Megadeth - Hangar 18 - Famous Riffs - Guitar Lesson

Practice Studio

Megadeth - Hangar 18 - Famous Riffs - Guitar Lesson

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

Not in tune?

Select a Loop

Start of your loop
End of your loop

Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key E minor
PLAY WITH BACKING TRACK
·
–50¢ 0 +50¢
· Tap to start

Your browser will ask for microphone permission.

Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
AI tone preset

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.

Megadeth Thrash Metal E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

Hangar 18 - Famous Riffs


Hangar 18 is a track by Megadeth, the American heavy metal band known for their technical precision and aggressive style. The song is widely regarded as a showcase of intricate lead guitar work, featuring multiple guitar solos exchanged between Dave Mustaine and Marty Friedman. For electric guitarists, it stands as an essential study in shred technique, alternate picking, and how to construct melodic yet aggressive solo sections within a heavy metal arrangement.

  • Hangar 18 contains over five distinct guitar solos, making it one of the most solo-dense tracks in Megadeth's catalog.
  • The song is a staple for intermediate to advanced guitarists looking to develop speed, phrasing, and melodic lead technique.
  • Megadeth is an American heavy metal band recognized for blending thrash intensity with technically demanding guitar compositions.
Gibson Flying V
Guitar

Gibson Flying V

Dave Mustaine's current signature Flying V delivers the V-shaped body geometry essential for accessing upper frets on his complex spider-chord voicings and fast lead lines. The guitar's thin, fast neck profile and fixed bridge provide the tuning stability and articulation Megadeth's precise, aggressive riffing demands.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

Mustaine built Megadeth's signature razor-sharp, scooped-mid tone on Marshall JCM800s, with gain around 7-8 to retain pick dynamics and articulation under heavy palm-muting. The amp's responsive tube saturation transforms hot pickups into the controlled, fast low-end aggression that defines thrash metal rhythm tones.

DigiTech Whammy
Pedal

DigiTech Whammy

Marty Friedman used the Digitech Whammy as a lead accent tool, adding pitch-shifting texture to solos without cluttering Megadeth's minimalist effects philosophy. The pedal's harmonic richness complemented his warm, vocal-like Seymour Duncan humbucker tone during the band's classic era.

ISP Decimator Noise Gate
Pedal

ISP Decimator Noise Gate

The ISP Decimator is essential for Mustaine's high-gain thrash setup, eliminating feedback and noise between palm-muted riffs without compromising sustain. This noise gate allows him to push the Marshall into aggressive saturation while maintaining the tight, articulate attack Megadeth's complex rhythms require.

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)