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

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

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Alice in Chains - Them Bones - Chords/Rhythms guitar lesson video
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Dirt (Remastered) album cover
Dirt (Remastered)
1992 2:29
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Alice in Chains Grunge 1992 B minor
Capo Advisor 0 B minor · Original key

Them Bones - Chords/Rhythms

"Them Bones" by Alice in Chains is a cornerstone of early 1990s Seattle grunge, written by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell. The song is driven by a heavy, syncopated rhythm guitar riff played in an unconventional odd time signature, making it a compelling study in aggressive chordal playing. For electric guitarists, learning the chords and rhythms of this track builds essential skills in tight, percussive downpicking and grunge-era tone shaping.

  • The main riff uses an odd time signature, challenging guitarists to develop their rhythmic accuracy beyond standard 4/4 patterns.
  • Jerry Cantrell is the founder and lead guitarist of Alice in Chains, serving as the band's primary songwriter.
  • Alice in Chains rose to international fame during the early 1990s as part of the Seattle grunge movement.
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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