Creator Area
Sign in Creator Area

Practice Studio

The Strokes - You Only Live Once - Guitar Tab

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

Not in tune?

Select a Loop

Start of your loop
End of your loop

Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key C minor
The Strokes - You Only Live Once guitar tab video
Lex Guitar Tabs
Lex Guitar Tabs Top Contributor
YouTube: 63Ksubs 36Kviews
Creator Page →
·
–50¢ 0 +50¢
· Tap to start

Your browser will ask for microphone permission.

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.
The Strokes Indie Rock C minor
Capo Advisor 0 C minor · Original key

About You Only Live Once

At 92 BPM in C minor, "You Only Live Once" sits at a tempo that feels deceptively relaxed until you try to lock in the clean, interlocked guitar lines that define it. The Strokes built their sound on two guitars weaving tight rhythmic and melodic parts together, and this track is a clear example of that approach. The challenge is not raw speed but precision: keeping your picking clean, your timing locked, and the tone dry and controlled in E Standard tuning. The Indie Rock genre leans heavily on feel and restraint, and that is exactly what this song demands. New players often rush the groove slightly, so use the Practice Toolbar to loop the main riff slowed down until the rhythm sits naturally under your fingers. Focus on muting unwanted string noise, because the production on this track is sparse enough that sloppy technique will be immediately audible.

  • The interlocked twin-guitar arrangement means learning both parts separately before combining them gives you the clearest understanding of how the song is constructed.
  • E Standard tuning and a clean, dry tone are essential to capturing the stripped-back guitar sound throughout the track.
  • The rhythm guitar part requires consistent downstroke picking and tight palm muting to sit correctly in the pocket at 92 BPM.

How to Play You Only Live Once

Tuning: E Standard · Key: C minor · Tempo: 92 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 92 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Albert Hammond Jr.'s primary rhythm guitar, delivering the bright, snappy single-coil tone that perfectly contrasts Nick Valensi's thicker leads. The crisp attack and percussive quality sit cleanly in the mix without muddying The Strokes' minimalist two-guitar sound.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

While not Hammond Jr.'s main choice, a Les Paul Standard could provide the thicker, warmer humbucker tone closer to Valensi's semi-hollow aesthetic. It would sacrifice the rhythmic clarity The Strokes depend on for their tight, articulate interplay.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Similar to the Standard, a Les Paul Custom's thick, dark character moves away from The Strokes' signature bright-and-warm contrast. It lacks the snappy attack needed for Hammond Jr.'s rhythm role or the midrange punch of Valensi's P-94 pickups.

Gibson ES-335
Guitar

Gibson ES-335

Valensi's semi-hollow alternative to his Riviera, the ES-335 delivers that warm, mid-forward lead tone with enough bite to cut through. Its slightly compressed character perfectly complements the band's focus on natural amp breakup and dynamic expression.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

A signature amp for The Strokes' crunchy, slightly overdriven clean tone, the Twin Reverb breaks up naturally at moderate gain without high-gain distortion. Its tube circuitry and built-in reverb capture that lo-fi studio character that defines their early records.

Boss DS-1 Distortion
Pedal

Boss DS-1 Distortion

Used sparingly for subtle solo boosts rather than heavy distortion, the DS-1 fits The Strokes' minimalist pedal philosophy. It pushes their already-breakup amps just enough for lead definition without abandoning their core compressed, clean tone.

Recommended for You