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Jason Paige

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Pokemon Theme - Guitar Tab

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Band Overview

Jason Paige is best known as the vocalist who recorded the original English-language Pokemon Theme ("Gotta Catch 'Em All") in 1998, a track that became one of the most iconic TV theme songs of the late 1990s and continues to resonate with guitarists and pop culture fans alike. While Paige himself is primarily a singer and vocal artist rather than a guitarist, the Pokemon Theme features a surprisingly punchy guitar arrangement that blends pop-rock energy with arena-ready power chords. The track was produced by John Loeffler and John Siegler, who assembled session musicians to create a high-energy backing that has become a staple in guitar lesson libraries and jam-along playlists around the world. From a guitarist's perspective, the Pokemon Theme is an excellent entry-level rock song that teaches foundational techniques. The rhythm guitar part relies heavily on palm-muted power chords, quick open-chord transitions, and driving eighth-note downpicking patterns. The arrangement has a distinctly late-90s pop-rock feel, sitting somewhere between a Saturday morning cartoon anthem and a genuine arena rock track. The guitar tone is bright and punchy, with a moderate overdrive that keeps things articulate without getting too heavy. If you are a beginner or early intermediate player, this song is a perfect workout for tightening up your rhythm playing and building right-hand stamina through consistent downpicking. The session guitarists who played on the original recording used a straightforward rock setup that favored clarity and punch over high-gain saturation. The arrangement includes both a crunchy rhythm guitar part and a melodic lead line during the instrumental break, giving players two distinct parts to learn. The lead line uses simple pentatonic-based phrases with some diatonic passing tones, making it accessible for players who are just starting to explore single-note playing beyond open chords. Overall, the Pokemon Theme is one of those songs that sounds deceptively simple but rewards clean execution, making it a genuinely useful practice piece for developing timing, dynamics, and consistent pick attack.

What Makes Jason Paige Essential for Guitar Players

The rhythm guitar part is built almost entirely on palm-muted power chords (E5, A5, B5, D5) played with aggressive downpicking. This makes it an ideal workout for building right-hand endurance and developing a tight, punchy rhythm feel.
The verse sections feature quick transitions between muted chugging and open power chord hits, teaching you how to control your palm-muting pressure dynamically. Learning to snap between muted and unmuted strikes cleanly is a key skill this song develops.
The instrumental bridge includes a simple but catchy lead melody rooted in the E minor pentatonic scale with some added diatonic notes. It is a great introduction to playing melodic leads over a driving rhythm section without requiring advanced techniques like sweeping or tapping.
The chorus uses sustained, ringing power chords with a more open strumming pattern, which contrasts with the tight palm-muting of the verses. Nailing this contrast teaches dynamic control and how to make simple chord progressions feel powerful through attack variation.
The overall tempo sits around 145-150 BPM, which is fast enough to challenge beginners on the downpicking sections but not so fast that it becomes unmanageable. It is a perfect stepping stone before tackling faster punk or thrash rhythm parts.

Did You Know?

Jason Paige recorded the original Pokemon Theme vocal in a single session in 1998. He has said in interviews that he had no idea the song would become a worldwide phenomenon, treating it as just another jingle session at the time.

The guitar parts on the original recording were performed by session musicians assembled by producers John Loeffler and John Siegler, who were known for crafting high-energy TV and commercial music throughout the late 1990s.

The Pokemon Theme has been covered by countless guitarists on YouTube and has become one of the most requested songs in online guitar lesson platforms, proving that a 'kids' show' theme can have legitimate rock credibility.

The song's key of E minor makes it extremely guitar-friendly, as it allows heavy use of open strings and standard power chord shapes that sit comfortably in first position and on the low strings.

Despite being a TV theme, the guitar arrangement borrows heavily from late-80s and early-90s arena rock production techniques, including layered rhythm guitar tracks panned hard left and right to create a wide, powerful stereo image.

