Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name - Guitar Cover

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Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name - Guitar Cover

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Key E minor
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Classic Rock

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Rage Against The Machine - XX (20th Anniversary Special Edition) album cover
Rage Against The Machine - XX (20th Anniversary Special Edition)
1992 5:14
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

Killing in the Name


"Killing in the Name" by Rage Against the Machine was released in 1992 on their self-titled debut album. The song protests police brutality and racial injustice, drawing inspiration from the beating of Rodney King and the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Its heavy drop-D guitar riffs make it a staple study for electric guitarists looking to explore aggressive, politically charged rock.

  • The song is built on drop-D tuning, lowering the sixth string to D for heavier, power-chord-driven riffs.
  • Tom Morello's guitar work blends heavy metal riffing with funk rhythms, making this track a versatile learning piece.
  • Released on Rage Against the Machine's 1992 debut album, the track helped define an era of politically driven alternative metal.
Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Tom Morello uses this 1982 Telecaster for RATM's funkier, cleaner rhythm parts, leveraging its bridge humbucker for articulate muting and percussive attack that cuts through dense arrangements.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

The JCM800's punchy midrange and aggressive natural clipping deliver RATM's signature thick, cutting distortion tone while staying tight enough for Morello's dynamic muting and noise experiments.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Morello exploits this wah pedal extensively for funk riffs and half-cocked tonal shaping, creating RATM's signature expressive sweeps and rhythmic articulation that define their groove.

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Pedal

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

Morello uses the DD-3 for rhythmic repeats and spatial effects, adding depth and texture to RATM's complex arrangements without muddying the aggressive distortion tone.

MXR Phase 90
Pedal

MXR Phase 90

This phaser adds occasional swirling modulation to Morello's pedalboard, creating subtle psychedelic textures that enhance RATM's experimental moments without overwhelming their heavy rhythm focus.

DigiTech Whammy
Pedal

DigiTech Whammy

The Whammy pedal enables Morello's signature pitch-shifting, octave drops, and squealing harmonics that define RATM's innovative, experimental noise work and solo textures.