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Soundgarden - Outshined - Guitar Lesson

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Key E minor
Soundgarden - Outshined guitar lesson video
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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.
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Soundgarden Grunge E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Outshined

Few early-90s riffs hit as hard as the opening of "Outshined," and getting it right takes more than just knowing the notes. The core figure sits in E minor and leans heavily on a low, grinding repetition that demands tight left-hand muting to keep the tone focused rather than muddy. Soundgarden built the song around a deceptively simple-looking pattern that actually requires precise rhythmic control, particularly in the way the riff breathes between attacks. The verses keep that coiled tension while the chorus opens up, so you need to shift your picking intensity without losing the pocket. If the muted low-string work in the riff is giving you trouble, use the Practice Toolbar to loop it slowed down until the muting and pick attack feel automatic. The song also rewards attention to dynamics: playing it at one flat volume misses the whole point of how the tension and release are built.

  • The signature riff is rooted in E minor and relies on palm muting and controlled pick attack to achieve its heavy, focused tone.
  • Shifting between the tight, muted verse riff and the more open chorus requires deliberate control of picking dynamics throughout the song.
  • Looping the main riff at reduced speed with the Practice Toolbar helps build the left-hand muting consistency the part demands.

How to Play Outshined

Key: E minor · Tempo: 108 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 108 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Thayil used Les Pauls in the studio when he needed maximum tonal weight and sustain for heavy passages. The PAF humbuckers and thick mahogany body delivered that warm-but-articulate character essential to Soundgarden's crushing riffs.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Similar to the Standard, the Custom provided Thayil with extra body mass and tonal density for studio work on tracks requiring pronounced low-end grind. Its PAF pickups maintained the midrange definition Soundgarden needed even at maximum saturation.

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Amp

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

The Dual Rectifier's cascading gain stages and tight low-end response became the sonic foundation of Soundgarden's heaviness, delivering that saturated tube crunch while preserving the midrange presence that made each riff cut through the mix.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Thayil's signature tool for creating vocal-like feedback textures and howling overtones during sustained passages, transforming the wah beyond typical solo use into a tone-shaping device that defined Soundgarden's psychedelic heaviness.

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Pedal

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

Used sparingly for ambient passages and spacious studio textures, the DD-3 added dimension to Soundgarden's soundscapes without cluttering the aggressive rhythm tone Thayil built from cranked tubes and direct playing.

MXR Phase 90
Pedal

MXR Phase 90

The Phase 90 provided swirling, psychedelic textures that complemented Soundgarden's darker aesthetic, adding subtle motion to sustained passages while keeping the tone grounded in the raw, tube-driven heaviness of the core setup.

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