MEGADETH's 22 Greatest Guitar Techniques! 

Mustaine is the extremely rare musician that can write riffs, solos, and lyrics at a very high level, as well as sing while playing complicated riffs

1:05 Skull Beneath The Skin (Intro) 2:25 Peace Sells (Bridge to second solo) 3:33 Rattlehead (Intro and verse) 4:57 Mechanix (solo) 6:38 Wake Up Dead (just after Dave's first solo) 8:07 Wake Up Dead (Dave's last solo) 9:07 Wake Up Dead (Bridge to the second Dave's solo) 10:56 Bad Omen (second riff) 12:00 Bad Omen (Chris Poland's solo during the intro) 13:46 In My Darkest Hour (second to last riff, before the ascending chromatic chords) (thank you SLAYER of Waifus and kurzackd!) 14:41 Tornado Of Souls (intro)/Holy Wars (riff just before Dave's solo) 16:04 Holy Wars (riff just before Dave's solo) 17:37 Holy Wars (whole intro riff) 18:55 Hangar 18 (second intro riff) 19:41 Hangar 18 (part between Friedman's first solo and verse riff) 20:52 Tornado Of Souls (pre-finale riff) (thank you kurzackd!) 21:41 Train Of Consequences (intro riff) 23:07 Skin o' My Teeth (solo) 26:05 Sweating Bullets (solo) 27:59 Into The Lungs Of Hell (Mustaine's solo) 28:59 Hangar 18 (Mustaine's second-to-last solo) 31:14 Holy Wars (Friedman's clean solo)

May I add another one?) Vibrato chords. He used it in Mechanix and High Speed Dirt intros.

And when you remember that MegaDave is completely self taught, it makes all of his skills and tricks even more mind blowing .. Pure genius at work.

Dave Mustaine doesn’t get enough credit for his genius guitar work.

This video made me realize why I love Megadeth so much

this man is the Bob Ross of guitar

Marty's pre bends in tornado of souls is legendary!

Thanks, Dave is the riffmaister! :)

Megadeth!!! Awesome, finally!!! We need this for Maiden and Priest too.

A Megadeth technique video is not complete without a Chris Polands saxophone style phrasing !!! Please do a lesson for that if you get time . I appreciate all the hard work you are doing for us .

Man, you are a great teacher since you really can explain how things work out.

Not only is Dave a genius, the lead guitarists he has had over the years are amazing!

Mustaine is a freakin genious making those twisting on those old patterns... NO ONe can do more with less... ---> Train of Consequences riff... Fukin Metal God...

Wow your explanation on the sweating bullets solo also applies to a section in in my darkest hour, which I previously had trouble playing in time because of the 4 notes per string. This made me almost instantly make me play the solo perfectly, at least for that section.

You're a great teacher, this was really interesting. Thanks!

Love this videos man! you broke down 2 of my favorite parts in Megadeth songs, that solo on sweating bullets and the octave tapping in "into the lungs of hell", that last one made me really nostalgic since I haven't listened to that song in many years. Keep up the great work!

in MY OPINION Dave has always had the drive to be the best he could possibly be, whereas "other guitarists" may have lose that motivation while they sat at the top of the charts

Buckethead also uses the flat 5 climb. An example is in the song Jordan!

"Some people wear Metallica shirts, some people wear Megadeth shirts" Me: Looks in closet and see's both Metallica and Megadeth shirts. I had no idea you had to pick one.

Mike You're a true inspiration in the genuine meaning of the phrase - please keep the videos coming. Steve

A 'greatest techniques' series for bands like Megadeth and Dream Theater is incomplete without having a separate video for each musician in the line-up, lol. Dave's techniques. Friedman / Poland's techniques Menza / Gar's techniques Junior's techniques Fantastic video though.

I knew Mustaine loves to do some really elaborate tricks'n such, but to this extend? Holy cow. Great video, by the way! May I ask what do you think about breaking down Chuck Schuldiner's techniques?

I love this! Awesome video! Megadeth has so many cool techniques in their solos and riffs. Dave Mustaine is a musical genius, and he's always hired outstanding guitar players who contrast well with his raw, dirty-sounding style. I would like to add a few more techniques: legato slides (Hangar 18, Public Enemy No. 1, and Burnt Ice) and two-note-per-string descending runs (Reckoning Day, Family Tree, Dread and the Fugitive Mind, Return to Hangar, and The Emperor). There's also some pretty advanced tapping, as well (right-hand and string-skipped). Again, great job!

