How Adam Jones REALLY plays Aenema by Tool with Uncle Ben Eller

Downloadable TABS, bonus lessons, backing tracks, and MORE available on my Patreon page! / benellerguitars
instagram: BenEllerGuitars #weekendwankshop259
unclebeneller
Highwind Direwolf pic by MrExcane! Go watch his video on it, too!
Hey kids! Its Uncle Ben Eller back again with Weekend Wankshop 259, in which you're going to learn the REAL way Adam Jones himself plays Aenima by Tool!
Here recently my good friend Ryan Bruce (aka Fluff) uploaded a killer video on his channel about how to achieve Jones' incredible tone from the album, and so it seemed like a perfect time for me to show the world the truth about how to play these killer riffs! Every online tab and lesson i've ever seen has WAY too much picking in the riff... most of the secret of this percussive and progressive riff is in what i call HAMMER SLAPS! These hammered-on from nowhere power chords are at the core of this thing, and they're in the intro AND verse riffs, and i'm here to show you how to play them and PROVE it with live footage, too!
Playing my Les Paul with Suhr SSH/SSV pickups, Highwind Direwolf Boost, into the Axe FX III for some pretty snazzy tone.
Thanks for watching! What Tool songs need a full breakdown next? Let me know in the comments!

[@BenEller]

Thanks for watching! What’s the next Adam Jones Tool technique you want to learn?!

[@HellionSol]

Loving this style of video man, I really liked the one with Ghost. You should do one with some Gojira!

[@tristanwright9733]

How on Earth he manipulates feedback so well. Especially when sliding

[@seyyjJ]

Maybe something about how he uses the delay effect? It's a simple effect but very few can use it create such a mesmerizing effect.

[@tpags7398]

His faux e bow

[@tpags7398]

He uses 3 dd3s

[@jimtheedcguy4313]

"Here we have Maynard doing... Stuff" Just described every tool concert ever lol.

[@JinxMarie1985]

😂😂

[@loganirvine3700]

Maynard is a fuckin gremlin on stage Lmao

[@whendoweeat]

I just want to highlight how wild it is to have a KZbinr go through all this effort to teach a small yet very important detail of a song that is over 20 years old. All for the sake of teaching a technique that very few people even use. Awesome work!

[@ze-ce.cra_]

Tom Morello : weird effects Adam Jones : weird techniques Daron Malakian : weird guy

[@AlexPhantom1292]

Jajajajaja

[@reddeadrazor8257]

@@AlexPhantom1292 I read this in Randy Marshes Lorde voice ;)

[@tomasminder6962]

*buckethead has entered the chat*

[@secretowl3561]

lol

[@monomamori]

Weirdo squad!

[@wilsoncrocker]

i fcukin knew it! ive been playing it like this for 25 yrs. friends, teachers, & other players have told me "youre crazy, thats not right" even though it sounded exactly like the record. haha! redemption!

[@dougparker1968]

I found a tab years ago that had it exactly like this. There is no argument here. This is the proper way

[@warriorspiritmovers2589]

Trust ur intuition

[@jamiehouk6965]

It is truly unbelievable that all of the members of Tool got together being all perfectly perfect musicians.

[@brandonhinrichs7815]

And Danny had zero intention of starting a band with them. He was already a working professional musician he already in like 5 bands and he was a set musician on a bunch of TV shows and only agreed to jam with them because they were neighbors and he felt sorry for them cuz they couldn't find a drummer so agreed to jam with them.

[@HansyPants184]

Greatest musical miracle since Rush!

[@izayuhhbohjanglez441]

No musician will ever be perfect.. We are all always learning striving for perfection but will never achieve it. But yeah they are all Pretty damn close to perfect !!!!

[@thewildhealer541]

I've always thought that way about Pink Floyd, atleast in their 70's.

[@juankshalonga7190]

Adam and Maynard were not even serious about music until they got together and went after it, with Maynard's work ethic, intelligence, and ambition leading the way. Maynard and Adam were in hollywood for the film industry, doing set design or props, etc. Adam was the art director for the Jurassic Park film, and made all of the claymation videos and directs the visual portion of Tool, as music is only part of what Tool is. These guys coming together to create and inspire on this level is miraculous, and an unlikely creation. Grattitude!

