This song has taken place of "Smoke On The Water" as far as beginner's learning their first song. Just like Smoke On The Water it only has a few simple to play but very effective riff in it. A beginner can learn these quickly so that they can sound out their first recognizable tune. Unfortunately it is NOT a beginner's song and has many subtle differences and variations to each riff. and the solo is for advanced players only.
I have never been a huge Metallica fan but always admire their skill in creating catchy, classic songs with riffs brilliantly constructed solos. They always have the right amount of speed and melody, and this song is no different. I hope you enjoy learning it!
The first part of the riff is using a clean sound on the guitar with a chorus effect on it. A chorus pedal (effect) will double the sound of the note you are playing and put it out of tune slightly to give the note a full rich sound.
Play this part through 12 times.
Any TAB presented in blue represents the finger numbers you should be using.
The below riff is distorted and comes in when the above riff stops. Play it through 2 times, remember the 1st note comes in half a beat early the 1st time (marked in yellow) but when it plays through the 2nd time you play it on the 1st beat (move it half a beat forward).
Play the following riff through 2 times. Take note of how the riff is building up to the "Main Riff" each time through.
Play the following riff through 7 times
Play the main riff (between the repeat signs below) through 2 times. The bar before the main riff is just finishing the progression above for the 8th time through. As you can see the main riff starts half a beat early again.
This is the riff that everyone knows. Make sure you use the correct fingers, roll your mouse over the image below to show the correct fingers to use.
Verse & Chorus
Any TAB presented in blue represents the finger numbers you should be using.
Because most riffs in this song come in half a beat early rather than on the 1st beat of the bar there are repeat signs in places you would normally not have them. For example the "Verse" riff starts half a beat early and then repeat comes in half a beat early.
Take note of the palm muting in the verse (P.M.). Palm muting is where you place the underside of the palm of your hand on the strings near the bridge with your picking hand. This will deaden/mute the sound of the note.
Place you mouse over the tab below to see what fingers to use. As you can see it's the same as the fret numbers you're playing.
When playing the Pre-Chorus (or any riff in this song except the 1st intro riff) don't leave your fingers down, you want to sound out each note as a single note, not chords (don't be lazy).
Use common sense when it comes to finger positions, this riff is played over a 3 fret span so obviously use you 1st, 2nd & 3rd fingers. Start the pre-chorus riff off with your 1st finger.
At the end of riff 1 & 2 there are artificial harmonics played (A.H.5). These are a high pitch squeals made by fretting the notes normally and the harmonic is produced by adding the edge of the thumb to the normal picking attack. A high volume of distortion will allow for a greater variety of harmonics.
The 2nd time throught the main riff use "Riff 3" below.
Riffs
Riff 3 is played the 2nd time through the "Main Riff" after the 1st chorus.
Both These riff use the (1st E Minor Pentatonic Scale)
Riff 4 is played over the 2nd verse
Played with backing.
Solo
Listen to the full solo below
The above mp3 audio plays the full solo a little slower than the original. The left channel contains the backing riff & solo, so you can hear how the solo is played in time with the backing. The right channel contains the solo only.
The below solo has been broken down into smaller sections. By placing your mouse over the appropriate "Solo Riff" and clicking, you will download an mp3 of that section to help you hear how the solo sounds.
Solo Riff 1 (1st E Minor Pentatonic Scale): This is using a unison bend on the 14th & 15th fret, use your 3rd finger on the 14th and 4th on the 15th. Bend the 14th but don't bend the 15th. This is a standard riff that has been used in many other songs.
Solo Riff 2 (1st E Minor Pentatonic Scale): Using a unison bend again, at the end of this riff use your 3rd finger to bend the 15th.
Solo Riff 1
Solo Riff 2
Solo Riff 3 (5th & 1st E Minor Pentatonic Scale): Bar 1 is using octave notes. To play this correctly you have to make sure you mute the string/s you're not playing by using the 1st finger to play the note on the 5th string and the 3rd finger for the 3rd string. Lay the 1st finger flat across all the strings with the tip of it touching the 6th. This way you can do a full strum and only sound out the noted you want (5th string).
Solo Riff 3
Solo Riff 4: Another standard riff used in many other songs, use your 3rd finger on the 15th and 1st finger in the 12th fret.
Solo Riff 5 & 6: Riffs 5 & 6 really need to be practiced together. In my personal opinion these 2 riff combined are the hardest out of the solo. You need to take it slow and work your speed up in time. Listen to the example of it being played slow to help you.
Solo Riff 4
Solo Riff 5
Listen to Solo Riffs 5 & 6 played together slowly
Solo Riff 6
Solo Riff 7
Solo Riff 7 (4th E Minor Pentatonic Scale): A unison bend on the 9th fret using the 3rd & 4th fingers
Solo Riff 8 (4th E Minor Pentatonic Scale): Other than the techniques of hammering on and pulling off this riffs only difficult part is the speed. Remember to use alternate picking to help you.
Solo Riff 8
Solo Riff 9 (1st F# Minor Pentatonic Scale): This riff changes scale shapes from E Minor Pentatonic to F# Minor Pentatonic (up 2 frets). It is played over the "Pre-Chorus" & "Chorus". Apply the same fingering you used in the "1st Solo Riff" (3rd finger on the 16th & 1st finger on the 14th fret). In the 4th (last) bar of "Solo Riff 9" you are still holding the bend from the end of the previous bar and slowly releasing it while using the tremolo arm.
Solo Riff 9
Solo Riff 10
Solo Riff 10 : 3 way pull off, remember to only play the 1st note out of the 3
(--21-17-0--).
Solo Riff 11 (2nd & 1st E Minor Pentatonic Scale): The scale has now changed back to the key of E Minor Pentatonic (2 frets down)
