Nightwish - Wish I Had An Angel - Guitar Tab

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Nightwish - Wish I Had An Angel - Guitar Tab

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Once album cover
Once
2004 4:06
Capo Advisor 0 D minor · Original key

Wish I Had An Angel


"Wish I Had An Angel" by Nightwish is a symphonic metal track from their 2004 album Once. Featuring vocals by Tarja Turunen and bass work by Marko Hietala, it became the band's most commercially successful single in Europe and the United States, also appearing on the soundtrack of the film Alone in the Dark. For electric guitarists, the song offers a rewarding mix of heavy riffing and orchestral layering, making it a strong study in the symphonic metal genre.

  • The track appeared on two separate U.S. film soundtracks, giving Nightwish their broadest American exposure at the time.
  • Despite multiple vocalist changes, the song remained a live staple under Tarja Turunen, Anette Olzon, and Floor Jansen.
  • Released in 2004 as the second single from Once, Nightwish's fifth studio album, it reached number 60 on the UK Singles Chart.
Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Emppu Vuorinen uses the Gibson Les Paul Standard for its warm humbucker tone that cuts through orchestral arrangements without excessive output. The guitar's balanced pickup response preserves dynamic clarity across clean and driven tones, essential for Nightwish's symphonic metal palette.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

The Les Paul Custom serves as Emppu's primary choice for modern Nightwish recordings, delivering the full-bodied sustain and resonance needed to anchor symphonic compositions. Its heavier construction and humbucker configuration provide natural tube compression when pushed through Marshall and Engl amplifiers at moderate-high volumes.