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Pixies - Where Is My Mind? - Guitar Lesson

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Pixies - Where Is My Mind? - Guitar Lesson

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Pixies - Where Is My Mind? guitar lesson video
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Death to the Pixies album cover
Death to the Pixies
1997 3:49
Listen on Spotify
Pixies Alternative Rock 1997 E major
Capo Advisor 0 E major · Original key

Where Is My Mind?

"Where Is My Mind?" is a song by Pixies, released as the seventh track on their 1988 debut album, Surfer Rosa. The track is a staple of alternative rock and an accessible entry point for electric guitarists, featuring a distinctive clean-toned, reverb-drenched guitar riff that is instantly recognizable. Its relatively simple chord structure and iconic lead line make it a rewarding song to learn for players at an intermediate level.

  • The main guitar riff uses a clean tone with heavy reverb, a good exercise in restraint and tone shaping.
  • "Where Is My Mind?" appeared on Pixies' 1988 debut album, Surfer Rosa, produced by Steve Albini.
  • The song's sparse arrangement highlights how a simple repeating guitar figure can carry an entire track effectively.
Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Black Francis occasionally wielded this bright, versatile instrument for its snappy attack and cutting single-coil tones that define Pixies' clean rhythm foundation. The bolt-on neck delivers the direct, no-nonsense response that fits their aggressive playing style.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Black Francis favored Telecasters for their punchy single-coils that produce the iconic bright, cutting tones on 'Where Is My Mind?' and 'Here Comes Your Man.' This guitar's simplicity and direct response align perfectly with Pixies' emphasis on playing hard over gear complexity.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Joey Santiago's workhorse choice, featuring humbucker pickups that deliver the fat midrange growl essential to Pixies' layered guitar sound. Driven into amp breakup, it provides the contrast needed against Black Francis' bright single-coils.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Santiago used this premium Les Paul variant for its refined humbucker tones and added depth, maintaining the same aggressive midrange character that cuts through the mix without excessive compression on lead passages.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

Santiago relied on this amp for clean headroom and shimmering reverb that adds atmosphere to Pixies' quieter passages. Its responsive breakup point allows pick dynamics to control whether tones stay clean or crunch with intensity.

Boss DS-1 Distortion
Pedal

Boss DS-1 Distortion

This compact distortion pedal exemplifies Pixies' minimal effects approach, pushing Santiago's Les Paul leads into nasty, saturated territory when needed while keeping the signal chain deliberately simple and focused on playing dynamics.

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