ASHES IN YOUR MOUTH Megadeth Guitar TAB | Cover | Lesson | Tutorial

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Happy new year to you all! Here are a few notes about how I wrote the tab for this epic song: I used three different live videos to check the proper spots on the neck and fingerings for all the riffs and solos. For the intro riff, I always see the little descending chromatic part of the riff tabbed differently. This little chromatic descent from D to B can be heard and seen properly in this live video: Megadeth - Ashes In Your Mouth (Live In New York 2008). This chromatic lick is actually a call for the massive chromatic riff that makes the transition between the intro and the main riff. Let's move on to the main riff. There is a video called Dave Mustaine Guitar Lesson where Dave explains the riff in detail. You can observe the proper upstrokes and downstrokes (that I wrote on the tab) and the cool slide from open E to G that gives it that special sound. Note that there are two subtly different versions of this riff in the song. What changes between those two versions is the palm muting pattern. The last time the riff is played towards the end of the song, the riff is played with more palm muted notes, which makes it sound even heavier. For the verse riff, there isn't much to say apart from the fact that the official songbook tabbed it the wrong way. You can see where Dave plays it on the neck in this video: Megadeth - Ashes in Your Mouth - Live - Hammersmith Apollo 1992. For the chorus, I observed that Dave has been changing the way he plays it in more recent live performances, probably to play it in a way that moves less on the neck so that he can sing without checking the guitar. I decided to tab it the way he plays it in the closest live performance I could find to the release of the record. I wrote it and played it the way Dave and Marty played it in the 1992 live at Hammersmith Apollo in London. I used the same live performance for the post-chorus riff. For Marty's solos, I checked two live videos: The 1992 live at Hammersmith Apollo where you can observe the fingerings of the fast licks but some parts were missing so I found another video called Megadeth - 1993 - Ashes in your Mouth where I managed to see the missing pieces of the puzzle. In the second live video, the footage is of lower quality but you can clearly see where Marty's hands go on the neck. For Dave's solo, the spot on the neck and fingerings can be seen in the live at Hammersmith Apollo. I noted that Mustaine isn't using his pinky for the stretch so I played it the same way. I tabbed the twin-guitar harmony the way Dave and Marty played it at Hammersmith Apollo. I hope you'll appreciate the effort I put into making the proper research to provide you with the best tab possible that this song deserves. If you like my work, consider becoming a Patron and get access to all the tabs in pdf and Guitar Pro file as well as the backing track videos. Cheers and rock n roll my friends 🤘

[@Sergio2006A]

Best song on CTE. Lots of super cool riffs. Lots of fun to play. Thanks for your work.

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@Sergio2006A you’re welcome and I agree. I’d even go as far as saying it is one of Megadeth’s best songs. The songwriting and the solos are absolute genius in this one 🤘

[@shelbyavant5081]

Whoa, guys! Easy, there. We all know This Was My Life holds the title!😅😅😅

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

This Was My Life is an awesome song with really killer riffs too, that is true. 🤘

[@polarisrustinpeace1797]

Fuck yeah. With ease

[@Bogeyman19DidNotScareMyAss]

@@shelbyavant5081I love that one too but Ashes is much more difficult to play. Both killer songs to me though.

[@Maggai]

Sounds spot on! The attention to detail is damn good. Love both those guitars! Also, this song is so damn good!

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@Maggai thanks, man. Those two guitars are the dream, I’m not gonna lie. I feel lucky and honored to be playing such an epic song on these legendary guitars 🤘

[@somethingelse04]

One of Megadeth's best songs. Shame its not played live anymore

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Agreed. It is up there with their best songs. The riffs, solos and the whole structure of this tune are so intricate yet they flow so perfectly 🤘

[@matthewmckinney9348]

You try singing over that lol I don't know how Dave does his stuff live sometimes.

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Yeah, Dave’s got a ton of talent and skills for days. Singing his parts and playing those riffs simultaneously actually is a great exercise to practice rhythm independence.

[@polarisrustinpeace1797]

It can still bring out the goosebumps after all these years. Excellent shredding. Awesome tribute as well. Thanks.

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Thanks 🙏 Glad you like the video. Nice profile pic and user name 🤘

[@polarisrustinpeace1797]

@THEDAILYRIFF thank you Sir. I'm a bit of a fan. As amazing as the guitars are on this song, there's something about Dave's voice on this one that is just absolutely diabolical. Excellent choice.

