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The Weeknd - Blinding Lights - Guitar Cover

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100%

Tools

BPM
Key F# minor
The Weeknd - Blinding Lights guitar cover video
Kfir Ochaion
Kfir Ochaion Top Contributor
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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.
The Weeknd Pop Rock F# minor
Capo Advisor 0 F# minor · Original key

About Blinding Lights

At 103 BPM in F# minor, "Blinding Lights" sits in a mid-tempo pocket that feels deceptively easy until you try to lock your guitar part to the pulsing synth drive that defines the track. On guitar, the most natural approach is to treat the synth hook as a lead melody line, which sits comfortably in the F# natural minor scale and rewards clean single-note picking over sloppy fretting. The rhythmic feel is relentless, so keeping your right hand consistent against that steady pulse is the real challenge, especially through the chord changes. The Weeknd built this track around a glossy, Pop Rock energy, and translating that to guitar means prioritising brightness and attack in your tone. If the melodic hook is giving you trouble, use the Practice Toolbar to loop it slowed down until your fingers know exactly where to land before you bring it back up to full speed.

  • The main synth hook translates well to guitar as a single-note melody line sitting in the F# natural minor scale.
  • E Standard tuning means no retuning is needed, so you can focus entirely on getting the melodic phrasing right.
  • The steady 103 BPM pulse demands consistent right-hand rhythm, making it a solid exercise for picking hand discipline.

How to Play Blinding Lights

Tuning: E Standard · Key: F# minor · Tempo: 103 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 103 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

The Weeknd relies on the Stratocaster's stock single-coil pickups for the bright, articulate clarity essential to his shimmering, reverb-drenched aesthetic. The natural dynamics and minimal noise floor allow his controlled finger dynamics and spatial effects to shine without coloration.

Fender Jazzmaster
Guitar

Fender Jazzmaster

The Jazzmaster's wider frequency response and natural shimmer complement The Weeknd's clean, effects-heavy approach, offering an alternative voice when extra harmonic depth suits the session. Its offset body delivers the same single-coil character with enhanced upper-midrange presence.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

The Twin Reverb's built-in spring reverb tank and light power-tube saturation at moderate volumes form the sonic foundation of The Weeknd's tone, delivering natural breakup without distortion. This amp's real reverb is non-negotiable for achieving the spatial depth his music demands.

Fender Deluxe Reverb
Amp

Fender Deluxe Reverb

Vintage Deluxe Reverb models provide The Weeknd with the same essential spring reverb character and responsive tube saturation as the Twin, but in a more portable package with tighter low-end control. Real spring reverb remains the critical element for his signature shimmering sound.

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Pedal

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

The DD-3's quarter and eighth-note delay timing at 250-400ms creates the rhythmic spatial depth essential to The Weeknd's layered, atmospheric productions. Simple and reliable, it avoids unnecessary features that would clutter his minimalist effects philosophy.

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