Alan Walker - Darkside - Guitar Cover

Different World

2018 3:32

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About Darkside

At 128 BPM in F# minor, "Darkside" by Alan Walker translates surprisingly well to guitar, rewarding players who pay attention to its melodic synth lines. The song's core hook is a repeating single-note lead figure that sits comfortably in the F# natural minor scale, making it an excellent exercise in clean picking and note placement. The real challenge is matching the electronic original's precise, clipped articulation: each note needs to speak crisply without excess sustain, so work on your pick attack and left-hand muting. If you want to try a chordal approach, the underlying progression moves through a handful of minor-key chords that fall naturally under the fingers in the open-position or fifth-position range of the neck. The tempo is brisk but not punishing, so use the Practice Toolbar to loop the lead melody slowed down until your picking hand is locked in before bringing it back up to speed. As a piece of Alternative Rock-leaning electronic pop, it also responds well to adding light overdrive for a fuller, more guitar-native texture.

• The main melodic hook follows the F# natural minor scale, so practising that scale across the neck directly prepares you for the lead line.
• Crisp, controlled picking with active left-hand muting is essential to replicate the clipped, electronic articulation of the original synth melody.
• A light overdrive or clean boost helps the guitar sit in the mix when playing the chord progression, which moves through a small set of repeating minor-key shapes.