Incubus - Pardon Me - Guitar Lesson

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Incubus - Pardon Me - Guitar Lesson

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Key E minor
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Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Make Yourself album cover
Make Yourself
1999 3:44
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

Pardon Me


"Pardon Me" is a song by Incubus, released on October 5, 1999 as the lead single from their third studio album, Make Yourself. It marked a breakthrough moment for the band, becoming their first track to gain significant radio airplay and charting strongly on multiple Billboard rock charts. For electric guitarists, it offers an engaging mix of clean melodic passages and heavier distorted sections that reflect Incubus's dynamic approach to alternative metal.

  • "Pardon Me" reached number three on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, marking Incubus's first major radio breakthrough.
  • The song runs approximately 3 minutes and 43 seconds, making it a focused and efficient study for guitarists learning song structure.
  • As the lead single from Make Yourself, it helped define Incubus's evolving sound away from their earlier funk-metal style.
Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Einziger uses Strats for their bright, jangly single-coil character on tracks requiring thinner, cleaner textures. Their natural sparkle complements Incubus's alternative rock aesthetic without the fullness of his signature PRS guitars.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

The Telecaster's punchy single-coil tone gives Einziger a tighter, more articulate voice for passages needing definition and snap. Its twang cuts through Incubus's dense production while maintaining the clarity essential to their sound.

PRS Custom 24
Guitar

PRS Custom 24

Einziger's workhorse guitar, the Custom 24 delivers balanced versatility from chimey cleans to saturated drive with its responsive humbuckers. The 24-fret neck and coil-split capability enable seamless transitions between Incubus's dynamic song structures.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

This amp provides the pristine, headroom-rich clean foundation Einziger needs in the studio for crystalline tones without breakup. Its natural reverb contributes to the spacious soundscapes integral to Incubus's atmospheric passages.

Vox AC30
Amp

Vox AC30

The AC30's warm, chimey breakup defines Incubus classics like 'Drive', offering the perfect balance between clean jangle and gentle saturation. Its organic response to dynamics captures the emotional subtlety Einziger brings to their alternative rock arrangements.

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Amp

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

This head provides the thick, saturated gain and tight low-end punch Einziger uses for Incubus's heavier riffs and power passages. Its responsive saturation maintains clarity and definition even at high gain levels, crucial for their technical rock style.

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Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)