Practice Studio

Megadeth - Peace Sells - Guitar Tab

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

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SECTIONS

Select a Loop

Start of your loop
End of your loop

Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key E minor
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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.

Megadeth Thrash Metal E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Peace Sells


Few bass-driven intros in heavy metal are as immediately recognizable as the one that kicks off "Peace Sells," and on guitar the challenge is matching that aggressive, locked-in feel from the very first bar. Megadeth built the song around a repetitive, angular riff in E minor that sounds deceptively simple but demands tight palm muting and precise pick attack to carry the right menace. The verse and chorus riffs sit low on the neck, so getting the left-hand muting clean between notes is the real work here. The song also features a solo section that calls for confident alternate picking and position shifts, so if the speed trips you up, use the Practice Toolbar to loop that section slowed down until the fingering feels automatic. Rhythmically, the riff has a slightly syncopated quality, and rushing it kills the groove, so keep your picking hand relaxed and let the tempo breathe.

  • The central riff is built on a low E minor pattern that relies on tight palm muting, so any sloppiness between struck and muted notes will stand out immediately.
  • The main rhythm part stays mostly in first position on the lower strings, making it accessible for intermediate players but unforgiving of loose right-hand technique.
  • The lead solo section involves fast alternate picking runs, so isolating it with looping it slowed down is the most efficient way to build up to full speed.

How to Play Peace Sells

The song moves through: Intro, Verse 1, Pre-Chorus 1, Verse 2, Pre-Chorus 2, Interlude, Solo 1, Bridge, Chorus 1, Solo 2, Chorus 2, Outro.

Key: E minor · Tempo: 133 BPM · Difficulty: Medium

The arrangement runs through 12 distinct sections, and the solo is the steepest jump, so isolate it on its own.

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 133 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.

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)