How To Play Pantera: Cowboys From Hell

There may be one or even a couple of you who know about playing guitar, but this isn’t for you. This is for someone who has never touched a guitar before but wants to learn, and hopefully after reading this, that someone will be able to crank out at least one good song.

Now, the first thing to learn is the basic guitar anatomy. The device that holds the strings near the big end is called the bridge. This is usually made of chrome. The devices under the strings by where you pick are called pickups. These pick up the string vibrations and convert it into sound. The long part that you use your left hand on is called the neck or fretboard, and each little division is called a fret. And that is really all you need to know for this song.

The next thing to learn is the layout of the strings- eBGDAE. This is standard tuning! There are variations such as Drop-D and such, but we are going to use standard tuning. The little E is the top string, also the thinnest one. The big E is the bottom, or thickest string. And on an electric guitar, the G-string is the last one that is not wound; it is a single filament wire. The D, A, and E strings are the wound ones; they are the rough feeling ones. It is important to remember that little E is thin, big E is thick!

Now let’s get into some basic playing techniques. From now on, I am going to be assuming that you are a right-handed player, in that you work the frets with your left hand and pick the strings with your right. The first technique is called Palm Muting. This is exactly what it sounds like – you mute the strings with your picking hand by resting your palm on them near the bridge. When you pick a note that is palm-muted, it sounds muffled and it shouldn’t ring out, it should only be a quick little noise. The next technique is Hammer-ons. These are when you hold down a fret with one finger, pick the string, and use another finger to quickly and forcefully hit another fret higher on the neck. (For example, hold your index finger on the 5th fret of the e-string, pick the string, and then hammer on the 6th fret with your middle finger.) When done correctly, you should hear the second note ring out without having to pick the string again. The next technique is called Pull-offs. These are very similar to hammer-ons, except that instead of going higher on the neck, you release a fret while holding a lower one. (For example, hold the 6th fret on the e-string with your middle finger while holding your index on the 5th fret. Now simply pick the 6 and pull off your middle finger.) These sound better when you pull your finger slightly downward off the string, plucking it a little, instead of straight up. Next are Bends. This is exactly what it sounds like – you bend a string up while holding a fret to make the note sound higher pitched. The last technique is Slides. And I think this is pretty self explanatory: slide your finger to the desired fret either up or down the neck. This is pretty much all the imperative items, but there is another one that will make it sound much better. This is a difficult one though, and it is optional. It is called Pinch Harmonics, and it causes a high-pitched squeal. You should hold the pick in a way that your thumb is almost to the pointy end, almost touching the strings. To do a harmonic (a.k.a. squeal), simply tap the string with your thumb immediately after picking it and bend it up. When done correctly, you will hear a high-pitched squeal. (Note: this works better on the smaller, thinner strings – e, B, G, D)

Now to the intro, finally! It begins with palm muting of the 12th and 15th frets on the E-string. Remember, all of these notes are palm muted! Start out with your index finger on the 12th fret and ring finger above the 15th. Pick a 12, then a 15, then a 12, then a 15. Now move your index finger up one string to the 12th fret of the A-string, while leaving your ring finger on the E-string. Now pick another 12, then 15, then 12, then 15. Now use your middle finger on the 13th fret of the A-string. Pick a 13, then another 15, then a 12, then a 15. Now stop palm muting! Using your middle finger on the 13th fret of the A-string, hammer on the 14th fret with your ring finger and then pick a 12 on the D-string with your index finger. In tablature form, it looks like this:

(Note: In tabs, the bottom line is the bottom string and vice versa!)

D|-----------------|------------|-------------|-------12--| |--------------|
A|-----------------|-12----12---|-13----12----|-13h14-----| |-13-12--------|
E|--12--15--12--15-|----15---15-|----15----15-|-----------| |-------15-12\-|
* * * * * * * * * * * *

(The little stars underneath mean Palm Mute!) (And the slash means to slide down!)

This intro is repeated four times, but on the fourth time instead of playing the hammer-on and high 12, you pick a 13 on the A, then a 12 on the A, then a 15 on the E, then a 12 on the E and slide down the neck. This is the second little ending up there in the tab zone.

Now for the Main Riff, which is also the chorus. This begins on the third fret of the low E-string. Begin by picking an open note (Open Note: No fret is held down!) and then hammering-on the third fret with your ring finger. Do that twice, and then put your middle finger on the second fret on the D-string, while leaving the A-string open. Now pick both of these strings simultaneously (The D- and A-strings, that is!). Be careful not to have your middle finger touching the open A string, or else it will not sound properly. After that, pick another 3 on the E-string. Repeat this little operation twice, also. Now hold down the first fret on the A-string with your index finger. Pick it, then another 3 on the E, then an open A and another 3 on E. Now simply hold your index finger on the first fret of the A-string, hammer on the second fret, and pick an open D. In tab form, it looks like this:

D|---------|-2---2---|---------|-----0--| |----------|
A|---------|-0---0---|-1---0---|-1h2----| |-1-0------|
E|-0h3-0h3-|---3---3-|---3---3-|--------| |-----3-0--|

This is played three times, and on the fourth time, instead of playing the last two sections, simply pick a 1 on the A, then an open A, then a 3 on the E, then an open E. Every time you play this main riff, the fourth and eighth time will be played just like that. And that is the main riff of this song. Now onto the verse!

