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Megadeth - Killing Is My Business - Guitar Tab

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Tools

BPM
Key E minor
Megadeth - Killing Is My Business guitar tab video
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good! album cover
Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good!
1985 3:08
Listen on Spotify
Megadeth Thrash Metal 1985 E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Killing Is My Business

Few title tracks hit as hard or as fast as this one from Megadeth, and it rewards serious study once you break it into sections. The main riff sits in E minor and drives forward with tight, palm-muted alternate picking that needs to stay locked and clean at 120 BPM. That might not sound punishing on paper, but the riff changes direction quickly and the left-hand shifts demand accuracy under pressure. The lead work leans on legato phrasing and fast position changes up the neck, so getting the fretting hand relaxed is the real priority before chasing speed. E Standard tuning keeps everything in familiar territory, which helps when you are already dealing with the rhythmic complexity of Thrash Metal picking patterns. Use the Practice Toolbar to isolate the trickiest riff transitions and loop them slowed down until the pick attack and muting are consistent before pushing the tempo back up.

  • The main riff relies on strict palm-muted alternate picking in E minor, so right-hand consistency and muting control are the first things to lock in.
  • E Standard tuning is used throughout, meaning no retuning is needed, but the fast position shifts still demand careful left-hand technique.
  • Looping the riff-to-riff transitions slowed down is the most effective way to clean up the timing before bringing the tempo back to full speed.

How to Play Killing Is My Business

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 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.

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