JERRY CANTRELL's 24 Greatest Guitar Techniques!

[@jurajzembjak9721]

The best grunge guitarist

[@joycesanders4898]

..absolute. 🎸🖤🤘

[@slimmmshaney5695]

Jerry and AiC were much more than just grunge, he's one of the best ever

[@jackpowell6913]

By a mile

[@AmonRa1081]

Agreed....Next to Kim Thayil.

[@AlmasAztekas]

@@AmonRa1081 Kim Thayil, Jerry Cantrell and Stone Gossard are amazing guitarists!

[@sirenbassist7854]

Fun fact. Layne Staley actually wrote Angry Chair, and it’s cool how he heard the “tension and evil” of moving up to the minor 6th from the 5th. He was vibing, and feeling it. Super simple riff, and hella cool how he did it. Side note another god tier riff layne wrote was I don’t know anything from Mad Season’s record.

[@juancepeda1903]

Love " I don't know anything" riff

[@berkmustafaoglu9020]

I think Mad Season is where Layne’s voices really shines, cus they play in E

[@kennyrudin10]

@@berkmustafaoglu9020 Love listening to layne on mad season, almost every song on that album is perfect to me

[@Jmilillo]

Jerry is probably one of the most talented and creative guitarists I’ve ever seen. He’s no Steve Vai but he’s pretty goddamn amazing for a grunge guitarist. He’s really so much more than that.

[@liquidbraino]

He plays with more heart than Steve Vai; more soul. I love Steve Vai as a technical player but not quite as soulful as Cantrell.

[@rsbreth]

He's almost instantly recognizable just from his tone - killer shit! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5KomZShYs2chtksi=b-H-bbUZjvtwmGLg

[@Naughtforeye]

​@@liquidbrainoJerry smashes most people with sheer emotional weight and heaviness of his monolithic riffs and songs.

[@JojoFryrocks]

@@liquidbrainoI wouldn’t recognize a Steve Vai ‘song’, riff or lick or his tone if so heard it, whereas I’d know Jerry’s tone in under a second. I wanted to get his wah pedal but it’s like $200 and that’s a bit much for me sadly!

[@S-dr7jx]

Vai is boring and lacks inspiration. But he was good with Zappa.

[@cesarbeltran6583]

Time Stamps: #1 0:55 Drop D Chord Bends #2 1:44 Extended Drop D Chords #3 2:28 Walk Down Squeals #4 3:15 The Cantrell Chord #1 #5 4:08 Wah Trills #6 4:58 Bleeding Bends #7 6:03 Funk Leads #8 7:01 Man In The Talk Box #9 8:04 Over Bends #10 9:03 Reverse Rakes #11 9:38 Behind The Nut Harp Sound #12 10:05 The Devils Interval #13 11:03 The Cantrell Chord #2 #14 12:10 Wah Octaves #15 12:52 Double Stop Bends #16 13:46 Minor 6 Dissonance #17 14:51 Slow Low Bends #18 15:13 Chaos Leads #19 16:26 Melodic Overdubs #20 17:27 Circular Lead Motif #21 19:18 Legato #22 20:27 Thumbed Slash Chords #23 21:17 Finger Picking #24 22:32 Self-Harmonizing

[@manolomunozsantillan9496]

0:55 We die young is not tuned in drop D, it's D standard

[@pavlazar]

@@manolomunozsantillan9496 i think it's drop D# they never played in D

[@unplayedpiano7039]

Man. We Salute. Wow.

[@BigMuff75]

I think this is like spoiling the Video.

[@BlackacreDoe]

@@pavlazar Drop C#

[@scorpthe]

Jerry Cantrell is also the lord of arpegios with open strings. No one else does it that mystical way he does. I mean "I can't remember", "Love, hate, love", "The devil put dinosaurs here", "Jesus hands". Real awesomeness! And also he's one of my very favorite composers and musicians. His solos on "Low Ceiling" and "Breath on a window" are extremely soulful. He never gonna put a rubbish solo stuff like most skilled guitarists do. He's skilled, but he's so musical! I realy love the way he does! By the way, thanks for video!😉

[@DavidRFIT]

Jar of Flies is one of the best albums of the 90s. Well, it is one of the best albums ever.