Jason Paige has continued to perform the Pokemon Theme live at conventions and events, often accompanied by rock bands that beef up the guitar parts with heavier distortion and extended solo sections not present in the original.

The song's structure (intro, verse, chorus, bridge, final chorus) is a textbook pop-rock format, making it an excellent study piece for guitarists learning how to navigate standard song forms and anticipate chord changes.

Essential Albums for Guitarists

Pokemon 2.B.A. Master 1999

This soundtrack album contains the original Pokemon Theme and several other tracks with similar pop-rock guitar arrangements. The title track is the must-learn song here, offering practice in palm-muted power chords, dynamic strumming, and simple lead lines. The other tracks on the album explore similar territory and give you additional material to work on rhythm consistency and quick chord changes at moderate to fast tempos.

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Tone & Gear

Guitar

The original recording likely used a standard Fender Stratocaster or similar bolt-on neck guitar with single-coil or HSS pickup configuration. The tone has that bright, snappy quality characteristic of single-coils or a bridge humbucker with the tone rolled slightly open. For covering the Pokemon Theme, any solidbody electric with a bridge pickup offering clear note definition under moderate gain will get you in the ballpark.

Amp

The amp tone on the original sits in the moderate overdrive range, not quite metal crunch but well beyond clean. A Marshall-style amp (JCM800 or JCM900) set to a medium gain level around 5-6, or a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe pushed with a drive pedal, would replicate the punchy, articulate distortion heard on the track. The key is keeping enough clarity that palm-muted notes remain defined rather than mushy.

Pickups

The recording tone suggests a pickup with moderate output, somewhere in the 7-9k ohm range for a humbucker or a hot single-coil in the bridge position. The attack is clear and present without excessive compression, which points away from high-output active pickups. A stock Fender single-coil or a medium-output humbucker like a Seymour Duncan JB or DiMarzio Tone Zone would be solid choices for nailing this sound.

Effects & Chain

The effects on the Pokemon Theme are minimal. There is a touch of reverb and possibly a short delay on the lead line during the bridge, but the rhythm guitar is mostly dry and direct. A basic signal chain of guitar into an overdrive pedal (like a Boss SD-1 or Ibanez Tube Screamer) into a clean or slightly breaking-up amp will get you very close. No modulation, wah, or heavy processing needed. Keep it simple and let the pick attack do the work.

Recommended Gear

Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Jason Paige's Pokemon Theme recording uses the Stratocaster's bright, snappy single-coil tone to deliver clear note definition on the iconic melody. The bolt-on neck design provides the articulate attack needed for those punchy, well-defined rhythm parts.

Amp

Marshall JCM800

The JCM800 set to moderate gain (5-6) gives Paige that punchy, articulate overdrive tone that powers the Pokemon Theme without sacrificing clarity. This amp's responsiveness keeps palm-muted notes tight and defined rather than mushy.

Pickup

Seymour Duncan JB

The JB's moderate output (around 7-9k ohms) matches Paige's need for clear attack without excessive compression on the Pokemon Theme. This pickup delivers present, defined notes that cut through without sounding overly aggressive or processed.

Pedal

Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9

Paige uses the Tube Screamer to add musical midrange boost and gentle overdrive to his signal chain, warming the Stratocaster's natural brightness. This pedal pushes the Marshall into that articulate crunch zone while keeping rhythm parts tonally cohesive.

Pedal

Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive

The SD-1 offers a simpler alternative for driving Paige's amp into moderate overdrive while preserving the pick attack clarity essential to the Pokemon Theme. Its transparent character lets the guitar's natural tone shine through without coloration.

How to Practice Jason Paige on GuitarZone

Every Jason Paige song page on GuitarZone includes a built-in Practice Toolbar. No app to download, no account needed. Open any song, then use the toolbar to slow the video to 0.5× speed, set an A/B loop around the exact riff you're working on, and jump between song sections instantly.

The toolbar appears automatically on every guitar tab, lesson, and cover page. Pick a song below, hit play, and start practicing at your own pace.

Practice Pokemon Theme - Guitar Tab