System Of A Down - Hypnotize - Guitar Tab

About Hypnotize

Drop D tuning sits at the core of "Hypnotize," giving System Of A Down that low, heavy foundation that makes the riff feel so immediate and aggressive. Running at 104 BPM in A minor, the song is not blindingly fast, but the rhythm guitar work demands tight, precise muting and an almost mechanical sense of pulse. The signature riff relies on quick string changes and percussive palm mutes across the lower strings, and sloppy fretting hand technique will expose itself quickly here. What actually trips up most guitarists is keeping the rhythmic feel choppy and syncopated without losing groove or tempo. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the main riff slowed down until the muting and picking pattern feel completely automatic before bringing it back up to speed. The genre sits firmly in Nu Metal, so the tone should be thick and mid-scooped, with the Drop D low string doing real work throughout.

• Drop D tuning is essential here, as the lowest string is used for heavy, palm-muted riffing that defines the song's aggressive character.
• The rhythm guitar part relies on tight palm muting and syncopated picking at 104 BPM, making right-hand control the primary technique to practise.
• Playing in A minor, the riff stays mostly in the lower register, so accurate fretting near the nut is critical for clean, punchy tone.