Practice Studio

Audioslave - Like A Stone - Guitar Tab

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

Not in tune?

Select a Loop

Start of your loop
End of your loop

Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key G minor
PLAY WITH BACKING TRACK
·
–50¢ 0 +50¢
· Tap to start

Your browser will ask for microphone permission.

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 G minor · Original key

About Like A Stone


Few songs sit as comfortably under the fingers as "Like a Stone" while still demanding real control. The chord work is rooted in G minor, and the key shapes the brooding, open feel that defines the verses. At 110 BPM in E Standard tuning, nothing here is rushed, but that moderate tempo means every note rings out fully and any sloppiness in your fretting hand is exposed. Tom Morello's lead tone is thick and sustaining, so getting a clean, even pick attack matters more than speed. The solo stretches through several position shifts and bends that need to land precisely in pitch, so use the Practice Toolbar to loop those bars slowed down until your ear confirms each bend hits the target. Audioslave built the song around a deceptively simple rhythmic groove, but the subtlety is in how lightly you can hold the feel without losing the weight. Alternative Rock guitar playing rarely rewards patience more than it does here.

  • The song sits in G minor in E Standard tuning, keeping the chord voicings open and resonant throughout the arrangement.
  • The solo requires controlled string bends across multiple positions, so looping it slowed down in the Practice Toolbar helps you nail intonation before playing at full speed.
  • The rhythm part is built on a steady 110 BPM groove, making clean fretting and consistent pick attack the main technical challenges to focus on.

How to Play Like A Stone

Tuning: E Standard · Key: G minor · Tempo: 110 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 110 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)