Dimebag Darrel Guitar Methods

Dime is so great and you can learn some tricks he used in writing and soloing. In this you will learn: Solo tricks, Blues tricks, Heavy riffs.

1. Heavy riffing.
To be able to emulate Dime and even sound like him first you must already have a great knowledge of your guitar. You have gotta be able to get your fingers flying on these riffs. Most people know the blues scale but if you don't here it is, Dime almost always used this or a modifed version of this:

|-5------8-|
|-5------8-|
|-5---7-8--|
|-5---7----|
|-5-6-7----|
|-5------8-|

Now why would we need to know the blues scale for riffing! Because Dime used the blues scale in riffs too.

Cowboys From Hell:
|-----------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------0-|
|-------------------0----------1--------0h1h2---------|
|0---3---0---3----------3--------3--------------------|

You also gotta be able to hit harmonics on command, for those of you who don't know how to hit pinch harmonics, have your thumb sticking out a tiny bit over the side of the pick so that it hits the string a milli second after the pick.

Revolution Is My Name:
 Harm. 
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------5-------|
|----------------------------7p5-----------7p5--|
|0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---------7----------------|

And of course the beginners technique palm muting.

Mouth For War
|---------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------|
|-----------4--------------------4-4-4--|
|-0/1/2-2-2-2-2-----0/1/2-2-2-2-2-------|
|---------------------------------------|
PM....................................

2. Solo Tricks
A common trick not jsut used by dime but by Zakk Wylde and Eddie Van Halen is using one lick and just moving it up the fretboard.

Cowboys From Hell Ascending Lick:
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------11-12-15---11-12-15-|
|------------------------11-12-15---11-12-15--------------------------|
|-11-12-15---11-12-15-------------------------------------------------|


|-------------------------------------------------11-12-15---11-12-15-|
|------------------------11-12-15---11-12-15--------------------------|
|-11-12-15---11-12-15-------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|

Also you cotta use lots of pinch harmonics as well as natural harmonics for solo's. If you have got a floating bridge you can use this trick. To make the huge squeals that dime does at the end of cemetary gates. You dip the bar as low as it goes then take your thumb and mute the EAD strings and with your pinky mute the BE strings while the bar is dipped hit a natural harmonic by picking the string with your ring finger and barely touching the string with your middle finger and then bring the bar up to the note you want to hit. Another great part of Dime's playing was his bends, if you wanna play like Dime you gotta bend those little strings till they scream.

5 Minutes Alone Solo:
 2.0 slowly release. 5
|--19-------------------19-------19-18-17------17---------------|
|------------------------------------------------20-----20--17--|
|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------|

Well you should be well on your way to makin your guitar scream and remember you gotta play all of these riffs with tons of distortion.

Comments

[ZoSo.Led.Zep.]

not half bad. not my favorite guitarist or style but a good article.

[dwnbowden]

you shouldnt copy one guitarists style

[Greenback]

dwnbowden you make a very good point, but as artists we're bound to be influenced by great guitarists like Dimebag. Incorporating the styles of other guitarists into your own makes you a more rounded player, and helps you develop your own sound. My use of the tritone has developed a lot thanks to Dimebag, but I wouldn't make an entire song in his style. You just gotta be careful of the boundary between inspiration and plagarism.

RIP Dimebag, keep rockin' in the next world man

[dwnbowden]

fair enough

[insanity101]

Personally, i liked it. but certain methods shoudnt be messed with after he was shot

[geetarist]

Personally, i liked it. but certain methods shoudnt be messed with after he was shot

actually i think Dime would want us to use his style of playing to let him live on... if no one used a certain type of style after a artist died, music would be very blah and boring now...

[TheTrendIsDead]

alright lesson, but your tabs are off a bit.

[tool_fan_trav]

soory about the tabs, i didn't read over it after i was done, the cowboys from hell main riff tab is way off....
sorry about that

[hopesfall420]

RIP dimebag..

[eyehatepop89]

I'm not too clear on the whole high squealling thing. Could you maybe explain it better?

[mesametal]

decent leson. the tabs are off (you know). you could have mentioned all the crazy stuff he does with the whammy pedal, or how he runs through tons of passing notes lagato.

[insanity101]

I take back what i said, it is a great lesson

[bullet theory]

I love dimebag so ill give it a 5 , good lesson

[pinion18]

cowboys from hell tab is off. its 1 then 0 on the 5th string

[Cobain-iac_90]

Pretty good lesson. I enjoyed it. It did cover many of the signature tricks of the trade Dime employed over the years. Oh, and FYI, the blues scale used in CFH is the E blues scale, and is also played an octave lower on the twelfth fret before moving up. Just thought I'd insert that. Nice lesson overall, though.

