Practice Studio

Audioslave - Be Yourself - Guitar Tab

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

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Select a Loop

Start of your loop
End of your loop

Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key E minor
PLAY WITH BACKING TRACK
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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.

Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Be Yourself


At 104 BPM in E minor, "Be Yourself" sits in a mid-tempo groove that feels deceptively straightforward until you try to lock in the feel exactly as Tom Morello plays it. The song runs in E Standard tuning, so no retuning is needed, but the challenge is in the dynamics: the verses demand a restrained, almost clean touch, while the chorus pushes into a heavier, more driven tone. Getting that contrast right is what separates a passable run-through from a convincing one. The chord movement is not technically complex, but Morello's rhythmic placement and subtle muting choices give it a tension that is easy to miss. If the transition between sections keeps tripping you up, use the Practice Toolbar to loop it slowed down until the shift feels natural. Audioslave built much of their catalog around this kind of controlled intensity, and this track is a good entry point into that approach. Fans of Alternative Metal will find the song a solid study in how restraint can carry as much weight as aggression.

  • The song runs in E Standard tuning, meaning no retuning is required before you start.
  • The main challenge is nailing the dynamic contrast between the quiet, muted verses and the heavier, open chorus feel.
  • At 104 BPM, the tempo is approachable for intermediate players, making it a good choice for working on rhythmic consistency and tone control.

How to Play Be Yourself

Tuning: E Standard · Key: E minor · Tempo: 104 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 104 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Morello uses this 1982 Telecaster on Audioslave's cleaner tracks like 'I Am the Highway' and 'Like a Stone,' where its single humbucker delivers warmer, more open tones than his high-gain primary guitar. The Telecaster's natural twang lets his effects and subtle playing dynamics shine without heavy saturation.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

This stock 50-watt head is Audioslave's foundation, with its gain channel providing moderate saturation that Morello pushes via pedal boost for heavy riffs like 'Cochise.' The clean channel remains uncolored, allowing his effects and guitar tone to dominate the mix without amp-based distortion.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Morello's wah sits first in his chain, shaping the expressive, vocal-like character of Audioslave's lead work and adding dynamic sweep to both rhythm and solo passages. It's essential for his signature technique of blending nu-metal aggression with funk-influenced texture.

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Pedal

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

Running in the effects loop after the amp, this digital delay creates the rhythmic echo effects that add space and dimension to Audioslave's atmospheric moments. It lets Morello layer repeating patterns without muddying his core tone or high-gain riffs.

DigiTech Whammy
Pedal

DigiTech Whammy

This pitch-shifting pedal is where Morello creates Audioslave's most extreme and experimental sounds, enabling artificial harmonics and dramatic pitch drops that define songs like 'Cochise.' The Whammy's creative manipulation combined with his killswitch technique generates the band's signature metallic textures.

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)