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Europe - Hold Your Head Up - Guitar Tab

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Europe - Hold Your Head Up - Guitar Tab

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Europe - Hold Your Head Up guitar tab video
Steph Le Gratteux
Steph Le Gratteux Top Contributor
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Classic Rock

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Hold Your Head Up album cover
Hold Your Head Up
2023 4:00
Listen on Spotify
Europe Hard Rock 2023 ~A major
Capo Advisor 0 A major · Original key

Hold Your Head Up

"Hold Your Head Up" is a cover by Europe of the classic rock track originally recorded by Argent in 1971. The original became a Top 5 hit in the US, UK, and Canada, making it one of the most recognizable rock songs of its era. Europe's 2023 rendition gives electric guitarists a chance to explore how a Swedish rock band reinterprets a vintage British rock anthem, blending old-school riff-driven energy with a modern touch.

  • The original Argent version peaked at No. 5 simultaneously in the US, UK, and Canada — a rare chart achievement for the era.
  • Argent's original was Billboard's No. 50 song for 1972, despite being the band's only Hot 100 entry.
  • Europe released their version in 2023, offering a fresh take on a track that has stood as a rock guitar staple for decades.
Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

John Norum's Stratocasters blend single-coil clarity in the neck and middle with a bridge humbucker for aggressive leads, giving Europe's sound versatility between glassy rhythm tones and saturated solo work. This hybrid approach lets him switch textures without changing instruments, crucial for his dynamic playing style.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Norum's late '50s-style Les Paul Standards with PAF humbuckers deliver the warm, articulate foundation for Europe's classic hard rock tone, responding beautifully to his volume knob technique for clean rhythm passages before cranking for full saturation.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

The Gibson Les Paul Custom, particularly his '68 goldtop, anchored Europe's early recordings with thick mahogany body resonance and vintage humbucker character that cuts through high-volume Marshall saturation while maintaining pick definition.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

Norum's JCM800 head driven at high volume creates Europe's signature natural power-tube breakup without relying on gain stacking, letting his touch and dynamics shape the tone rather than pedal settings.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

The Cry Baby wah is Norum's most essential effect, featured prominently across Europe's solos for vocal-like expressive sweeps that showcase his legato technique and add character to lead passages.

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