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Wolfmother - Joker and the Thief - Guitar Lesson

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Key E minor
Wolfmother - Joker and the Thief guitar lesson video
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
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Wolfmother Hard Rock E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Joker and the Thief

Few riffs from the mid-2000s hit as hard or as immediately as the opening of "Joker and the Thief." Running in E minor at 104 BPM in standard tuning, the main riff is built on a repeated, driving single-note figure that sits right in the low registers of the guitar, giving it that heavy, almost hypnotic quality. The challenge is not speed but precision: every note needs to lock tightly to the kick drum, and your pick attack has to stay consistent through the repetition or the groove falls apart. The chorus opens things up with big open-position power chords, so you will be shifting between tight single-note work and broader strumming, which is an easy section to fumble if you rush the transition. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop that riff-to-chorus switch slowed down until the shift feels automatic. Wolfmother built their sound on the energy of classic Hard Rock, and this track is a strong example of how much mileage a single well-crafted riff can carry.

  • The main riff runs in E minor in standard tuning, sitting in the low register of the guitar for a heavy, grounded feel.
  • Tight pick attack and rhythmic precision matter more than speed here, as the riff's power comes from locking in with the drums.
  • Practise the transition between the single-note riff and the chorus power chords slowly before bringing it up to the 104 BPM tempo.

How to Play Joker and the Thief

Tuning: E Standard · Key: E minor · Tempo: 104 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 104 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Stockdale occasionally deploys the Les Paul's thicker body and warmer tone for added sustain and weight on heavier riffs. Its similar humbucker output complements the SG's midrange character while adding slightly more low-end body to Wolfmother's heavy, psychedelic sound.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

The Custom's premium PAF-inspired pickups and solid mahogany construction deliver the thick, warm sustain Stockdale seeks for his most aggressive passages. This guitar provides an alternative platform for the same high-gain fuzz tones that define Wolfmother's heavy psych riffing.

Gibson SG Standard
Guitar

Gibson SG Standard

The SG's lighter weight, aggressive midrange, and dual humbuckers are central to Wolfmother's signature thick, warm overdrive from cranked tube amps. Its thinner neck and responsive pickups let Stockdale push high-gain fuzz into natural saturation while maintaining chord clarity.

Vox AC30
Amp

Vox AC30

Stockdale uses the AC30's natural chime and breakup for cleaner, more articulate passages that contrast with his high-gain fuzz tones. Its vintage British tone adds textural variety to Wolfmother's heavier moments without sacrificing the warmth essential to their psych sound.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

This expressive wah is essential for Stockdale's lead tones, adding vocal-like sweeps and dynamic presence to soloing over thick fuzz and overdrive. Used sparingly as an effect rather than rhythmically, it cuts through heavy amp saturation while complementing the SG's midrange character.

Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi
Pedal

Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi

The Big Muff's thick, sustaining fuzz circuit is core to Wolfmother's heavy psych tone, delivering warm saturation that responds perfectly to Gibson humbuckers. Its fat character provides the crushing, vintage fuzz that defines their most aggressive riffs and solos.

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