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Alice in Chains - Down In A Hole Unplugged - Guitar Lesson

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Key E minor
Alice in Chains - Down In A Hole Unplugged guitar lesson video
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Alice in Chains Grunge E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Down In A Hole Unplugged

Few electric-era songs translate as naturally to acoustic as this one, and the unplugged arrangement makes every note of Jerry Cantrell's writing sit right under your fingers. The song is in E minor, but tuning down to Eb Standard gives the open strings a slightly looser, darker feel that suits the mood perfectly. At 80 BPM the tempo is unhurried, which can be deceptive: the fingerpicking or chord voicings need to ring cleanly and sustain, so any sloppiness in your fretting hand is immediately exposed. The key challenge is matching the dynamic arc, starting restrained and letting the emotional weight build through the progression rather than hammering it out from bar one. Alice in Chains were rooted in Grunge, but Cantrell's acoustic writing draws just as much from melodic rock balladry. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the verse fingerpicking pattern slowed down until every note speaks evenly before you bring the tempo back up.

  • The song is in E minor with Eb Standard tuning, so drop your whole guitar a half step before playing to get the correct pitch and feel.
  • At 80 BPM the slow tempo demands clean sustain on every fretted note, making left-hand muting and finger pressure more critical than speed.
  • The unplugged arrangement strips away distortion, so focus on consistent pick or finger attack to keep the dynamic build sounding intentional rather than uneven.

How to Play Down In A Hole Unplugged

Tuning: Eb Standard · Key: E minor · Tempo: 80 BPM

It is played in Eb standard, a half step down, so tune down before you start or every position and bend will sit a half step sharp against the recording. At 80 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 80 BPM.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Jerry Cantrell's Les Paul Standard delivers the open, dynamic PAF-style humbucker tone that defines Alice In Chains' heavier material. The moderate output and natural resonance allow his riffs to cut through with clarity while maintaining the compressed crunch his amps provide.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Cantrell favors the Les Paul Custom for its sustain and tonal warmth, using stock Gibson humbuckers that push his Bogner and Friedman preamps into that signature scooped-mid aggression. The Custom's weight and construction give his drop-tuned riffs the body and presence essential to Alice In Chains' sound.

ESP Eclipse
Guitar

ESP Eclipse

The ESP Eclipse became Cantrell's live and studio workhorse during the reunion era, offering reliability and consistent output for his articulate, tight distortion tone. Its modern craftsmanship paired with quality humbuckers delivers the clarity needed for Alice In Chains' intricate riff work.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

The Marshall JCM800 provides the raw, compressed crunch that influenced Alice In Chains' early heaviness, offering tight low-end aggression when pushed by Cantrell's high-output pickups. Its natural breakup characteristics contribute to the band's signature sludgy yet articulate distortion.

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Amp

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

The Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier's thick, scooped midrange and tight bass response align perfectly with Cantrell's need for articulate, aggressive distortion that doesn't lose definition in drop-tuned passages. Its headroom allows his dynamics to shine through heavy compression.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Cantrell's Cry Baby is his primary tone-shaping tool, famously parked in positions for the haunting filter effect on 'Man in the Box' and used expressively throughout Alice In Chains' catalog. The wah adds emotional color and presence to his otherwise direct, amp-focused signal chain.

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