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Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name - Guitar Tab

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Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name - Guitar Tab

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Key E minor
Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name 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.
Rage Against The Machine - XX (20th Anniversary Special Edition) album cover
Rage Against The Machine - XX (20th Anniversary Special Edition)
1992 5:14
Listen on Spotify
Rage Against the Machine Funk Metal 1992 E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

Killing in the Name

"Killing in the Name" is a track by Rage Against the Machine from their 1992 self-titled debut album. Built around aggressive drop-D guitar riffs, the song protests police brutality and racial injustice, drawing direct inspiration from the Rodney King beating and the 1992 Los Angeles riots. For electric guitarists, it is a foundational study in drop-D tuning, power-chord intensity, and the raw, percussive approach that defined the band's sound.

  • The song uses drop-D tuning, making it accessible for beginners while still delivering a heavy, aggressive tone.
  • Released on Rage Against the Machine's 1992 debut album, it became one of the defining tracks of 1990s rock.
  • Guitarist Tom Morello combines simple drop-D riffs with unconventional techniques, making the song both learnable and technically instructive.
Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Tom Morello uses this 1982 Telecaster for RATM's funkier, cleaner rhythm parts, leveraging its bridge humbucker for articulate muting and percussive attack that cuts through dense arrangements.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

The JCM800's punchy midrange and aggressive natural clipping deliver RATM's signature thick, cutting distortion tone while staying tight enough for Morello's dynamic muting and noise experiments.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Morello exploits this wah pedal extensively for funk riffs and half-cocked tonal shaping, creating RATM's signature expressive sweeps and rhythmic articulation that define their groove.

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Pedal

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

Morello uses the DD-3 for rhythmic repeats and spatial effects, adding depth and texture to RATM's complex arrangements without muddying the aggressive distortion tone.

MXR Phase 90
Pedal

MXR Phase 90

This phaser adds occasional swirling modulation to Morello's pedalboard, creating subtle psychedelic textures that enhance RATM's experimental moments without overwhelming their heavy rhythm focus.

DigiTech Whammy
Pedal

DigiTech Whammy

The Whammy pedal enables Morello's signature pitch-shifting, octave drops, and squealing harmonics that define RATM's innovative, experimental noise work and solo textures.

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