F.B.I. chords

[Rick50]

This may well have cropped up before...I have always played A as the main chord in FBI, along with E, C, F, B.
I know the melody is based on Am scale, but am I right in playing the A major chord or should it be the A minor ?

[noelford]

A major is correct.

[Mikey]

I always play A major for the intro then A minor for the melody so that you get that subtle change. Not sure if that's how it's written but it sounds right.

[Gary Allen]

Hi Rick, Hank plays minor,Bruce plays major, regards gary

[Iain Purdon]

Check out the video Just Hank Marvin (VHS) 1997. If you haven't got it, get it. Its a player's delight, full of tips. It may sometimes be on YouTube.

Hank demonstrates exactly how to play FBI rhythm 53 minutes in.

[Graham C. Marshall]

Just Hank Marvin (1997)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kaVxgey9w4

[negninegaw]

Watching Hank play the rhythm pattern for FBI at 53:00 on "Just Hank Marvin”,
I am trying to find out the picking pattern for it. As a rule he plays 'down/up etc.,
but somewhere (where?) there must be 2 times down or 2 times up, to get back to the beginning of the pattern...
Who knows how to play it?

[negninegaw]

Is the picking pattern like this ?:
(d=down; u=up)
d u d u d d u d
or this ?:
d u d u d u d d

(The last eight note of the bar is not considered)

[noelford]

The second feels the most comfortable - it's the way I would play it naturally without actually thinking about it.

[negninegaw]

Thanks Noel, the second pattern is easier for me, too.
But it seems that Hank plays the first pattern,
because he plays those “accidental/on purpose” unmuted higher string notes on 3&
downward. (the second d of the double d’s of the first pattern)