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System Of A Down - Toxicity - Guitar Cover

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Key C minor
System Of A Down - Toxicity 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.
Listen on Spotify
System Of A Down Alternative Rock C minor
Capo Advisor 0 C minor · Original key

About Toxicity

Few songs in Alternative Rock pack as much rhythmic aggression into a single riff as "Toxicity" does. System Of A Down built the track around a driving, syncopated guitar figure in Eb Standard tuning, which drops every string a half step and gives the riff a slightly heavier, darker feel than standard pitch would. The key of C minor suits that tension well, and at 165 BPM the picking hand needs to be both precise and relaxed or it tightens up fast. The main riff alternates between palm-muted low-string chugs and open chord stabs, and keeping that contrast sharp is where most players struggle. The verse and chorus also shift feel quickly, so knowing where you are in the arrangement matters as much as the technique itself. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the opening riff slowed down until the muting and the rhythmic accents feel automatic before bringing it back to full tempo.

  • The entire song is played in Eb Standard tuning, meaning every string is tuned down one half step from standard E.
  • The main riff relies on tight palm muting contrasted with open chord stabs, so right-hand control is the central technical challenge.
  • At 165 BPM, the picking pattern is fast enough that even small tension in the forearm will cause accuracy to break down, so practise slowly first.

How to Play Toxicity

Tuning: Eb Standard · Key: C minor · Tempo: 165 BPM

It is played in Eb standard, a half step down, so tune down before you start or every position and bend will sit a half step sharp against the recording. At 165 bpm it moves fast, so the real test is building picking stamina and keeping every note clean at speed.

Loop the hardest passage and creep the speed up from around 70 percent until it holds at 165 BPM.

Gibson SG Standard
Guitar

Gibson SG Standard

Daron Malakian's signature guitar for SOAD's classic era, the SG's bright midrange cuts through Drop C tuning without muddiness while its lightweight body delivers the aggressive, cutting tone on Toxicity. The dual humbuckers provide thick saturation for heavy riffs while maintaining clarity for melodic passages.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

The JCM800 would deliver the tight, focused high-gain crunch that defined early SOAD, though Malakian favored the JCM900 for its superior midrange bite to cut through Serj's vocals and the band's dense arrangements.

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Amp

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

Malakian uses this amp to thicken SOAD's low-end on select studio tracks and heavier passages, adding additional bottom-end depth to the Marshall's midrange focus while maintaining the clarity needed for palm-muted riffing in Drop C.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Malakian's sole primary effects pedal, the Cry Baby adds filtered lead textures and specific riff coloration to SOAD's sound while staying minimal, keeping the focus on the guitar, amp gain, and Drop C tuning that defines their signature tone.

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