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Audioslave - Cochise - Guitar Lesson

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Key E minor
Audioslave - Cochise guitar lesson video
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
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Audioslave Hard Rock E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Cochise

Drop D tuning is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in "Cochise," and understanding that is the first step to nailing it. The low D string gives Tom Morello the thick, chunky power chords and single-note riffs that define the song's driving feel, all sitting in E minor at a steady 120 BPM. The opening riff is deceptively simple to finger but demands tight palm muting and consistent pick attack to get that locked-in, almost mechanical groove right. Where most players slip up is letting the muted chugs get sloppy between the chord stabs, so use the Practice Toolbar to loop that section slowed down until the rhythm feels completely automatic. Morello's approach throughout the song is about restraint and precision rather than speed, which makes clean execution the real challenge. Audioslave sit firmly in the Hard Rock tradition here, blending heavy riffing with a focused, almost minimalist structure that rewards players who lock in tightly with the drums.

  • The entire song is played in Drop D tuning, which lets you barre power chords on the lowest two strings with a single finger.
  • Palm muting consistency on the low D string is the core technical challenge, as any looseness in the right hand exposes the rhythm immediately.
  • At 120 BPM the main riff sits at a tempo where pick-hand endurance and groove matter far more than technical speed.

How to Play Cochise

Tuning: Drop D · Key: E minor · Tempo: 120 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 120 BPM to build it up to tempo.

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.

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