Megadeth - Hangar 18 - Guitar Tab

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Megadeth - Hangar 18 - Guitar Tab

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Key E minor
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Rust In Peace album cover
Rust In Peace
1990 5:15
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

Hangar 18


"Hangar 18" is a thrash metal track by Megadeth, released on their 1990 album Rust in Peace. Inspired by the alleged secret facility at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base said to house extraterrestrial evidence, the song blends conspiracy mythology with relentless technical playing. It is a landmark piece for electric guitarists, featuring a series of intricate guitar solos exchanged between Dave Mustaine and Marty Friedman, making it a demanding and rewarding study in lead technique, precision, and dual-guitar interplay.

  • The song contains multiple extended guitar solos, making it one of the most solo-dense tracks in Megadeth's catalog.
  • Hangar 18 reached number 26 on the UK Singles Chart, giving Megadeth mainstream chart recognition for a technical thrash track.
  • The song is from Rust in Peace, widely regarded as a high point of technical thrash metal guitar writing.
Gibson Flying V
Guitar

Gibson Flying V

Dave Mustaine's current signature Flying V delivers the V-shaped body geometry essential for accessing upper frets on his complex spider-chord voicings and fast lead lines. The guitar's thin, fast neck profile and fixed bridge provide the tuning stability and articulation Megadeth's precise, aggressive riffing demands.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

Mustaine built Megadeth's signature razor-sharp, scooped-mid tone on Marshall JCM800s, with gain around 7-8 to retain pick dynamics and articulation under heavy palm-muting. The amp's responsive tube saturation transforms hot pickups into the controlled, fast low-end aggression that defines thrash metal rhythm tones.

DigiTech Whammy
Pedal

DigiTech Whammy

Marty Friedman used the Digitech Whammy as a lead accent tool, adding pitch-shifting texture to solos without cluttering Megadeth's minimalist effects philosophy. The pedal's harmonic richness complemented his warm, vocal-like Seymour Duncan humbucker tone during the band's classic era.

ISP Decimator Noise Gate
Pedal

ISP Decimator Noise Gate

The ISP Decimator is essential for Mustaine's high-gain thrash setup, eliminating feedback and noise between palm-muted riffs without compromising sustain. This noise gate allows him to push the Marshall into aggressive saturation while maintaining the tight, articulate attack Megadeth's complex rhythms require.

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)