This arrangement is designed to suit the flexible requirements of modern guitar teachers teaching a huge range of instruments and styles. The parts are suitable for beginner/intermediate guitarists playing classical, steel-string folk, electric and bass guitars.

As a guitar teacher I am aware of the range of styles and learners encountered when teaching. This version of Telstar is designed to work in a wide range of performance situations. In your download you will receive:

A full director's score showing notes and TAB.
Individual parts with full fingering showing just notes.
Individual parts in TAB with rhythm stems.
Guitar 4, as well as showing a bass line includes chord symbols with suggested rhythms. These chords are optional.
Guitar 4, which is the bass line, is also provided in bass clef to be doubled by an optional bass guitar. There is fingering provided to suit that instrument.
The bass guitar part is also provided in bass guitar TAB.

The guitar parts can be played just as effectively by electric guitars.

Telstar was composed by Joe Meek and performed by The Tornados in 1962. The single reached number one in the U.S. and U.K. charts.An interesting piece of trivia for your introductions: George Bellamy, the rhythm guitarist with The Tornados is the father of Matt Bellamy, lead singer and guitarist of Muse.

This arrangement of the Tears for Fears classic is ideal for schools and mixed-ability ensembles. It includes a bass guitar part, and an optional Guitar 6, that doubles the bass. The piece can be performed with either part, or both! Bassists are encouraged to try drop-D tuning or 5 string basses for the optional low D.


Guitar 1 is similar to the guitar part on the original Tears for Fears recording, including transcribed solo, and suits more advanced players.
Guitar 2 is the vocal melody
Guitar 3 and 4 are rhythm guitar parts, with Guitar 4 being a simple part suitable for beginners
Guitar 5 adds rhythmic interest and can be treated as optional for smaller ensembles

The arrangement works well with a traditional ensemble of all acoustic guitars, or all electric - or a mix of both!