Overdub
Introduction
Bombtrack is one of the explosive songs from Rage Against the Machine’s debut album. In addition to this, it comes with powerful riffs, and groove-driven rhythms and it also includes aggressive energy.
Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson
Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: There are no traditional arpeggios in the verse, instead you have to follow heavy power chords with a combination of muted rhythms.
e|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------|
D|---------4-4-2-2-4--------------|
A|---2-2--------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|
Strumming Pattern
This song follows a more tight-riff playing than your traditional strumming. As a result, you have to follow the rhythm guitar approach to be more precise and smooth. Here is how you should be strumming with a palm-muted downstroke approach for punchy rhythm: D D D D D U D U.
- D = Down strum
- U = Up strum
Song Structure
Introduction: In this introduction section Mike Walker your guitar instructor teaches you how to tune up the guitar for this song.
Song Arrangement: Here Mike shows you how to play the intro, midsection and the outro of the song. He shares his knowledge of guitar playing and how the intro is a 4 bar phase.
Overdub: Here, you will learn how to play the overdubs which come at the start of the song.
Song Demo: This is where you will learn how to play the entire song with the backing track to keep up guitar chords with the original time signature of the song.
Solo 1: Over here you will be learning how to play the first solo which is present right after the first bridge.
Outro Solo: This is the final part of this guitar lesson, here Mike is going to show you how to play outro solo.
Why Learn Bombtrack By Rage Against The Machine Song?
This is a pretty intricate song to learn that starts with simple yet heavy riffs, as a result, it is perfect for learning palm muting, power chord slides and even for practicing tight picking. This is one of the few songs from Rage Against the Machine which is beginner friendly, the guitar lesson that we have here is perfect for individuals who want to improve their riff-based playing.
FAQs – Bombtrack Guitar Lesson
Q1. Why is Range Against the Machine Controversial?
Ans. One of the biggest reasons why Rage Against the Machine is controversial is because of their fiercely political music that comes with sloganeering left-wing rants against the corporate culture of America.
Q2. How many BPM is Bombtrack?
Ans. This song is at 152 BPM; the song runs for 4 minutes and 3 seconds in the key of E and with a major mode.
Q3. Is Rage Against the Machine anti-capitalist?
Ans. Yes, that can be said for Rage Against the Machine because they have voiced their disagreement on various political, domestic and foreign policies that were introduced by the US government.
Q4. What is the heaviest Rage Against the Machine song?
Ans. Bullet in the Head is the heaviest song from Rage Against the Machine according to their fans. The song is a reference to how the government is trying to use the media to influence their control over the population.
Introduction
Bombtrack is one of the explosive songs from Rage Against the Machine’s debut album. In addition to this, it comes with powerful riffs, and groove-driven rhythms and it also includes aggressive energy.
Chords Used in Song Guitar Lesson
Arpeggios Verse & Chorus Chords: There are no traditional arpeggios in the verse, instead you have to follow heavy power chords with a combination of muted rhythms.
e|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------|
D|---------4-4-2-2-4--------------|
A|---2-2--------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|
Strumming Pattern
This song follows a more tight-riff playing than your traditional strumming. As a result, you have to follow the rhythm guitar approach to be more precise and smooth. Here is how you should be strumming with a palm-muted downstroke approach for punchy rhythm: D D D D D U D U.
- D = Down strum
- U = Up strum
Song Structure
Introduction: In this introduction section Mike Walker your guitar instructor teaches you how to tune up the guitar for this song.
Song Arrangement: Here Mike shows you how to play the intro, midsection and the outro of the song. He shares his knowledge of guitar playing and how the intro is a 4 bar phase.
Overdub: Here, you will learn how to play the overdubs which come at the start of the song.
Song Demo: This is where you will learn how to play the entire song with the backing track to keep up guitar chords with the original time signature of the song.
Solo 1: Over here you will be learning how to play the first solo which is present right after the first bridge.
Outro Solo: This is the final part of this guitar lesson, here Mike is going to show you how to play outro solo.
Why Learn Bombtrack By Rage Against The Machine Song?
This is a pretty intricate song to learn that starts with simple yet heavy riffs, as a result, it is perfect for learning palm muting, power chord slides and even for practicing tight picking. This is one of the few songs from Rage Against the Machine which is beginner friendly, the guitar lesson that we have here is perfect for individuals who want to improve their riff-based playing.
FAQs – Bombtrack Guitar Lesson
Q1. Why is Range Against the Machine Controversial?