[Punk_Must_DIE!!]

actually i think Dime would want us to use his style of playing to let him live on... if no one used a certain type of style after a artist died, music would be very blah and boring now...

dam rite if i was a a guitarist as influential as him n i was shot i wud definatly wnt ppl 2 carry on th style

[Dimebag Dani]

cool lesson. some good points that you made there.
RIP dimebag

[Bloodletting77]

not a half bad lesson, and its good to see someone who respects dime enough to want to pick up a guitar and be influenced by his style.

r.i.p dimebag

[F*Ck RaP]

Dude, good lesson, but some of the tabs are a little off but hey man, its close right?
But... I think no one can pull off his backward wammy bar pull it kicks ass!

Dimebag RIP

[metalmse]

Cool lesson! Dimebag would want his style to live on! He is at the top of my list of faves. The more styles you know, the better guitarist you are. There is a difference between copying, & incorporating & expanding a stlye. Dimebag will forever live on!!
R.I.P. Dimebag!

[jimihendrixWee]

wen i first heard about dimebag my sister sed that he was shot in the head and just cept playing cus..hes crazy like that.. but i just wanna know if thats true cus it sounds a tad crazy...good job

[jimihendrixWee]

hey f*uck RaP- you know the backward wammy bar pull thing...its from a floating bridge(the bridge comes off the body like 1/2 a centimeter so u can pull back on the whammy if u get lucky ull get a guitar like that my friend has a mex strat with a floater hehe)

[flyanmyan]

uh huh huh...you said "floater"

[MoreDeathMetal]

His reverse whammy bar trick is actually really easy, and sometimes an easier technique, all depenending on what you are playing of course.

[jboy_16]

hmmmmppp.....

[dimebaglives]

Dimebag was the best guitarist ever and those tabs were off.

[RideTheLighting]

\m/ dimebag darrell

[turnip0153]

I love you

[slashdude666]

r.i.p. dimebag

[metal_man696]

Dimebag was a great guitarist R.I.P Dime!!

[dragon933]

exellent work but i have been trying to pick harmonics for sometime now but still cant get that screem sound dont know what i am doing wrong but obviously something any ideas.
but keep them coming

[dragon933]

or should i say pinch harmonics

[.:*§c@rY*:.]

Dime was and still is legend!! He will live on through the music!! Raise your next glass for him!!

Rock on and R.I.P Dimebag Darrell...

[brotherdime11]

cheers!!!^

[metaldier]

I used to play the CFH solo all the time and i now use the main line to it in my own improvs lol

[SARJIT SINGH]

boring .....this i so boring try to see michael angelo batios work to develop your skillzzzzz.

jboy_16 wrote:
hmmmmppp.....

Spam. Warned.

[dimebag7]

RIP dimebag(guitar lengend)

if you wanna play like dime you gotta have that pinch harmonic!

[EMO_MUST_BURN!!]

yo, dragan933, dont worry, i had tha same problem... i kept on for bout couple of weeks an now they scream like a lil' biatch ( 6 fret: G string is easyer i find, try it out!!)

[EMO_MUST_BURN!!]

sozzzz...dragON933..my bad

[EMO_MUST_BURN!!]

yo, dragan933, dont worry, i had tha same problem... i kept on for bout couple of weeks an now they scream like a lil' biatch ( 6 fret: G string is easyer i find, try it out!! an vibrato like fook wit lots of distortion..it helps)

[EMO_MUST_BURN!!]

o an dragon,, lots of vibrato an lots of dist.

[Yuna]

Oh no! Master Dimebag will be mad of you!

[Yuna]

I'm sure Master Dimebag will be mad of you! but I think its ok!

[System_Freak]

It's cool that you can recognize a great guitarists style, but By throwing that to other people will cause The original to sound...blah...People, come up with your own style and technique, It will really pay off.

[DimeZakk]

ahhh dimebag... metal god he rocked like no other... but now we are talking bout pinch'es then i allways saw it in the beginning most easy doing it down in the 12. fret ... and then do some vibrato bending any thing ya want, then it comes auto sometime. he practiced pinch for 3 weeks about now i can make pinch anywere anytime ... R.I.P 'Dimebag'Darrel Lance Abott!

