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The Weeknd - Wicked Games - Guitar Cover

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

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Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key A minor
The Weeknd - Wicked Games guitar cover video
Kfir Ochaion
Kfir Ochaion Top Contributor
YouTube: 2.4Msubs 290Kviews
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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 A minor
Capo Advisor 0 A minor · Original key

About Wicked Games

At 90 BPM in A minor, "Wicked Games" sits in a slow, brooding pocket that rewards patience over speed. The guitar work here is all about atmosphere: sparse, clean arpeggios and single-note lines that leave plenty of space for the vocal to breathe. Getting that restraint right is actually harder than it sounds, because the temptation is to fill in the gaps. Keep your picking hand relaxed and focus on tone and note length, letting each note ring cleanly before moving to the next. The chord shapes themselves are not complex, but voice-leading between them smoothly in E Standard tuning is where most players stumble. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the main progression slowed down until the transitions feel completely automatic. The Weeknd sits in the Pop Rock world here, but the guitar approach owes a lot to late-night R&B, so aim for a tone that is clean, warm, and never overdriven.

  • The song sits at 90 BPM in A minor, so a slow, steady internal pulse is essential to avoid rushing the sparse arpeggiated guitar lines.
  • E Standard tuning is used throughout, meaning no retuning is needed, but clean fretting and smooth chord transitions are critical for the right feel.
  • The guitar part is built on open, ringing chord voicings rather than busy strumming, making dynamics and note sustain the main technical challenge to practise.

How to Play Wicked Games

Tuning: E Standard · Key: A minor · Tempo: 90 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 90 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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