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Alter Bridge - Addicted To Pain - Guitar Lesson

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Key E minor
Alter Bridge - Addicted To Pain guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
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Alter Bridge Hard Rock E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Addicted To Pain

Drop D tuning is doing a lot of work in "Addicted To Pain," and understanding why is the key to getting the song right. That lowered sixth string lets Alter Bridge hit the kind of heavy, open-sounding power chords in E minor that would be awkward to finger in standard tuning, and the riff leans on that low D as an anchor throughout. At 95 BPM the tempo is not punishing, but the rhythm part demands tight, controlled picking: sloppy muting will muddy those low-end chords quickly. The real challenge is keeping the right hand consistent through the verse riff while switching cleanly into the more open chord work in the chorus. If the riff transitions keep tripping you up, the Practice Toolbar is exactly what you need: loop the verse-to-chorus change slowed down until the shift feels automatic. This sits squarely in the Hard Rock tradition of riff-first songwriting, so locking in the rhythm part before worrying about the lead lines is the right order of attack.

  • Drop D tuning is essential here, giving the main riff its low, heavy E minor foundation that standard tuning cannot replicate as cleanly.
  • At 95 BPM, the song is mid-paced, but right-hand muting precision is critical to keeping the low-string riff punchy rather than muddy.
  • The verse riff is a strong exercise in Drop D power chord technique, making it a practical study in controlled rhythm guitar at moderate tempo.

How to Play Addicted To Pain

Tuning: Drop D · Key: E minor · Tempo: 95 BPM

The drop D tuning lets you fret the low power chords with a single finger, which is central to the heavier riffing here.

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 95 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Myles Kennedy reaches for the Les Paul in the studio when Alter Bridge needs heavier, more saturated tones beyond what his PRS delivers. Its thicker body and traditional humbuckers add warmth and sustain to rhythm work, complementing his slightly less-compressed amp tones.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

The Custom's slightly thicker top and refined electronics give Myles Kennedy a darker, more controlled palette for layered studio recordings. This guitar bridges his PRS versatility with classic rock weight, perfect for Alter Bridge's dynamic range between clean arpeggios and crushing riffs.

PRS Custom 24
Guitar

PRS Custom 24

Myles Kennedy's workhorse alongside his signature model, the Custom 24 offers the same bolt-on snap and tonal flexibility as his PRS but with traditional 24-fret access for extended lead passages. Its responsive pickups complement his Marshall amp's open gain character.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

Myles Kennedy's go-to alternative to PRS amps, the JCM800 delivers the less-saturated, more dynamic gain tone he favors for leads and cleaner sections. Its legendary presence peak cuts through without the tight midrange coloration of his PRS heads.

MXR Phase 90
Pedal

MXR Phase 90

Mark Tremonti layers this classic modulation sparingly across Alter Bridge leads to add movement and space without cluttering his amp-first tone philosophy. The subtle swirl complements his delay-driven solo textures perfectly.

ISP Decimator Noise Gate
Pedal

ISP Decimator Noise Gate

Essential for taming Mark Tremonti's high-gain PRS MT 100 during palm-muted rhythms, the Decimator keeps tight chugs articulate and gate-free, preserving pick attack clarity at extreme gain levels.

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