WARNING: Toxic Chemicals Ahead

TOXICITY


I've always thought System Of A Down was akin to Linkin Park: a band without substance and full of screams that appeals to the emo kids. But this song has made me really appreciate S.O.A.D. It alternates quiet, serene, haunting parts with out of control thrashing.

Plus Serj Tankaran looks kinda like Frank Zappa.

Anyway, first thing's first: you can't get away with standard tuning on this one. Drop the low-E string to a D. Here's an online app you can use to help you.

Another thing, the timing is in 6/8 measure. 6 beats per measure, eighth notes get one beat. If I find something to help me explain this, then I'll post it up.

The hard part is that "out of control thrashing", in the chorus and after the first verse riff:

D--------------------------8---8-----7-----7-7-7--
A---0-------------0-------8---8-----7-----7-7-7--
E---0----3-2-0-2-0-------8---8-----7-----7-7-7--

That's not the hard part. This is the hard part:
A-3-2-0-2-0-0-3-2-0-2-0-0-3-2-0-2-0-0-3-2-0-2-0-0-
E-3-2-0-2-0-0-3-2-0-2-0-0-3-2-0-2-0-0-3-2-0-2-0-0-

It requires alternate picking and a lot of co-ordination. Middle finger over 3rd fret, index over 2nd fret.

Overall, not that hard a song. The riffs can be tricky and require fast fingers, but not too fast.

Like "Learn To Fly", this song has been mixed differently for Rock Band. The second time the verse riffs repeat is covered with palm muted open strings.

SETLIST UPDATED

All Over Again

So remember that Open Mic Night that fizzled out? Remember how I said I was playing for 1 1/2 years before I started the Rhythm Bastard Experiment and know songs not on Rock Band?
Yeah, February 18th. Whatever song I settle on will be a lesson/DLC suggestion the day after regardless of whether I make it.

Also, 1fort is dead. It's been replaced by it's much more loquacious First Person Shouter.

Next song is Toxicity.