Audioslave - I Am the Highway - Guitar Lesson

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Audioslave - I Am the Highway - Guitar Lesson

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Key Em minor
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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.

Capo Advisor 0 Em minor · Original key

I Am the Highway


"I Am the Highway" is a rock track by Audioslave, released as the fourth single from their 2002 self-titled debut album. It reached number 2 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, demonstrating its broad radio impact. For electric guitarists, the song is a rewarding study in Tom Morello's restrained yet expressive playing style, blending clean melodic lines with his signature textural approach across a slow-burning, atmospheric arrangement.

  • The song peaked at number 2 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, making it one of Audioslave's most successful singles.
  • Running just over five and a half minutes, the track gives guitarists room to explore dynamics and sustained phrasing.
  • It was the fourth single from Audioslave's debut album, released in September 2003, nearly a year after the album dropped.
Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Morello uses this 1982 Telecaster on Audioslave's cleaner tracks like 'I Am the Highway' and 'Like a Stone,' where its single humbucker delivers warmer, more open tones than his high-gain primary guitar. The Telecaster's natural twang lets his effects and subtle playing dynamics shine without heavy saturation.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

This stock 50-watt head is Audioslave's foundation, with its gain channel providing moderate saturation that Morello pushes via pedal boost for heavy riffs like 'Cochise.' The clean channel remains uncolored, allowing his effects and guitar tone to dominate the mix without amp-based distortion.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Morello's wah sits first in his chain, shaping the expressive, vocal-like character of Audioslave's lead work and adding dynamic sweep to both rhythm and solo passages. It's essential for his signature technique of blending nu-metal aggression with funk-influenced texture.

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Pedal

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

Running in the effects loop after the amp, this digital delay creates the rhythmic echo effects that add space and dimension to Audioslave's atmospheric moments. It lets Morello layer repeating patterns without muddying his core tone or high-gain riffs.

DigiTech Whammy
Pedal

DigiTech Whammy

This pitch-shifting pedal is where Morello creates Audioslave's most extreme and experimental sounds, enabling artificial harmonics and dramatic pitch drops that define songs like 'Cochise.' The Whammy's creative manipulation combined with his killswitch technique generates the band's signature metallic textures.

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)