The verse is very simple, and even if you didn’t understand anything else, you should be able to understand this. It will be much easier for you to understand the rhythm if you can actually listen to the song. It is simply seven palm muted open notes on the E-string. Then, on the A-string, pick an open note, then quickly hammer on the first fret with your index finger, then hammer-on the second fret with your middle finger, and then pick an open D. Now you are only picking the A-string once, so make those hammer-ons sound good. Play this section three times, then on the fourth time, only play five open palm muted E’s, then play the hammer-ons and open D twice, in rapid succession. Now starting from the beginning, play one segment of this section once again. Then play five palm muted open E’s, then pick an open A again. But now you are hammering on the first fret and then pulling off quickly, and then playing two palm muted 3’s on the E-string. Pick another open D, hammer-on and then pull-off the first fret, and then play a palm muted 3, and then another palm muted 1 on the E string. In tab from these look like:

D|---------------------------0--| |-------------------0-------0-|
A|---------------------0h1h2----|Then, |--------------0h1h2--0h1h2---|
E|-0-0--0--0--0--0---0----------| |-0-0--0--0--0----------------|

And also

D|-----------------------------------|
A|--------------0h1p0-----0h1p0------|
E|-0-0--0--0--0-------3-3-------3-1--|
* * * *

Now simply play the left sections twice, from highest to lowest, and alternating them. They should both be played twice.

Now for the real verse. It is the same basic thing as these, but there is seventeen open palm-muted E’s, then the hammer-ons. Then fifteen palm muted open E’s, then the 0h1p0 section. Play these both twice.

Now hold down the 5th fret on both the D and A strings with your ring finger and hold down the 3rd fret with your index finger (This is called a power chord). Palm mute this and pick it about twelve times very quickly, then slide all your fingers up one fret, release the palm mute and pick the chord twice. Go back to the 3rd and 5th frets, palm mute about ten more times, then slide up all fingers three frets (your index finger should be on the 6th, ring on the 8th). Pick that chord, then slide down one fret, pick that chord, then slide down one more fret, pick that last chord, then go back in to the palm muted open E’s. Pick fifteen of these, then play the very last section of the main riff again. You know, pick a 1 on the A, then an open A, then a 3 on the E, then an open 3.

Now go into the main riff. Play it, with the ending, twice. Therefore you will actually be playing it 8 times, with the fourth and eighth times being the above mentioned riff. Play the verse section again, then another chorus. Play the main riff another seven times, but instead of playing the 1, 0, 3, 0, you will play three more power chords. Begin with your ring finger on the 5th and index on the 3rd, play that chord, then slide all fingers down one fret, play that chord, then slide all down one more fret, and play that chord. Now to get into the most hardcore part of the song, the Dimebag Darryl solo!!!

(Note: there is another technique called Tapping that I neglected to mention up above. Now this will probably be necessary for you to use, because most people can’t stretch their fingers from the 12th to 20th fret while keeping it sounding good.)

Begin by sliding your index finger to the 7th fret on the A-string. Then pick an 8 on the D string, then a 7 on the A, then an 8-D, then a 7-A, then an 8-D. Slide down, then slide back up to the fourteenth fret, still holding your middle finger on the D-string. Then pick a 15 on the G, then a 14 on the D, then 15-G, then 14-D, then 15-G, then 14-D, then a final 15-G. This is the note that you can add a pinch harmonic to, and it makes it sound way better. But, it is optional, and difficult, so if you can’t do it, then don’t worry about it.

Now the first super hardcore part. Begin with your index finger on the 11th fret on the E-string. Pick it, then hammer on the 12th with your middle finger, then the 15th with your pinky. Repeat this twice for every string except the top one (high-E). I don’t expect you to do it right, but this is played on every string in the course of about three seconds. Once you get to the high-E, then pick an 11, hammer-on a 12, then hammer-on a 15, then pull-off a 12, then pull-off an 11. Repeat this twice, then pick a 15, pull off a 12, and then pick another fifteen and bend it up until it touches your G-string.

Now with your index finger on the 12th fret, pick it, hammer on the 14th, then hammer-on the 17th, pull off the 14th, and then pull off the 12th. Repeat this four times.

