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Soundgarden - Spoonman - Guitar Tab

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Soundgarden - Spoonman - Guitar Tab

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Key E minor
Soundgarden - Spoonman guitar tab video
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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.
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Soundgarden Grunge E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

Spoonman

"Spoonman" is a grunge track by Soundgarden, written by Chris Cornell and released on February 14, 1994, as the lead single from the album Superunknown. Inspired by Seattle street performer Artis the Spoonman, the song features an unconventional rhythmic structure and heavily distorted guitar work that makes it a compelling study for electric guitarists. Its odd time signatures and dense riff construction offer a solid challenge for players looking to move beyond standard rock patterns.

  • The song's main riff is built around an irregular time signature, making it a useful exercise for developing rhythmic precision on guitar.
  • Artis the Spoonman, a real Seattle street performer, played actual spoons on the recording, an unusual percussive texture behind the guitars.
  • "Spoonman" was the lead single from Superunknown, Soundgarden's fourth studio album, released in 1994.
Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Thayil used Les Pauls in the studio when he needed maximum tonal weight and sustain for heavy passages. The PAF humbuckers and thick mahogany body delivered that warm-but-articulate character essential to Soundgarden's crushing riffs.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Similar to the Standard, the Custom provided Thayil with extra body mass and tonal density for studio work on tracks requiring pronounced low-end grind. Its PAF pickups maintained the midrange definition Soundgarden needed even at maximum saturation.

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Amp

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

The Dual Rectifier's cascading gain stages and tight low-end response became the sonic foundation of Soundgarden's heaviness, delivering that saturated tube crunch while preserving the midrange presence that made each riff cut through the mix.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Thayil's signature tool for creating vocal-like feedback textures and howling overtones during sustained passages, transforming the wah beyond typical solo use into a tone-shaping device that defined Soundgarden's psychedelic heaviness.

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Pedal

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

Used sparingly for ambient passages and spacious studio textures, the DD-3 added dimension to Soundgarden's soundscapes without cluttering the aggressive rhythm tone Thayil built from cranked tubes and direct playing.

MXR Phase 90
Pedal

MXR Phase 90

The Phase 90 provided swirling, psychedelic textures that complemented Soundgarden's darker aesthetic, adding subtle motion to sustained passages while keeping the tone grounded in the raw, tube-driven heaviness of the core setup.

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