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Kings of Leon - Sex On Fire - Guitar Lesson

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Key E major
Kings of Leon - Sex On Fire guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
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Kings of Leon Alternative Rock E major
Capo Advisor 0 E major · Original key

About Sex On Fire

Few songs in Alternative Rock are as deceptively straightforward as "Sex On Fire." The main riff sits in E major and revolves around a handful of chord shapes and a repeating guitar figure that sounds effortless but rewards careful attention to tone and dynamics. At 120 BPM in E Standard tuning, the tempo is comfortable enough that getting the notes right is not the challenge. What actually trips players up is matching the feel: the rhythm guitar needs to stay loose and slightly behind the beat, letting the groove breathe rather than locking in too rigidly. Kings of Leon built the track around restraint, so resisting the urge to overfill is its own technique to practise. Pay close attention to the pick attack on the signature riff. If the transitions between the verse figure and the chorus feel uneven, use the Practice Toolbar to loop those sections slowed down until the movement between positions becomes automatic.

  • The song is in E Standard tuning and E major, meaning open-string voicings and first-position chord shapes work naturally throughout.
  • The signature guitar riff relies more on consistent pick attack and controlled dynamics than on technical complexity, making tone control the real practice focus.
  • At 120 BPM the tempo is approachable, but nailing the slightly laid-back rhythmic feel is harder than the notes themselves.

How to Play Sex On Fire

Tuning: E Standard · Key: E major · Tempo: 120 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 120 BPM to build it up to tempo.

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.

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