Now the second super hardcore part. Now, with your index finger still on the 12th fret, pick it, then hammer on the 15th, then the 19th. This is where tapping comes into play for a lot of folks. Take your right hand away from the strings, and using your middle finger preferably, strike the middle of the note you want to sound, in this case the 19th fret on the e-string. Use your middle finger because that way you can still hold onto your pick. After tapping the 19, when you pull your finger off the fret, you should hear the 15th fret still. Pick another 12, hammer on the 15, now tap the 20th fret, pull off to hear the 15th, then the 12th, and then hammer on the 15th again.

Now tap the 19th fret of the B-string while quickly moving your index finger to the 15th fret of the B-string. You should hear the 15th fret ring out, then pull off the 12th, then hammer on the 15th again. Now tap the 19th fret of the G-string, pull off the 15th, then the 12th, then hammer on the 15th again. Now tap the 19th fret of the D-string, pull off the 15th, then pull-off the 12th, slide down, and slide back up to a 14 on the D-string.

Pick a 15 on the G, then a 14-D, then a 15-G, then a 14-D, then a 15-G. Now pick a 15 on the B, bend it up quickly, release the bend quickly, bend it up again quickly, then flatten your finger out against the fretboard, causing the 15th fret to be pressed down on the e-string. Pick the 15 on the high e, then another 15 on the B, slide down to about a 3, then slide back up to the 17th fret on the B-string. Now quickly pick an 18 on the e, then 17-B, then 18-e, then 17-B, then another 18 on the e-string and bend it up until it almost touches the G-string. Slide down, then slide up to the 12th fret on the B-string.

Now for the last super hardcore part. Pick the 12 on the B, then pick a 15 on the G, pull off to a 14 on the G, then pull-off a 12-G, then hammer-on the 14th-G, then hammer-on the 15th-G. Pick the 12th on the B again and repeat four times. Now flatten out your index finger on the twelfth fret of the G- and B-strings. Pick them both, bending both strings up just a little bit. Pick them again, bending them again also.

Now pick a 14 on the D-string, then a twelve on the D-string and then hammer on the 14th fret of the D-string. Now using your ring finger, pick a 15 on the high e and bend it. Now pick a 12, then a 14 on the e, then a 15 on the B. Now pick a 12 and then a 15 on the e-string, and another 15 on the B. Now pick a 12 and then a 15 on the e-string, and then a 14 on the B. Bend and then release this 14, pulling off to a 12 and then picking a fourteen on the D, and then sliding down. Now pick an 11 on the B-string, slide it to a 12 and then pick a 15 on the e-string. Slide the 12-B to a 15-B, then pick a 19 on the e-string. 15-B slide to 17-B, then pick a 20 on the e-string. 17-B slides to 18-B, then pick a 21 on the e-string. 18-B slides to 19-B and then finally pick a 22 on the E-string and bend it up.

And there you have it! With a little luck and a lot of practice, you might be able to shred the shit out of a guitar, just with this solo. Show your friends, and they will probably say, “Nice!”

But anyways, back to the song. There isn’t really anything else to describe, except for this one little part directly after the solo. And I don’t even know all of that, but I will tell you how I fumble my way through that.

It begins with two open palm muted notes on the low E. Then pick a 7 on the A, pull off a 5. Repeat this three times, then do a pinch harmonic on the fifth fret on the D-string. Repeat the whole setup, but this time do a harmonic on the 7th fret of the D-string. Now palm mute two more open E’s, then pick a 2 on the D-string and pull off to an open note. Repeat this three times, then do a pinch harmonic on the second fret of the G-string. Now go back up to the twelfth fret area. With your index finger, hold down the 12th fret on the D-string and pick it twice. Then pick a 14 and pull off to a 12. Then pick a 14 on the A-string. Then pick the 12 on the D and slide to an 11. Then pick a 12 on the A. Now pick an 11 on the D and slide to a 9. Pick an 11 on the A. Now pick a 9 on the D, and slide to a 7. Pick a 9 on the A. Now pick a 7 on the D, slide to a 6, and pick a last 7 on the A. Go back to the beginning of this paragraph and repeat, except when you come to the two 12s on the D-string, move up to the high E.

After playing that part twice, play the palm-muted intro again. Then go back to the main riff until the end of the song. Play four quick open palm-muted E’s, pick an open A, hammer on the 1st fret and pull off quickly, then play a palm muted 3 on the E-string. A pause, then another palm muted 3 on the E, and then hold down the second fret on the D and A strings, and pick the bottom three strings, creating another power chord.

Comments

[twistedmaggot]

cool article but why would someone who has never played a guitar be on here?

[guitarmania93]

hahahahaha

[guitarmania93]

twistedmaggot wrote:

cool article but why would someone who has never played a guitar be on here?

thats definitely a valid point

[kiely]

I swear you should be playing the main riff mainly on the e string, like 0h3 0h3 5p3 5p3 6p3 5p3 . The way you suggest is no way a beginner can play, I still can't get it right and i've played for quite a while now

[Wobby]

Its easier if you kinda rake em instead of picking em all seperate, for example rest your pick on the E and then after you pickit just let gravity do some work and pick the powerchord. Its kinda like sweep picking but its only on 2 strings, so i think its called a rake, or somethin like that.

