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The Rolling Stones - Paint It Black - Guitar Lesson

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The Rolling Stones - Paint It Black - Guitar Lesson

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The Rolling Stones - Paint It Black guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

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Paint It Black

"Paint It Black" is a song by the Rolling Stones, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and released as a single in May 1966. Classified as raga rock, it blends Indian, Middle Eastern, and Eastern European influences with dark lyrics about grief and loss. For electric guitarists, its distinctive modal riffs and unconventional tonal palette make it a rewarding study in blending rock technique with non-Western musical ideas.

  • The song draws on raga rock, a style merging rock guitar with Indian musical scales and textures, offering unique fretboard exploration.
  • Keith Richards' guitar work incorporates Middle Eastern and Eastern European influences, making the chord choices unusual for a 1960s rock track.
  • "Paint It Black" opened the American version of the Rolling Stones' 1966 album Aftermath, though it was absent from the original UK release.
Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Ronnie Wood relies on the Strat's versatile single-coil tone for bright, cutting leads that complement Keith's darker textures. The guitar's natural snap cuts through the Stones' dense arrangements without losing warmth.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Keith Richards' modified butterscotch Telecaster, fitted with a Gibson PAF humbucker, delivers the fatter, warmer attack that defines his rhythm work while maintaining the instrument's natural twang and cutting presence.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

This guitar anchors iconic Stones tracks like 'Sympathy for the Devil' and 'Gimme Shelter,' providing the thick, sustained tone and natural breakup Keith needs for his open-tuning chord work.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

While not specifically mentioned in Keith's primary rig, the Custom's thicker body and hardware enhance sustain and warmth, making it an alternative for achieving the deeper, more compressed tones the Stones occasionally pursue.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

Keith's preferred amp, the Twin Reverb's headroom and natural breakup create that sweet spot where tubes work hard without full distortion, perfectly complementing his open-tuning dynamics and pick attack sensitivity.

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Amp

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

For live shows requiring more gain and punch, this amp provides the boosted output the Stones need while maintaining the moderate tube breakup that's central to Keith's tone philosophy.

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