[@Trojanarchist]

other than black gives way to blue :))

[@raywark1136]

I was at Michigan State studying engineering. We did so many projects with Jar of Flies in the background.

[@edyoung4450]

First EP to open at 1 on billboard

[@YukonDemon]

No question, a fantastic album, but when it comes to Alice in Chains, Facelift and Dirt were hands down my favorites.

[@rfunk8198]

Facelift is awesome too!

[@raywark1136]

Jerry Cantrell is the reason i started playing 27 years ago, and I’m looking forward to seeing him play this summer with AIC and Korn.

[@mackhomie6]

yuck. good God, Korn?

[@Sachiels]

@@mackhomie6 seriously?

[@harrisontownsend910]

How was it.

[@ermonski]

One thing about Cantrell that sets him apart from other metal (or grunge) guitarists is his honesty and simplicity. He does a lot with one note yet it sounds heavy and huge. He also has a lot of texture in his riffs and compositions which became the core sound of Alice in Chains. His solos are pretty tasty too.

[@laurent1678]

Perfect tone too

[@JackPeloquin]

hahaha!!! "honesty"? How the fuck does someone play with "honesty"?

[@maximilianodelrio]

Yeah, I love how he overdubs to make it sound very heavy and full, it's like Alex lifeson's guitar on rush.

[@ermonski]

@@JackPeloquin What I meant was many guitar players just want to play fast for the sake of playing fast, or try to incorporate as much modes into a solo as much as they can. Cantrell does mostly pentatonic scales and as per this video incorporates his own techniques to express himself as to not make basic licks and riffs sound generic. I know my statement doesn't make sense but.. .yeah.

[@liquidbraino]

​@@maximilianodelrio Well Jerry borrowed a lot from Ty Tabor and Ty borrowed a lot from Alex Lifeson.

[@Comedyin144p]

FINALLY A PROFSSIONAL WHO TRULY UNDERSTANDS JERRY CANTRELL AND HIS UNIQUE SOUND. you just earned a new subscriber

[@juancepeda1903]

me too

[@Chudchanning]

Man I knew Jerry was a great guitarist just as far as the riffs and music go, but his technical aspect is also insane with the effects, little techniques, and nuances in his playing. He really has alot going on in these seemingly simple songs. Definitely feels like a daunting task to try to learn some of these songs

[@douglasmijangos3327]

The Dirt album ... all I will say is “ Wow “ is you love Grunge or 90s music and you haven’t listen to the “ Dirt “ album yet ... stop whatever you are doing and listen to it right now ... you’ll thank yourself after ....

[@MorbidRexx]

Facelift is my favourite AiC album. So many of those choruses just hit you with this huge wall of sound, huge chords and some really great vocal performances from Layne that I think aren't as present in the later albums.

[@rangerdoc1029]

I'd put it up there with Back in Black as one of the greatest albums ever.

[@harrisontownsend910]

A buddy of mine listened to this record and thought it was amazing, and we're talking about a metalhead getting blown away by a Grunge record.

[@crimson1718]

Cantrell is really just some kind of guitar God.

[@Jasonk89]

Amazing video, thanks! Jerry Cantrell is a wonderful guitarist and often gets overlooked because he's not that flashy or technically apt, a shame though since his riffs and solos always fit the vibe of the song and build on the main riff or vocal lines. One thing that's debatable in your video: around the 14 min mark you refer tot Angry Chair and the dissonance: Layne Staley actually wrote that song on his own and played rhythm on the track as well. Rock on!

[@ianlinder2168]

I also listen to a lot of Alice in chains during my long depression. The mtv unplugged album was my favorite but Jar of fly is a close second. Nirvana, radiohead and Smashing Pumpkins also made some good depression music.

[@danegonzales5651]

Wow going through some numb rough shit as well and I've never appreciated the Grunge scene as much as I do now. Hope you're doing better, pal.