[@robpearson8651]

"The reason theres no pick attack? Is because there is no pick attack"... The man!! Awesome!!

[@RudolfKlusal]

Reminds me that "Cleopatra mission" in Asterix -- about that temple building, how they are saying something like: "There will be no workers, no stones. No stones -- no temple. No temple.... No temple." :-D

[@geraldlobster7695]

"if it's not Crimsafe, it's not Crimsafe".

[@cbremer83]

So, being a nonmusician but a Tool fan for a couple decades, videos like this makes the music more magical for me. It is sort of the opposite of seeing how a magician does his tricks. There you see it is a simple trick to fool you. But this is more like falling down that rabbit hole. Finding more and more wonders as you go.

[@thebatman1482]

FINALLY! The Uncle never disappoints. Especially when he beats my stepdad with a rake. I hate that guy.

[@thebatman1482]

Also, I'm gonna be that guy: the song is actually titled "Ænema", the album is titled "Ænima". 'Cause Tool.

[@fischer55]

Lmao

[@DanielAttaway]

My wife is not pumped that I taught our almost 2 year old that you are Uncle Ben. He's running around repeating "Uncle Ben! Uncle Ben!" and it's great. Thanks for the video. Cheers dude!

[@Essin62]

"Mom! What's a wankshop?"

[@blacklotus3205]

Peter Nilsson lol I can’t stop laughing

[@Goose21]

We live in an alternate reality where instead of being shot and inspiring Spider-Man, uncle Ben makes banging guitar lessons

[@Nick-dp4wk]

“ over here we have Maynard doing, stuff...” 😂 so true

[@aegisblade7577]

"We have Maynard doin'...stuff..." - accurate description of Maynard for pretty much everything

[@p51sleeper95]

William Jackson looks like hes jerkin it

[@GregsGarage]

Maynard... Always just doin' STUFF.

[@WompaStomp85421]

maynard doing....*me finishing the sentence* stuff LOL

[@rprides1007]

Holy shit, Greg's Garage at a Tool video? Hell yea man!

[@Zukanoff]

That was so very well explained and masterful. The “if you’re getting this sound this is what you’re doing wrong” parts are extremely helpful as well. Great video.

[@adrianurrusuno2607]

Uncle Ben: the guitar teacher we need but don't deserve. Thank you!

[@TheRodersAbides]

The uncle I never had... and is at least 10 years younger me.

[@DerEchteBold]

Haha, I totally can 'relate' to that!

[@brucewayne5047]

Hey Uncle Ben. I’ve been playing guitar for around 13 years and I recently came to the (painful) realisation that I’ve been far too obsessed with acquiring extremely nice guitars and not obsessed enough with practising. I came across your channel (in particular the ‘this is why you suck at guitar’ series), and I’m pleased to say that with these clear, concise, well-executed (and hilarious) videos at my side, I am starting to change that and work toward being the best guitarist I can be. Take sweep picking for example: in around 10 days of dedicated half-hour practice sessions I’ve gone from being completely unable to do it to sweeping cleanly at a modest 100BPM. My family now accept me once again, I no longer have to sleep outside and I feel that for the first time since I started playing I can hear the improvement on a daily basis. Thanks Uncle Ben!

[@jamesraward]

Bruce Wayne you’re not alone there Bruce

[@bflo5210]

Nice tool time reference 😎😎🔨🔨🔧🔧🔩🔩🧰🧰

[@KowboyUSA]

That Tim Allen meme. lmao * Les Paul sounds like it looks: Amazing!

[@BunnyboilerBand]

Kowboy USA play authentic 😂

[@dpants5150]

"There's Maynard doing...stuff." 🤣

[@CosmicAutumn]

I appreciate your attention to detail and clear communication. Great work, please keep it up!

[@lawrencesprau1935]

Adam Jones talks about that polyrhythm in a Guitar world interview. He learned it from Danny and called it "pass the godamn butter."

