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Kiss - Black Diamond - Guitar Tab

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

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Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key E minor
Kiss - Black Diamond guitar tab video
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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.
Double Platinum album cover
Double Platinum
1978 4:18
Listen on Spotify
Kiss Hard Rock 1978 E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Black Diamond

Few early Kiss songs demand as much from a guitarist as "Black Diamond." The main riff sits in E minor and leans on a heavy, driving feel that rewards a firm pick attack. At 120 BPM in E Standard tuning, the tempo is manageable, but keeping the lower-string riffs tight and aggressive while staying in the pocket takes real discipline. The song also features lead work that mixes bends and vibrato, so if your vibrato feels loose, use the Practice Toolbar to loop those phrases slowed down until the pitch control feels natural. Rhythm playing here is not an afterthought: the chug between riff hits needs to lock in with the kick drum, and sloppy muting will muddy the whole thing. Focus on right-hand palm muting consistency before worrying about speed. As a piece of Hard Rock writing, the arrangement gives guitarists both a solid rhythmic workout and genuine melodic lead territory to develop.

  • The song is in E minor with E Standard tuning, so no retuning is required before playing.
  • Palm-muted low-string riffing is central to the rhythm part, making right-hand muting control the key technique to practise.
  • The lead sections combine string bends and vibrato, and looping them slowed down with the Practice Toolbar will help lock in pitch accuracy.

How to Play Black Diamond

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

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

Ace Frehley's 1959 Les Paul Standard with stock PAF humbuckers delivers the warm, singing sustain that defines Kiss's lead tone when cranked through Marshall amplifiers. The moderate output and responsiveness of PAFs let his solos cut through without compression, creating that vocal-quality sustain signature to the classic era.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

The Les Paul Custom's thick mahogany body and humbucker configuration provide the foundational warmth and sustain essential to Kiss's rhythm and lead work throughout their career. Its slightly hotter output compared to standard models contributes to the band's characteristically thick, aggressive tone.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

Ace Frehley switched to the JCM800 in his later Kiss years, using its tighter, more defined gain structure to achieve singing leads and aggressive rhythm tones. The 100-watt model's preamp-driven breakup, pushed hard with master volume around 6-7, anchors Kiss's powerful, sustain-heavy sound.

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)
Amp

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)

The Marshall 1959 Super Lead Plexi was Ace Frehley's primary amplifier during Kiss's classic era, delivering natural tube breakup and responsive dynamics when cranked loud. This head's warm, organic gain is fundamental to the singing quality and sustain heard on iconic Kiss solos and rhythm work.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Ace Frehley uses the Cry Baby wah expressively throughout Kiss solos, most famously parked in a half-open position on 'Detroit Rock City' for a vocal-like tonal boost. The pedal's dynamic responsiveness pairs perfectly with his PAF-equipped Les Paul and cranked Marshall for expressive, singing lead work.

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