Example 1: The Black Page

E-----------------------------5-6----------------------------------
B----------------6----------5-----6--------------------------------
G-----4-6-6-4-7-----------6---------5------------------------------
D-------------------7-7-8-------------5-7--------------------------
A------------------------------------------------------------------
E------------------------------------------------------------------

This motif runs throughout the Black Page and is first 

introduced about 25 seconds into the track, 

its actually played by sax and keyboard, but Mike Kenally plays it 

on guitar in the Zappas Universe Video.
If you find the ascending/descending section a bit 

awkward try the 

following alternative:

E-----------------------------0-(5)-6-------------------------------
B----------------6--------------------6-----------------------------
G-----4-6-6-4-7-----------6------------5----------------------------
D-------------------7-7-8----------------5-7------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------

                               H

This way of playing it is pretty handy if your sweep picking not up to scratch! 
The first 9 notes themselves (up to the 8th fret on the D string) 

form a rhythmic pattern that’s present in a lot of Zappa's playing 

(Check out the beginning of example 2!)
Example 2: Peaches En Regalia

E---------------------------------------------------------------
B----------------------5-------------5--------------------------
G----4----4-4-4--6--7----6-----7---7---7p5p4--5-4---------------
D--------------------------7-------------------------7-5--------  
A---------------------------------------------------------5-7---
E---------------------------------------------------------------

I’ve seen this played and tabbed in 2 different ways, the 

version above is the most common but if you play along to 

the track its slightly out, have a go with the following 

for the recorded version:

This is the main theme of the tune which comes in just 

after the tremolo picked intro.

E---------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------
G-----------------7-9--------7-7-9-7----------------------------
D---9--9-9-9-11--------11-7----------10-9-10-9-7---------------- 
A-------------------------------------------------10------7-----
E-----------------------------------------------------10--------
                       ///          ///

/// = Tremolo pick

This theme is repeated again to form part of the outro, 

but is played an octave higher starting on the 12th fret B string

E-----------------------12-------------12----------------------------
B--12---12-12-12-14-15-----14----15-15----15-13-12-13-12-------------
G-----------------------------14-------------------------14-12-------
D--------------------------------------------------------------12-14- 
A--------------------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------------------

Repeation of a theme at different pitches can be found 

in a majority of Zappa’s work
Example 3: Willie the pimp

E--------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------
G-----------------5--------------------------------------------------
D--------------------7-5---------------------------------------------
A----0---0-5-7-5---------7-(5)--3--0---------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                         S 

This is doubled with violin at the beginning of the song, also the opening 

vocal line mirrors it. Overall it’s a simple riff that drives the song. 

There are several great examples of Frank Zappa playing vocal lines on guitar, 

check out The Jazz discharge party hats for a talking guitar part 

(You can see this influence on Steve Vai in tracks like Yankee rose and 

The audience is listening)  
Example 4: Chunga’s Revenge
The only version I have of this track is with Dweezil 

Zappa on Zappa’s 
universe, its one of my favourites and shows a more 

sensitive side.

E--12---10--12-13-12-10------12-13-12-8------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------12--12--12--12--12--------
D------------------------------------------12--12--12--12--12--------
A------------------------------------------10--10--10--10--10--------
E--------------------------------------------------------------------   

                       Continued>
E--------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------
G---XXXX---10^^^^^^^-----12--12--12--12--12--------------------------
D------------------------12--12--12--12--12----PICK SCRAPES----------
A------------------------10--10--10--10--10--------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------- 

      Continued>
E--12---10--12-13-12-10------12-13-12-8------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------
G-----------------------------------------------7--7--10--12---------
D-----------------------------------------------7--7--10--12---------
A-----------------------------------------------5--5---8--10---------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Play these last power chords with some force. 

Well that’s it I hope that 
this has been of some interest any comments/ 

corrections would be appreciated!                                     

Most of us when playing fly around the fret board 

in attempts to try and break 

the guitar land speed record, and although Zappa 

definitely had bags of technique 

(and Steve Vai!) he generally milked every note 

for what it was worth.