Queen - Another One Bites The Dust - Guitar Lesson

The Game (Deluxe Remastered Version)

1980 3:35

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About Another One Bites The Dust

The whole track is built on one of rock's most recognisable bass lines, but guitarists have plenty to work with once you look past it. Brian May locks into a tight, percussive rhythm part in E minor that sits deliberately in the pocket, relying on muted strumming and precise chord stabs rather than flashy lead playing. Getting that clipped, almost funky feel right is harder than it sounds: your picking hand needs to stay controlled and consistent, and any sloppiness in the muting will stick out immediately against the groove. There is also a compact guitar solo that rewards careful attention to phrasing and note choice. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop that solo section slowed down until the bends and timing feel natural at a reduced speed before you bring it back up. Queen built this song around tension and restraint, and matching that discipline in your playing is the real challenge here.

• The guitar part centres on tight, palm-muted chord stabs in E minor, demanding consistent right-hand muting technique throughout.
• Brian May's brief solo uses restrained phrasing, making it a good exercise in note choice and controlled string bending.
• Because the groove is so exposed, any timing drift in the rhythm guitar is immediately audible, so practise with a metronome.