Ans. One of the biggest reasons why Rage Against the Machine is controversial is because of their fiercely political music that comes with sloganeering left-wing rants against the corporate culture of America.
Q2. How many BPM is Bombtrack?
Ans. This song is at 152 BPM; the song runs for 4 minutes and 3 seconds in the key of E and with a major mode.
Q3. Is Rage Against the Machine anti-capitalist?
Ans. Yes, that can be said for Rage Against the Machine because they have voiced their disagreement on various political, domestic and foreign policies that were introduced by the US government.
Q4. What is the heaviest Rage Against the Machine song?
Ans. Bullet in the Head is the heaviest song from Rage Against the Machine according to their fans. The song is a reference to how the government is trying to use the media to influence their control over the population.
Explore More in English Songs
Introduction:
Torrins brings you an exciting lesson on The Thrill Is Gone, the legendary blues song made famous by B.B. King. Taught by Mike Dugan, this lesson is perfect for those looking to master both rhythm and lead guitar in a blues setting. You'll learn everything from chords and rhythm to soulful lead fills and solo techniques.
Fun Fact: While most people associate "The Thrill Is Gone" with B.B. King, the song was originally written and recorded by Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell. However, B.B. King’s version became a massive hit, earning him a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 1970 and a spot in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
Chords & Rhythm
This lesson starts by breaking down the essential chords used in the song. The song is in the key of B minor, incorporating barre chords like Em, F#7, and others in a 12-bar blues progression. Mike explains the finger placements for each chord, ensuring clarity for both beginners and advanced players.
The rhythm follows a straightforward 4-feel, meaning it doesn’t use shuffle or swing. Mike provides an easy method to simplify the rhythm, explaining the accents and muting techniques that bring the groove to life.
Sing and Play Technique
One of the key elements of this song is matching vocals with guitar playing. The song follows a typical blues structure where the first line is repeated, making it essential to synchronize your playing with the melody. Mike shares helpful tips on keeping time and smoothly integrating vocals with guitar.
Solo & Lead Fills
Next, we dive into the iconic solo heard in the introduction. The solo is based on the B minor pentatonic scale, and Mike walks through each lick, ensuring you understand the phrasing and feel that make B.B. King’s style so expressive.
Following the solo lesson, the instructor covers lead fills, which are played in between vocal phrases. He sticks to the B minor pentatonic scale, showing how to create emotional lead parts.
Song Demo & Final Arrangement
The lesson concludes with a full song demo, allowing you to hear all the elements come together. The final arrangement follows the classic 12-bar blues progression, with a structure of intro, two verses, solo, two verses, and outro. Mike plays along with the backing track, reinforcing everything covered in the lesson.
Why Learn "The Thrill Is Gone"?
- Great way to practice 12-bar blues progressions.
- Helps improve lead guitar phrasing and soloing.
- Perfect for learning how to sing and play simultaneously.
FAQs -The Thrill Is Gone Guitar Lesson
Q1. Is this song beginner-friendly?
Yes! While some barre chords are involved, Mike provides tips to make them easier.
Q2. Do I need a capo for this lesson?
No capo is required!
Q3. What’s the best way to practice lead fills?
Start slow and break the fills into smaller sections. Play along with the backing track to develop feel and timing.
Introduction
Get ready to master another death metal classic on Torrins—Symbolic by the band Death. This lesson is taught by Bobby Koelble himself, one of the guitarists on the original track. Bobby breaks down the song into several parts, covering essential chords, rhythms, and guitar tones, ensuring a detailed and engaging learning experience.
Fun Fact
Bobby Koelble joined Death after being recommended to Chuck Schuldiner, the band's co-founder, by a friend working at a local music store. Koelble and Schuldiner had known each other since high school in Orlando. After joining the band, Koelble toured with Death across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan before the band eventually disbanded.
Chords and Techniques Used in Symbolic
- Tuning: Standard tuning down a whole step
- Key: E minor
- Some of the chords used in this song are G#, F#, Bm, and A7. Tune in to the lesson to know the rest of the chords used in this song.
Song Structure
- Main Riff: The main riff repeats seven times and features vibrato, alternative picking, and palm muting. It includes a few power chords, one being G#.
- Chorus: The chorus riff follows the same pattern as the main riff but repeats 14 times. Tune in to the lesson for a detailed breakdown of the rest of the chorus.
- Solo Section: The solo section features four power chords. In this section, there’s a transition riff as well, which consists of four single notes and a power chord.
