Mercyful Fate - Into The Coven

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Apr 03

Mercyful Fate - Into The Coven

This is the first of the "Learn To Play" articles where we look a little more in depth at a song, or a particular riff and will teach you how to play it, the sort of effects to use and explain the tab itself. I will kick this off with a look at Mercyful Fate’s "Into The Coven".

Into The Coven is taken from Mercyful Fate’s 1983 album "Melissa". The songs fades in with an acoustic riff that is quickly accompanied by a melodic overdriven solo.

The acoustic part requires nothing special. They are simple arpeggiated chords, followed with an F G C octave at the end of the first 2 bars. Play the octave part with a pinching style - like you were nipping at the strings - as opposed to muting the middle string. The electric enters on the second bar.

E |--------------------(2-0)-------------------------|
B |-------------------------3---------------6--8-----|
G |------5-----4-----0--0-4--------5-----4--------5--|
D |----5-----5-----2-------------5-----5----3--5-----|
A |--3-----2-----3-------------3-----2------------3--|
E |--------------------------------------------------|

This section is played in the same way - probably using the thumb to pick the lower string, and the first finger to attack the B and G string. Again, use a sort of pinch motion and a slight palm mute to give definition to the notes.

0:25

E |-------------------------------------------------|
B |---1---3----0---1-----------1--1-1---3--3-3------|
G |-------------------1--1-1------------------------|
D |-------------------------------------------------|
A |---0--------2---0-----------3--3-3---2--2-2------|
E |-------3-----------0--0-0------------------------|

E |-------------------------------------------------|
B |--5--5-5-----------------------------------------|
G |----------1--1-1--4--4-5-7----9--9-9---2-2--2-2--|
D |-------------------------------------------------|
A |--3--3-3----------2--2-3-5----7--7-7---0-0--0-0--|
E |----------0--0-0---------------------------------|

The last note is sustained along with the electric part as the main riff opens up

E |-----------------------------|
B |--3-3-0-0---1--1--0---0--1---|
G |--------------------1----2---|
D |--0-0---------2--------------|
A |------2-2---3-----2------0---|
E |-----------------------------|

The Electric part, as mentioned previously, enters on the second bar. Play this with the neck pickup to give you more tone and add a touch of overdrive. Don’t drown out the notes because this is a fairly clean passage where the notes are distinguishable. It sounds a little like a wah in a fixed position - but just experiment to fine tune your setup to the track.

Intro Melody ~0:08

E |-12-13-15-13-12---------------------------------------|
B |----------------15-13~----12-13-15-13h15p13-12--------|
G |-----------------------------------------------14-12~-|
D |------------------------------------------------------|
A |------------------------------------------------------|
E |------------------------------------------------------|

E |--------------------------------------------------|
B |-------13-12--------------------------------------|
G |-12-14-------14-12--------------------------------|
D |-------------------15-14-14--15-14h15p14----------|
A |----------------------------------------17-15-15~-|
E |--------------------------------------------------|

E |-------------------12--12-13-12h13p12---------|
B |-/13-----15--------------------------15-13-12-|
G |-----12-----12-12-----------------------------|
D |----------------------------------------------|
A |----------------------------------------------|
E |----------------------------------------------|

E |--------------------------------------|
B |-13--------15---------12-13--12--13~-|
G |----12-12-----12-12-------------------|
D |--------------------------------------|
A |--------------------------------------|
E |--------------------------------------|

E |-----5--------------------------------------|
B |-------8--6-5---5-6-5h6p5-------------------|
G |-4-5----------7-----------7--5-4--4-4h5p4---|
D |------------------------------------------7-|
A |--------------------------------------------|
E |--------------------------------------------|

The tempo slows slightly here. Make sure the bends are really smooth and follow the tempo to get the best effect

~0:17

E |----------------------------------------------|
B |----------------------------------------------|
G |----------------------------------------------|
D |-6-6-6-7-9/10-10-10/14-14-14-12-12-14^r-14-14-|
A |----------------------------------------------|
E |----------------------------------------------|

E |---------------------------------------------|
B |-------------------12-12~---12-13-12h13p12---|
G |-14-14-14-13------------------------------14-|
D |-------------14-14---------------------------|
A |---------------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------|

E |---------------------------------------------|
B |-------12-13-12----12-13-12-13-15-15^^r-15^r-|
G |-13-14----------14---------------------------|
D |---------------------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------|

E |---------------------------------------------|
B |--13-15-15--13-12-12--13-15-13p15p13--12-13--|
G |---------------------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------|

E |---------------------------------------|
B |-13h15p13p12----12-13p12---------------|
G |-------------14----------14~-----------|
D |---------------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------|

The acoustic exits here, and the main riff opens up, with one final awesome lick from the overdriven guitar. Play the vibrato smoothly and hold the B and C (7th & 8th fret) on the high E string with a slight vibrato to help with the sustain. I actually play the first 8h10 as a slide just to keep it smooth - and to really drive into the riff.