[@fackauff6038]

Why does this kind of music have to be associated with depression. The time when I was listening to AIC, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and STP the most was actually a really happy time in my life.

[@thefakengx3839]

Ian Linder Radiohead head makes ya more depressed ya bugger

[@cuteasxtreme]

@@fackauff6038 let’s say good music for strong emotions

[@michaelsteven1090]

@@thefakengx3839 haha..made my night your comment

[@_draculas_castle_]

This needed to happen Jerry is a king

[@spoonbruh741]

Jar of flies’ nutshell song reminds me of my dad. I thank him everyday for bringing me up w/ such good music.

[@gabrielthefallen]

I know I’m a year late but I was able to name every single song and this made me love them even more..they’re my favorite band of ALL time

[@r0bbyinchins]

Really great video you made here. Jerry's music saved my life literally when I lost my mom dad and step dad in 5 month... Jar of flies was my savior as well and especially whale and wasp... Go interesting ....I have thought that song through and through and I wonder if it's sort of an homage to Ann and Nancy Wilson's dog and butterflysince they are friends and have played together so many times... I really think it is . I will find out one way or another... Anyway I try and explain how dark music and dark lyrics kept me from suicide but I fail to understand myself ..music is therapy & ALICE in chains my doctor!!! Thanks for your great videos

[@michaelsnydermusic]

Your guitar tone is fantastic. And thanks for all the research and effort you put into these videos. I imagine it’s a lot of fun at times but can also be tedious. However, I bet it really improves your playing too. It’s like a masterclass. Thanks again. 🤘 P.S. thanks for the emphasis on riffs/writing too. Maybe do one on Hetfield specifically?

[@blind_mel0n]

thanks for this video. i thought it might be some throwaway thing where you basically just play recognizable cantrell licks but you went really in-depth and not only showed how to emulate each technique but how and why its used. and as a 19-year-old, i have definitely gone through spans of my life where ive listened to the same Cantrell or AIC EP/LP every single day just to keep me alive.

[@gavinberry3814]

It’s awesome to see Jerry Cantrell getting the recognition he deserves. Phenomenal guitarist and songwriter.

[@dixirose111]

Love what you have explained here. Digging into Cantrell magic. Bring us more!

[@dor9244]

These 25 minutes were so fascinating, You are are playing beautifully. I've learned a lot from this video Thank you 🤟🎸

[@SlowToe]

Jerry should watch this. Amazing

[@bzz8540]

I love Jerry Cantrell’s use of staccato picking the best it sounds so sick. Can you do one on Billy Corgan sometime? I always feel like he is carving me up with his bends and he does these crazy sounding harmonics in a lot of his songs

[@seanmiller7889]

Finally Jerry getting some love! One of my favorites. Hardly anyone covering Jerry thank you so much!

[@the92project]

I cover Jerry 😉

[@sono1739]

Alice In Chains helped me get thru hard times too! Band made a huge impact on my life. Love them so much.

[@lisaz265]

I loved this. Alice In Chains is one of my favorite artists, and Jerry’s amazing guitar style is one of the reasons! I think Jerry would approve!

[@michaelvigil1417]

I’ve been watching your videos over the last several months and I can’t believe I haven’t seen these earlier, since it’s been years you’ve had them out. Anyways, I love all your videos and you are a great teacher and you explain guitar playing so good. AIC have also got me through my teenage years and the band always have a special place in my heart.

[@alfanoza]

Cantrell is the prototype of a economic genius. He has a really flashy solos (eg lying season, grind, and few others), but the interesting about him and what makes him one of my favorite guitarist is his unique ability to creates atmspheres with simple riffs. Would, man in the box , it ain't like that are three of many examples of "economic" riffs that impact immediately. Cantrell is a monster creating riffs and is a master of that particular sludgy, dark, heavy and in other moments beautifully mellow sound that makes Alice in Chains one unique and influential band. Of course the sui generis voice of Layne is unmatched and his harmonic blend with Cantrell voice made the trademark of AIC, but the Cantrell guitar work is outstanding. Cantrell is the perfect example of talent and creativity that doesn't need to shred 200 notes per second to be a trascendental and monstrous guitarist, even though he can actually play fast. The more complicated not equals the better music

[@elisac6790]

Love the shirt. 😊 And the lesson. 😎 Man, I miss the 90's!! 😭

[@jerrycantrell9822]

@Elisa hello, how are you doing it is nice meeting you here.