- Solo section played by Bobby in the original song: It is played in the key of F# and features chords like B minor, F# power chord, and A7—all diatonic to F#. He breaks down the solo into three sections: beginning, middle, and end and shares valuable tips on mastering the solo, including his creative process behind crafting the iconic riff.
Bobby plays all elements slowly, first to make it easier to follow, then repeats them at normal speed. He also explains the guitar tone in detail.
Why Learn Symbolic?
This lesson provides a detailed breakdown of one of death metal’s most iconic tracks. Bobby Koelble’s insight into the composition and technique will help you refine your alternative picking, palm muting, and power chord transitions. It's a challenging yet rewarding song to master for any metal guitarist. If you’re an advanced player or an intermediate player looking for songs to improve your techniques, this song has to be in your repertoire.
Tips to Improve Your Playing
- Start by playing the riffs at a slower pace, then gradually increase your speed.
- Pay close attention to the vibrato and palm muting techniques to capture the song’s unique tone.
- Focus on smooth chord transitions during the solo to maintain the song’s flow.
FAQs – Symbolic Guitar Lesson
Q1. Is this song suitable for beginners?
Ans: This lesson is recommended for intermediate to advanced players due to its fast-paced riffs and complex solos.
Q2. What tuning is used for this song?
Ans: The song is played in standard tuning down a whole step.
Similar Metal Songs
Introduction:
Torrins brings you an electrifying guitar lesson—Symphony of Destruction by Megadeth, taught by Clay Foster. This heavy-hitting metal track is part of our guitar song lesson series and is broken down into easy-to-follow sections.
Fun Fact: In an interview, vocalist Dave Mustaine shared that the lyrics for Symphony of Destruction were sparked by a headache he got while driving home. He scribbled the first lines on the back of a sushi receipt—“My metal brain’s corroding, my head is going to explode.” That spontaneous moment led to one of Megadeth’s most iconic songs, recorded on their fifth studio album Countdown to Extinction in 1992.
Song Arrangement
The song is taught in separate segments so you can master each part before moving to the next.
The song is in the key of E.
Verse
Verse is built around the F power chord and an open E power chord, along with other chords.
Downstrokes and palm muting are used in the verse—make sure to mute the strings to avoid letting notes ring out too long. Clay shares techniques like using your thumb or extra fingers to stop the sound cleanly.
Pre-Chorus
Features open palm muting and chromatic downs, creating that tight, chugging rhythm. Our lessons have a 3-angle video setup so you can clearly see hand positions and copy along easily.
Chorus
This section opens up with ringing E chords and a chromatic descending run. Chords like Bb, G#, and the D power chord makes the chorus sound more intense. Though it’s slightly more complex than the verse, Clay carefully breaks down the finger positioning and covers some fingerpicking techniques to help you through it.
After the first chorus, the main riff returns and leads into the second verse and pre-chorus, just like earlier.
The second chorus is a bit longer. The first half mirrors the first chorus, while the second half introduces new elements. Clay walks you through the difference so you can follow along confidently.
Solo Lesson
Clay breaks down the guitar solo into manageable sections.
- The first part has a bluesy riff with vibrato, bending, and palm muting.
- The second part is a 16-note rhythmic figure built around the Am6 chord, featuring some sliding techniques.
- Tune into the lesson to learn each section in detail and pick up essential phrasing skills along the way.
Sound and Tone
To capture the song’s feel, Clay dives into the tone settings. The tone is mid-rangy, which is a signature sound of Marty Friedman. Clay recommends listening to some of Friedman’s work to understand the sweet, expressive tone he’s known for.
For gear settings, Clay suggests using the middle pickup to replicate that tone more accurately.
Song Demo
The lesson wraps up with a full song demo, where Clay ties everything together. You can play along with him to practice transitions, polish your technique, and check your accuracy in real time.
FAQs – Symphony of Destruction Guitar Lesson
Q1: Is this song beginner-friendly?
Yes. While it has a few technical sections, the lesson breaks everything down clearly and provides enough guidance for newer players.
Q2: Do I need specific gear for the tone?
Clay suggests using a mid-range-focused setting with the middle pickup to get closer to Marty Friedman's tone. However, you can start with what you have and tweak as needed.
Q3: Is the solo hard to learn?
It’s approachable when broken into parts. Clay walks you through each phrase, so with some practice, you’ll be able to nail it.




























