Home Top 10 Guitar Solos Them Bones Solo

"Them Bones Solo -- Learn One Of The Best Alice In Chains Guitar Solos"

Follow

Share

In this complete lesson for the Them Bones solo, we walk you through each phrase every step of the way...

Alice In Chains guitar solos feature a ton of cool lead guitar techniques, including:

• Pentatonic blues licks
• Fast legato techniques (hammer ons/pull offs)
• Moderate use of the whammy bar

Alice In Chains Guitar Solos

One thing that makes Jerry Cantrell's soloing style unique is the soulful inflections he places on his notes. You will hear deep guitar string bends and bluesy pentatonic licks, reminiscent of earlier bands such as Led Zeppelin.

It's important to realize how music evolves. One thing always leads to another. How one plays the guitar is constantly being redefined and recreated with every passing generation. Styles change and evolve over time.

There are many reasons for the evolution of how we play guitar, guitar solos, and other instruments. Technological advances are one reason. Just think of all the new gear, effects pedals, and amplifier settings that allow us to create new sounds.

Are you being creative when you play the guitar?

Like Einstein suggested, we should value creativity and imagination over knowledge!

Alice In Chains Them Bones Solo

The Pentatonic Blues Scale

Like most Alice In Chains guitar solos, Jerry Cantrell uses the pentatonic blues scale to create his licks. Are you familiar with the pentatonic shapes? It's one of the easiest guitar scales to learn. Memorize it now and learning solos will be a lot easier!

When you play the solo from Them Bones, try to recreate the feeling in the notes. Use slow bends. Attack the strings harder at certain points. Use palm muting when indicated.

The Main Riff -- Playing in 7/8 Time

Learn the main riff first. The guitar solo in Them Bones is played predominately in 7/8 time! Now, you don't have to know a ton of music theory to learn this song, just make sure you feel good about playing the riff in perfect time...

Strawberry Cupcake Groupie says:

What's more important is that you can feel the rhythm of the main riff. How else do you expect to solo over it? ;)

Click tablature to enlarge:

What is 7/8 time? It's simply a way to count the beats in the riff. This songs "counting" is unusual compared to most rock songs. The odd timing is what creates that "off beat" feel. My advice? Unless you understand time signatures, just follow the drums!

Them Bones Solo -- The Tabs

To play this song to the recording, tune your guitar down one half step and drop Db from there.

The first few licks in this solo use heavy palm muting on the low notes. There is a big bend in the third measure with lots of attack. The final lick is pentatonic blues notes in Db minor.

Click tablature to enlarge:

The next few measures makes use of the pure minor scale in Db minor. It's very melodic.

Click tablature to enlarge:

The final section of this solo is the fastest, repeating a thirty-second note blues lick. It's fast, but the fingering makes it relatively easy.

In bar 13, make sure you simply hold the bend on fret 12 while picking it using a pre-bend.

Click tablature to enlarge:

This Alice In Chains solo lesson is part of a larger series called Top 10 Best Solos Of All Time. Go there to learn more cool rock and metal guitar solos note for note.

To Top Of Page