Megadeth - Holy Wars - Guitar Lesson

About Holy Wars

Few Thrash Metal tracks demand as much from a guitarist as "Holy Wars." The opening riff is the first real test: a low, aggressive figure in Eb Standard that sits in E minor and relies on tight palm muting and precise alternate picking to land with the right punch. At 120 BPM the riff feels manageable at first glance, but the song shifts between complex rhythm passages and fast lead runs frequently enough that stamina becomes a genuine concern. Dave Mustaine's rhythm work throughout is as technically demanding as the solos, so don't rush past it to get to the lead sections. The transition points between the song's distinct movements are where most players lose their footing, so isolating those on the Practice Toolbar and looping them slowed down is the most efficient way to get them clean. Megadeth built this track as essentially two songs stitched together, which means you are really learning multiple distinct guitar parts under one title.

• The song is played in Eb Standard tuning, so drop your whole guitar a half step before you start working through the riffs.
• The opening palm-muted riff requires strict alternate picking at a steady 120 BPM, and any tension in your pick hand will cause it to fall apart quickly.
• Because the song shifts through several distinct sections with different feels and tempos, looping each section separately in the Practice Toolbar is far more effective than running the whole track.