[@michaelvigil1417]

'Dirt' was the album that got me through..Thank you AIC for getting me through life, as well. Great video, as always!

[@MrRagnarxx]

Great lesson. Jerry is one of the most distinct contemporary guitarists IMO, and I love AiC and his solo stuff.

[@vincentjackson3472]

So true mate. I think the amount of people Alice helped, healed or guided would be unreal. Brilliant stuff. And brilliant video, appreciate your time and effort going In to it :)

[@rogeralleyne9257]

This is a great video about an underrated guitarist who had more impact then I think many realize!!!!🙏🙏🙏

[@jaimecucalon2804]

Dude 2 years late, but I love you for this. Alice in Chains is my favorite band of all time and Jerry inspired me to pick up the guitar. They definitely got me throught the worst times of my life. Still listen to their whole Layne-era discography and their unplugged show religiously at least once a month.

[@Rooster7six]

It was the dirt abum for me in 9th grade 🤣. But every one of their albums was amazing All of Alice's stuff is a half step down, standard or drop d. . And an interesting fact, Lane actually wrote the guitar rhythm to Angry chair. Great vid!

[@patrickunderwood5662]

Jerry Cantrell and Ace Frehley are two of my guitar heroes. (And apparently Ace was one of Cantrell’s heroes.) I am wayyyyy far from reaching the level at which your technique videos can help, but I am certainly saving them for later. Somehow I imagine these players, decades before KZbin tutorials, weren’t “thinking” and “analyzing” but your videos are a huge help for us mortals.

[@andrewwaltersmusic]

Jerry is truely a legend of ominous rock. This video made my day! Well done 🤘

[@megabubba]

Thanks so much for making this. Really great analysis and illustration of some of Jerry's signature techniques. It gave me some new insights and will be good for many trips to the woodshed...

[@5GaloFreedom]

Jar of Flies is downright amazing. That open E reverse rake you featured is one of my favorites from AIC. Didn't know how Cantrell did it. Thanks so much for a great artist spotlight!

[@gageclark2390]

Beautiful beautiful tone 👌 really nice heavy chunky Rhythm guitar sound And really smooth Texture to the lead tone. Amazing videos 👍

[@wolverine777182]

mind blowing, i had to play that "whale & wasp" part at least 7 times , it was so good... thanks for such an amazing video bro!

[@jakeybball]

Jerry is the reason I started playing about 3 years ago. Alot of riffs were simple enough to the point where I had the confidence actually try to learn them. They also sounded so damn cool that I felt like I’d really accomplished something, I wasn’t just sliding around Power chords.

[@Eric_Vonk]

I agree with the fact that Jerry and Alice helped me going through some of the most hard times of my life. Thank you for that.

[@pauletch22]

let’s be real, we all have a favorite AIC album kinda, but all of them are really awesome. Jar of flies for me but I love all of them equally

[@isaiascerda5656]

AIC-Nirvana-Soundgarden; You should do Mike Mcready next! Great guitarist and song writer for the remaining of the big four

[@joycesanders4898]

...Kim Thayill(spelling wrong, but you know him...)

[@thefakengx3839]

Joyce Sanders ok so you’re mr obvious 😂😂😂

[@user-dq2ym1nn9k]

The quality of this video is appreciated. Thankyou!

[@bobberino98]

That 2nd "Cantrell Chord" is one of my favorites. Though I first heard it from Rush, and then Dream Theater, so Rush might claim ownership here.

[@jayditzer2082]

Yeah that voicing is all over Rush's "Xanadu."