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@polarisrustinpeace1797 yes, Dave sounds evil as hell on this one, I agree. I’ve always found it amazing that they kept such a great song for the end. What a way to end a masterpiece. 🤘

[@Locknar77]

Well done sir! Haven't thought about playing this one in a while, but I can still recall seeing it tabbed incorrectly in many places. Kudos on your attention to detail.

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Thank you 🙏 It is a great one to jam. You’re right about seeing wrong tabs for this one. Even the official songbook that I bought when I was a teenager was wrong in many spots. I love making all this research and giving those songs justice. I’m glad you appreciate my work. Thanks for watching 🤘

[@sixstringslayaguitarman419]

Hell yeah!!!! Masterpiece right there! Killer playing, excellent tab! One of my top 5 fav Megadeth songs. I'm still joining your Patreon, probably end of this month or next when I start a new job. You're making some top level tabs especially Megadeth! I'd love to see you tackle some of the older stuff as well like, GM/Black Friday, Bad Omen, Mary Jane, The Conjuring, Skull Beneath the Skin, KIMB etc. Not many good lessons out there for those. I can finally learn AIYM proper now. And great notes! You've done your research. Makes your tabs all the better!

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Thanks, man. I’ll get into older Megadeth tracks at some point. I got a lot of heavy stuff coming this year and from other bands of the same period too. I’ll treat every song as carefully as I did for this one. There’s no shortcut for it, as you saw it in my notes. Thanks for watching and see you soon in the comments section 🤘

[@jamesforrest7637]

Excellent job all around; from production to playing. Nice work!

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@jamesforrest7637 thank you very much 🙏 Glad you like the effort I put into this video 🤘

[@cattycats4]

great video, going to learn it later

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Thank you 🙏 This is a great song to jam 🤘

[@anthonynery7492]

Great video mate! Even with matching guitars from respective Dave and Marty nice touch! Cheers best regards and God bless 🙌

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Thanks, man 🙏 Playing this with those two legendary guitars was like a childhood dream come true.

[@perfectshave85]

Very cool. That opening riff is a killer. Always had trouble with the quick 5-4-3-2.

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Thanks. That riff and all the following ones in this song are pure gold. I love it when records end on a very strong track. There’s a little trick to get those chromatic runs clean. You can try to reeeally slightly palm mute it. You don’t want it to choke like an actual palm muted note but having your palm just lightly touching the strings near the bridge will clean it up 🤘

[@pano_kato80]

One of my favourites songs of MEGADETH!!!!Good work and pretty good sound man,keep it up🤘👍 and HAPPY NEW YEAR 🎊

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Thank you very much! Happy new year to you too 🤘

[@cc_1983]

Unreal! I can’t wait to get stuck into this! Unreal song! Great work. Some awesome riffing and very technical

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@cc_1983 thank you 🙏 it is a truly awesome song to jam. One of Megadeth’s finest moments in my opinion 🤘

[@BrianJRocheMusic]

Wow Man, awesome job here, one of the most underrated Deth songs from the era.

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Thank you 🙏 This song is on a whole different level, right? It’s almost like prog-Megadeth 🤘

[@BrianJRocheMusic]

@@THEDAILYRIFF totally agree, the harmonies are amazing

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Yeah, the harmonies, the 5/8 and 7/8 bars on the main riff, the unusual song structure. They went full on technical for this one.

[@michael4591]

Sweet KV Pro OMG

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@michael4591 thanks, man. My holy grail guitar 🙏

[@lynchie137]

Awesome! My fave song off that album. Thanks for transcribing it out

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

You’re welcome! I always had a soft spot for this song too even though the whole album is a masterpiece. Glad you’re enjoying the video 🤘

[@Mage_Goat]

You have both the Dave AND the Marty signatures now?! This is so flipping cool. I remember asking about your KV1, and being stunned seeing the Grover Jackson Kelly. Talk about album accuracy!

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@Mage_Goat hey, man. Thanks for your comment. The Marty Friedman KE-1 was lent to me by a friend for this video. It truly is an incredible guitar. I remember your comment about Dave’s guitar and my Grover Jackson Kelly 👍 thanks for watching 🤘

[@MABMGuitar]

I remember buying this album when it came out, and this was the only song that really grabbed me. This is a great version, man.

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Thanks a lot. Ashes In Your Mouth is indeed a sacred masterpiece. I’m glad you’re enjoying the video 🤘

[@shelbyavant5081]

Bro. This Was My Life Foreclosure of a Dream Countdown

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Skin O’ My Teeth and literally every track and every second on this record are sonically perfect🤘

[@whiskmo5777]

C'était trop bien j'étais hypnotisé !