[Wobby]

Its only for someone who doesn't know how to play becuz this was an essay for my college rhetoric/composition class. Just forget about the first 3 paragraphs

[Salmon86]

isnt this more like a lesson than a column?

[ketiov]

There's a lot of stuff in there that will confuse the hell out of a beginner. From a new guitarists perspective, while looking down at the guitar, the high E string is the bottom string.

[guilty]

This is a column, and it is not only for beginners, it is also for average players. Every guitar player can read anything as long as the column helps.

[Megavanseelamb]

twistedmaggot wrote:

cool article but why would someone who has never played a guitar be on here?

For The Pit

[Shredder Guitar]

the main riff is NOT that complicated, and neither is the intro. it sounds moderately retarded if you play it the way it is on this column. the rest would be just plain confusing, but at least it was a lesson for a good song.

[Matt_Synyster]

Dimebag Darryl?

[Playful Nytmare]

It all sounds good to me i can play it and i've been playing for 8 months, and Matt_Synyster shame on you for not knowing who Dimebag Darryl is.

[Pure_Morning]

Playful Nytmare wrote:

It all sounds good to me i can play it and i've been playing for 8 months, and Matt_Synyster shame on you for not knowing who Dimebag Darryl is.

I think he was commenting on the spelling mistake (if it was spelt wrong?)

But if I had never picked up a guitar and I was going to be taught a song like this, I think it would put off.

[matalliam]

i cant believe its been made into an article like its the most difficult impossible thing to play on a guitar, i find it really easy to play

[koolfoolinapool]

Playful Nytmare wrote:

It all sounds good to me i can play it and i've been playing for 8 months, and Matt_Synyster shame on you for not knowing who Dimebag Darryl is.

Dude. . . you're an idiot.

It's Dimebag DARRELL!!

Not Darryl.

[bob56]

R.I.P. Dime

[punkrocklove999]

koolfoolinapool wrote:

Playful Nytmare wrote:

It all sounds good to me i can play it and i've been playing for 8 months, and Matt_Synyster shame on you for not knowing who Dimebag Darryl is.


Dude. . . you're an idiot.

It's Dimebag DARRELL!!

Not Darryl.

dude... Im sure if Dime was here he would be more happy to know that someone knows who he is rather than knows how to spell his name right...

IT DOESN'T MATTER

[bucketbots]

dimebag darryl is the sister

[black_sabbath85]

this is a rather useless article.....but i guess for beginners its just okay.
You might aswell have explained how to read tabs and then just posted the tab for the song instead off wat u did.

[METALHEAD 91zb]

Dude, this is tough shit! I've been playin' for 3 years and I still **** up the main riff! Anyway, you should consider tabbin' this out for everone in the tabs section. Long Live Dime! \^^/

[robshredsky]

that's not how i play it...

[mrguitarman]

this is definately NOT a song for a begginer. it is not that easy...

[sTx]

Here's a How-to video for CBFH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AX02QvHWQE

[dann_blood]

... there are tabs for this that are more accurate.

[samerika]

why would a beginner start with CFH

[dewthedew2323]

this is ridiculous

[Masonpwiley]

Nice article, but people who don't play guitar probably don't have one, or come to this site.

bob56 wrote:

R.I.P. Dime

*resists slapping bob56* It annoys me that someone has to say "RIP Dime" every time his name is mentioned. He was a good guitarist, but he wasn't the best. And he died quite a long time ago.

[sim_1113]

I play the chorus riff mostly on the e string like this: 0-3-0-3-5-3-5-3-6-3-5-3. The way its explained in the article is hard to get it to sound clean. I can play the solo and everything but i still cant make that part sound right the way its explained.

[CapnKickass]

bucketbots wrote:

dimebag darryl is the sister

XD good call, lol

[ApihBlind]

hammer and pull-off are not for noob...well in such cases!!

[pe_666]

maybe you should change the article into how to play nirvana: come as you are.

If you've never picked up a guitar you're not gonna be able to do hammer ons pull offs etc etc, you won't even be able to play peter gun theme at a decent speed...

[hawk_kst]

wtf?! as if any one that has never touched a guitar could handle a song like cowboys from hell!? i mean honestly even slowed down the riff is incredicbly complicated for a amateur... good article though... crap targett audience...

[006schecter]

nice article, but I doubt anyone who has never played before should even be thinking about playing cowboys from hell

[Chikao42]

Masonpwiley wrote:

Nice article, but people who don't play guitar probably don't have one, or come to this site.

bob56 wrote:

R.I.P. Dime

*resists slapping bob56* It annoys me that someone has to say "RIP Dime" every time his name is mentioned. He was a good guitarist, but he wasn't the best. And he died quite a long time ago.

3 years ago Saturday isn't a long time.

