Guitar & Bass Tabs

Megadeth

69
lessons available

About Megadeth

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
#1

Skin O' My Teeth

Megadeth

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Symphony Of Destruction
#2

Symphony Of Destruction

Megadeth

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Holy Wars... The Punishment Due
#3

Holy Wars... The Punishment Due

Megadeth

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Tornado Of Souls
#4

Tornado Of Souls

Megadeth

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Trust
#5

Trust

Megadeth

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Hanger 18
#6

Hanger 18

Megadeth

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High Speed Dirt
#7

High Speed Dirt

Megadeth

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Into The Lungs Of Hell
#8

Into The Lungs Of Hell

Megadeth

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Set The World Afire
#9

Set The World Afire

Megadeth

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502
#10

502

Megadeth

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Liar
#11

Liar

Megadeth

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Last Rites / Loved To Deth
#12

Last Rites / Loved To Deth

Megadeth

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Killing Is My Business And Business Is Good
#13

Killing Is My Business And Business Is Good

Megadeth

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Skull Beneath The Skin
#14

Skull Beneath The Skin

Megadeth

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Rattlehead
#15

Rattlehead

Megadeth

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Chosen Ones
#16

Chosen Ones

Megadeth

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Looking Down The Cross
#17

Looking Down The Cross

Megadeth

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Mechanix
#18

Mechanix

Megadeth

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Wake Up Dead
#19

Wake Up Dead

Megadeth

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The Conjuring
#20

The Conjuring

Megadeth

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Peace Sells
#21

Peace Sells

Megadeth

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Devils Island
#22

Devils Island

Megadeth

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Bad Omen
#23

Bad Omen

Megadeth

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My Last Words
#24

My Last Words

Megadeth

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Anarchy In The U.K.
#25

Anarchy In The U.K.

Megadeth

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Mary Jane
#26

Mary Jane

Megadeth

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In My Darkest Hour
#27

In My Darkest Hour

Megadeth

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Hook In Mouth
#28

Hook In Mouth

Megadeth

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Take No Prisoners
#29

Take No Prisoners

Megadeth

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Five Magics
#30

Five Magics

Megadeth

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Poison Was The Cure
#31

Poison Was The Cure

Megadeth

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Lucretia
#32

Lucretia

Megadeth

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Rust In Peace... Polaris
#33

Rust In Peace... Polaris

Megadeth

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Architecture Of Aggression
#34

Architecture Of Aggression

Megadeth

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Foreclosure Of A Dream
#35

Foreclosure Of A Dream

Megadeth

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This Was My Life
#36

This Was My Life

Megadeth

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Sweating Bullets
#37

Sweating Bullets

Megadeth

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Psychotron
#38

Psychotron

Megadeth

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Captive Honour
#39

Captive Honour

Megadeth

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Crown Of Worms
#40

Crown Of Worms

Megadeth

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Ashes In Your Mouth
#41

Ashes In Your Mouth

Megadeth

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Reckoning Day
#42

Reckoning Day

Megadeth

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Train Of Consequences
#43

Train Of Consequences

Megadeth

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Addicted To Chaos
#44

Addicted To Chaos

Megadeth

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A Tout Le Monde
#45

A Tout Le Monde

Megadeth

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Elysian Fields
#46

Elysian Fields

Megadeth

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The Killing Road
#47

The Killing Road

Megadeth

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Blood Of Heroes
#48

Blood Of Heroes

Megadeth

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Family Tree
#49

Family Tree

Megadeth

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Youthanasia
#50

Youthanasia

Megadeth

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I Thought I Knew It All
#51

I Thought I Knew It All

Megadeth

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Victory
#52

Victory

Megadeth

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No More Mr Nice Guy
#53

No More Mr Nice Guy

Megadeth

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Breakpoint
#54

Breakpoint

Megadeth

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Go To Hell
#55

Go To Hell

Megadeth

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99 Ways To Die
#56

99 Ways To Die

Megadeth

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Angry Again
#57

Angry Again

Megadeth

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Paranoid
#58

Paranoid

Megadeth

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Almost Honest
#59

Almost Honest

Megadeth

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Use The Man
#60

Use The Man

Megadeth

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Mastermind
#61

Mastermind

Megadeth

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The Disintegrators
#62

The Disintegrators

Megadeth

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I'll Get Even
#63

I'll Get Even

Megadeth

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A Secret Place
#64

A Secret Place

Megadeth

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She Wolf
#65

She Wolf

Megadeth

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Vortex
#66

Vortex

Megadeth

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FFF
#67

FFF

Megadeth

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Evil That's Within
#68

Evil That's Within

Megadeth

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Bullprick
#69

Bullprick

Megadeth

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Deep Dive

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!

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