~0:51

E |-------------8------7h8-7~~-----8~~~---/12--10tr12-|
B |-8h10~--8-10---10~---------------------------------|
G |---------------------------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------------------------|

The main riff opens up here with a thicker tone, but still not screaming on distortion. This guitar should be set to the bridge pickup, but cut back on a little bass, add in some mid range, and some slight compression. It works for me - but again, experiment to get your setup to sound like the track.

Riff 1~ 0:51 / 2:05 / 3:59 / 4:18

E |-----------------------------------|
B |-----------------------------------|
G |-----------------5-----------5-5-4-|
D |-7-----7-----5-7-5-7-----7---5-5-5-|
A |-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0---0-0-0-0-0-------|
E |-----------------------------------|

E |--------------------------|
B |--------------------------|
G |-----4-----4---5----------|
D |-----5-----5---3-----5--7-|
A |-0-0---0-0---0---0-0-3--5-|
E |--------------------------|

This is played through 4 times and then the following riff is played. After guitar 2 finishes, the main riffs are doubled up for a fuller sound.

Riff 2 ~1:18

E |-------------------------|
B |-------------------------|
G |-------------------------|
D |-10-7-7--5-7-5-7-7-7-8-8-|
A |--8-5-5--3-5-3-5-5-5-6-6-|
E |-------------------------|

E |------------------------|
B |------------------------|
G |------------------------|
D |-10-7-7--5-7-5-7-8-9-10-|
A |--8-5-5--3-5-3-5-6-7--8-|
E |------------------------|

King Diamond (vocals) enters here and riff 1 is played twice before riff 3 and the chorus to lead into the next solo.
Palm mute the F# (2nd fret, low E) and aim for that chugging sound. Ben Eggleston (Eggy) did a good video (Stunt Guitar) lesson on this - so if you have any troubles - have a look at that.

Riff 3 ~1:38 / 2:18 / 4:31

E |------------------------------|
B |------------------------------|
G |------------------------------|
D |------------------------------|
A |-5-4-----------------------5--|
E |-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3--|

E |--------------------------|
B |--------------------------|
G |--------------------------|
D |-----------------2---2----|
A |-5-4-------------0---0-2--|
E |-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2---2---0--|

Solo 2 enters after riff 3 and again, has the same slight overdrive. Again, I play the 7h9 as a slide sometimes.

Solo 2 ~1:51

E |--------------------------------------------|
B |--------------------------------------------|
G |----------7---6-7-9-7h9p7-6-----------------|
D |--7h9-7-9---9---------------9-7-------------|
A |--------------------------------9-7----8b9--|
E |------------------------------------10------|

E |--------------------------------------------------|
B |--------------------------------------------------|
G |--------------------------------------------------|
D |-------------------------------------------7---7--|
A |--7-5h7p5---5--------5---5---7-5-7--9-7-9----9----|
E |----------7---7-5-7----7--------------------------|

E |---------------------|
B |---------------------|
G |---------------------|
D |--9b11-11r9p7-9-7-9--|
A |---------------------|
E |---------------------|

The solo is played over the following riff.

Riff 4 (Solo Rhythm) ~1:51

E |-------------------------------------|
B |-------------------------------------|
G |-------------------------------------|
D |--4-4-4-4-4-4-------4-4-4-4---4---4--|
A |--2-2-2-2-2-2-0-2-5-2-2-2-2-0-2-0-2--|
E |-------------------------------------|

E |---------------------------------|
B |---------------------------------|
G |---------------------------------|
D |--4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4--7--9--|
A |--2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2--5--7--|
E |---------------------------------|

E |-----------------------------------|
B |-----------------------------------|
G |-----------------------------------|
D |--4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4--|
A |--2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2--|
E |-----------------------------------|

Then go back and play riff 1 twice over, followed by riff 3 once. We are then led into a little melodic break before yet another solo!

The rhythm is played on a clean electric (Guitar 4) and is a series of arpeggiated chords played up and down. It is also carried along behind solo 3.

Riff 5 (Clean) ~2:31

E |--------0------------0-------------------------------|
B |----------3------------3-----------------------------|
G |------4-----4------4-----4--------5----------7-----6-|
D |----4------------4--------------5---5------7-----6---|
A |--2------------0--------------5-------5--5-----4-----|
E |----------------------------3------------------------|

E |-------------------------------------|
B |--------7-----------9----------------|
G |------7---7-------9---9--------------|
D |----7-------7---9-------9------------|
A |--5-----------7------------0-2---0---|
E |-------------------------------3-----|

The solo is played over the above riff, and sees the same slight overdrive on guitar 2, perhaps with slightly more reverb as the notes seem to blend into each other.

Solo 3 ~2:50

E |--------------------------7-------------7-9-10-12b14--|
B |------------------------7---10p7---7-10---------------|
G |-----6-7-6h7p6---7-9b11----------9--------------------|
D |-7-9-----------9--------------------------------------|
A |------------------------------------------------------|
E |------------------------------------------------------|

E |-14r12p10----------------------------|
B |----------12-10h12p10-8--------------|
G |------------------------9h11p9--…--|
D |-------------------------------------|
A |-------------------------------------|
E |-------------------------------------|

The reverbs backs off and we have the same feel as for the intro. More of a treble sound at the high frets, but then the solo backs down to lower notes, and more tone comes through. I have not found, and have in no way been able to tab this entire solo out, so work around the shapes from the other solo parts to get a feel for it. Sorry - I will update this article if and when I get the solo myself.

