Introduction
Hey guitar players! Darrin from GuitarControl.com is here to guide you through learning the iconic “Lonely Day” by System Of A Down. This song is not only emotionally powerful but also surprisingly accessible for guitarists. In this lesson, we will break down how to play “Lonely Day” step-by-step, utilizing easy-to-follow instructions and free guitar tabs. We’ll be playing in Drop C# tuning, which involves tuning your entire guitar down a half step and then dropping your low E string another half step to C#. Ready to dive in? Let’s get started and explore how to play “Lonely Day” by System Of A Down.
Lonely Day Guitar Tab Lesson Intro
Mastering the Main Riff of Lonely Day
The main riff in “Lonely Day” serves as the intro, outro, and verse, making it the backbone of the song. It’s built around a sequence of chords played with a distinctive rhythmic feel. We begin with an A minor chord. For this riff, we’re focusing on specific strings to create the signature sound. We’ll pick the strings in this order: A, D, G, G, and then back to the open D string.
Next, we transition to a B minor seven over G chord (Bm7/G). To form this chord, place your third finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string and your second finger on the 2nd fret of the G string. The picking pattern for this chord is E, D, G, B, G, D. These first two chord measures establish the melancholic mood of “Lonely Day”.
The progression continues to a regular C major chord. Here, the picking pattern mirrors the A minor chord: A, D, G, B, G, and then the open D string. Finally, we move to a B minor six over F sharp chord (Bm6/F#). Position your second finger on the 2nd fret of the low E string and your first finger on the 1st fret of the G string, leaving the D and B strings open. The picking pattern is again E, D, G, B, G, D.
Lonely Day Main Riff Guitar Chords
This four-measure sequence repeats throughout the intro, verses, and outro, giving the song its recognizable and rhythmic swing. The time signature is in 6/8, which contributes to this swaying feel. Listen closely to the song to internalize this rhythm as you practice the “Lonely Day” guitar tab.
Unleashing the Chorus Power Chords
The chorus of “Lonely Day” injects intensity with the use of power chords and overdrive. While we’ll demonstrate these chords with a clean tone for clarity, remember they are played with distortion in the actual song. The chorus opens with a B5 power chord. To play this, bar your first finger across the 7th fret of the E, A, and D strings. Then, place your third finger on the 9th fret of the G string and your fourth finger on the 10th fret of the B string.
The subsequent chords in the chorus are standard power chords, simplified by Drop C# tuning where you can barre across the E, A, and D strings at the same fret. Following the B5, we have an E5 power chord, which is played with the open low E and A strings. The rhythm in the chorus maintains a similar swing, with the first strum often being a dotted quarter note.
Next comes a G5 power chord. Barre your first finger across the 3rd fret of the E and D strings. The rhythm remains consistent. Then, return to the E5 power chord. The progression continues with a D5 power chord at the 10th fret and an F#5 power chord at the 2nd fret. This sequence repeats, building the emotional peak of the chorus. Pay attention to the rhythmic pattern to capture the chorus’s dynamic feel when learning “Lonely Day” guitar tab.
Lonely Day Chorus Guitar Power Chords
The song structure typically progresses from intro to verse, then chorus, another verse, and another chorus, before moving into the bridge.
Navigating the Bridge Section
The bridge in “Lonely Day” utilizes the same power chords from the chorus but with a slightly altered rhythmic approach and feel. It begins with a G5 power chord, played with a dotted quarter note followed by three eighth notes. This rhythm can be counted as “one, two and, three and…”.
Then, shift down to an F#5 power chord, maintaining the same rhythm. On the last strum of the F#5, slide up to the 5th fret. After the slide, play the 5th fret power chord with the same rhythm. Next, return to the B5 power chord, again with the same rhythmic pattern. However, on the “and” of beat three, transition quickly to an E5 power chord. Following the E5, revert back to the G5.
Lonely Day Bridge Guitar Progression
The bridge continues with an F#5 power chord, then up to an A5, and finally back to a B5. After this, the section shifts to a palm-muted G5 power chord played with straight eighth notes for two measures. Count this as “one and, two and, three and, one and, two and, three and”. Descend a half step to a palm-muted F#5 power chord, again with eighth notes: “one and, two and, three and, one and, two and, three and”. On the “and” of beat three of the F#5 measure, switch to an E5 power chord. This bridge section leads into the guitar solo of “Lonely Day”.
Concluding with the Outro Riff
The outro of “Lonely Day” revisits the intro riff but introduces a subtle change, a ritardando, meaning a gradual decrease in tempo. Begin the outro just as you did the intro, starting with the A minor chord sequence. As you progress through the riff and reach the Bm6 chord for the second time in the outro, initiate the slow down.
For the very final chord, create a unique voicing. Place your first finger on the 7th fret of the D string, your fourth finger on the 10th fret of the G string, and your third finger on the 9th fret of the G string. The final picking sequence is: G string to D string, remove your fourth finger, pick the third string to the D string again, and finally, play the 10th fret of the B string. This creates a delicate and fading end to “Lonely Day”.
Conclusion
We hope this lesson on how to play “Lonely Day” by System Of A Down has been helpful and inspiring! This song is a fantastic piece to add to your repertoire, offering both emotional depth and engaging guitar parts. If you enjoyed this tutorial, please give us a thumbs up and leave a comment below with any questions. Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell for more guitar lessons uploaded throughout the week. Thank you for watching How To Play Lonely Day By System Of A Down, and keep practicing!
