

At its core, “Excavation” is a fast-paced rock track built on adrenaline and attitude—cut from the same cloth as Deep Purple’s “Burn” and Guns N’ Roses’ “Right Next Door to Hell.” It’s got that relentless forward motion, where the riffs don’t just support the song—they drive it. The guitar work stays in the hard rock zone, with tapping runs, gritty phrasing, and rhythmic curveballs that echo the spirit of tracks like “Hot for Teacher” or “Romeo Delight” by Van Halen. It’s not just about shredding for the sake of speed—it’s about channeling momentum and character into every note.

Right from the intro, I was lucky to have the amazing Charles Berthoud on bass, trading off lines and stretching the harmony. That section was a direct nod to the interplay of Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan in Mr. Big—especially their killer performance on “Addicted to That Rush.” That kind of guitar-bass dialogue shaped how this piece took form. You’ll also notice a long instrumental break built on tight, syncopated unison riffs between guitar and bass—that’s a tribute to Extreme’s “Cupid’s Dead”, one of my favorite examples of groove-laced heaviness done right.

As for featured moments—first up is the chromatic tapping lick, a wild, fluid phrase rooted in two-hand tapping with chromatic runs woven in. The inspiration came partly from Bumblefoot’s Abnormal and Reb Beach’s quirky tapping language. I tried to give it my own spin, letting the chromatics bend the line into something dreamlike but grounded—chaotic in shape, but still lyrical in effect.

Then comes the solo after the chorus, where it’s all about feel. Double stops, slides, blues licks, and gritty vibrato carry the weight here. I encourage you to let it get a little messy—in a good way. Let that low E string rumble behind the fretted notes and don’t worry about keeping things squeaky clean. That dirt adds honesty and character, which is what this section leans on the most.

Lastly, the F# solo stretches things out with bluesy shapes up front before launching into a tapping sequence over a D5 chord. The line flips into the D whole tone scale—a choice that lifted the energy and added a jolt of unpredictability. That sudden key shift was a nod to Guns N' Roses’ “Shotgun Blues”, which I always loved for its bold, no-rules attitude. There’s also a small technical tip in that part: I use my picking-hand ring finger to pluck certain notes when going up the tapping run. It’s a trick I picked up from Reb Beach that helps keep fast lines connected across strings.

This bundle includes one full tab synced with the original audio of “Excavation,” so you can follow every detail as it was played. On top of that, there are three bonus tabs that break down key featured sections, each paired with a home-made video. These highlight some of the more unique licks and techniques—from gritty blues phrasing to wild chromatic tapping—to give you focused snapshots of the song’s DNA. There’s also a backing track for guitar included in the bundle, so you can jam along and develop your own take on the parts. Whether you're tightening up your timing or experimenting with phrasing, having the full track behind you makes it easier to feel how everything fits together.

There’s no talking, no step-by-step lessons—just straight playing, synced tabs, and performance-focused breakdowns. If you ever feel stuck or want a bit more context on a lick or section, feel free to reach out. I’m happy to help however I can.

This is not an easy song—it’s meant to challenge. But the goal isn’t to play everything perfectly. Instead, try to find that one lick or idea that sparks something in your own playing. Adapt it, bend it, twist it into something that feels like you. That’s where the good stuff happens.