[Chikao42]

I meant last Saturday, not this Saturday. Silly me =o

[Amott_Wannabe]

You know there's no need to bash everyone who posts an article that isn't specifically tailored for your music needs or if you already know it. JUST SKIP IT THEN WHO CARES! I get so sick of reading these comments "Eh, this is easy. Why would you write an article like this?" or "I already knew this." Do you talk like that if someone comes around talking about how great the weather is outside? "Shut up dude I already knew it was sunny." Rant over.

[Sloofus]

hawk_kst wrote:

wtf?! as if any one that has never touched a guitar could handle a song like cowboys from hell!? i mean honestly even slowed down the riff is incredicbly complicated for a amateur... good article though... crap targett audience...

I tried cowboys from hell when i first started playing.
And I nailed it.
First try, true story.

[JP_YM_ZW]

lmao, I love how the entire solo isn't tabbed and he explains it note for note, it makes it incredibly hard to play it fast.

[madriffer]

R.I.P. Darrell {Dimebag} Lance Abbott I miss you ....

[asystemdown]

nice article, but i dont think a pure beginner could execute this riff correctly, i've been playin about two years and i still don't have it perfect, it requires a lot of pick hand control that beginners just dont have

[Deanslinger]

Masonpwiley wrote:

Nice article, but people who don't play guitar probably don't have one, or come to this site.

bob56 wrote:

R.I.P. Dime

*resists slapping bob56* It annoys me that someone has to say "RIP Dime" every time his name is mentioned. He was a good guitarist, but he wasn't the best. And he died quite a long time ago.

respect shouldnt have a time limit y'****

great tune, good article

[InsomniaRocks]

Kind of tedious article to read, and I really can't imagine this helping an awful lot of people...

[juzcook]

thought this might give some better indication of the way he plays it live, im pretty sure i play it pretty close. sorry man, but i dont think that this article makes it easier :P
for anyone who wants to play it exactly the way dime plays it, the intro riff is played the way it's described in this article, however the first 4 notes arent hammerons, it is NOT played entirely on the E string.

[rocklegend08]

Masonpwiley wrote:

Nice article, but people who don't play guitar probably don't have one, or come to this site.

bob56 wrote:

R.I.P. Dime


*resists slapping bob56* It annoys me that someone has to say "RIP Dime" every time his name is mentioned. He was a good guitarist, but he wasn't the best. And he died quite a long time ago.

he died like 3 years ago, thats not along time.

[Cobalt Blue]

rocklegend08 wrote:

Masonpwiley wrote:

Nice article, but people who don't play guitar probably don't have one, or come to this site.

bob56 wrote:

R.I.P. Dime


*resists slapping bob56* It annoys me that someone has to say "RIP Dime" every time his name is mentioned. He was a good guitarist, but he wasn't the best. And he died quite a long time ago.
he died like 3 years ago, thats not along time.

personally i got not problem with people 'RIPing' him.. 3 years is still pretty recent... but it i hear one more guy in some shitty no name metal band dedicate a song to him I'm gonna punch him lol.


hmmm i learned this song a bit different, i play the first rif on the A and D string.

[iron_maiden93]

sexy, that's all i have to say

[metal-haze]

a person whos nevver touched a guitar cant just go and play cowboys from hell..this article is a joke

[TheSouthernator]

yeah someone who has never played guitar before and dives right into Pantera (except for Walk) is doomed for guitar for about the next yr and a half or so

[korn_dawg]

punkrocklove999 wrote:

koolfoolinapool wrote:

Playful Nytmare wrote:

It all sounds good to me i can play it and i've been playing for 8 months, and Matt_Synyster shame on you for not knowing who Dimebag Darryl is.


Dude. . . you're an idiot.

It's Dimebag DARRELL!!

Not Darryl.

dude... Im sure if Dime was here he would be more happy to know that someone knows who he is rather than knows how to spell his name right...

IT DOESN'T MATTER

but he IS NOT dimebag darryl. so that person doesn't actually know who he is. it's kinda contradictory to think "i'm really proud that guy knows who i am, even though he doesn't know enough about me to spell my name correctly"

on topic: the article gets super wordy; i almost think typing out the TAB line with a briefer description would have been better. and aside from comments on how you approached it stylistically/how on earth a person who never played guitar would be able to play this song, good job

[MESAexplorer]

TheSouthernator wrote:

yeah someone who has never played guitar before and dives right into Pantera (except for Walk) is doomed for guitar for about the next yr and a half or so

I couldn't see someone playing the first little bit of walk correctly within the first month or so.

[supea]

Sloofus wrote:

hawk_kst wrote:

wtf?! as if any one that has never touched a guitar could handle a song like cowboys from hell!? i mean honestly even slowed down the riff is incredicbly complicated for a amateur... good article though... crap targett audience...

I tried cowboys from hell when i first started playing.
And I nailed it.
First try, true story.

On guitar hero?

