Magic by Pilot (with TAB and Chord Diagrams)

[@fredthejunkman]

Thanks soooo much for posting this video. The way you break everything down makes it so much easier to learn. You've got the gift of playing and teaching. Thank you!

[@MarkZabel]

You're welcome. Thanks for listening and for the super-kind comments!

[@arturoojeda209]

Magic and January... the best of Pilot.... tanks

[@MarkZabel]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@Name-bo4ox]

Agreed

[@budandbean1]

Hiya Mark, SUPER great song here! I cant wait to play it. You are really amazing all the cool songs you know, I can't wait each week to see what is new but this one, I really loved back in the day plus the ckickies really liked it! Thanks Man, you're the best!

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks Buddy! I appreciate the good vibes brother!

[@jeffmitchell9214]

Going back through some of my favorite oldies. I remember taking days to learn the solos and the chords on this one. Sitting in the dormitories at F.E. Warren AFB, Wy in 1974. All I had then was a nice Yamaha nylon string thing and it was rough learning it.But I had to LEARN THIS! I borrowed a friends Telecaster, who didn't really play, got some fresh strings, and nailed it.Sounded weird thru my old Ampex cassette deck plugged into the Microphone input No one I knew played anything. Weird for 1974. Recorded the rhythm on my old Realistic cassette and played along. I though I was Les Paul in a studio. Cheers...

[@MarkZabel]

Great anecdote. Love it!

[@teresajimenezvazquez7838]

thanks my friend for your teaching greetings from mexico

[@MarkZabel]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching!

[@kevinbrake9407]

You must be reading my mind, I've been working on this great tune, and lo and behold, your awesome tutorial! Thank you Mark!

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks Kevin! It's great when I can read somebody's mind!! :)

[@octaob2570]

the best!! I'm From Peru and the music of 80's is the most beautiful of the world !!Thank You!🙌❤

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks for the kind comment. Thanks for watching. Do you have any suggested songs for me?

[@octaob2570]

Yes! Could you please play the third solo of Sweet child o' mine?

[@MarkZabel]

Octa OB Do you mean the part at around 5:05 to the end of the song?

[@octaob2570]

Yes!

[@gerrycoogan6544]

Excellent video, Mark. Nice to hear this great tune getting some love. Pilot had some great stuff back in the mid-seventies and they got a lot of airplay on local radio here in Scotland. From memory, I feel that there should be a flat ninth on the D major chord in the chorus ("never believe it's not so"). At least, that's what I always played, albeit on the piano!

[@MarkZabel]

Glad you enjoyed it. I'll check that out.

[@christopherlynch7862]

Okay, I can do some humility too, and I appreciate not being a troll ! Magic was being performed in 1973 by David's band and Alan Parsons was producing an 8 track for the album. You'll notice that all the guitars are Rickenbackers (up to this point) . Before single release EMI requested an intro be added. At this time David had given up trying to find a bassist (as he was playing all guitars and bass) and decided to audition a guitarist instead. He knew Bairnson but never considered he would be interested in a 'pop' group. He volunteered to join, but Paton had to convince the label as he was not considered to be of the right image. Bairnson overdubbed the intro on Les Paul...some accounts say he also harmonised the main solo, though Paton insists this was already finished. Info from various interviews...He is a prolific and honest interviewee..esp Scottish and Australian radio...there are a few knocking around on you tube. Ps , sincerely ! Listen again to Wuthering Heights in the knowledge that it's Paton & Bairnson...and try to find Paton playing guitar with Wakeman (e.g. Eleanor Rigby in the style of Prokofiev) just stunning ...best wishes CL

[@MarkZabel]

Hey Christopher, no you're not at all a troll. Trolls don't engage in good faith. So no worries here on my end. That's very interesting information about Magic and the whole album. Would be great if something like that could be added to what must be the first obvious place people go to - Wikipedia. But I didn't find anything like that on the "From The Album of the Same Name" listing or the "Magic" listing. Now on Wuthering Heights, I *definitely* always thought it was Bairnson - at least after someone told me it was Gilmour(!) and I doubted it. But Paton too ... that's great! (And I do enjoy Wuthering Heights generally too - the song.) I will look up Paton/Wakeman. Thanks for that. Rick was part of one of my favorite album's lineup of Anderson, Howe, Squire, Bruford ... and Wakeman. They weren't the same before or after - as good as Tony Kaye was/is.