[@gamerx07gaming28]

Pass the God damn butter is the rhythmic solfege for a 4:3 polyrhythm. I'm not saying you're wrong about the fact, just that that's the wrong polyrhythm. The common one for a 2:3 is "nice cup of tea"

[@lewdlewyd6251]

@@gamerx07gaming28 I apologize in advance if I'm misunderstanding your reply, but in this vid, kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpuQmGyXarutoZI Justin says the song uses the same pass the godamn butter phrase for the timing.

[@mrdibdles9252]

Hahaha awesome

[@colinburroughs9871]

I knew of poodle poodle factory, didn't know this one

[@freeman7079]

@@lewdlewyd6251 for his part...not for adams part...they all play different parts because they’re aliens Just try to say “pass the goddamn butter” while Ben plays that part, doesn’t work. Kind of a waste of a disagreement unfortunately...

[@Violetcas97]

Adam Jones doesn’t get nearly enough respect. The Alex Liefson of metal, if you will, in that he is an incredible musician sandwiched in a group of other musicians who many consider the best of their kind

[@Dunkelelf3]

not only adam.. i certainly didn't see many bands with 4 musicians this great.. maynards vocals are still awesome despite his age and if you listen older stuff.. just wow.. adam and justins guitar and bass synergize like in hardly any other band.. i mean it's rare to find bass features like with tool or red hot chili peppers anyways where the bass is such a huge part of the songs and not something more subtle in the background and also danny's drumms are simply incredible.. i guess it's somewhat natural because it needs a talented drummer to keep up with the endless signature changes and odd signatures used in most tool songs.. but this is what makes their music so great for me and so unique.. i mean just trying to count out songs like schism in my head is really hard.. so many odd time signatures.. so many signature changes..

[@Dunkelelf3]

@@dikdik1313 i never said they did? but as far as i remember they are considered progressive metal.

[@nategrady]

Hell even Alex doesn't get credit.

[@danroberts9050]

I couldn't agree more. Wait! Hold on. I believe I CAN agree more. I agree 15% more.

[@jesse6524]

That's cuz he makes everything sound so easy, that's their genius

[@ShastaBean]

NICE! This insight should make the shows this weekend even more enjoyable to watch. Can't wait!

[@zakktothefuture]

That's so brilliant that you figured this out from really looking at the velocity of the first chord. I've always felt like that chord sounded like it had the wind knocked out of it but I've never really thought of it that way as I'm a bass player.

[@davidchaves5650]

Been listening to these album for about 15 years and finally saw someone nailing this riff in such an awesome and perfect way, man you are so cool thanks 🤘🏻😎

[@aarona8074]

“That tingling feeling you’re feeling, that’s your third eye opening”. Funniest line on KZbin, I died. Thank you for so eloquently demonstrating that impressive tie bit. Haha don’t know if that made it easier to play now, or harder

[@CC-qb9sm]

Hemiola - “not actually a rare blood disease” - bwahaha so funny Uncle Ben! This is actually a really cool lesson and that was my favorite part of the lesson!

[@joegalford2319]

I got so happy watching you talking about the Direwolf pedal. It’s so good.

[@johantitulaer1052]

This is the most serious video I've seen from your channel. Very nice explanation!

[@andrewdomonic6603]

Right on. I think the drag-pull-through-tech he does in Jambi is also applied to Invincible around the 7:40 mark. He's so percussive. I found new spots for blisters in August. Haha. Thanks for the lesson. This makes sense.

[@owenjohnston6505]

Yep. Also used in eulogy, hooker with a penis, vicarious and the pot

[@davidemmons899]

Sounds great. I’ve been looking at guitar tabs for this since the late 90s and this looks and sounds a lot better. Thank you.

[@lfrankow]

BRILLIANT!! As soon as I have expendable income again, you will be my first patreon subscription. Your style of teaching is descriptive and fast, which matches perfectly with my level of skill, and my ADD. Thank you!!

[@gregpister1943]

Dude! That was a great tutorial! Best technique description, hands down, that there is on the interwebs! Thanks for your hard work on this man! 🤘

[@SigEpRooster]

Absolutely brilliant lesson. Love my Uncle Ben.

[@ZachWish]

Killer. Super well described. Loved the hemiola segment. Awesome as always Ben!

