Queen - I Want It All - Guitar Lesson

The Miracle (Deluxe Remastered Version)

1989 4:02

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About I Want It All

Brian May wrote "I Want It All," and his fingerprints are all over the guitar work: a driving, anthemic riff in D major that sits perfectly in E Standard tuning and leans hard into Hard Rock swagger. The opening riff is the first thing to nail down, built on a repeating figure that needs a firm pick attack to get that punchy, almost aggressive tone May was after. At 140 BPM the song moves at a confident stride, so the riff itself is not blindingly fast, but keeping the rhythm locked and the bends in tune under that tempo takes more control than it first appears. The solo section is where things get demanding: May layers melodic phrasing with his trademark sustain and vocal-like bends, which reward slow, careful study. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop those solo phrases slowed down so you can hear exactly where each bend resolves before you try it at speed. Queen recordings like this are also a good lesson in how rhythm guitar can carry an entire song's energy.

• The main riff is played in E Standard tuning in the key of D major, making it accessible while still requiring a confident, driving pick attack.
• Brian May's solo uses his signature sustain and vocal-style string bends, so isolating each phrase with the Practice Toolbar at reduced speed is highly recommended.
• At 140 BPM the rhythm part demands tight, consistent downstrokes to keep the groove from rushing, making it a solid exercise in pick discipline.