Muse - Stockholm Syndrome - Solo & Ending - Guitar Lesson

About Stockholm Syndrome - Solo & Ending

The solo and ending section of "Stockholm Syndrome" is where Muse guitarist Matt Bellamy really pushes the limits of what a single player can do in a live rock context. In Drop D tuning, the low string sits a whole step down, and the song's G minor tonality makes use of that extra reach on the bottom end throughout the build to the finale. At 174 BPM the tempo is relentless, so clean execution on the solo runs takes real stamina and left-hand accuracy. The ending riff in particular layers heavily distorted, pedal-to-the-metal picking against those drop-tuned power chords, and the transitions between melodic lead lines and full-chord crunch are the parts most players struggle with. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the solo entry slowed down, working the pick attack evenly before bringing it back up to tempo. This is a section that rewards patient, bar-by-bar repetition far more than running it full speed too soon.

• Drop D tuning gives the low string a whole-step drop, making the heavy power chord riffs in the ending section easier to finger with one-finger barres.
• At 174 BPM, the solo demands strong right-hand stamina and consistent pick attack, so practise the runs at reduced speed before pushing the tempo.
• The solo sits in G minor, so knowing the G natural minor and G blues scale shapes across the neck will help you navigate Bellamy's melodic phrases.