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Pearl Jam - Black - Guitar Lesson

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Key E major
Pearl Jam - Black 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.
Ten album cover
Ten
1991 5:43
Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Music
Pearl Jam Alternative Rock 1991 E major
Capo Advisor 0 E major · Original key

About Black

Few songs on "Ten" ask as much of a rhythm guitarist as "Black." The chord work sits in E major and revolves around open and partial chord voicings played with a fluid, arpeggiated picking hand. Getting that rolling, sustained feel right is trickier than it looks, because the right hand has to stay loose while the left hand moves cleanly between shapes. The intro figure in particular demands consistent string separation, so every note rings through clearly rather than blurring together. If the transitions between chord voicings are catching you out, use the Practice Toolbar to loop that section slowed down until the movement feels automatic. Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready also contributes a lead outro that builds gradually, rewarding players who want to work on expressive soloing with vibrato and sustained bends. The song is a great exercise in dynamics, moving from a gentle, clean tone in the verses to a fuller sound in the later sections.

  • The main guitar part uses arpeggiated open and partial chord voicings in E major, demanding clean string separation and a relaxed, consistent picking motion.
  • The outro solo is a strong exercise in expressive lead playing, focusing on sustain, vibrato, and gradual dynamic build rather than speed.
  • Looping the chord transition sections slowed down with the Practice Toolbar will help lock in the left-hand movement before bringing it up to tempo.

How to Play Black

Tuning: E Standard · Key: E major · Tempo: 76 BPM

Loop each section and focus on clean, even timing rather than speed, with the metronome at 76 BPM.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Mike McCready's signature instrument, with glassy single-coil pickups that deliver his iconic vocal-like leads and dynamic wah tones on classics like 'Alive' and 'Yellow Ledbetter.' The Strat's clarity cuts through Pearl Jam's heavy rhythm section.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Stone Gossard occasionally deploys the Telecaster for its bright, cutting midrange to complement his primary Gibson arsenal, adding tonal variety to Pearl Jam's layered rhythm approach without sacrificing sustain.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Stone Gossard's main rhythm weapon, the '53 Goldtop Les Paul delivers the warm, thick humbucker tones that anchor Pearl Jam's foundation with sustain and midrange presence perfect for the band's sludgy grunge aesthetic.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Gossard's alternate heavy hitter providing deeper, thicker tones than the Standard for songs demanding extra weight and sustain, crucial to Pearl Jam's ability to shift between raw and refined sonic textures.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

McCready and Gossard's tone weapon of choice, the JCM800 produces the warm, mid-heavy natural tube overdrive that defines Pearl Jam's 'Ten' era sound with enough grit for leads and clarity for chord definition.

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Amp

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

Gossard's heavy-duty amplifier option delivering aggressive, saturated tones with tight low-end for Pearl Jam's heavier material, offering more modern crunch than vintage Marshalls when maximum sustain is required.

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