Santana - Black Magic Woman - Guitar Tab

Ultimate Santana

2007 3:16

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About Black Magic Woman

Few guitar parts in Santana's catalog are more immediately recognizable than the sinuous, minor-key lead line that opens "Black Magic Woman." Played in D minor over a hypnotic groove, the melody sits right at the intersection of blues phrasing and Latin feel, and getting that balance right is the real challenge. At 120 BPM the tempo is moderate, but the notes need to breathe and bend with a vocal quality, not be rushed or played mechanically. Vibrato and controlled string bends are everything here: every sustained note should sing, so spend time getting your wrist vibrato smooth before worrying about speed. The rhythm guitar work underneath is equally worth studying, locking tightly into the clave-influenced pulse that defines the Latin Rock feel of the track. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the opening lead phrase slowed down, paying close attention to where each bend resolves before you bring it back up to full tempo.

• The signature lead melody relies heavily on expressive string bends and vibrato in D minor, phrased more like a vocal line than a typical blues run.
• E Standard tuning is used throughout, so no retuning is needed, but tone and touch matter enormously to capture the warm, lyrical lead sound.
• The rhythm part locks into a Latin-influenced groove, making it a practical study in playing guitar against a clave-based feel rather than a straight rock pulse.