[@stevejon381]

Alex Lifeson used it a lot in the Hemispheres track.

[@timbacon1074]

Yes used it a few times as well. And possibly old Genesis. Great stuff!

[@brucewaldrop2933]

Exactly...learned this on Xanadu as well as the break before the solo on "The Trees". I''ve always heard it referred to as the "Lifeson chord"

[@leosuarez5595]

Ideas: -Tony Iommi -Kim Thayil -Jimi Hendrix -Pat Smear (very underrated guitarist) -Mark Arm -Gustavo Cerati -Van Halen -Mike McCready -Slash -Zakk Wylde -Mick Thomson -Tom Morello -Thurston Moore -Lee Ranaldo

[@Milos_Stanojevic]

Thank you for making this video! It answers a lot of questions I had about Jerry's technique

[@MeganNisbet]

He actually takes the low F# off to make an E when he plays Rooster. Makes it sound even cooler with the root notes going from F# to E to A to E again.

[@jwlonghair]

My all time favorite guitar related series on youtube. The amount effort you put into videos is amazing. I've mentioned this on every video, but you should cover Josh Homme at some point. And, Billy Corgan! I can't imagine how much work these videos take. But, just know these are seriously so helpful.

[@conqueror8attelkom]

the details you put on your lessons is amazing, like you can expose the dark sound perfectly

[@jimyounger9490]

Jerry Cantrell is definitely one of my heroes , like I mean one of the best !!

[@magic2506]

Always enjoy your videos. Simple and to the point, always.

[@Greg-rd8qr]

Awesome video! Jerry is amazing! Definitely an original player and great song writer! Now you should do a video on his tone, amps, guitars, thanks man

[@Mytro8533]

Thanks man. Great lesson! JoF n Dirt got me through some difficult times back then as well. Great albums.

[@offdutyjie]

Thank You for doing this bud Just subscribed! Jerry is such an underrated guitarist! Please do a Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age vid! Would love to see you tackle some of his desert rock stylings along with the Homme Scales!

[@ashrafrahman9392]

Please Please Please

[@sanssin344]

ive heard in an interview jerry saying all the bendy songs were layne, like angry chair was all him.

[@yaboiwarp]

Not at all. I also watched that interview with Lars. He referred to it in a context Layne writing Hate to Feel and Angry Chair as Duvall wrote his first bendy AiC song which is "So Far Under". Apart from those all the bendy Tony Iommi influenced AiC songs are written by Cantrell. Cantrell has expressed his love for Iommi's dark bends multiple times and he utilized that in a lot of AiC stuff.

[@EDAR96]

Layne only wrote Angry chair and hate to feel. He also said if anyone didn’t like his playing to blame Tom Morello as he’s the one who taught him to play

[@djhatgaysm420]

The only songs Layne wrote were Angry Chair, Head Creeps, and Hate To Feel. Jerry was saying in that interview that each member to write guitar ever for Alice In Chains have now written a bendy riff, since William wrote So Far Under. Jerry wrote PLENTY of bendy riffs with Alice.

[@Christian-vq8rd]

Jerry has talked about "Dirt" (the song) showing off his bends to a friend.

[@rmk6444]

There’s more than just that interview where Jerry talks about the songs Layne wrote. Angry Chair, Hate to Feel, Head Creeps..👌

[@HannahCope88]

I've been on an Alice In Chains kick this past week or so and I had to come and watch this video again. I've been listening to the Unplugged version of Nutshell a lot the past few days (it's probably my favourite song from their Unplugged set) and I finally tuned down my white Jackson Dinky so I could have a go at learning it a little bit. That Whale and Wasp ending to this video was just perfection, ugh it sounds so sad and so good at the same time.

