Guitar & Bass Tabs
Pantera
Learn Pantera's Guitar & Bass Style
Discover how Pantera developed their signature guitar and bass sound, the techniques you'll encounter in their music, and the best lessons to begin your learning journey.
In the 1990s Pantera became one of metal's most influential and commercially successful bands. Vulgar Display of Power (1992) and Far Beyond Driven (1994) pushed the boundaries of aggression and precision, with Far Beyond Driven debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and proving that groove metal could dominate mainstream charts. The band delivered era-defining tracks like This Love and Walk, and their tight, down tuned sonics inspired legions of guitarists to chase a similarly punishing groove. The Abbott brothers, along with Rex Brown, forged a musical language built on crushing rhythm, precise timing, and a sense of brutality that resonated far beyond their core metal audience.
🎸 Want to know what gear Pantera used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
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Cemetery Gates
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Cowboys From Hell
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Primal Concrete Sledge
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Psycho Holiday
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Heresy
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Domination
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Shattered
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Clash With Reality
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Medicine Man
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Message In Blood
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The Sleep
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The Art Of Shredding
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Mouth For War
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New Level
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Fucking Hostile
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This Love
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Rise
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Live In A Hole
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By Demons Be Driven
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Hollow
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Strength Beyond Strength
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Becoming
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5 Minutes Alone
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I'm Broken
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Slaughtered
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25 Years
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Shedding Skin
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Use My Third Arm
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Throes Of Rejection
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Planet Caravan
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The Great Southern Trendkill
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War Nerve
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Drag The waters
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Floods
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13 Steps To Nowhere
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10's
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The Underground In America
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Sandblasted Skin
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Hellbound
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Goddamn Electric
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Yesterday Don't Mean Shit
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Revolution Is My Name
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Death Rattle
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Uplift
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It Makes Them Dissappear
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I'll Cast A Shadow
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Walk
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This Love
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Playing Style
Pantera's playing style centers on heavy groove metal rooted in tight, palm-muted downbeat riffs, aggressive power chords, and precise, relentless timing. Dimebag Darrell's guitar work is defined by drop tunings, aggressive alternate picking, and expressive squeals and harmonics, often achieved with a tremolo bar and strategic pinches. The riffs lean on memorable motifs that lock in with Rex Brown's thunderous bass and Vinnie Paul's bulldozer-like drumming, creating a cinematic rhythm section that invites both head-nodding grooves and fist-tight precision. Common techniques include palm muting, rapid alternate picking, dynamic shifts between staccato and legato phrasing, and occasional whammy bar dives and pinch harmonics to punctuate the attack.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
Iconic Pantera gear centers on Dimebag Darrell's Dean ML guitars, frequently loaded with EMG active pickups for that tight, aggressive bite. The band built a powerhouse live rig around Mesa/Boogie amplifiers and 4x12 cabinets, delivering the thunderous wall of sound behind their riffs. On stage and in recordings, Pantera used a selection of effects including the Dunlop Cry Baby Wah and MXR Phase 90, with some setups incorporating a Digitech Whammy for vocal-like pitch shifts and extra tonal flair during performances.
Why Learn Pantera Songs?
Learning Pantera tunes is a rite of passage for many players because those riffs train raw rhythm, precise muting, and disciplined picking while delivering colossal tonal impact. The material spans intermediate to advanced difficulty, rewarding students who commit to slow, deliberate tempo work and then ramp up to the band’s signature speed and aggression. By working through songs like This Love, Walk, and other groove heavy tracks, players develop essential rock fundamentals: tight rhythm discipline, palm muting control, accurate alternate picking, dynamic contrast, and the ability to lock in with a powerful groove. These songs lay a strong foundation for modern metal rhythm work and live performance stamina.
Did You Know?
- 1Pantera's name comes from the word for panther in Spanish and Portuguese, chosen to evoke power and presence.
- 2The Abbott brothers, Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul, formed the core of Pantera and steered the band through decades of heavy touring.
- 3Far Beyond Driven (1994) topped the Billboard 200, proving that groove metal could conquer mainstream charts.
- 4Dimebag Darrell's Dean ML guitar with EMG pickups became one of metal's most iconic riffing instruments.
48 Pantera lesson(s) available — Start learning today!
Learn to Play Pantera Guitar
Explore Pantera 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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