[Dead_End]

Deanslinger wrote:

Masonpwiley wrote:

Nice article, but people who don't play guitar probably don't have one, or come to this site.

bob56 wrote:

R.I.P. Dime

*resists slapping bob56* It annoys me that someone has to say "RIP Dime" every time his name is mentioned. He was a good guitarist, but he wasn't the best. And he died quite a long time ago.


respect shouldnt have a time limit y'****

great tune, good article

+1

nice article, coulda been better though

[algemar]

Wobby wrote:

Its only for someone who doesn't know how to play becuz this was an essay for my college rhetoric/composition class. Just forget about the first 3 paragraphs

why does everyone keep overlooking this and griping about how its not for beginners.....

[the_bi99man]

guitarmania93 wrote:

twistedmaggot wrote:

cool article but why would someone who has never played a guitar be on here?
thats definitely a valid point

Also, no one who has never played guitar before is going to have an 8-year-old's chance at the Neverland Ranch of playing Cowboys from Hell any time soon. And beyond even the rediculous premise of this article, it's just poorly written.

Very vague descriptions of the techniques, lots of completely worthless information, retarded explanation of tuning (who the hell seriously says the high string first when describing a tuning? eBGDAE? WTF IS THAT?).

You used an entire paragraph decribing, in words, note for note, how to play the intro, then just jumped right into tabs (something that someone who's never played guitar before is going to shit a brick trying to figure out with no explantion) with no explanation on how to read them besides "the bottom string is the lowest", when it would have been much easier, shorter, and more effective to just explain how to read tabs (which takes about 3 sentences) then give a link to a tab for the song and say, "go for it".

Also, just for the sake of hilarity, I had my little sister, who just started playing guitar, read your description of how to do pinch-harmonics, and then try to do one. After 5 minutes of that, I determined, without a doubt, that a new guitarist will NEVER be able to play a pinch harmonic right by trying to "simply tap the string with your thumb immediately after picking it and bend it up". The first thing she did (and rightly so, judging from your description) was picked a note, then, in a separate movement, tapped the string with her thumb. That muted the note. She tried again. Muted the note. Tried again. And again. And again. Then she said, "there has to be another way to do this". End of critique.

[chook0162003]

if someone who has never played before can learn that striaght up i will pay them. thats crazy...

[Onnet5]

I think this is too hard for someone who has hardly ever touched a guitar, while some of it is informative, they won't get half of it.

[Coulterboyz]

I like the fact he wanted to help, but im rating this thing a one for two reasons. 1) writing out the notes make it impossible to remember them all.
2) All you have to do is read the real tab and its much simpler.

[Hebbahklumpah00]

Why are some of you guys flaming him for trying to help?
It's the thought that counts imo, of course ,the "guide" maybe wasn't the greatest, but, If you read it clearly, then you can see that it idd might would've helped. I've played guitar for some years now but some stuff did help. And yes, maybe a real clean tab would be better for a more, avarage player.

[bananaboy]

Beginners doing pinch harmonics? Haha.

This won't help anyone at all, it just makes beginners think it's cool trying songs too hard for them, which leads to them thinking it's cool not playing things cleanly. So this hurts more than it helps really.

[MonsterOfRock]

Why Cowboys From Hell for a beginner's lesson? Why not "Freak Show Excess" or "Fire Garden Suite"?

[Ichimaru]

This article might be good as a reference when learning the song but not for much else and DEFINITELY not for begginers.

[manutd4lyf]

how could someone who has never touched a guitar play THAT??

[70'smetalman]

i kind of agree with...everyone else almost..why would this be under begginer lessons? i've been 'trying' to play stuff like this for almost a whole year and can't...R.I.P. Dimebag.

[Ultimate_Gio92]

kiely wrote:

I swear you should be playing the main riff mainly on the e string, like 0h3 0h3 5p3 5p3 6p3 5p3 . The way you suggest is no way a beginner can play, I still can't get it right and i've played for quite a while now

thats how ive always played it and i cant say im a beginner... its just the most efficient way to play it... i think dimebag would agree

[Wobby]

NOTE - For a College class - (rhetoric and composition) I needed like five pages describing a process, and this is one of the only things I could get five pages out of. I dont expect anyone to play it good, but the main riff isnt that ****in hard. Even the real way, as shown above. Also, dont try to learn this song by reading this!!!!! DO NOT!!! just do what the hell everyone else says and use the tab, maybe use this for refining it a little bit.
damn niggas.,...hate hate hate hate hate!!! Now if youll excuse me, I gotta go put some water in bucketbots mamas dish!!