[@davidyates8880]

KZbin did me a massive favour, as this video turned up in my recommended feed. Great video, and I subscribed. I'm in the same age group as Alice in Chains and have been into them since the start. I was fortunate to see them play live twice. The first time was on The Dirt Tour at Brixton Academy. They started with Nutshell, which they played backlit behind a curtain. Then the curtain went down and they went into A Little Bitter with the band behind the net and Layne caught in it. As luck would have it there's a video of the gig. Quality isn't great but.... It was an incredible gig, one of the best I've ever been to. Layne was an incredible singer and charismatic frontman. He even played an SG rhythm guitar on Angry Chair. I remember he used a combo, but I can't recall what it was, only that it was quite modest. Saw them again on the Black Gives Way to Blue tour, again at Brixton. It was really good, but I mourned for Layne to be totally honest. No disrespect to William (he's really good). It's just the uniqueness that Layne bought to the band. I've always loved Jerry's playing and his riffs. Anyway here's the KZbin link kzbin.info/www/bejne/m52Ukol8bMp9aqc

[@shawnclark1576]

Great lesson! Jar of flies is one of my all-time favorites. Please do a lesson on "Don't Follow".

[@tommyd1871]

The Riff Master!!!! The most underrated and unappreciated guitarist of all time. God bless you Jerry.

[@clayfisher_]

Rad lesson man 🙌🏻 Jerry is top 5 for me. Huge inspiration to my style of playing.

[@Locoandchooch]

First time I saw AIC they opened for Extreme, I was hooked immediately. Jerry’s style was super original and heavy. 👍🏼

[@Tognar]

One of my Jerry take-aways that I'm surprised you didn't mention is his preference for open chords over barre chords. Man in the Box chorus, for example, is all open chords. Most hardrock players would use barre chords in situations like that, which you see all the time when people cover the song. But with a killer tube amp, you get all the note separation and overtones on open chords, which just sounds super sick.

[@markcain460]

I was a huge Kings X fan because of Ty Tabor's use of Drop D tuning for that heavy sound. I hear a lot of this in Jerry's style of playing. It made me a big fan of AIC when Facelift broke. I would love it if you did some Kings X for a future lesson.

[@sburfordmusic996]

Wonderful video!! I love AIC and Jerry's guitar inspires me. I've never even tried to play much of their stuff though, so this is just fantastic to watch, I'm very inspired now!

[@theophany1770]

Right now I'm learning to play and sing MITB at the same time. Thanks so much for this lesson man!

[@r.joseph8911]

Heyyy I imagine you're a bit younger than I am, but YES you totally nail what I felt through my teens into 20s with everything from VH to early Metallica to Steve Vai/Tony MacAlpine/Joe Satriani to Soundgarden & ALICE..(I was 18 when Facelift came out, and a year or two before that I discovered the then "small" Seattle 'grunge' band Soundgarden...I 1000% appreciate you putting these videos together...I hope my kids today use this AMAZING music the same way we did to get through tough in challenging times in their lives...

[@one1sol]

So many tears, so much anguish was shed listening to Jar of Flies and Unplugged, sitting on the tailgate of my truck, staring at stars. On a lighter point, Kim Thayil’s playing was just as cathartic and chaotic as Jerry’s. If Jerry’s playing was the contemplation of grief and pain, Thayil’s sound was the resolve to act after the pain subsided.

[@riphopfer5816]