[@elfhermie]

Love that song! Thanks again, Mark! Have a fantastic 4th of July weekend!

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks, you too!!

[@ElIngLopez]

Thanks, Sir Mark. Arrieros somos y en el camino andamos...

[@MarkZabel]

You're welcome!

[@Barnekkid]

Another great video from you. I really like those chords.

[@MarkZabel]

Yes, cool chords for sure!

[@nathanmiller2982]

Excellent teacher 👏🏿👏🏿

[@MarkZabel]

Thank you!

[@comicblueswithjonygitar36]

Hard Days Night F added G in bass, opening to Hard Days Night

[@iduna2019]

Thanks! ❤❤❤

[@MarkZabel]

You're welcome 😊

[@roni6135]

Nice one, very informative

[@MarkZabel]

Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@TomClarkSouthLondon]

*MAGIC!* 👍🏿

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks!

[@Ludent_play]

Thanks man

[@MarkZabel]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching!

[@lamartin5042]

Thank you so much!

[@MarkZabel]

You're welcome. Thanks for the kind comment!

[@comicblueswithjonygitar36]

There a Jimmy Page solo i keep humming that shares melody, blues riff with and bass and treble octaves if i hear it right, from 4th Stairway album, can't place it, maybe within Levee? All i hear now is Pilot, can't silence my mind to place it, anyone else hear it?

[@MarkZabel]

Sorry, I can't place the Jimmy Page solo either.

[@elie4946]

thank u!!!!!!!

[@MirthaVerapy]

Grande 🤠

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks!

[@leslyechevarria1256]

man you are so easy thats the way bro nice

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks. I appreciate the kind comment!

[@alanmcdowell977]

Can you do america - you can do magic guitar lesson solo w/tab

[@MarkZabel]

Sure. Do you mean that little bit in the intro?

[@alanmcdowell977]

@@MarkZabel -yes

[@MarkZabel]

@@alanmcdowell977 good deal. Yeah, I'll put it on the to-do list. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@TheDorsalPhinn]

would you mind telling me what kind of neck pick-up that is?

[@MarkZabel]

Hi. It's a "retrotron" pickup. It's stock on the guitar. GFS makes some decently priced ones. (www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-Retrotron-Series_c_99.html) I have a set of "Surf 90s" on another guitar of mine.

[@TheDorsalPhinn]

are you using that one on the video?

[@MarkZabel]

I think in the demo I'm using the bridge pickup, which is basically a Tele bridge pickup, but mounted directly into the body, not into the "ashtray." Having said that, during the rest of the video, it sounds to me like I'm using the middle position (blend of neck and bridge pickup). I'll see whether I can find a video using the neck pickup.

[@mickwhittemore7091]

great stuff, do you do January also ?

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks Mick! I haven't done that one. Nice pop tune. Shall I put it on the to-do list for consideration?

[@sland67]

Another good one Mark! This one will be fun to learn. Can you do some ZZ top? Sharp dressed man or Tush?

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks! Yeah, I've got to do some ZZ Top soon. I'll put one or two on the near-term list.

[@cripzrus]

Great stuff ...Thanks. Could you maybe do another great old tune with odd changes and memorable solo..Nik Kershaw..Wouldnt it be good.

[@MarkZabel]

Sure, I can give Wouldn't It Be Good a shot. The sound is tough, so I won't promise perfection on that!! Thanks for the kind comment!

[@cripzrus]

Thanks Mark, I realise its heavily synthed but a guitar arrangement would be just as great from you.

[@christopherlynch7862]

Remember I said do your research...David Paton played ALL the guitar parts on that album. Pilot were a three piece studio band. They were joined by Ian Bairnson to tour, and eventually joined the band. When I refer to disrespect I am more concerned by you 'not quite being sure of his name'. I think Pilot may have been a one hit pop band in the US, but its members were much more highly regarded throughout the musical world. Please enjoy their work with Kate Bush, Alan Parsons and Rick Wakeman when you get the chance. Sorry if I am a little touchy about the legacy of one of this Islands' most talented group of musicians.

