Practice Studio

Muse - Undisclosed Desires - Guitar Lesson

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

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Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key G minor
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
AI tone preset

AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.

The Resistance album cover
The Resistance
2009 3:55
Capo Advisor 0 G minor · Original key

About Undisclosed Desires


Written by Muse frontman Matthew Bellamy, "Undisclosed Desires" sits in a more electronic, groove-driven corner of the band's catalogue, and that texture shapes how you approach it on guitar. The part is built around a clean, rhythmically tight arpeggio pattern in G minor that loops with a near-mechanical pulse, so steady right-hand control is everything here. At 128 BPM in E Standard tuning, the tempo is not brutal, but keeping those arpeggios locked and even across the full length of the track takes more discipline than it first appears. Resist the urge to rush the attack on each note. The challenge is consistency rather than speed, so use the Practice Toolbar to isolate any bar where your picking starts to drift and loop it slowed down until the motion feels automatic. The song also rewards attention to tone: a clean, lightly compressed sound lets the articulation of each note breathe, and any sloppiness in finger placement will show immediately in this Alternative Rock context.

  • The song is built on a repeating clean arpeggio pattern in G minor, making consistent right-hand picking technique the central skill to develop.
  • Played in E Standard tuning at 128 BPM, the tempo is moderate but demands sustained rhythmic precision across the whole performance.
  • A clean, lightly compressed guitar tone is key to this song; any finger placement or timing issues will be clearly audible in the mix.

How to Play Undisclosed Desires

Tuning: E Standard · Key: G minor · Tempo: 128 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 128 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Vox AC30
Amp

Vox AC30

Bellamy uses the Vox AC30 for clean, chimey passages that contrast with his high-gain rig, providing warm tube breakup and natural chime on atmospheric sections. Its low-wattage headroom lets him achieve responsive, dynamic tones without sacrificing clarity.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

The Cry Baby wah is essential to Bellamy's lead vocabulary, particularly on "Knights of Cydonia," where it sweeps across his sustained, pitch-shifted tones. The pedal's responsive sweep complements his aggressive playing style and synth-like effects chain.

Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi
Pedal

Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi

Bellamy pairs the Big Muff's smooth, sustaining fuzz with his bridge humbucker for soaring lead tones that retain clarity even under extreme gain. Its warm compression makes it ideal for long, singing sustain passages layered with the Fernandes Sustainer system.

DigiTech Whammy
Pedal

DigiTech Whammy

The Whammy is Bellamy's signature effect, enabling octave-shifted harmonies, pitch-shifted leads, and dramatic dive bombs used across nearly every Muse album. It transforms his sustained notes into orchestral layers that define Muse's progressive rock signature sound.

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)