[hvymetaldp13]

Dude, dimebag is the best ever, and i think this lesson was a great exploration of the basics of his style. but like somebody else said, go through more of his tricks. like his heavy vibrato, and his use oflegato and repetition. but great lesson.

[EMO_MUST_BURN!!]

lo; yeh im pinchin an dimebag sqeaulin galore these days...floyds are kwel if u know wa to do wit them

[CFH^Pantera]

To clear a few things up. To make a artificial harmonic there are several ways it is done. Easiest string to do one on is the G string 7th fret. You can try picking down and after the pick hits let your thumb hit it too. or you can pick upstroke and let your index hit it. The tab from the CFH solo is correct but the one from the main riff is just missing a few notes. There are several ways of playing this song in several locations but you get the same sound Dime actually played the riffs starting on the 12 fret top string and the second time he does it it starts on top string 3rd fret.

To answer the question of Dime being shot and he just kept playing is untrue. Dimebag was grabbed in a head lock and the ******* shot him in the head.

An to the guy that said to look at the work of michael angelo batios. He is a very exceptional player but in no way touches Dime. Dime won a guitar contest and won his first guitar at age 16 beating out players who had played for years. Dime play down a lot for the style of music he played. However if you must say one guitarest is better than another then Andrea segovia beats the shit out of michael angelo batios.

To conclude to be able to play like Dime will take quite a bit of practice.

[CFH^Pantera]

Dimes CFH Tab

-----
-----
----
-
-----12
-----12---12-
----13----12----13h14---


-12-15-12-15----15----15
----15----15-----

repe
at until
-----
-----
----
-
-----
-13s12--10---

-----12

Then the heavier riff
-----
-----
-----

-----0-----
-----0---0
---1---0---0h1h2-----1p0-
---
-0-3-0-3---3---3---3
---3-----3-0

Or the heavy riff can be played
-----
-----
---
--
-----
-----5-----
-
0-3-0-3-5-3-5-3-6-3-5-3-5
s7-----6s5-3-0

Hope all this comes out right and you guys can view it. Just wanted to add how differently it can be played.

[CFH^Pantera]

Ok none of that shit came out so you will have to use your imagination lol sorry

[METALLIDETH90]

this is a great article for learners of dimebag's style of gutar. However , one should not try to learn just one guitarist's style they should also modify every style they hear so that they can use them to there own advantage. Or possibly come up with a unique style of guitar playing that can be used as a substitute for this one. Great article and it was helpful

[butter_nava]

hmm..not bad..not bad at all..
Dimebad R.I.P

[peterocker]

good dude

[supersolus666]

SARJIT SINGH wrote:

boring .....this i so boring try to see michael angelo batios work to develop your skillzzzzz.

if you think its boring then why did you open the lesson? Dimebag was one of the greatest guitarists great lesson and dimes spirit will live on.

[punksucks23]

dimebaglives :
Dimebag was the best guitarist ever and those tabs were off.

dimebag isnt the best all he does is shred and play power chords listen to hendrix srv clapton eric johnson is probably the best ever

[RIP Dime]

Dimebag is one of the greatest metal guitarists ever, he's a legend. As for the lesson....meh....the thing that pissed me off was that ALL the tabs for the songs are wrong!

[ekune26]

it's very litle explayning...but I apreciate the effort..

[Ibzman]

insanity101 wrote:

Personally, i liked it. but certain methods shoudnt be messed with after he was shot

So nobody should have used hendrix, vaughan and rhoads techniques after they died ? ridiculous

[death_by_thrash]

I don't understand all of you people who keep saying that guitarists shouldn't mess with other guitarists techniques or play their styles. Of course you should learn techniques by other guitarists and their styles, as well. The key thing to do, though, is to incorporate those into a completely new style and build off of that to round out your skills. If we stopped trying to play Randy Rhoads style or Dimebag's style or either of their techniques, then music would lose its interest and appeal. Remember the first time you heard Crazy Train by Randy or Cemetary Gates by Dime or Eruption by Eddie? Those songs blew your mind. I, for one, would be angry if I never heard anyone playing these awesome songs or forgetting these amazing guitarists. It's not wrong to learn styles and use techniques to make new ones. It is wrong to completely plagiarize someone else by doing songs completely or exclusively in their style, though. That's where the line is drawn.

[death_by_thrash]

Insanity101- I disagree with you. If we forget the methods that Dime used and never used any of them ourselves, his music and his death would have been in vain. Those are his signature methods, but they are meant to be learned, played, and remembered by all so that he may never be forgotten.