This was VERY welcome and informative. I liked Alice In Chains during my teens in the 90s, but as a guitarist I was much more into weird 70s acid rock like Blue Öyster Cult and Pink Floyd. Despite not being a big fan of the guy till my mid-30s, my guitar style evolved to sound-of all things-most like Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac (especially in some of his performances of what I consider his finest song with them, ‘I’m So Afraid’. Anyroad, in my early 30s I rediscovered Alice In Chains. This time, it was an entirely different experience. The first go ‘round, my life was primarily getting more and more interesting and exciting. By my late 20s, a lot of the things that once made me so excited and eager had turned out to be massive bummers. I was very successful with women, as I’d had an early puberty, and by the time I was 13 I could grow a full beard and I was tall and muscular. I was also a mad lad-like I said, into weird music, and into shamanism via mescaline and psilocybin mushrooms. I also was drinking every day by 16, at which point I graduated high school and moved out on my own. Women ended out disappointing me when I found TWO of whom (within 4 years of each other), whom I would have married. The first was unfaithful, the second clinically insane. After the second failed serious relationship, I had what felt like an endless chain of emotionally-numb one-night stands, all whilst developing into an hardcore alcoholic (though I was an happy drunk, which, being the miserable bag of shit I knew I was, made me wanted to stay drunk all the time, so no one would see how depressed I was. I added Dexedrine to the mix to keep me from slurring my words or stumbling around like a bum, and eventually I got sick of everything. I had become ill with adult-onset muscular dystrophy, which crept up on me, but after the first symptom I couldn’t somehow blame on my lifestyle occurred, it was a RAPID decline-mentally and physically. Now on top of my depression I was often so weak I could hardly do anything without outrageous pain…and I was working as a mix engineer in Nashville. One night the guitarist of the band I was recording had overheard me telling my boss (the owner of the studio AND our little indie label) that I’d probably need to quit soon, as the pain and weakness made it difficult for me to predict what days and times I’d be well enough that I could come in-and no matter how much he liked me he deserved someone more reliable. Now then, this guitarist, though, he popped into the control room whilst his bandmates were still tuning up, and my assistant was miking up the drums, etc., and said something along the lines of, ‘You look like life’s been slowly dripping a bathtub’s worth of liquid shit over you for the last few weeks.’ I laughed weakly and acknowledged that was well close to the truth. He said, ‘Neck and face pain, huh? I can see you trying not to squint your eye whilst clenching your jaw on the opposite side.’ ‘Youre pretty perceptive,’ I said. Long story short, he and his brother had been in a car crash together, and his brother came out of it with all kinds of weird damage to the nerves that controlled the muscles in the front and sides of his neck and face, as well as some of the muscles you never think about that cover your scalp, and the muscles that control your eyebrows, and even your eyelids. I had similar problems, and he sympathised, and asked if I thought I could relax a little and stop freakinfreakin out so much if he could help with the pain. Again-to the point, we went out to his van and he shot me up with heroin. It wasn’t my first time taking heroin; I’d snorted it a few times over the years, though I preferred the security of pharmaceuticals like Demerol or oxycodone. Heroin, unless you know your dealer VERY well, you’ve no real idea what’s in your smack apart from smack, and this is long before anybody had heard of fentanyl. The point is, upon rediscovering AIC, I’d been through the wringer, and everything about them connected to me. The lyrics, the heavy bass and unique rhythms, Layne’s vocals and-Moreso-the harmonies between Jerry and Layne. How I hadn’t picked up on it as an adolescent I don’t know, because no matter what else changed, I loved playing guitar and I was obsessed with music, and in my 30s, I realised that Jerry and Layne had been my generation’s Lennon and McCartney. My guitar style’s changed a lot since my adolescence: I’ve tucked a little more advanced theory and technique under my belt between ~age 30 and today (I’m in my 40s). I’m no longer obsessed with playing fast; I’ll take a slow but melodic song over a fast song full of clichéd riffs that I’ve heard a thousand time just rearranged in a different order. In my teens I would push out my angst playing thrash metal (mostly Metallica and Megadeth), and then when life was more pleasant (read: I had a good buzz going off of some quality weed or some of my psychedelics (I lived in a small town in the South during those years, so my FAVOURITE trip, LSD, couldn’t be found. I ordered mescaline capsules from a cousin of a friend out in Arizona (or maybe New Mexico?), or would occasionally go hunting for ‘magic’ mushrooms on the heaps of cow shit in the cattle breeding farms just outside the town. Either way, when I was tripping, I loved all that weird 70s music I to,d you about. I was also deeply into the Doors, and Pink Floyd, and anything that created a sense of a connection to my Shadow Self. Now, in my 40s, my favourite guitarists are still: No. 1…Buck Dharma (Blue Öyster Cult) No. 2…Mark Knopfler (especially on Dire Straits’ first 2 records No. 3…Jerry Cantrell (in some ways, similar to Buck Dharma: the interweaving of classic blues techniques with eerie, mystical-sounding Dorian- and Phrygian-dominant riffs. No. 4: Lindsey Buckingham (If my personal style completely coincidentally favours his, that’s nothing to be worried about; the man is brilliant, and is one of the most emotive players I know. I’ve thus developed an entirely new appreciation for his style, And, since it gels so well with mine, I figure it couldn’t hurt to learn some of the techniques that make his solos so hypnotic.

