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Slayer - South of Heaven - Guitar Lesson

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Slayer - South of Heaven - Guitar Lesson

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Key E minor
Slayer - South of Heaven guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

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Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
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Slayer Thrash Metal E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

South of Heaven

"South of Heaven" is the title track from Slayer's fourth studio album, released on July 5, 1988, through Def Jam Recordings. Unlike the relentless speed of their previous record, Slayer deliberately slowed the tempo and incorporated cleaner, undistorted guitar passages alongside their signature heavy riffing. For electric guitarists, the track offers a rare study in contrast within thrash metal, balancing aggressive tones with restrained, melodic playing that rewards players exploring dynamics and control.

  • The song features undistorted guitar sections uncommon in thrash metal, making it a useful exercise in clean tone control.
  • Slayer intentionally slowed the tempo compared to Reign in Blood, giving this track a darker, more brooding rhythmic feel.
  • Released in 1988 on Def Jam Recordings, the album marked a deliberate stylistic shift rather than an attempt to outpace their previous work.
Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman relied on the JCM800's raw, scooped-mid aggression cranked to extreme volumes to achieve Slayer's signature saturated tone without overdrive pedals. The amp's natural power tube saturation is essential to their pure, unprocessed rhythm and lead attacks.

EMG 81
Pickup

EMG 81

The EMG 81's high-output, compressed tone with cutting highs delivers the tight, aggressive attack that defines Slayer's palm-muted riffs and solos. Its hot signal keeps the cranked Marshall in full saturation while eliminating noise at extreme gain levels.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Kerry King uses the Cry Baby wah as his only regular effect pedal, adding expressive chaos and intensity to his trademark chaotic solos over otherwise unprocessed, pure Marshall saturation.

DigiTech Whammy
Pedal

DigiTech Whammy

Not part of Slayer's core tone. King's whammy effects come from intentionally detuning non-locking tremolo systems on his B.C. Rich guitars, not digital pedal-based pitch shifting.

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