[@MarkZabel]

Yes, more than a little touchy I'd say, seeing I *did* do plenty of research and cared enough to listen deeply to the song along with Paton's explanation and gave my own honest opinion, along with learning the lead, teaching it, and providing my own handwritten tab. I wouldn't do that if I thought it was just another trashy pop song. You seem a decent sort, so I don't mind. The trolls on KZbin are maddening. I wouldn't count your response as such. Now to the research, I'm not sure where you get your inside information. All the sources I found (years ago when I posted and today in a 5 minute search) showed David Paton; vocals/bass. I stop when I find multiple sources that say the same thing. Here's an obvious source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_the_Album_of_the_Same_Name#Pilot But please send me your source so it can be corrected on Wikipedia. Or maybe you'd want to correct Wikipedia, as if what you're saying is true it's incorrect there, where it says Ian Bairnson plays guitar on the track. I was sure of his name. Not the pronunciation. I live in the US. Paton is sometimes pronounced the same as "Patton". I know this firsthand. He didn't say his own name in a couple of videos I watched (nor did an interviewer in the couple I watched), so I said both so as not to offend. In any event, I'm sorry that I pronounced his name both ways. I'm familiar with some of David's other work. Not a huge fan of Kate Bush, though I recognize her talent I don't enjoy her music. Ian is a fantastic player. And Rick Wakeman? Man, oh man!! I *am* a huge Elton John fan and I know Paton played on some of his music. (Nikita on Ice on Fire for one, which has a lovely bass line)

[@doihaveto8149]

Ian was great

[@MarkZabel]

Yes. Under-appreciated ... at least in the USA.

[@gerardosaucedo1309]

Whenever you can, please play January. Thanks.

[@MarkZabel]

okay

[@batty2259]

Okay, I think I have the majority of it down, I think I enjoy the rerecorded version better.

[@MarkZabel]

Cool!

[@batty2259]

@@MarkZabel I think they did it in Eb

[@Stevez221]

dude can you explain your chords a little better, cant see how you do b minor 7th

[@MarkZabel]

There are a bunch of ways to voice that. Please tell the time you're referring to in the video. If the root is on the 6th string, I usually prefer the "jazz" voicing (7X7777), but the "rock" voicing is fine too (797777). If the root is on the 5th I probably used the "standard" voicing of (X24232). But frankly, I don't remember, so it would help if you let know where to look in the video. For the most part, I don't go into detail on chord voicings if they're standard ones or they're covered in the tab provided - makes the videos too long for most people.

[@piotrekgugi4695]

nie widać jakie struny nagrasz nagraj jeszcze raz

[@michelangelomartini9254]

some wrong chord

[@MarkZabel]

Which one do you think?

[@michelangelomartini9254]

@@MarkZabel You can see the video of Paton (playng a Rick) for this song here in youtube.

[@MarkZabel]

@@michelangelomartini9254 Right, I know that and comment on it directly in the video. Do you think that's how Ian Bairnson played it on the record? Perhaps Paton composed it that way. So again, which chord do you think is wrong?

[@kyk3z923]

@@MarkZabel Hi im learning the intro and I think on 5:04 it is not a unison note it is a C

[@MarkZabel]

@@kyk3z923 I think that's right.

[@christopherlynch7862]

Paton ? ...."personally I can't hear it..." David Paton is a well respected multi instrumentalist,...so why bother listening to him ? Absolute disrespect. Learn some history of the musicians and stop learning from and teaching tabs. You should be ashamed

[@MarkZabel]

Don't be silly. I'm not saying he didn't write it that way or HE doesn't play it that way. I'm saying I don't hear it and if that particular embellishment IS there, it isn't important IN MY OPINION. Obviously I'm using my ears, not tab. Incidentally, he didn't play the guitar part on the record. He played bass. And of course I listened to him, which is exactly why I said what I said. Since when does "respect" = "blindly follow" or "disagree" = "disrespect"?