“Like a Stone” by Audioslave is a timeless rock anthem, instantly recognizable for its haunting melody and powerful guitar work by Tom Morello. For guitar players, it’s a fantastic song to learn, offering a range of techniques from beginner-friendly riffs to more challenging bar chords and an iconic solo. This lesson will break down all the guitar parts in “Like a Stone”, providing you with everything you need to master this track.
Getting Started with “Like a Stone” Guitar Chords
To play “Like a Stone” accurately, you’ll need to tune your guitar to standard tuning, just like on the original recording. The song features several distinct sections, each with its own guitar part. We’ll start with the intro and verse, which utilize a simple but effective riff that’s perfect for beginner guitarists.
The Iconic Intro and Verse Riff
The main riff of “Like a Stone” is repeated throughout the intro and verses and is surprisingly easy to pick up. It’s based around power chords and a simple, rhythmic pattern. This riff is a great starting point for learning the song and building your confidence.
[Image of a guitarist playing power chords, focusing on hand position for barre chords. alt text: Guitarist demonstrating power chords for Like a Stone intro riff, emphasizing proper hand technique.]
Even if you’re new to guitar, you should find this riff manageable with a bit of practice. Focus on keeping the rhythm consistent and letting the chords ring out.
Mastering the Chorus: Bar Chord Power
When “Like a Stone” explodes into the chorus, the guitar work shifts to powerful bar chords. This section requires solid bar chord technique as the entire chorus progression is built using them. The good news is that the strumming pattern is quite straightforward, allowing you to concentrate on cleanly fretting the bar chords and transitioning smoothly between them.
[Image of a fretboard diagram showing common bar chord shapes used in rock music, including shapes relevant to “Like a Stone”. alt text: Fretboard diagram illustrating bar chord shapes essential for playing the chorus of Like a Stone on guitar.]
Bar chords can be challenging for beginners, but they are a fundamental skill for any guitarist. Practice your bar chord shapes and transitions slowly at first, gradually increasing your speed as you become more comfortable. The chorus of “Like a Stone” is excellent practice for developing bar chord strength and accuracy.
Tom Morello’s Whammy Pedal Solo: Recreating the Magic
The guitar solo in “Like a Stone” is where Tom Morello’s unique style truly shines. A key element of this solo is the Digitech Whammy pedal, which Morello uses to create those soaring, octave-shifted notes. To recreate this solo authentically, a Whammy pedal (or similar pitch-shifting effect) is highly recommended.
[Image of a Digitech Whammy pedal with settings marked or highlighted, emphasizing the octave up setting. alt text: Digitech Whammy pedal showcasing settings for replicating Tom Morello’s guitar solo sound in Like a Stone.]
The solo is primarily based in the G minor scale and played on the low E string. The Whammy pedal transposes each note up two octaves, creating that distinctive, almost vocal-like melody. If you don’t have a Whammy pedal, don’t worry! You can still learn the underlying notes of the solo and explore alternative ways to achieve a similar effect using bends and slides, or simply play the notes without the octave shift for a more traditional guitar solo sound.
Acoustic Guitar Chord Progression: A Dynamic Shift
After the intensity of the guitar solo, “Like a Stone” transitions to a beautiful acoustic guitar section. This part features a chord progression that, while using many of the same bar chords from the chorus, introduces a strumming pattern and a different dynamic feel.
[Image of an acoustic guitar player strumming chords, focusing on the strumming hand and relaxed posture. alt text: Acoustic guitarist demonstrating strumming technique for the acoustic chord progression in Audioslave’s Like a Stone.]
This acoustic section provides a dynamic contrast to the heavier electric parts of the song and showcases the versatility of the chord progression. Pay attention to the strumming pattern and the subtle nuances in dynamics to capture the emotion of this section.
Conclusion: Mastering “Like a Stone” on Guitar
“Like a Stone” is a rewarding song for guitarists of all levels to learn. From the beginner-friendly intro riff to the bar chord-driven chorus and the iconic whammy pedal solo, there’s something for everyone to sink their teeth into. By breaking down the song into these sections and focusing on each guitar part individually, you’ll be well on your way to playing “Like a Stone” like a pro. So grab your guitar, start with the chords, and enjoy learning this classic Audioslave track!
