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Alice in Chains - Them Bones - Chords/Rhythms - Guitar Lesson

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Key B minor
Alice in Chains - Them Bones - Chords/Rhythms guitar lesson video
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
AI tone preset

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.
Dirt (Remastered) album cover
Dirt (Remastered)
1992 2:29
Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Music
Alice in Chains Grunge 1992 B minor
Capo Advisor 0 B minor · Original key

About Them Bones - Chords/Rhythms

"Them Bones" opens with one of the most immediately recognizable rhythm guitar attacks in early-90s heavy rock: a jarring, off-kilter riff that feels like it is constantly falling forward. The odd-time phrasing is what catches most players off guard before they even think about the chord shapes, so use the Practice Toolbar to loop the intro slowed down until the pulse clicks. The song is in B minor, which means if you are playing along with the recording you will need to drop your low E to handle the low-end weight Alice in Chains built their rhythm sound on. The chord work throughout is dense and percussive, demanding tight left-hand muting to keep the chug controlled rather than washy. Jerry Cantrell's right-hand attack is heavy and deliberate, so focus on pick angle and consistent downstroke force before worrying about speed. Getting the rhythmic feel right is genuinely harder than the chord shapes themselves.

  • The intro riff sits in an unsettling odd-time feel, making rhythmic accuracy the main challenge before any chord technique is considered.
  • Playing along with the recording in B minor will likely require drop tuning your low E string to match the guitar's low-end register.
  • Tight palm muting and controlled downstroke attack are the two techniques that define the rhythm guitar tone throughout the song.

How to Play Them Bones - Chords/Rhythms

Key: B minor · Tempo: 162 BPM

Loop the hardest passage and creep the speed up from around 70 percent until it holds at 162 BPM.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Jerry Cantrell's Les Paul Standard delivers the open, dynamic PAF-style humbucker tone that defines Alice In Chains' heavier material. The moderate output and natural resonance allow his riffs to cut through with clarity while maintaining the compressed crunch his amps provide.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Cantrell favors the Les Paul Custom for its sustain and tonal warmth, using stock Gibson humbuckers that push his Bogner and Friedman preamps into that signature scooped-mid aggression. The Custom's weight and construction give his drop-tuned riffs the body and presence essential to Alice In Chains' sound.

ESP Eclipse
Guitar

ESP Eclipse

The ESP Eclipse became Cantrell's live and studio workhorse during the reunion era, offering reliability and consistent output for his articulate, tight distortion tone. Its modern craftsmanship paired with quality humbuckers delivers the clarity needed for Alice In Chains' intricate riff work.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

The Marshall JCM800 provides the raw, compressed crunch that influenced Alice In Chains' early heaviness, offering tight low-end aggression when pushed by Cantrell's high-output pickups. Its natural breakup characteristics contribute to the band's signature sludgy yet articulate distortion.

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Amp

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

The Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier's thick, scooped midrange and tight bass response align perfectly with Cantrell's need for articulate, aggressive distortion that doesn't lose definition in drop-tuned passages. Its headroom allows his dynamics to shine through heavy compression.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Cantrell's Cry Baby is his primary tone-shaping tool, famously parked in positions for the haunting filter effect on 'Man in the Box' and used expressively throughout Alice In Chains' catalog. The wah adds emotional color and presence to his otherwise direct, amp-focused signal chain.

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