[Wobby]

[quote Also, dont try to learn this song by reading this!!!!! DO NOT!!! just do what the hell everyone else says and use the tab, maybe use this for refining it a little bit. ][/quote]
I mean , just look at the ****in tab and play it already! there is one on here that is perfect, im sure of it cuz this is where i learned it. plus, ive only been playing for a year and I can play this whole song almost flawlessly, except for the 12-20 stretch becomes a 13-19 on the G and down

[Rock? Anyone]

sim_1113 wrote:

I play the chorus riff mostly on the e string like this: 0-3-0-3-5-3-5-3-6-3-5-3. The way its explained in the article is hard to get it to sound clean. I can play the solo and everything but i still cant make that part sound right the way its explained.

Thats how i play it do you play with your 3rd on 3rd fret or 1st on therd pm me with the answer

[Dnalrafcmb3]

hmmmmm.....for people who don't play the guitar????? wtf?

People who don't play don't come to this site!

[wvguitarguy]

useless i been playin this song for damn near 20 yrs this is way off base if ya wanna learn this sreach it read the tabs n practice like hell

[ShreddingIsArt]

R.I.P. Dime indeed... and anyone who is annoyed by that is a moron... Dimbag Darrel IS NOT the best... but hes ONE of the best.. and he's influences musicians everywhere... and as for this article.. it kinda blows.. someone who just starts out isn't gonna play cowboys from hell. the 1st song I ever learned was "come as you are" by Nirvana... easiest song ever... Kurt Cobain > Dimebag Darrel

[metal_maniac#1]

if you are seriously interested in learning this song... and aren't a begginer, check out "Riffer Madness" it's a collection of all the articles dimebag wrote for Guitar World... it has the right way to play the intro and the main riff, so stop bitching and check it out.

[Typik]

CapnKickass wrote:

bucketbots wrote:

dimebag darryl is the sister

XD good call, lol

My uncles name is Daryll.

He died and gave me money
I spent it on an amp.
No one really cares, but I told you all anyways.

[ticklemeemo]

chook0162003 wrote:

if someone who has never played before can learn that striaght up i will pay them. thats crazy...

In that case... I can play it, and I have totally never ever touched a guitar. Ever.

[danhiz347]

I doubt someone who hasn't picked up a guitar before will be able to rip out Cowboys From Hell

[Riffer_maddness]

wvguitarguy wrote:

useless i been playin this song for damn near 20 yrs this is way off base if ya wanna learn this sreach it read the tabs n practice like hell

WTF 20 yrs ok this came out before i was born but it only came out in '89 '90 area so that that 18 yrs at most but oh well ive been playing for 2 and 1/2 yrs and just now starting to really pick up fast and this song is not easy and to me the solo is only of the easier parts the hardest part is the descend after the pinched pull offs

[wvguitarguy]

damn near 20 yrs

[Page/Rhoads]

Man, people who have been playing for years can't handle Dimebag.

[miller30times]

twistedmaggot wrote:

cool article but why would someone who has never played a guitar be on here?

maybe because this has guitar lessons...why would someone that already knows how to play be in a lesson part of the site ?

[RHCPROCK!]

miller30times wrote:

twistedmaggot wrote:

cool article but why would someone who has never played a guitar be on here?
maybe because this has guitar lessons...why would someone that already knows how to play be in a lesson part of the site ?

...Err, because you can always improve and learn more on guitar? F***tard. ^_^

[Scorge]

learning such a crazy song as the first thing you do when you pickup a guitar for the first time ever will drive you insane.

[a4lrocker]

Deanslinger wrote:

Masonpwiley wrote:

Nice article, but people who don't play guitar probably don't have one, or come to this site.

bob56 wrote:

R.I.P. Dime

*resists slapping bob56* It annoys me that someone has to say "RIP Dime" every time his name is mentioned. He was a good guitarist, but he wasn't the best. And he died quite a long time ago.

respect shouldnt have a time limit y'****

great tune, good article

the point is its kinda annoying and according to you everyone should still be saying R.I.P. Hendrix. respect shouldnt have a time limit. but you can still respect someones death without saying R.I.P. insert name every time they are mentioned.

[batiboy06]

bucketbots wrote:

dimebag darryl is the sister

hahaha good one

[ken20008]

I couldnt even play Green Day properly when i first started out....wat abt Pantera?

this is a LOL article.

[Scottydoo112]

+1, your way is correct (sounds correct to me!)

kiely wrote:

I swear you should be playing the main riff mainly on the e string, like 0h3 0h3 5p3 5p3 6p3 5p3 . The way you suggest is no way a beginner can play, I still can't get it right and i've played for quite a while now

[Spl!nTeRgu!tAr]

pe_666 wrote:

maybe you should change the article into how to play nirvana: come as you are.

If you've never picked up a guitar you're not gonna be able to do hammer ons pull offs etc etc, you won't even be able to play peter gun theme at a decent speed...

