Techniques in this lesson: Precision picking. Fretting changes.
Eight pieces of One
Before beginning to learn this riff, we will look at it as a whole and then dissect it to better understand what to play. Breaking songs down into their individual pieces will not only help memorization, but also allows us to identify and fine tune the harder parts. If you don't understand this notation or cant recall how to read tab, check out the terms and tablature page. When we split this haunting melody in two pieces we see each half consists of 4, four note sections. The exception being the last piece of the first half, which has an extra open 3rd (G) string.
Fingers --1--3--1------ --2--3--2----- --1--3--1------ --2--3--2---------
(1) - E ---------------- --------------- ---------------- -------------------
(2) - B ---------------- --------------- ---------------- -------------------
(3) - G ---------------- --------------- ---------------- ----------------0--
(4) - D -----4------0-- -----4-----0-- -----4------0-- -----4-----0------
(5) - A --2-----2------ --------------- --2-----2------ -------------------
(6) - E ---------------- --3-----3----- ---------------- --3-----3---------
Fingers --1--3--1------ -----3--------- --2--3--2----- -----1--2--2-------
(1) - E ---------------- ---------------- --------------- --------------------
(2) - B ---------------- ---------------- --------------- --------------------
(3) - G ---------------- ---------------- --------------- --------------------
(4) - D -----4------0-- -----4-----0--- -----4-----0-- --------------------
(5) - A --2-----2------ --0-----0------ --------------- -----2-----2-------
(6) - E ---------------- ---------------- --3-----3----- --0-----2----------
Piece 1 - The opener
Fingers --1--3--1------
(1) - E ----------------
(2) - B ----------------
(3) - G ----------------
(4) - D -----4------0--
(5) - A --2-----2------
(6) - E ----------------
This hand position is used three times throughout this intro so once we have it memorized it is just a matter of remembering when to switch to it.
We begin by placing our 1st (index) finger on the 5th string 2nd fret and our 3rd (ring) finger on the 4th string 4th fret ("power chord" position) as shown below.
The string picking pattern is 5,4,5,(4 open) with the last being the open 4th (D) string (lift your 3rd finger) which we allow to ring out. NOTE: Try not to let your 1st finger touch the 4th string. This will stop the string from ringing out after lifting your 3rd finger and picking the open 4th. This first section should sound like this mp3.
Piece 2
--2--3--2-----
---------------
---------------
---------------
-----4-----0--
---------------
--3-----3-----
This hand position is also used three times through this intro so once you know the first and second pieces you have 3/4 of the whole thing down! For this piece we place our 2nd (middle) finger on the 6th string 3rd fret and again our 3rd (ring) finger on the 4th string 4th fret as shown below.
The string picking pattern is 6,4,6,(4 open) again lifting our 3rd finger for/and letting the last note, the open 4th (D), ring out. It should sound like this mp3.
Pieces 3 and 4 - Repeat + 1
--1--3--1------ --2--3--2---------
---------------- -------------------
---------------- -------------------
---------------- ----------------0--
-----4------0-- -----4-----0------
--2-----2------ -------------------
---------------- --3-----3---------
Pieces 3 and 4 should look familiar because are basically the same as the 1st and 2nd. The only difference is the addition of one extra note (open G string) at the end of piece 4.
Again we want the extra note to ring out like this mp3.
So sticking with the piece/segment line of thinking we play the first piece, then the second piece, then repeat the first piece again and finally repeat the second with the added open 3rd (G) string at the end. These two fingerings get us 1/2 way through the intro.
Fingers --1--3--1------ --2--3--2----- --1--3--1------ --2--3--2---------
(1) - E ---------------- --------------- ---------------- -------------------
(2) - B ---------------- --------------- ---------------- -------------------
(3) - G ---------------- --------------- ---------------- ----------------0--
(4) - D -----4------0-- -----4-----0-- -----4------0-- -----4-----0------
(5) - A --2-----2------ --------------- --2-----2------ -------------------
(6) - E ---------------- --3-----3----- ---------------- --3-----3---------
Combined they should sound like this mp3.
Piece 5 - A repeat of piece 1
Fingers --1--3--1------
(1) - E ----------------
(2) - B ----------------
(3) - G ----------------
(4) - D -----4------0--
(5) - A --2-----2------
(6) - E ----------------
For piece five, we just repeat piece 1 again.
Piece 6 - Mostly open
-----3--------
---------------
---------------
---------------
-----4-----0--
--0-----0-----
---------------
Piece 6 requires the least fingering. It begins on the open 5th (A) string.
The picking pattern is again 5(open),4,5(open),4(open). This 6th piece should sound like this mp3.
Piece 7 - Another repeat
--2--3--2------
----------------
----------------
----------------
-----4-----0---
----------------
--3-----3------
We are almost done! For the second to last piece we repeat the second segment a final time.
Again it should sound like this mp3.
Piece 8 - The grand finale
----2--1--2-----
-----------------
-----------------
-----------------
-----------------
-----2-----2----
--0-----2-------
This final piece is different that all the others. We transition to this piece by placing our first finger on the 5th string second fret and picking the open 6th then the 5th string as shown below.
Then we bring our second finger down on the 6th string 2nd fret and again pick the 6th then 5th string as shown below.
The picking pattern for this final piece is 6,5,6,5. It should sound like this mp3.
The loop in its entirety should sound like this mp3.
Notice that our 1st finger is right where it needs to be to begin the loop again. We only need to lift our 2nd finger and place our 3rd finger on the fourth string, fourth fret to come back to the original starting point. Getting this transition smooth will take some practice. When practicing this song, try not to just end on the 8th piece. Rather force yourself to continue through this transition to help smooth this out.
Another tip to help this transition (after you have memorized the entire loop) is to alternate playing piece eight and piece one. Just keep switching back and fourth between those 2 pieces until you can switch between them smoothly like this mp3.
Also remember, slower is better. Practice as slow as is necessary to play the piece correctly. Speed will come with repetition. There are links to mp3s of all the pieces contained in this intro. Windows media player contains a feature to slow down a song while maintaining the correct pitch. This will allow you to play along at a speed you feel comfortable with.
This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the song.
You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research.
Metalofthe90s.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by Metallica.
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