The main solo is played over riff 6 up to riff 8 as tabbed below. These follow on from the previous rhythm parts, requiring a palm mute for the repeating bass note.

Riff 6 ~3:09

E |--------------------------------|
B |--------------------------------|
G |--------------------------------|
D |-------------------2----2-4-5-4-|
A |-4-----------------0--4-0-2-3-2-|
E |-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2----2---------|

E |-------------------------------|
B |-------------------------------|
G |-------------------------------|
D |-------------------2---2-4-5-4-|
A |-------------------0-4-0-2-3-2-|
E |-5-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2---2---------|

E |-------------------------------|
B |-------------------------------|
G |-------------------2---2-4-5-4-|
D |-2-4---------------0-4-0-2-3-2-|
A |-0-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2---2---------|
E |-------------------------------|

E |------------------------------|
B |------------------------------|
G |------------------------------|
D |---4--------------7-6-5-4-3-2-|
A |-5-2-2-2-2-2-2-2--5-4-3-2-1-0-|
E |------------------------------|

E |-----------------------------------|
B |-----------------------------------|
G |-----------------------------------|
D |-------------------------5-4-2---2-|
A |-------------------------3-2-0-5-0-|
E |-5-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-------3---|

Riff 7 played 3 times ~ 3:30

E |-----------------------------------|
B |-----------------------------------|
G |-----------------------------------|
D |--4-4-----------------------7--2---|
A |--2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-5--0---|
E |-----------------------------------|

E |-----------------------------------|
B |-----------------------------------|
G |-----------------------------------|
D |--4-4------------------------------|
A |--2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2--|
E |-----------------------------------|

Riff 8 played 3 times ~3:43

E |-----------------------------------|
B |-----------------------------------|
G |-----------------------------------|
D |--6-6-----------------------6--9---|
A |--4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4--7---|
E |-----------------------------------|

E |-------------------------------------|
B |-------------------------------------|
G |-------------------------------------|
D |--6-6-----------------------------9--|
A |--4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-7--|
E |-------------------------------------|

The solo end on a whammy bar dive to fairly slack strings from the last E chord.

We then go back to riff 1, and play it once through before opening up into solo 5!

Riff 9 ~4:05

E |---------------------------------------|
B |---------------------------------------|
G |---------------------------------------|
D |--6-6-6-6-6-6-----2-6-6-6-6-6-6-4-6----|
A |--4-4-4-4-4-4-2-4---4-4-4-4-4-4-2-4----|
E |---------------------------------------|

E |---------------------------------|
B |---------------------------------|
G |---------------------------------|
D |--6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6--9-11--|
A |--4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4--7--9--|
E |---------------------------7--9--|

E |------------------------------------|
B |------------------------------------|
G |------------------------------------|
D |--6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-4-|
A |--4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-2-|
E |------------------------------------|

Solo 5 ~4:05

E |----------------|---------------------------------------|
B |----------------|---------------------------------------|
G |----------9-----|--9-11-9-10-9-7-9-7-8-7-5-7-5-6-5------|
D |-11b-9-11---11b-|----------------------------------6b---|
A |----------------|---------------------------------------|
E |----------------|---------------------------------------|

E |----------------|---------------------------------------|
B |----------------|--9-11-9-10-9-7-9-7-8-7-5-7-5-6-5------|
G |----------9-----|----------------------------------7-6b-|
D |-11b-9-11---11b-|---------------------------------------|
A |----------------|---------------------------------------|
E |----------------|---------------------------------------|

We again go back to riff 1 and play through twice, followed by riff 3 twice apart from the last bar for the second time.

The last bar of riff 3 is replaced by the tab below as this leads into the final bar of the track nicely.

~4:55

E |---------------------------|
B |---------------------------|
G |---------------------------|
D |-----------------2---------|
A |-5-4-------------0---0-2-3-|
E |-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2---2-------|

E |-------------------------------------------|
B |-------------------------------------------|
G |-------------------------------------------|
D |-----------------------111111-----11-------|
A |-----4-5-----6-7-----8--9-9-9------9--4-4--|
E |-2-3-----4-5-----6-7------------------2-2--|

That’s it! Just over 5 minutes of steady riffs and a ton of solos. It’s a great track as anyone can chug along to the rhythm. The arpeggios give another technique to work with, and there are a choice of solos to work on. The smaller ones, especially the intro are obtainable and with a bit of practice, can sound great. Good Luck!

Look out for more tab articles on Mercyful Fate / King Diamond as they are an exceptional band. They drew influence from Judas Priest and in turn, Metallica have covered some Mercyful fate songs in a medley funnily enough called "Mercyful Fate". I highly recommend getting their material as they have such a great sound - that 80s hard metal!

Buy this now from: amazon.co.uk

Written by Alex on Monday 3rd April 2006 at 2:07pm and posted in Learn To Play, Lessons

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Mercyful Fate - Into The Coven