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Rage Against The Machine - Bombtrack - Guitar Lesson

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Key D minor
Rage Against The Machine - Bombtrack guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

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Master7
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Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
Rage Against The Machine - XX (20th Anniversary Special Edition) album cover
Rage Against The Machine - XX (20th Anniversary Special Edition)
1992 4:03
Listen on Spotify
Rage Against The Machine Funk Metal 1992 D minor
Capo Advisor 0 D minor · Original key

About Bombtrack

"Bombtrack" opens the debut record of Rage Against The Machine with a declaration of intent: a heavy, churning guitar riff in D minor that immediately tells you what kind of band this is. Tom Morello keeps the part relatively straightforward rhythmically, but getting it to feel locked-in and aggressive requires tight palm muting and precise pick attack. The riff sits in the lower strings, so cleanliness matters more than speed here. What trips up most players is maintaining consistent muting pressure while keeping the notes punchy rather than muddy, especially at tempo. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the main riff slowed down and focus on the relationship between your picking hand and the muting hand before you bring it up to full speed. The verse groove also rewards attention to dynamics, because Morello lifts and drops the muting to create tension and release throughout the song.

  • The main riff is built around heavy palm muting on the lower strings in D minor, making right-hand muting control the central technique to develop.
  • Tom Morello favors a tight, percussive pick attack on this track, so practicing with a firm grip and consistent downstrokes will help you nail the feel.
  • If your tone sounds muddy rather than punchy, try rolling back gain slightly and focusing on palm placement closer to the bridge for better note definition.

How to Play Bombtrack

Tuning: Drop D · Key: D minor · Tempo: 76 BPM

The drop D tuning lets you fret the low power chords with a single finger, which is central to the heavier riffing here. At 76 bpm the slow tempo leaves every note exposed, so timing, vibrato, and dynamics matter more than raw speed.

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

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Tom Morello uses this 1982 Telecaster for RATM's funkier, cleaner rhythm parts, leveraging its bridge humbucker for articulate muting and percussive attack that cuts through dense arrangements.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

The JCM800's punchy midrange and aggressive natural clipping deliver RATM's signature thick, cutting distortion tone while staying tight enough for Morello's dynamic muting and noise experiments.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Morello exploits this wah pedal extensively for funk riffs and half-cocked tonal shaping, creating RATM's signature expressive sweeps and rhythmic articulation that define their groove.

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Pedal

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

Morello uses the DD-3 for rhythmic repeats and spatial effects, adding depth and texture to RATM's complex arrangements without muddying the aggressive distortion tone.

MXR Phase 90
Pedal

MXR Phase 90

This phaser adds occasional swirling modulation to Morello's pedalboard, creating subtle psychedelic textures that enhance RATM's experimental moments without overwhelming their heavy rhythm focus.

DigiTech Whammy
Pedal

DigiTech Whammy

The Whammy pedal enables Morello's signature pitch-shifting, octave drops, and squealing harmonics that define RATM's innovative, experimental noise work and solo textures.

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