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Merci, mec ! Ça fait plaisir 🙏 🤘

[@keithstone7323]

Vid came up in my feed. One of my favorite MD songs. You earned a sub for this. Cheers!

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@keithstone7323 Thank you 🙏 Welcome to the channel! Ashes In Your Mouth is up there among my favorite Megadeth songs as well! 🤘

[@keithstone7323]

@@THEDAILYRIFF 🤘🤘

[@Mete_corleone]

Great work man!

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@Mete_corleone thank you 🙏

[@karlsracing8422]

Learned this in 93' out the Megadeth book!

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Hi 👋 Nice! I bought the « official » songbook too when I was a teenager. I still have it. Like all those Cherry Lane Music published tabs, the book is full of mistakes because the transcribers back then didn’t have all the tools we have now to check for very accurate notes and fingerings. I wrote down a note in the comments section that explains how I wrote my tab accurately. Have fun relearning this the way Dave and Marty actually played it. Thanks for watching 🤘

[@victorortega2003]

Most underrated song....

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

It’s really nice to see some love for this song in the comments. It’s always been one of my favorites 🤘

[@MohamadZaidi007]

Super cool execution.Subs.

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Thank you very much and cheers for subbing 🙏 🤘

[@TannerForster]

BEEN WAITING FOR THIS THANK YOU

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@TannerForster you’re welcome ! Enjoy 🤘

[@evilchris22]

Really really good! Amazing as always!

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Thank you very much. Glad you’re enjoying the new video 🤘

[@MystikJay]

Super poto! Ça envoit du steak ! Grosse biz et bon debut d'année 😘!

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@MystikJay merci mon pote 🙏 bonne année à vous aussi !

[@KARAYAmetal]

Wowww Fantastic!! 5 stars

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Thank you 🙏 🤘

[@Glocktologist]

I got into Megadeth when Youthanasia was released and I saw the lame censored ads on TV. Pretty soon I heard Countdown to Extinction and and there was no turning back. No Megadeth album before or since has hit me so hard. CTE was the peak of Mustaine’s playing and composition skills while retaining a hard edge and tempo. I have a classical music background and appreciate the precision of every note from Skin O’ My Teeth all the way to Ashes In Your Mouth. But it doesn’t sound robotic, just very skilled players who rehearsed countless hours to get it right and then some more to make it sound effortless. I’m often a fan of the less popular tracks on any album, like Double Talkin’ Jive and Locomotive on the GN’R UYI double, or Disposable Heroes on Metallica’s MoP. Ashes In Your Mouth is the hidden gem on CTE.

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

I agree with pretty much everything you said here. Even though I have a strong nostalgic love for Youthanasia, CTE is sonically perfect in every possible way. The band and Max Norman produced an outstanding record that stood the test of time. I’ve been a huge Megadeth fan since 1995. The first big show I attended was Megadeth in 1997 and it left a mark on my musician’s heart forever. I also am a music fan in general and I enjoy listening/playing different styles but I always come back to my first love which is all the classic metal records I grew up learning guitar with. Hope to read you again in the comments section 🤘

[@pacorik]

Stunning guitar, very hard to find used❤️

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Thank you 🙏 This guitar means the world to me. It is the guitar that Dave was playing at the first concert I ever attended back in 1997. It took me over a decade of active searching to find it. I’m glad you appreciate how rare and beautiful this piece of history is 🤘

[@ricosalvaje5802]

Damn good cover. Im subbing.

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Thank you very much 🙏 I really appreciate that 🤘

[@beatsbytes2346]

Awesome! Thanks man!

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@beatsbytes2346 thank you and you’re welcome 🤘

[@luisbonnin2658]

Great cover

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@luisbonnin2658 thank you 🙏 🤘

[@Nuclearassault85]

Epic! Men !