[Spl!nTeRgu!tAr]

sorry i meant to add:

that was the 1st song i ever learned to play on guitar. its not that hard but if youve nevwer played a guitar before the timings can be sloppy

that or if u wanna keep it Pantera, Drag the Waters is a good one. that was the 2nd song i learned

[shadowsofbodom]

im sure if i sat down long enuf and actually read this in order to learn the whole song, it could be done, but i agree with the author of the article..... FIND A TAB AND QUIT BITCHING! beginners probly cant handle it entirely, but watever, let em try, its their demise. ive been playin for 2 years but i havent really found enuf time to focus on anything too difficult (solos and shit). build up ur skills and learn the damn song if u so desire. let people use this, its not against guitar law or anything, damn!!

[Chozz]

Damn! I thought you'd tab the solo But then again this is for beginners.. (The solo makes my fingers bleed!)

[Pyro_TheVampire]

Masonpwiley wrote:

*resists slapping bob56* It annoys me that someone has to say "RIP Dime" every time his name is mentioned. He was a good guitarist, but he wasn't the best. And he died quite a long time ago.

I understand your frustrations. Alot of people are saying RIP and they are saying it because its the thing to do. It has lost its meaning. RIP means REST IN PEACE!

[Eddie's'Waitor]

Pantera us a bit hard for beginners. And I cant think of many metal guitarists who were better than DIME.

RIP

[MonsterOfRock]

Wobby wrote:

NOTE - For a College class - (rhetoric and composition) I needed like five pages describing a process, and this is one of the only things I could get five pages out of. I dont expect anyone to play it good, but the main riff isnt that ****in hard. Even the real way, as shown above. Also, dont try to learn this song by reading this!!!!! DO NOT!!! just do what the hell everyone else says and use the tab, maybe use this for refining it a little bit.
damn niggas.,...hate hate hate hate hate!!! Now if youll excuse me, I gotta go put some water in bucketbots mamas dish!!

the last bit is ripped right out of Dave Chappelle's Show, except it was "BucNasty" from "Playa Hater's Ball"... and the riff sounds naturally better on the bottom string (how everyone else is playing). Low E string flaps better for the galloping part.

[MaGgOt_13]

Masonpwiley wrote:

Nice article, but people who don't play guitar probably don't have one, or come to this site.

bob56 wrote:

R.I.P. Dime


*resists slapping bob56* It annoys me that someone has to say "RIP Dime" every time his name is mentioned. He was a good guitarist, but he wasn't the best. And he died quite a long time ago.

and him dying "quite a long time ago" means that we can't remember him whenever he is mentioned? nobody said he was the best, but I am pretty sure that he was quite a bit better than you

R.I.P Dimebag

[AndrewSchaeffer]

e|-----|
B|-----|
G|-----7-----|
D|--5-5-7-5-7-5-8-5-7-5-7\9-----|
A|-7-7- ----|
E|-----|
PM*****

THATS HOW YOU PLAY THE INTRO

[Boz0r]

^ Yeah, that's how I play it too.

[demigod_92]

wow this is stupid, u should just ear it out or look at a tab

[party_on_wayne]

if this is what you submitted for a rhetoric class, you should fail based on grammar, poor vocabulary, and a poor topic. this is not a college paper, and if this was the only topic you could "get 5 pages on" seriously reconsider your major, or drop the class.

[kmilongo]

party_on_wayne wrote:

if this is what you submitted for a rhetoric class, you should fail based on grammar, poor vocabulary, and a poor topic. this is not a college paper.

agreed. it's not like you can write "Now the second super hardcore part" on a college paper.
but that's just me.

[Bendybaws]

Fucking hate that empty sentiment RIP bullshit, love the drunken bastard though

[Bendybaws]

F***ing hate that empty sentiment RIP bullsh*t and I ain't diss'ing Dime

[blasphemus666]

Bendybaws wrote:

Fucking hate that empty sentiment RIP bullshit, love the drunken bastard though

true. it gets really annoying when people who barely know who he is try to act like that. If you truly respected dime, you would be out takin a shot for him instead of just sayin "rip". DIME WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

[blasphemus666]

Masonpwiley wrote:

Nice article, but people who don't play guitar probably don't have one, or come to this site.

bob56 wrote:

R.I.P. Dime


*resists slapping bob56* It annoys me that someone has to say "RIP Dime" every time his name is mentioned. He was a good guitarist, but he wasn't the best. And he died quite a long time ago.

agree, except for the last part. the thing is he was the best. No one came close to how good he was. he pretty much INVENTED a new type of metal and guitar playing, so dont be like that

[vIsIbleNoIsE]

Bendybaws wrote:

Fucking hate that empty sentiment RIP bullshit, love the drunken bastard though

YES!

[turbonegro111]

very good article, but there needs to b more on TIMING especially as it is aimed at people who could b first time musicians

[kaptkegan]

How would a beginner guitarist have a chance at learning Cowboys from Hell. That's a tough song. It took me forever to be able to play it, and I'm decent.

[joshjebl]

it's a silly song for beginners way too fast. well written though hope you got a good grade

[klipdrift2]

hierdie is absolute onsun.

maar stunning song!!!