I like how there’s a BC Rich in the background because that was the first guitar Dave used for Megadeth

The more I listen to metal and music in general, the more I like and appreciate Megadeth over Metallica. Even though I thought that megadeth was trash compared to metallica when I first started listening to metal.

I'll also add that Megadeth tends to use a lot of Major 6'ths even while in minor keys. Has a really cool sound. Used in Hangar 18, Darkest Hour, and more.

Next Chuck Schuldiner!

Awesome video. Been waiting for this for a long time. Know what else I've been waiting for? Glenn Tipton's guitar techniques. Like 4+ years, I've been waiting. Please, make it happen?

Never thought I'd see this one! domo-arigato The Art of Guitar!

Hey Mike. What I appreciate the most about your videos is that you have a really good sense of humor and you let out little things you are thinking making you very real as a person instead of being stuffy or proper. More like hanging with my buddy instead of a teacher. Thanks for making instruction easily enjoyable

This is my favorite Guitar channel on RU-vid. You my friend are doing some great work. The 'in the style of' is absolute gold. Would love to see you do John Petrucci, Jerry Cantrell or Devin Townsend. Fellow bjj practicioner Oss!

So you've been studying alot? Well, I think it was worth every minute! Thousands of vids where some jerks telling us how-to-play, but only one who does it right. Congrats!

What an amazing video. Thanks for creating this.

spider chords are fun and tricky and a good workout

Megadeth got me into playing guitar. Great vid.

@~7.40 that "skipping a note" was also used in the My Last Words intro. Although I'm certain a lot of these riffs and things mentioned are used in plenty of Megadeth songs!

Great Video.Playing myself for decades in several metal bands and still could not figure out some Megadeth Riffs perfect.Yeah, it's Megadeth.Haha.This video will help all the beginners if they are willing to learn outside their 'comfort zone'. You name it.What I personaly always loved are those exotic or arabian scales.I am in a Iron Maiden Tribute Band and they often used those things back in the days.Keep on rocking with your great videos.

With the diminished riff at the beginning, . If you want a sweeping sound, you need to remove each finger after the notes are played. However the forefinger can be left down.

Great stuff! Can you do Synyster Gates and/or Alex Skolnick? Love your channel. You're a great player and teacher!!!

Wow this is an amazing video, I have only recently found this channel.I will get so much out of this from patterns and the tips/tricks shown thanks. This will keep me busy and when I play I forget all life's problems and negativity. (side note I live about 15min from where Dave made "in error" one of the most controversial comments ever... Later inspiring the song Holy Wars)

Please do a Marty Friedman's greatest techniques video!

I just found this series of guitar lesson youtubes. Instant subscribe because I dig your style of teaching. FWIW, I have been a huge megadeth fan and even bought all the books I could find before the internet became a source of guitar info.

i know that we keep requesting you to do this and that for us mortals / ingrates / students and I thank you on behalf of all of us. SLAYER may not be your favorite band but I do know that Tom Araya took jazz lessons and theres a method to their riffness which is yet to be deciphered. Can you please do one featuring their riffs and theory behind it. Thanks in advance. Billy.

Great lesson, and great advice on how to get these techniques up to speed. Thanks for posting!

Saw the title and had to click. I am looking forward to my guitar session this evening - thanks!

How about an Iron Maiden technique video next? That'd be a really fun one to do and an interesting one to watch!

YESS!!!! Thank you soooo much for making this one!!!! Your content is incredibly amazing! 🤘🤘🤘

All the small details of your plying are fantastic! Your tone, bending, vibrato. Everything Could you do a video on how to improve the more subtle aspects of your technique? If you have something like this already then please let me know. Great work!

Excellent video .... being a drummer and trying to learn guitar I am selective with the videos I use and this vid is a keeper for me. Thanks for posting it.

Great format idea. Thought I'd only watch a little bit, but I couldn't stop watching.

Video of the year! I wanna see more videos like this one!!! Thanks

Literally just yesterday I was wondering why there was no Megadeth guitar technique video. Excellent job!

Great video, thank you for taking the time to put together this list (:

love the kramer!!! as a kramer player myself its nice to see others rock these guitars, they are work horses! espcially the one u have . a SM-1? i believe , i own the vanguard mustaine model and a baretta special which i modded to all hell! hahaha

Just shows how much of a virtuoso Dave Mustaine is, and so are all of the other guitarists that have become members of the band.

