Muse - Reapers - Guitar Lesson

About Reapers

Drop D tuning sits at the heart of "Reapers," giving the low open D string a thick, aggressive weight that drives the song's mechanical, riff-based feel. The track runs at 120 BPM in E minor, and a lot of the challenge lives in the rhythm playing: tight, palm-muted single-string runs that demand clean left-hand muting and precise pick attack to keep the groove locked and menacing. Getting that crunch without slurring adjacent strings is harder than it looks, so isolate those riff passages with the Practice Toolbar and work them at reduced speed before bringing them up to tempo. There is also a sharp, angular lead style throughout that suits the clinical edge Muse bring to Alternative Rock. Technique-wise, focus on your pick-hand consistency: the song rewards a heavy, even downstroke approach on the lower strings, and any looseness in the rhythm will show up immediately against the track's rigid, driving pulse.

• Drop D tuning gives the riff its low, crushing weight, so make sure your sixth string is tuned down to D before you start.
• The rhythm parts rely on tight palm muting at 120 BPM, making consistent right-hand pressure the key technique to practise.
• Looping the main riff slowed down is a practical way to clean up any string noise before pushing back to full tempo.