Rimsky-Korsakov - Flight of the Bumblebee - Guitar Tab

Humoresque - Favorite Violin Encores [Expanded Edition]

1963 1:17

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About Flight of the Bumblebee

Few pieces put a guitarist's picking hand under pressure quite like "Flight of the Bumblebee." Originally written for orchestra by Rimsky-Korsakov, the piece has become a benchmark speed exercise for guitarists, particularly those working in Progressive Rock and shred styles. The challenge is not just raw speed: the chromatic runs must stay even and clean at 180 BPM, and in B minor the position shifts can catch you out if your fretting hand is not well anchored. Most players tackle it with strict alternate picking, though some prefer economy picking through the descending runs. Either way, synchronising both hands at tempo is what separates a sloppy attempt from a convincing performance. The Practice Toolbar is genuinely essential here: set a short A/B loop around whichever four-bar segment keeps falling apart, slow it down until every note speaks clearly, then nudge the tempo up in small steps. Rushing that process is what creates bad habits that are hard to undo later.

• The piece runs at 180 BPM, making consistent alternate or economy picking across chromatic runs the primary physical challenge for guitarists.
• Playing in B minor means navigating several position shifts up the neck; anchoring your fretting-hand thumb early helps keep the lines stable at speed.
• Tone clarity matters as much as tempo: even one muted or buzzing note in a fast chromatic run will expose any gap in left-right hand synchronisation.