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System Of A Down - Chop Suey! - Guitar Tab

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Key C minor
System Of A Down - Chop Suey! guitar tab video
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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.
Toxicity album cover
Toxicity
2001 3:30
Listen on Spotify
System Of A Down Alternative Rock 2001 C minor
Capo Advisor 0 C minor · Original key

About Chop Suey!

Few songs from 2001 throw as much at a guitarist as "Chop Suey!" by System Of A Down. The track is tuned down a half step to Eb Standard, which slightly loosens the strings and gives the heavy riffing a darker, thicker feel in C minor. The opening section demands clean, precise chord stabs that shift to aggressive down-picked power chords quickly, so your right hand needs to switch gears without losing tightness. The verse riff looks deceptively simple on paper, but keeping the syncopation locked at 120 BPM while matching the percussive stops takes real discipline. Then the chaotic, fast-strummed chorus hits, where staying in control rather than just flailing is the real challenge. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop those choppy verse transitions slowed down until the rhythm feels natural. The Alternative Rock genre has plenty of power-chord songs, but the rhythmic precision this one demands puts it in a different category entirely.

  • The song is in Eb Standard tuning, dropping all strings a half step, which adds a slightly heavier feel to the power chords and riffs in C minor.
  • The verse features tightly syncopated chord stabs that require strong right-hand muting control to keep the stops clean and punchy.
  • The chorus strumming is fast and aggressive, making it a good workout for down-picking endurance and accuracy at 120 BPM.

How to Play Chop Suey!

Tuning: Eb Standard · Key: C minor · Tempo: 120 BPM

It is played in Eb standard, a half step down, so tune down before you start or every position and bend will sit a half step sharp against the recording.

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 120 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Gibson SG Standard
Guitar

Gibson SG Standard

Daron Malakian's signature guitar for SOAD's classic era, the SG's bright midrange cuts through Drop C tuning without muddiness while its lightweight body delivers the aggressive, cutting tone on Toxicity. The dual humbuckers provide thick saturation for heavy riffs while maintaining clarity for melodic passages.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

The JCM800 would deliver the tight, focused high-gain crunch that defined early SOAD, though Malakian favored the JCM900 for its superior midrange bite to cut through Serj's vocals and the band's dense arrangements.

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Amp

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

Malakian uses this amp to thicken SOAD's low-end on select studio tracks and heavier passages, adding additional bottom-end depth to the Marshall's midrange focus while maintaining the clarity needed for palm-muted riffing in Drop C.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Malakian's sole primary effects pedal, the Cry Baby adds filtered lead textures and specific riff coloration to SOAD's sound while staying minimal, keeping the focus on the guitar, amp gain, and Drop C tuning that defines their signature tone.

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