Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction - Guitar Tab

Countdown To Extinction (Expanded Edition - Remastered)

1992 4:07

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About Symphony of Destruction

Few riffs from 1992 have lodged themselves as firmly in a guitarist's muscle memory as the opening of "Symphony of Destruction." Megadeth built the whole track around a deceptively simple, mid-paced groove riff in E minor that sits in the lower strings and relies on tight palm muting for its punch. The trick is not the fingering, which is accessible to intermediate players, but the consistency of that mute across every repetition. Any sloppiness there and the riff loses its menace entirely. The lead work that comes later demands more attention, with angular phrasing and precise pick attack that rewards careful study. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the solo sections slowed down until the note choices feel clear before pushing back up to tempo. The moderate pace of the song is actually a gift, giving you room to focus on tone and articulation rather than raw speed.

• The signature riff is built on palm-muted power chords in E minor, making clean muting technique the single most important thing to get right.
• Despite being a Megadeth track, the main riff is approachable for intermediate players and a strong exercise in groove and restraint over shred.
• The lead guitar parts use angular, intervallic phrasing rather than pure speed runs, so focus your practice on pick attack and note clarity.