Megadeth - Holy Wars - Chords/Rhythms - Guitar Lesson

About Holy Wars - Chords/Rhythms

The rhythm guitar work in "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" is some of the most demanding in the Thrash Metal catalogue. Playing in E minor at 120 BPM in E Standard tuning, the riffs are relentlessly precise: tight palm muting, aggressive down-picking, and sudden chord stabs that require real right-hand stamina to execute cleanly at full speed. The opening riff alone involves quick position shifts and muted runs that will expose any sloppiness in your picking technique. Many of the chord transitions happen mid-phrase, so your fretting hand has to anticipate changes rather than react to them. Megadeth wrote these rhythms to lock in tightly with the drums, which means timing is just as important as accuracy. Use the Practice Toolbar to isolate the busiest muted sections and loop them slowed down until the pick attack and muting feel automatic, then gradually bring the tempo back up.

• The riffs rely heavily on aggressive down-picking and tight palm muting, so building right-hand endurance before attempting full speed is essential.
• Playing in E Standard at 120 BPM, the rhythm parts demand precise synchronisation between pick attack and palm mute releases throughout the song.
• Many chord stabs occur off expected beats, so looping slowed down with the Practice Toolbar is the most effective way to internalise the rhythm patterns.