Red Hot Chili Peppers - Around The World - Guitar Lesson

Californication (Deluxe Edition)

1999 3:59

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About Around The World

Few funk-rock bass lines are as immediately recognisable as the one driving "Around The World," but guitarists have plenty to focus on here too. John Frusciante's rhythm work sits deep in an E minor groove, locking tightly with Flea's bass to create that rolling, hypnotic feel. The main guitar part relies on tight, percussive muting and precise chord hits rather than flashy lead playing, which makes it deceptively tricky to nail at full tempo. If you find the rhythmic pattern slipping, use the Practice Toolbar to loop the verse or chorus at a reduced speed until the feel becomes automatic. Red Hot Chili Peppers lean hard on interplay between guitar and bass throughout the track, so your sense of timing and pocket matters far more than technical fireworks. Getting comfortable in E minor and keeping your right hand relaxed and consistent is the real challenge to solve before bringing it up to speed.

• The guitar part centres on tight, palm-muted funk-rhythm playing in E minor, demanding a relaxed but controlled picking hand.
• Locking with the bass rather than standing out is the core challenge, making consistent right-hand muting technique essential to practise.
• Looping the verse pattern slowed down in the Practice Toolbar is the fastest way to internalise the rhythmic pocket.