[death_by_thrash]

By the way, thanks to lbzman, Metallideth90, CFH^Pantera, metalmse, geetarist, and Greenback. All of you are right about your comments and apparently know how music should be enjoyed and played.

[Qaphela]

dwnbowden wrote:

you shouldnt copy one guitarists style

This is for you to be influenced by dime you ****! Not to copy him§

[EMO_MUST_BURN!!]

why dont many people see wat I AM F U K I N TYPIN!! i make sense
emo shud burn ARRGHHH!!!

[WrathChilde]

Everybody is Influenced by somebody's style otherwise you wouldn't be listening to them.
That means that a style is going to influence your technique.
The key is finding a technique that fits your style that has been influenced by your heros ( Dimebag,Zakk,EVH,SRV...)and making something that is uniquely your own.

[ZombieModeRocks]

the high pitch squealing is wrong, you can search for a clip on youtube and Dimebag himself explain it to you. apparently he recorded that when he was touring with damage plan in japan.

[slayer99567]

those who hate dimebag should ****ing die dimebag is the best.

[dime187]

Dimebag method is one sure way to keep the mans legendary style and namesake alive for future generations to learn and enjoy. RIP Dimebag " Get cha Pull"

[Empo]

Short but nice lesson.

[slayer99567]

1+1=2

[Les__Paul__630*]

2+2=4

[D$MONEY]

okay dimebag was good, definitely not the shit, but good nonetheless. In my opinion, he isnt as good as everyone thinks or says he is. His style was just very unique, like he did weird things that you probably wouldnt do naturally in your writings. his riffs were cool and original for what they were but he was just a typical shredder, the faster the heavier the better.


D$

[MESAexplorer]

I believe this artical is a bit mediocre. It wasn't specific enough on any part of his style. Basically the best way to learn an artists style is to watch a few live vids, play their music by ear, and study the coolest parts with someone elses tab.

When trying to become inspired by someone, after you have the basic jist of their technique, play a song on the CD player and try to follow along by ear. You won't play it exactly right but throwing in a few licks here and there and changing parts and vibrato this bend that, next thing you know you have a new song that people can relate to the original band.

[Cam Dude]

This article was good and ill put some of these techniques to practice.

[devil_driver68]

Dime is god! I Know quite a few of his techniques actually i'm using them in our bands material.

[blackmeadow]

dime is not god he is beyond that far beyond

[blackmeadow]

dime is best

[blackmeadow]

dime is beyond god

[dillinverge]

Dimebag IS NOT GOD! Dime couldn't create the universe, stars, planets, life, etc... He only created sweet metal riffs/solos/and songs, things that will go down in history and should be honored by all who pick up the instrument. He was a very well rounded, clean sounding musician. Very clean and very precise! But even he put on his boots one at a time and tuned his guitar and had to practice daily just like the rest of us. There will only EVER be one Dimebag Darral! Those who love him and appriciate what he has done for metal music should remember him for who he was... a great musician...not GOD. I don't think, especially now after his death, he would want anyone calling him God!

P.S. Someday (Like Dimebag) you will meet God too. Weather you like it or not. So be carful just who you call GOD! Even if it is just a joke or not a serious conversation. You still have to account for it. Remeber Death comes to us ALL! R.I.P Dimebag!

[dime187]

HELL YEAH!!!!! Getcha Pull on This Brother!!!!

[mohawkkidJohn]

That cowyboys from hell riff actually goes like this:

Cowboys From Hell:
|-----|
|-----|
|-----|
|-----0-----|
|-----0--0--1---0-----0h1
h2-----|
|0-3-0-3----3--3--3---3--
---|

[mohawkkidJohn]

sorry goddamit my riff got ****edup nevermind what i was saying.

[mohawkkidJohn]

I got 1 more thing to sayime is my favorite guitarist so im not insukting him just to let you know.Dimebag was a relatively unknown guitarist compared to others.He only got So well known when he was murdered.and I think that the way Nathan Gale died was fitting...he got shot in the head with a shotgun by a guy named "James Niggermyer" (spelling).HAHAHA!

