Guitar & Bass Tabs
Megadeth
Learn Megadeth's Guitar & Bass Style
Discover how Megadeth developed their signature guitar and bass sound, the techniques you'll encounter in their music, and the best lessons to begin your learning journey.
Megadeth formed in 1983 when Dave Mustaine, freshly out of Metallica, teamed with David Ellefson to forge a new kind of speed and precision thrash. With razor-sharp riffs, machine-gun tempos, and razor-edged politics of metal, they helped shape the sound that would define modern thrash across the '80s and beyond. Early albums like Killing Is My Business... and Peace Sells... established Megadeth as one of the 'Big Four' of thrash metal, a distinction that would mirror their enduring influence on guitar technique and composition.
Over the years the lineup shifted (Mustaine remaining the creative fulcrum), yielding landmark records such as Rust in Peace and Countdown to Extinction. Their blend of ferocious riffing, sophisticated arrangements, and melodic hooks earned critical praise, commercial success, and a Grammy win in 2017 for Dystopia, cementing their status as innovators who pushed technique without sacrificing songcraft.
Megadeth's legacy lives on through a global community of players who study their precise rhythms, intricate lead work, and fearless tempo changes — a fitting centerpiece for DadRock Tabs' Megadeth lessons, where 75 curated tabs invite you to explore their catalog, from Peace Sells to Tornado of Souls and beyond.
🎸 Want to know what gear Megadeth used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
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Skin O' My Teeth
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Symphony Of Destruction
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Holy Wars... The Punishment Due
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Tornado Of Souls
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Trust
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Hanger 18
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High Speed Dirt
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Into The Lungs Of Hell
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Set The World Afire
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502
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Liar
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Last Rites / Loved To Deth
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Killing Is My Business And Business Is Good
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Skull Beneath The Skin
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Rattlehead
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Chosen Ones
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Looking Down The Cross
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Mechanix
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Wake Up Dead
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The Conjuring
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Peace Sells
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Devils Island
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Bad Omen
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My Last Words
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Anarchy In The U.K.
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Mary Jane
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In My Darkest Hour
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Hook In Mouth
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Take No Prisoners
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Five Magics
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Poison Was The Cure
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Lucretia
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Rust In Peace... Polaris
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Architecture Of Aggression
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Foreclosure Of A Dream
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This Was My Life
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Sweating Bullets
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Psychotron
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Captive Honour
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Crown Of Worms
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Ashes In Your Mouth
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Reckoning Day
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Train Of Consequences
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Addicted To Chaos
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A Tout Le Monde
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Elysian Fields
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The Killing Road
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Blood Of Heroes
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Family Tree
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Youthanasia
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I Thought I Knew It All
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Victory
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No More Mr Nice Guy
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Breakpoint
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Go To Hell
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99 Ways To Die
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Angry Again
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Paranoid
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Almost Honest
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Use The Man
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Mastermind
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The Disintegrators
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I'll Get Even
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A Secret Place
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She Wolf
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Vortex
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FFF
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Evil That's Within
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Bullprick
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Playing Style
Megadeth's playing style blends razor-sharp rhythm guitars with precise, lightning-fast leads. Dave Mustaine crafts tight, palm-muted chugging and aggressive alternate picking to drive scorching riffs, often marrying angry power-chord ballast with intricate melodic hooks. The leads weave rapid legato lines, arpeggios picked with precision, and occasional sweep-picked figures, all framed by a thunderous low end from the bass. With dual guitars in many eras, interlocking riffs, harmonized melodies, and dynamic contrasts in tempo and texture, their sound remains distinctly controlled, surgical, and relentlessly energetic.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
Iconic Megadeth gear centers on Dave Mustaine's Dean ML guitars in the 1980s, with later ESP signature models shaping the band's modern tone. Their tone has leaned toward high-gain amps such as Mesa/Boogie and Marshall stacks, delivering tight rhythm crunch and soaring lead contours. A straightforward effects setup—delay and reverb on solos, plus subtle chorus or modulation in some eras—complements the relentless, precise playing that defines Megadeth.
Why Learn Megadeth Songs?
Learning Megadeth tunes builds essential metal and rock skills: precision picking, tight rhythm chops, and the ability to lock in with a fast, articulate bass line. Expect to develop alternate picking, palm muting, string skipping, arpeggio work, and tempo control. The catalog runs from accessible classics like Peace Sells to blistering epics like Tornado of Souls and Holy Wars, offering a clear progression from solid rhythm foundations to advanced lead technique for intermediate and advanced players.
Did You Know?
- 1Megadeth is widely regarded as one of the 'Big Four' of thrash metal, shaping speed and precision for a generation of players.
- 2Dave Mustaine formed Megadeth in 1983 after being fired from Metallica, a pivotal moment in metal history.
- 3The band's name is a pun on the word 'megadeath,' signaling their aggressive, larger-than-life approach to thrash.
- 4In 2017, Megadeth won the Grammy for Best Metal Performance for the track 'Dystopia,' cementing their ongoing influence in metal.
69 Megadeth lesson(s) available — Start learning today!
Learn to Play Megadeth Guitar
Explore Megadeth guitar and bass lessons with a focus on riffs, rhythm parts, classic rock techniques, and practice-friendly video lessons.
Start Here
Begin with the most recognizable riffs and rhythm parts before moving into harder songs.
Techniques
Practice power chords, timing, picking control, bends, vibrato, and classic rock phrasing.
Next Step
Use the lessons below to build a practice path from easier songs to more advanced parts.
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