[@DragonCrestPC]

Been playing it like this for years. Great video!

[@ActualZombeard]

I don't even play guitar and I love your videos, man.

[@TyDie85]

Yep, NAILED IT!! 100%. Great video my dude ^^

[@DS-fi4hf]

This is why KZbin needs you, Ben.

[@thestrangeceleb]

I was lucky enough to figure this out one day when I was jamming along with the album. I went to put the bong down while still playing with the left hand and realized the magic.

[@possibleot1167]

thestrangeceleb don't you mean picking up the bong? Assuming you were picking and hammering, how were you holding the bong to put it down? 👍🏼

[@andrewhigdon8346]

Possible OT maybe he wasn’t. Standing up, sitting down, either way. Standing seems more probable though. You partake between songs, precious moments that they are, bong in right hand, lighter in left, song is coming. Set down or toss lighter, commence playing song with left hand on frets, but wait, pick hand is busy! Decision time. Where are your priorities? EVERYBODY knows the value of that high density, give it the gusto, make-the-ember-go-dark, toke from beyond. But fuck it. Right hand, take your time, cause left hand has got that part. Oh, the 2 string pick now, bong set down, now the groove can settle in. Seems that I figured out the magic while setting down the bong with my right hand and hammering-on with my left. Magic indeed.

[@thestrangeceleb]

@@andrewhigdon8346 lol. you guys are intense.

[@PlectrumShorts]

Great lesson, Uncle Ben. The hemiola demo was, indeed, an eye opener. Zappa was a big fan of hemiola, but this riff is so rhythmic that it’s easier for me to hear (and feel) it.

[@dr.z6601]

Woah, grew up listening to these riffs, and your breakdown is blowing my mind.

[@p4easy7]

whoa! I thought I couldn't be more blown away than when you did the video on the Jambi pull through technique. ya learn something new everyday...thx Ben

[@banteringboomer4280]

it totally makes sense with that percussive sound.... love your work in explaining such nuances

[@billlybarrue5953]

Nicely done Uncle Ben.

[@rattrap1009]

Adam The Toolman Jones

[@Tonicwine999]

Very interesting video and clear explanation

[@d00mf00d]

20 years ago i looked up tabs for Aenima and I could never make it sound like the album. Now i Know why. Thanks Uncle Ben.

[@Music.is.my.Fuel.]

I just figured this out by myself about two months ago after watching your video of Jambi. Good job Ben!

[@shuckacuck]

I'm not a huge fan of Tool, but your tutorials are the best around. This kind of stuff inspires me to push myself further when it comes to guitar techniques.

[@carlprevost3321]

Cool lesson dude.i love that song.listen to that in the car at top volume.the way it just keeps building until chaos at the end.briliant.youre so right never really looked that close at the footage.thanks for the tips man.keep it up

[@MT-or7lv]

Another nice video Uncle Ben.

[@jamil1219]

Extremely well done, Ben. Thank you

[@mondragon9282]

Great video, Ben!!

[@MrLineman8144]

Wow, learned something new today. Thought it was the other way around, but sound never matched. The sound here along with the video proved it all. Thx again for the great video and lesson.

[@Jopeymessmusic]

Blowing people's minds on the regular! Classic uncle Ben!

[@TheTazman63]

spot on ! Thanks Ben

[@JotaBee2]

Great breakdown of one of many AJ techniques. Thanks!

[@minitzonthesun]

Adam Jones's style is fucking rad. Thanks for helping me understand it a little more all the time.

[@IJL-Old]

Am I the only one who followed hearing "hammer-slap" with the thought "Hammer Slapped Face"

[@JediCrackSmoke]

Yes.

[@shadowstalker1515]

Something inside me heard it ;-p

[@koshar44]

Corpse style.

[@relentless.7638]

SOMETHING INSIDE MEEEEEE

[@twodeadpilesofshit7963]

Nope

[@AndrewStonerock]

Very cool. Super accurate too. I picked up on this a few years ago.

[@JohnK-id1zj]

Total mind blow. Nailed it, Ben! Thanks!