[@ggerein]

been listening to them since i was 14 still rock them all the time. sweet video and playing!

[@dinorocker8647]

Well on Rooster, Cantrell used a Chorale Flange effect, probably an MXR Flanger, 'cause at the time that was probably the one folks went for instead of the older flangers that came before.

[@mikejones-vd3fg]

Cool breakdown on their unique sound, lot of 90's guitarist were comming up with some epic sounds with a minimalist approach it seems, stone temple pilots was another that comes to mind. Gotta love the chords of the 90's

[@MusicTeacherGuyNorristown]

Rain When I Die is the best. AIC opened for Slayer and Anthrax and Megadeth on the Clash of the Titans tour in 1990. I was there! Whee! Right, Mike?

[@tommythompson7941]

Awesome. Thank you dude! I love Jerry and AIC man. Great music and poetry. Like a 1990s Doors.

[@matteocoda6368]

Cantrell was easily the most creative guitar player in all grunge. He basically created a grunge style and set the template for all post grunge. Not to mention the influence he had on nu metal. Also... He is no Dimebag Darrel but I think he CAN shred his way too if required.

[@migueljimenez1939]

Thanks for putting this together. I am in a job trip, but I don't see the time I get back home to include some of these techniques to my playing. Keep with this great work!!!

[@redlettervagrant1159]

Jerry is such a good song writer, guitar and lyrics.

[@adolfoagudelo8462]

This video series of guitarist techniks are so amazing! Thanks!

[@thefakengx3839]

I love how he prefers rhythm over lead my type of guy 😎😄

[@OKaFee]

Awesome video - I've always like Jerry's style but this analysis has given me a new respect for him! Gonna try some of these out...

[@Steve-te8mi]

Definitely my favorite guitarist/songwriter etc. Great lesson. I don't know of any other group that captures emotion as melodically as AIC has, although mostly shadow & melancholy.

[@hammer033]

Loved this video. This guy really points out what makes Cantrell amazing. I never felt comfortable trying playing his stuff until watching this. Thank you

[@hammer033]

oh PS, Sap is amazing. don't forget about it :)

[@sonicinsights]

Amazing video thanks! This was exactly what I have been looking for. Love your teaching style. Subscribed!

[@james_d_eaton]

I've been working on my legato purely to play Nutshell. Love that song. Great video, just subscribed.

[@MarshallRJacskon]

For me I don't have a go to album, but I have a go to band and it's always Alice In Chains. They have been since 2016 and they will always be my favorite band.

[@x--LeethaL--x]

AiC aka the best!! Jerry is always left out of the top guitarist. Let's see people emulate him!!! RIP Layne!!! ❤🖤❤🖤

[@GypsyRain42]

I saw them open for Van Halen in '91. Great video man!

[@zikaj]

I feel like I'm on a bad first date and you won't focus on me. Please look at me, Mike. Please stop looking away! Great vid, man. I've been on an AIC kick lately and this is a great recommendation from the YT Matrix!

[@paradox_event]

Thank you, Mike

[@VelvetWasted]

Super cool lesson! I really enjoy your stuff:)

[@redblock3223]

this is a great video btw. im 5 years behind but hell yeah

[@CharlieBoy360]

Your best video yet. Thank you.

[@albertschaf6985]

Angry Chair was the first song I learned by ear on guitar. I knew what the notes are but i never knew why it sounded so evil. Now I do 🤘🤘

[@n2ogames2022]

11:30 Rush's 'Cygnus X-1 Book II Hemispheres' also uses this chord but in E standard, it's literally the first thing you hear when you play the song

[@adikickass84]

Awesome. Thanks for doing this. All hail the Rifflord!