Gojira - Silvera - Guitar Lesson

Magma

2016 3:33

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About Silvera

Drop D tuning is the engine of "Silvera," and Gojira use it to devastating effect across this track from their 2016 album Magma. The low D string carries a churning, palm-muted riff that sits at the core of the song, and getting that riff tight is the first real challenge. At 120 BPM in D minor the tempo is not extreme, but the precision demanded in the picking hand is relentless. Every note needs a clean, consistent palm mute or the riff loses its punch completely. The rhythmic syncopation between guitar and drums is another place where players tend to drift, so isolate that section with the Practice Toolbar, slow it down, and lock in the feel before bringing it back up to speed. The Heavy Metal technique on display here rewards patience: once the picking-hand control is solid, the song comes together quickly and feels very satisfying to play.

• The song is in Drop D tuning, making single-finger power chords on the lower strings accessible while freeing the fretting hand for tighter riff articulation.
• Consistent palm muting on the low D string is the key technical demand, as any variation in mute pressure noticeably changes the riff's character.
• At 120 BPM the tempo is manageable, but the syncopated rhythmic patterns between guitar parts benefit from looping them slowed down before playing at full speed.