Kings of Leon - Sex On Fire - Guitar Lesson

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Kings of Leon - Sex On Fire - Guitar Lesson

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Key E major
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.

Capo Advisor 0 E major · Original key

Sex On Fire


"Sex on Fire" is a rock track by Kings of Leon, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Only by the Night. It became the band's first number-one single in the UK, Australia, Finland, and Ireland, driven largely by digital downloads. For electric guitarists, the song is a rewarding study in driving rhythm guitar, a memorable riff-based structure, and the restrained tone that defined Kings of Leon's mainstream breakthrough.

  • The song reached number one in the UK on digital downloads alone, before any physical release was available.
  • By November 2012, 'Sex on Fire' had sold 1.2 million copies in the United Kingdom.
  • It was Britain's second most-downloaded digital single ever as of September 2009.
Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Matthew Followill uses the Telecaster for cleaner, jangly passages that cut through the mix with bright articulation. Its single-coil brightness provides contrast to his heavier Gibson tones, adding textural variety to Kings of Leon's arrangements.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Matthew's primary axe, the Les Paul's warm PAF-style humbuckers respond dynamically to pick attack and volume knob control, delivering the thick, responsive tone that defines Kings of Leon's lead work.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Similar to the Standard, this model gives Matthew additional tonal options through its stock PAF humbuckers, maintaining the same warm, dynamic character that supports the band's signature sound.

Gibson SG Standard
Guitar

Gibson SG Standard

Matthew rotates the SG for its punchy midrange and lighter weight, while Caleb uses it as his primary rhythm instrument. The SG's bright attack complements both players' preference for simplicity and natural amp breakup.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

Matthew switches to this Plexi-style head for heavy, driven sections, pushing the JCM800's natural breakup to deliver aggressive lead tones that contrast with his cleaner Vox AC30 settings.

Vox AC30
Amp

Vox AC30

The heart of Kings of Leon's tone, the AC30's EL84 tubes create their signature midrange bite and natural power tube compression. Both Matthew and Caleb rely on it for chime, warmth, and that warm crunch when cranked.