[@keaganjohnstone9063]

thank u so much this makes so much more sense I could never wrap my head around picking out that starting riff but picked up on that hammer slap pretty quick. Thanks uncle Ben!

[@miller13ico]

Thanks for your channel, my favorite guitar tutorials on youtube! All the best to you Ben, I aspire to be a shredder like you, always looking for artist's unique technique.

[@Psi-Ink]

Thanks! Been avoiding this song for a while, but now..

[@stepitupandgo67]

Thanx Ben!! Good to elbow bump you at NAMM...Adam Jones!! guitar genius!

[@EVEROSFP1]

Your lesson slaped my "guitar mind". Thanks dude!

[@chriskey8721]

Dude you are an absolute badass!!! Thank you for the corrective playing technique for this song I’d like to see more of tool songs!!

[@matthewharkrider3980]

Well done, man. Thanks for the insight and sharing your knowledge.

[@sypalman-titchener5296]

Awesome as always

[@deepstatethrombosis]

I knew it! Thank you for confirming. Adam Jones is by no means the most technical guitarist out there, but the dude is beyond creative.

[@MikeCindyWhite]

Awesome bro! Nailed it, Thank you much! Axe Of Creation!!! Insane tool lessons for bass and guitar!

[@sonarchy343]

amazing, clear content.

[@evilchef3879]

That 96 show at the Glasshouse in Pamona is my all time favorite live show of theirs. If you watch that on a 70 inch tv with a sound system you will leave a changed man or woman. Incredible live show!

[@evilchef3879]

I forgot to add your video is spot on and awesome as usual! I’ve been playing it close to what you showed for the last 20 years.

[@6Nicolas]

great technique here !!! thank you for this video

[@extrememind100]

Awesome stuff uncle ben!

[@SamAndSamuel]

Excellent, Smithers.

[@leftyguitarfreek]

Epic! Thank you sir. You’re a legend.

[@laynevlogz4922]

I’ve been doing this technique my whole life. I just thought it was a bad guitar habit. But I liked it so stuck with it. 🤘

[@sambeltram8711]

Awesome break down

[@char4s]

Very cool. Thanks mate.

[@robbievalentine8239]

Killer lesson uncle Ben!!

[@d00mf00d]

I was just trying to play this yesterday from memory of poorly written tabs i used waaay back in '99, never got the sound right. Now i see why! thank you for the lesson!

[@SilverParatrooper]

Man what an eye opening episode.....

[@BenEller]

SilverParatrooper maybe even a THIRD EYE OPENING episode?????

[@SilverParatrooper]

Ben Eller most definitely uncle Ben

[@ismailsahin6]

please continue the serie "stuff ... does " uncle.Your gojina and mastodon videos are my favorite

[@tommyowen529]

That's some good, clean teaching right there. Thanks.

[@stevevallance6326]

Great lesson

[@michaelrossi4668]

You're set up sounds amazing. Rad vid

[@ghoszt22]

That live video from Pomona at the glass house is so amazing

[@ZorroTheWevile]

“It’s tool time” instant like🤣

[@guitar6547]

I really appreciate someone playing/showing how songs are actually played correctly, I'm quite the stickler myself and do a lot of research of live videos of players, great job man, oh ya and nice Les Paul!

[@jamesbump4765]

He uses that palm-muting technique on other tracks as well, notably on 'Pushit' and 'The Patient.' It's repeated in increasing pressure and sounds almost like an echoed fade-out. Thanks for what you do and all the helpful tips!

[@jaysunten]

Kick ass lesson and observation skills!

[@EwaldDieser]

Fantastic! Thank you!

[@rowdy3837]

Nice to hear Tim Pierce give Ben a shout out on his latest video. Even the pros use Uncle Ben!

[@BenEller]

Clay Allen aww shucks, Tim is such a sweet dude!

[@7stringedmetal]

I noticed he does this towards the end of Fear Inoculum as well. I recently covered it and noticed that picking the open notes sounded wrong until I figured this out! Great job as always Uncle Ben!

[@shanebradleyguitar475]

Definitely need more tool time from Uncle Ben

[@TheShreddDude]

Hey I was just rewatching your JOSIE tutorial. Nice