[mohawkkidJohn]

Dime not"" sorry

[mohawkkidJohn]

Dime not"" sorry

[Old Vendetta\m/]

yes, dime is definitly god

[craven -morehea]

Thas a good start But the most important thing is to just keep working on your chops and play with feel. Dime lives on

[slashbender_10]

eyehatepop89 wrote:wel squealing isn't that difficult to do the first thing you need to do if you wanna squal like Dime is

1.flick the G string (open string) with your middle finger
2.while string is in motion,pull whammy bar down
3.then when the string is about to go back to normal
tap the 2nd,3rd,or 4th fret (which is usually the best way to get squeals)in mid air
5. and right when you've tapped it just pull the whammy bar up slowly .and you've got a squeal.

I'm not too clear on the whole high squealling thing. Could you maybe explain it better?

[Masonpwiley]

insanity101 wrote:

Personally, i liked it. but certain methods shoudnt be messed with after he was shot

I disagree. Music would be very dull if nobody used deal musiciab's techniques.

[Masonpwiley]

musicians*

[JFP]

I can do pinch notes like zakk wylde, but DAMN, those squeals with the FRTrem are hard to learn.

[boreddumb86]

Dime is wanna of the best guitarists there has been. The only thing is that ppl always think metal guitarists are the best when most of them just use power chords and simple solos. I'm not saying metal sucks cuz I love metal but its always good to incorporate other types of music. Oh and to ppl that think punk rock sucks most metal comes from punk rock so think about that before u have screen names like that cuz without punk metal probably wouldn't be.
R.I.P Dimebag...keep on rocking up there.

[DIMEBAG123]

Bloodletting77 wrote:

not a half bad lesson, and its good to see someone who respects dime enough to want to pick up a guitar and be influenced by his style.

r.i.p dimebag

Bloodletting77 i agree with you look im a beginner so you can say the whole reason i started to play was because of dime i look up to the man he i sa hell of a guitarist i just wish i could play like him already but practice makes perfect and yeah the cfh tabs are off lol

[DIMEBAG123]

oh yeah and i havent been playing for about a yeah but not to seem like im good which im not at all but the squealling is easy especially with a floating bridge

[0749hsv1978]

dime wasnt a no body he weas a legeng all around the world befor he was wasted by a scum damageplan was as good or better than pantera rip the man from texas

Dimebag Dani wrote:

cool lesson. some good points that you made there.
RIP dimebag

mohawkkidJohn wrote:

I got 1 more thing to sayime is my favorite guitarist so im not insukting him just to let you know.Dimebag was a relatively unknown guitarist compared to others.He only got So well known when he was murdered.and I think that the way Nathan Gale died was fitting...he got shot in the head with a shotgun by a guy named "James Niggermyer" (spelling).HAHAHA!

[Orestis]

well about the squilling thing:
->make sure to have a tremolo locking floyd rose cuz only then u can get the squil u want...part from that i have a video of dimes squilling lesson on my hi5 profile...
http://tidalorestis.hi5.com
go check it out...that's the best lesson u can find about squilling cuz dimebag himself explains it to u live...see ya all out there...oh and by the way...another thing dime is using are minorchitas(i think thats how they are called)...check them out...u can play solos on them over the whole FBD and TGST albums...

[Kooldood]

i couldnt see the cowboys riff in the comments properly, but it goes like this...
|-----
|-----
|-----
|-----0-
|-----0---0---1-- -0----1h2---
|-0-3-0-3---3---3---3---3-----

hope this is useful.

R.I.P. Dimebag!!!

[Kooldood]

dammit, why isnt any tab coming out right?

[Kooldood]

Right, im determined, cowboys is

E G E G A G A G Bb G A G Bb B D

on the strings

E E E E A E A E A E A E A A D


hope this is useful!!!

Dime is god

[Scrooluce]

cowboys from hell =

-----
-----
-----2-----2-----
--2-----2-----2-----2-- ---0--
--2-----2-----0-----0-----1-----1---0h1h2----
--0-- 3--0--3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----

good lesson, go into more detal next time

[Scrooluce]

bah, tab got ****ed up

[guitar_freakgr]

and about the cowboys form hell ascending lick is playing by picking the first three notes and hammering on the others
-----
-----
-----
-----
-----
----11-12-15-11h- 12h-15-----
you play that on all strings

[devildriver222]

geetarist wrote:

actually i think Dime would want us to use his style of playing to let him live on... if no one used a certain type of style after a artist died, music would be very blah and boring now...

i agree, but i think dime would want us to learn from his style and use parts of it, if everyone just picked one style, everyone would still sound like pantera, pink floyd etc.

[zorbozate]

i think every great guitarist learned somewhere along the way from another great guitarist, r.i.p dimebag