I love your videos very well done, well researched, and concisely demonstrated explained a great job. Would love to see some of the Techniques of Alexi Laiho R.I.P. and Amon Amarth. Keep them coming.

Also those major third chords are seemingly Jon Schaffer of Iced Earth's favourite chords. Noticeably prevalent on the first few albums.

dude rattlehead and skull beneath the skin in the same video your the best

Im one of the lucky guys that like both Metallica and Megadeth.. The West Side Story comment made me laugh.So true. Love Yr Vids Mike. Cheers

Great video buddy really great. This vid is a true megadeth fan base video. It should say metallica fans not allowed, jk! And btw, its always a real pleasure to play megadeth songs perfectly!

MAN! I've wanted to learn how to play Bad Omen's intro solo for ages but all the tabs were wrong (they either had way too many notes or too few so I had to mix and match them myself) but this seems pretty accurate. Thanks!

Hi. Thank you very much for taking the time to show the great guitarist techniques. Could you make a video explaining the techniques of great solos of glen tipton?.Regards

Oh shit, a Johnson J-Station user. I thought I was the only one :O

Hey Mike, love your videos. Very informative and detailed interpretations. If I may, and if you haven't already realized this, I noticed that when you play the Marty Friedman Acoustic Break piece you played in the last segment, you ended on an E minor of sorts, but I'm pretty sure he ends it on E major. Great stuff man, keep it up!

I can't say I like more than the other. Both awesome bands and amazing talent

Dude you are a great teacher!!! Great video. Very informative!! Thanks a great deal!!!

I would love to see what James and Dave could create if they were together in a band right now. Not metallica or megadeth, just another band but with those two creating riffs together

4:09 i agree a 100%. I've been trying to learn the Take No Prisoners intro and i just couldn't manage to understand how to hit the right notes at the right time. It was just messy. But then I tried to just do tremolo picking and just hitting the notes with the left hand as accurately as possible and it became much easier. I still don't get it done right (mostly cause I am still a beginner trying a song a bit too hard for me) but i went from never nailing it to actually managing to do it (i miss maybe most of the other times but st least i got closer to manage it)

I'm not a guitarist but I watched this whole thing and it was AWESOME

Great videos and thank you! Have to say that I chuckled when you said "got the use the word "paradox".

fucking love Dave his vocals lyrics song writing in general

When playing Marty Friedman riffs, you should have your picking hand at a weird angle like a lobster claw...

I know this has nothing to do with the content of the video, but I loooove the rosy color of that guitar and how it changes depending on the light! Sometimes it looks rosy, sometimes it looks silver and then even white.. Very beautiful! :)

I play Peace Sells and found it exactly how you played. Dave and Nick Menza were the backbones of Megadeth. From Chris Poland to Marty Friedman, it had given many guitarists their due chance but Dave still rules. Just play 3 guitars from 'Into the Lungs of Hell' (which I do once a week at least), and you will find some very different orchestration of cacophony even with so many guitars present. Good work, keep on...I am waiting for more.

Sweet video dude, lot's of nice tip's for anyone starting to learn the mighty Megadeth.

Outstanding video!! I really enjoyed it.

Nice job. If anyone needs an easier Megadeth technique to add to the mix, Dave often adds a bass note below the root to his power chords -- for example, a D power chord would have the A on the 6th string included.

Nice work and great video, thank you very much!

Great video. Couldn't have been done better. Thank you so much.

I think it is a major chord at the end of the final clean riff at the end of the video ^^

Marty's a legend too. I HAVE too followed his solo carrer after megadeth!

Nice job. Been learning the techniques. Thanks. Can you prepare a segment on Michael Schenker? It would be awesome

Thank you for this video . I enjoyed watching it .

Where is Dave's between-the-leg strechy technique from Washington?

very very nice one mike. \m/. the into the lungs of hell thing is done by dave with his thumb ;), he was bragging abot that in the 80ts. same thing as in the washington is next solo.

