Hollow by Pantera
Hollow was released in 1994 on Pantera's Far Beyond Driven album. It features Dimebag Darrell's bone-crushing riffs and Phil Anselmo's raw vocal delivery, sitting squarely in the band's groove-metal wheelhouse. The song was crafted during intense sessions as the band chased heavier tones, delivering a relentless tempo and down-tuned chug that helped push the album into new extreme-metal territory.
Culturally, Hollow helped Pantera solidify its reputation as torchbearers of unrelenting heaviness and precision in rhythm. The track showcases the band's ability to balance brutal aggression with tight, locked-in grooves—elements that guitarists study in tabs and lessons. It remains a live favorite and a staple in guitar education playlists for teaching palm muting, power-chord rhythm, and the discipline of sustained, accurate down-picking.
🎸 Want to know the techniques, practice tips, and lesson details? Scroll below the lesson!
What You'll Learn
In this lesson, you'll learn the core groove that drives Hollow: the palm-muted, down-pitched riffing that sits at the heart of Pantera's thick, heavy sound. We'll break down the main riff, the verse groove, and the chorus transition, then tackle the subtle dynamic changes that keep the groove tight. You’ll also practice the proper tuning approach for this track, how to execute tight power-chord shapes, and how to maintain even attack with aggressive down-picking. Tricky parts to watch for include keeping the string muting precise while transitioning between riffs and locking in with theTempo of the drums for a truly weighty feel.
Intermediate; useful to have solid power-chord technique, comfortable palm muting, and some experience with down-picking and drop-tuned rhythms.
🎸 Techniques Used
Practice Tips
- 💡Start slow with a metronome to lock in the palm-muted chug and two-bar phrase continuity.
- 💡Break the main riff into small chunks and loop each until the muting and timing are crystal clear.
- 💡Focus on consistent pick attack and left-hand muting to maintain a tight, aggressive groove.
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