"Painkiller" (Judas Priest) Solo Transcription & Lesson/Analysis
Added 2024-02-18 18:12:41 +0000 UTCIt's one of my missions as part of the Guitar School to accurately transcribe all famous and highly requested Metal guitar solos, so that you guys have peace of mind when learning them and don't have to deal with dubious online tabs.
Next on the list is the legendary solo from "Painkiller" by Judas Priest!
This was an especially tricky one to transcribe due to the very sloppy nature of the playing (as well as relatively poor recording quality) but I made it work and managed to get a complete transcription down which is at least 95% accurate to the original.
This solo is completely unhinged and features a variety of sweeping licks, crazy whammy bar dives, HUGE bends and lots of pretty big position shifts. Plenty to keep you busy here!
Good luck and don't forget to share your progress with everyone in the Discord server!
0:00 Playthrough
1:26 Intro
4:50 Intro sweeps
13:21 Bars 1-4
15:49 Bars 5-8
20:24 Bars 9-12
25:08 Bars 13-14
26:53 Bars 15-17
32:00 Bars 18-22
39:08 Bars 23-26
42:30 Bars 27-30
44:38 Bars 31-34
45:26 Bars 35-36
Comments
So glad I found this, just subscribed for this song really but I can see already that I am going to learn a hell of a lot more here. I have never been into Sweep picking, but I need to learn it for this song. You say here I should have at least an intermediate level so I hope you have some other lessons on here I can find to get me spun up or at least in the right direction. Thanks for this in depth lesson!
Hank Askin
2024-11-23 00:15:04 +0000 UTCI'm not even on this level to play this but now I know for the future
Joel Orlando Morello
2024-10-07 14:22:36 +0000 UTCHaha yup can absolutely do it on 24!
Bradley Hall
2024-10-07 11:12:05 +0000 UTCI was just looking for the 2 step bend on 22 cause I thought my string is definitely going to break,but then you said that i could do it at 24 and i was Calmed. Thanks
Joel Orlando Morello
2024-10-06 21:07:58 +0000 UTCHey Bradley so i need help with the second set of sweeps cause im finding them a lot more challenging than the first set, specifically when it goes all the way to 19 on the lower string it feels super painful trying to do that, any advice? Because im learning to play this standing up and this one sweep actually feels impossible to do standing up
PhantumMagnus
2024-07-12 00:21:48 +0000 UTCNice job, love you do Riot Thundersteel song, it was isnpare for Judas to write Painkiller. Shine on
Janez Mihevc
2024-05-27 17:57:59 +0000 UTCEventually probably yes!
Bradley Hall
2024-05-24 16:17:13 +0000 UTCAny chance you could tab more of Glenn's solos from Painkiller in the future? I'd kill to see his leads on Metal Meltdown tabbed correctly.
Phil Gentry
2024-05-24 03:05:15 +0000 UTCYeah he actually plays the solo very incorrectly compared to the original tbh haha
Bradley Hall
2024-05-16 21:52:44 +0000 UTCEven Richie plays part of the ending legato run wrong. Crazy. His fingers may be too short to do it how Glenn did though I'm guessing.
Phil Gentry
2024-05-16 19:11:49 +0000 UTCGreat solo, thanks
Tom Behr
2024-02-24 20:09:49 +0000 UTCI’ve already learned this solo but apparently I played the opening sweep wrong so thanks so much, it’s a fun one!
Miles Barsness
2024-02-21 16:53:05 +0000 UTCThanks bro, I will most def' try ! <3
CLEM
2024-02-20 17:23:12 +0000 UTCIncreased hand strength comes naturally with experience and lots of playing but there's a couple of things you can do to help. When doing big stretches ensure the thumb on your fretting hand is allll the way round the back of the neck - your fretting fingers should be basically parallel to the fret wire. Also it can help to rotate your first finger ever so slightly so you're almost fretting it with the side of your finger - this gives your pinky some extra reach. Hope these tips help man, good luck!
Bradley Hall
2024-02-20 00:29:52 +0000 UTCI'm sure it'll only be a matter of time before you're on this dude!
Bradley Hall
2024-02-20 00:27:35 +0000 UTCHey Bradley, thanks for the lesson even tho I'm not capable playing this hahaha. Little question for you : you don't seem to have very big hands, how do you manage to stretch those 14-17-21 ?? To give you an idea, my maximum is like 12 to 18 and I'm having SUPER HARD TIMES to get to 19 on e string. Thanks for your help :)
CLEM
2024-02-19 12:14:03 +0000 UTCI have been looking for a good transcription for this one for a lon time! thanks Bradley!!!!
Johan Morales
2024-02-19 05:14:16 +0000 UTCOh fuck yes! Thank you so fuckn much for this! 😍
Stihl Savvy
2024-02-18 21:12:39 +0000 UTCCheers Bradley for this you f-ing legend!!! 🤘
Anthony
2024-02-18 19:15:21 +0000 UTCBradley! Thanks for this one man, I will for sure be working on this in the future once my sweeps get better!
aidenf
2024-02-18 18:17:06 +0000 UTC
