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Slash - World on Fire - Main Solo - Guitar Lesson

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Slash - World on Fire - Main Solo 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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Slash Hard Rock E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About World on Fire - Main Solo

The main solo from "World on Fire" sits at the heart of what makes Slash such a compelling player in Hard Rock. Running at 120 BPM in E minor, it sits in a comfortable mid-tempo range, but don't let that fool you: the phrasing demands real control over bends, vibrato, and legato runs, all the hallmarks of Slash's blues-rooted vocabulary. The whole track is in Eb Standard tuning, so drop every string down a half step before you start or your bends will feel off and nothing will sit in the right register. The solo moves through a mix of pentatonic positions, and the trickiest moments are the sustained bends that need to be in tune while vibrato is applied. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop those bend-heavy phrases slowed down until the pitch and vibrato feel natural. Once the individual phrases are clean, work on connecting them smoothly at full tempo so the solo sings as one continuous line rather than a set of isolated licks.

  • The solo is played in Eb Standard tuning, meaning every string is tuned down a half step from standard E, which affects the tension and feel of bends.
  • At 120 BPM the tempo is moderate, but accurate vibrato on sustained bends is the main technical challenge throughout the solo.
  • The solo draws heavily on E minor pentatonic fingerings, making it a strong piece for developing blues-rock lead phrasing and position shifts.

How to Play World on Fire - Main Solo

Tuning: Eb Standard · Key: E minor · Tempo: 120 BPM

It is played in Eb standard, a half step down, so tune down before you start or every position and bend will sit a half step sharp against the recording.

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.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Slash's signature weapon, the Les Paul Standard delivers the thick, singing sustain and midrange punch essential to his tone. Its mahogany body and maple top, combined with a chunky neck, create the weight and resonance that powers his iconic lead voice.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

The Custom's thicker body and binding offer slightly enhanced sustain and midrange focus compared to the Standard. While less iconic than his '59 replica, it maintains the tonal character Slash needs for consistent crunch and singing solos.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

Though Slash favors the JCM25/50 Jubilee, the JCM800 shares similar tonal DNA with a brighter, tighter clipping circuit. It produces the compressed overdrive character fundamental to his thick roar, though slightly less warm than his primary setup.

Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro
Pickup

Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro

These signature humbuckers preserve Slash's touch sensitivity by avoiding hot output, letting his aggressive picking snarl and soft passages clean up naturally. The alnico II magnets deliver warmth and smooth attack that complements the Marshall's saturation without adding harshness.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Slash's signature wah pedal adds expressive funk and soaring lead accents to his pedalboard without coloring his core tone. It's an essential tool for his rhythmic funky passages and dramatic solo bends, deployed as seasoning over his cranked Marshall foundation.

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Pedal

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

This subtle slapback delay enhances Slash's solos with spatial depth and dimension without drowning his tone. Its conservative settings maintain his core Marshall character while adding the slight doubling effect that thickens his signature lead passages.

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