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Linkin Park - Numb - Guitar Cover

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Key F# minor
Linkin Park - Numb guitar cover video
Kfir Ochaion
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
AI tone preset

AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
Meteora album cover
Meteora
2003 3:08
Listen on Spotify
Linkin Park Alternative Rock 2003 F# minor
Capo Advisor 0 F# minor · Original key

About Numb

Drop D tuning sits at the heart of "Numb," and it shapes almost every decision you make on the guitar. The low D string powers the chunky, palm-muted riff that drives the verses, giving those single-note lines a heaviness that standard tuning simply would not deliver. At 87 BPM the tempo is moderate, but the tight rhythmic precision of that muted picking is where most players slip up. F# minor sets a tense, brooding mood, and you will want clean fretting hand muting to stop unwanted string noise bleeding into the distorted tone. Linkin Park layers guitars with a relatively straightforward part underneath, yet cleanly alternating between muted and open picking attacks is genuinely tricky to nail at performance level. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the verse riff at a reduced speed and focus on the muting consistency before you bring it back up to full tempo. The chorus opens into fuller chords, so also spend time on the dynamic shift between that tight verse picking and the bigger chorus feel, which is a contrast worth getting right in this Alternative Rock track.

  • The song uses Drop D tuning, which lets you play the heavy root-note riff on the low string with a one-finger barre for power chords.
  • Tight palm muting on the low D string is the core technique of the verse riff, and any inconsistency in mute pressure will muddy the tone.
  • At 87 BPM the tempo is approachable, making it a solid song for intermediate players working on muting control and dynamic contrast.

How to Play Numb

Tuning: Drop D · Key: F# minor · Tempo: 87 BPM

In Drop D tuning, the main riff relies on a repeating melodic figure in F# minor that sits in the lower register, and the Drop D facilitates easy root-note power chords in the chorus without requiring a full barre. The verse progression is relatively straightforward, so prioritize nailing the transitions into the heavier chorus, where maintaining consistent pick attack under distortion is the real test. A common mistake is letting the low D string ring unintentionally during the melodic passages, so practice muting carefully with your picking hand. Use the section loop to isolate the chorus-to-verse return, where the dynamic drop requires an immediate clean-up of your strumming intensity.

Loop each section and focus on clean, even timing rather than speed, with the metronome at 87 BPM.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Brad Delson uses Strats for cleaner, textural studio parts that contrast with his heavy PRS-driven rhythm work. Their bright, articulate character adds sonic variety to Linkin Park's dynamic song arrangements.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Telecasters provide Delson with twangy, cutting tones for atmospheric clean passages, offering a different textural palette than his signature PRS guitars. These bright instruments layer beautifully with delay effects on tracks like 'Numb.'

PRS Custom 24
Guitar

PRS Custom 24

The Custom 24 was Brad's cornerstone during Hybrid Theory and Meteora, delivering the tight, articulate heaviness that defined early Linkin Park's drop-tuned sound. Its versatility handles both crushing rhythm riffs and smooth clean tones seamlessly.

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Amp

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

This amp's chunky, saturated low-mids and tight response make it perfect for Delson's drop-D and drop-C# palm-muted rhythms that anchor Linkin Park's heaviest moments. It cuts through dense production without losing definition.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Delson deploys the Cry Baby sparingly on select tracks for expressive, soulful moments that break up the relentless heaviness. Its responsive sweep adds dynamic character to atmospheric clean sections.

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Pedal

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

This workhorse delay creates the dotted-eighth rhythmic repeats essential to Linkin Park's clean, ambient textures, particularly on songs like 'Numb.' Its digital precision enables Brad's dramatic transitions between heavy and ethereal sections.

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