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@Nuclearassault85 thanks 🙏

[@reganmacneilexorcist]

Jackson Guitars 💯💯🤘🤘

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@reganmacneilexorcist It’s in my blood 🤘

[@reganmacneilexorcist]

@THEDAILYRIFF me 2 only Guitars I play 💯💯🤘🤘

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

🤘 🤘

[@Nuclearassault85]

Muy bueno! Hombre

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Muchas gracias 🙏 🤘

[@dennismarin2351]

What a great way to start 2025!! 🎉

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@dennismarin2351 have a great metal year 🤘

[@billyhiggins1908]

Hell yeah🤣🎶✨🎸🎵

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

🤘

[@thelolguy007]

🤘🤘🤘

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@thelolguy007 🤘 🤘

[@elgatorockanrolero5282]

Hello thanks for this great leason, can you help me to analyze your gear to get closer to your tone? I presume that you used the Seymour duncan in the bridge position of the Jackson V, but what amp and effects do you use? Thank you!

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Hi, I use different gear depending on the tone I’m trying to achieve but I can tell you what I used for this video. I used the bridge position for everything, it’s the same Seymour Duncan TB-4 in both the KV Pro and the KE-1. I sometimes use amp sims but here I used a real tube amp, an H&K Tubemeister 18 connected to my audio interface straight from the Red Box (an internal D.I. that is at the back of the amp). That’s for the dry saturated tone. Then the effects come from my DAW. For the rhythm guitars, I added some compression and EQ. For Marty and Dave’s leads, I also added a bit of reverb and a touch of delay. For the twin-guitar harmony, I used the lead tone but I rolled down the tone knob a bit to keep the tone smooth and avoid having scorching high frequencies. I hope this will help you out. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have more questions. 🤘

[@elgatorockanrolero5282]

@THEDAILYRIFF you're such a legend, thanks for taking the time and the great explanation! Keep rocking 🤘

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@elgatorockanrolero5282 no problem, man. I love sharing all things music 🤘

[@noel0004]

Is that a MF signature Kelly? Where did you even get one of those? That's one of the dopest guitars I've seen!

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Hi 👋 yes, that is a Marty Friedman KE-1. It was lent to me by a friend. It did feel surreal to play this on that amazing guitar.

[@noel0004]

@ Wow, it looks stunning! They have to re-release this series

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Yeah, it is one of my favorite Jackson guitars ever made.

[@noel0004]

@@THEDAILYRIFFHow would you say a Kelly feels to hold, it’s quite an odd shape

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

It’s pretty much like a thinner explorer. It is very comfortable to play when you’re sitting and when you’re standing they’re fine too. I have two Kellys and they’re both great to play. Also, the cool thing with kellys and explorers is that your right forearm can rest nicely on the guitar body when you’re doing fast downstrokes on rhythm.

[@jcalzada74]

Did you replaced the Floyd rose for a gotoh .??

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@jcalzada74 hi 👋 which guitar are you talking about, the Mustaine or the Friedman? The bridges are stock, they’re Kahler fixed bridges (what Dave and Marty were using back then). Marty never used floyds and Dave was using Kahler bridges on everything except for a few songs like Reckoning Day where he needed a whammy bar so he was using a modified KV Pro Cherry Burst with a gold floyd rose. Nice profile pic. 🤘

[@jcalzada74]

@THEDAILYRIFF didn't know there were factory I thought you replaced them on both guitars both look awesome

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Yeah, those guitars were built on the actual same specs as what Dave and Marty were using. They are incredible guitars but sadly really hard to find now. There is a black KV Pro for sale right now on Reverb with the same Kahler bridge if you’re ready to spend the cash.

[@jcalzada74]

@THEDAILYRIFF yeah I did check it out $ 5k

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

Yes. Not cheap but considering what it is, it’s not a bad price. Also the seller accepts offers. But yeah, you won’t find a 1990s Jackson Mustaine signature model for 2k.

[@ChristelleFEVRE-d9n]

Really stunning but disheartening for me !!! Better cancel my guitar lesson 😉 Not my "cup of tea", I'm more like of JBT !!! Je n'arrive même pas à suivre la tab, sauf la partie où tu joues que le gros Mi à vide Vraiment impressionnant... Pense à te calmer maintenant, un ou deux morceaux de John, bien groovy non?? 😁 Vincent

[@THEDAILYRIFF]

@@ChristelleFEVRE-d9n thanks for your kind words, Vincent! Don’t get discouraged by this. It’s just music after all and you could play this with some work. It’s all about slowing down every part and working your way up till you get it right. It’s alright if this kind of music isn’t your jam, I totally get it 👌 I love John Butler, I love Megadeth and many more artists. As long as the music is interesting and inspiring, I’m all for it! À très vite ✌️

[@MaximusAdonicus]

-How much gain do u want? -Yes. The tone sounded like an AliExpress guitar thru the cheapest amp possible 🙉