South Of Heaven by Slayer
South Of Heaven was released in 1988 on Slayer's fourth studio album of the same name, produced by Rick Rubin. The title track marks a deliberate shift from their blistering speed to a heavier, groove-driven mid-tempo feel, helping Slayer widen its audience while staying ruthlessly aggressive. The recording sessions captured a darker, more atmospheric tone that underscored the band’s fascination with doom and ritual imagery, which in turn left a lasting mark on thrash metal’s sound and aesthetics. Written to emphasize menace over blistering tempo, the riffwork relies on locked-in palm-muted power chords with a triplet feel, and the song’s structure balances heavy chug sections with a piercing lead line. Live, the song became a staple of Slayer’s shows, a crowd favorite that invites headbanging and precise picking, and its influence can be heard in countless metal bands that followed.
🎸 Want to know the techniques, practice tips, and lesson details? Scroll below the lesson!
What You'll Learn
In this lesson you’ll learn to play the iconic main riff with palm-muted, down-picked power chords and a tight mid-tempo groove. We’ll break down the verse and chorus chord moves, discuss the rhythm guitar parts that drive the song, and examine the lead lick that appears in the solo with tips on scale choice and phrasing. You’ll also flag tricky parts to watch for, like keeping the chug even at tempo, damping noise between notes, and transitioning cleanly between sections. Practicing with a metronome, starting slow, and gradually building speed will help you deliver a convincing performance that captures the song’s menace.
Intermediate; helpful skills include basic power chords, palm muting, alternate picking, and a solid sense of groove in mid-tempo metal.
🎸 Techniques Used
Practice Tips
- 💡Start by isolating the main riff in small phrases with a metronome around 90-110 BPM, then gradually increase tempo as your accuracy improves.
- 💡Focus on tight palm muting and precise down-picking to keep the chug clean; mute accidental open strings with the left hand to avoid squeals.
- 💡Learn the lead lick separately at half-speed, then blend it back into the rhythm parts and lock in with the groove for a cohesive performance.
More Slayer Tab Lessons
Want More Lessons?
Subscribe to DadRock Tabs on YouTube for free guitar and bass lessons every week!
Subscribe – It's Free!💬 Comments & Ratings
Loading comments...