Metallica: the gateway for non metal heads to metal Megadeth: for metal heads who got tired of Metallica or want to try something else (or elitists who hate Metallica because load and reload exist) Slayer: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Anthrax: underrated, for people who love thrash, no matter where you come from

I'm on like .25 speed and have a hard time following everything. LOL!!!!!!!! You are the best teacher with a metal twist out there though!!! I have no problem buying!

thanks for your amazing work! would absolutely love one of these amazing tutorials on the genius player that is Ian Crichton of Saga

How in God's name can anybody not like this!? Thanks!

been watching a LOT of your vids lately, now I've finally subbed. Cheers! btw, would you consider doing a video on some Slipknot writing techniques, like this Megadeth vid? Cheers in advance! :)

27:50 Dave in such cases using your thumb, laying it on the 12 fret

6:42 he transforms into m̶̧̡̢̡̧̡̨̧̧̧̛̹̺̯̰̫̣̪̥̟̗̳̳̮͎͇̦̯̟̬͓̝̪̤̞͓̟̺̰̘̺͇͎̭̰̤̰͉̹̯̻̟͇͚̲͈̜̭̪̰͔͙̫͕̗̞̬̄͆̊̄̈́̅̃̉͂̂͒̆̋͒̈́̒̀̅̈̾̈̄͂̃͒̏̌̎̈́͌̈́͗́̃͋́̇̾͌͆̀̏̈́́̆̕̚̕͠͝ͅį̴̢̡̧̨̨̧̧̡̧̧̡̧̨̨̛̱̜̹̖̫̳̙̟̜̘͓̠̘̘̘͕͍͓̰͎̫̹͓̥̗͓͍̤͈̻̰͖̥̘͈͉̙̻̩̮̳̙̫̝͙̺̹̟̪̖͔͎̻͖̹̩̞͈̥͙̰͖̣͎̭̟̬̯̬̺̺̗̼͍̭͉̗̳̲͓̙̥̳̟̣̲̫̮̰̩͔̗̱̟̲̯̠͎̳̩̬̤̹̲̥̬̰̝̻̬̜̫̳̣̮̙̱̪̈́̈̊̈͛͂̊͆̓̆̎͐̉̎̑͊̋͐͗̓͑̃̎̈́͑̀̊̀̔̀̉͛̑̽́̆̀̒͑̏͂̆̄̊͌͛̉̇̏̎̀̀͊̉̒͊̀̀̏͌͂̎̈̑̈́̅́́̇̈́̈͐͊͊̈̈́̾͑͗̈͋̒̋͊̋̋͌̔͑͊͐͒́̒̐̂͆̄̐̄͂͊̕̕̚͘͘͘̕͘̚͘̕͜͜͜͜͝ͅͅͅͅķ̵̢̧̡̢̨̨̧̧̡̧̧̛̠̜̝̘̤͔̖̣͇͔̯̟̙̝͍̖̪̭̣̦͙̠͙̞̣̯̰̠͎̼̮̫͚̹̘̤̘̦̫̲͖̝̻͍̞̰̗͈͖̮̘̖̳̬̳͓̦͙̺͉͈͍͈̖̣̼͈̣̻̻̪̪̪̘̟̝̱̙̫͕̻̝̱̙̖̹͓͖̫̫̘̦̱̥̻̺̩̻̱̩͈͎͉̹̯̪̣̺̞͍̱̤̰͉͇̜̜̙̰͊̔͆̎̊͛́̈͛͛́͋̆́͒̚͜͜͝ͅͅͅͅͅe̵̢̧̢̡̧̨̡̨̢̡̡̢̧̝̦̼̫̘̥̣͔̻͎̰̯̲̙̲̟͙̫̮̘͉͖̲̜̥̮̠̙̣̤͕̬͇̳̘͇͔̭͖̹͉̻͙̻̞͙̬̯̙̤̻̺̗͉͍̯̻̗̫̯̗̻̠͈̗̭͕̩͕̭͔͕̦̦̔̀͛̉̐̽̒̎̎̈́̄̂̏̎̋̿̅͌͗͗̔͆͑̀̍̈̾̑̏̆̂̆̃͂̅͘̚͜͜͜͜͜͝͝͠͝ͅͅ

"Sometimes, you don't want to do the nomal thing". That's like the definition of Dave Mustaine.

Nice video. It would be great if you can do Judas Priest and Iron Maiden next. Well, if you like those two bands.

This video is outstanding

great video....but the way he says "root" lol....killin me

Thank James and Lars for Megadeth.

Really Good! TY

Hope you can do some Iron Maiden & Slipknot soon. Your videos are great.