'St Anger' by Metallica - Guitar Tutorial

            Metallica: St. Anger - Track 02 - St. Anger

To work out St. Anger, I used a pair of headphones that completely cover 
the ears. The sound is much easier to hear. I’ve worked out what I think 
is pretty close to the way they play it (the only performance I’ve seen 
them play it in is on the DVD which comes with the CD).

The way I’ve arranged which bars the notes go into is the timing I used 
when working out the song with a Guitar and a Midi arrangement (written 
in 4/4) at a tempo of 187. After a few minutes of fiddling around I got 
the tuning right and started nutting out the easy parts. If you want 
the Midi I used to work it out, email me (For details, see the bottom).

To work out the verse (the quiet part with the 2 acoustic guitars), I took 
off 1 side of the headphones (for eg. the right one). This way, in the 
left headphone everything could be heard except the guitar coming from 
the right headphone. Same with the other one.

If you;re not sure where something fits in, look where I’ve written 
CD: xx:xx. This will tell you what time on the track that part occurs.

~  - Let ring (or Tremelo Pick if you want)
p  - Pull off
x  - Dead String
[] - Continued Note from Last Bar
=  - Staccato

Tuning: Drop 1 Whole Step (C;G;C;F;A;D) Drop String 6 another whole step (to C).
Timing: Fast, 187
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Intro Part 1 - Single Guitar
Distorted Electric - James (Guitar 1)

D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G|-----------------|---------3-3-3---|-----------------|---------3-3-3---|
C|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2---------|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2---------|

D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G|-----------------|---------3-3-3---|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2---------|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1p0-x-----------|

D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-----------------|---------3-3-3---|-----------------|---------3-3-3---|
G|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2-3-3-3---|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2-3-3-3---|
C|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2---------|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2---------|

D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-----------------|---------3-3-3---|-----------------|---------3-3-3---|
G|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2-3-3-3---|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2-3-3-3---|
C|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2---------|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2---------|

D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-----------------|---------3-3-3---|-----------------|---------3-3-3---|
G|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2-3-3-3---|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2-3-3-3---|
C|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2---------|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2---------|

D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-----------------|---------3-3-3---|-----------------|---------3-3-3---|
G|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2-3-3-3---|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2-3-3-3---|
C|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2---------|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2---------|
/// Guitar 1
 Guitar 2
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---------3-3-3---|
G|-----------------|-----------------|---------2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2-3-3-3---|
C|-----------------|-----------------|---------2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2---------|

Then for the next 25 seconds this riff is played by both guitars with 
various drumming styles over the top. Repeat 4 times and play the riff 
below it.

D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-----------------|---------3-3-3---|-----------------|---------3-3-3---|
G|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2-3-3-3---|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2-3-3-3---|
C|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2---------|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2---------|
/// Guitar 1 (Play 4x)
 Guitar 2 (Play 4x)
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-----------------|---------3-3-3---|-----------------|---------3-3-3---|
G|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2-3-3-3---|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2-3-3-3---|
C|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2---------|-0-1-2-0-2p1-0-2p|-1-0-1-2---------|
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
D|-------------------------|
A|-------------------------|
F|-------------------------|
C|-------------------------|
G|-2p1-0-2p1-0-2p1-0-2p1-0-|
C|-2p1-0-2p1-0-2p1-0-2p1-0-|
/// Guitar 1
 Guitar 2
D|-------------------------|
A|-------------------------|
F|-------------------------|
C|-------------------------|
G|-2p1-0-2p1-0-2p1-0-2p1-0-|
C|-2p1-0-2p1-0-2p1-0-2p1-0-|

That last bit got confusing when putting in the bars so I left the bar 
lines out.
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Verse - Two Guitars
Clean Electric - James  (Guitar 1 - Picked)
Clean Electric - Kirk   (Guitar 2 - Picked)
CD: 0:56

To have the best effect, make sure both guitars are played at the exact 
same time (half the reason I’ve written the Tab with both guitars next to 
each other). Each note is written in direct line with the opposing guitar 
to make it easy. If you’re having trouble putting the rhythm in this part, 
try playing Kirk’s part and try the headphone thing I mentioned above.

D|-----------------|-------------1---|-0---------------|-----------------|
A|-------------1---|----3~~~~~~~~~~~~|--------1--------|-----------------|
F|--------2--------|-----------------|-------------2-~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
C|-0~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~[0]~~~~~~~~~~~~~|-----------------|-----------------|
G|-----------------|-----------------|-3~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|-1~~~~~~~0~~~~~~~|
C|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
/// Guitar 1
 Guitar 2
D|-------------2---|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|--------3--------|----3~~~~~~~~~~~~|--------1----3~~~|~[3]~3-------3---|
F|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-0~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~[0]~~~~~~~~~~~~~|-----------------|-----------------|
G|-----------------|-----------------|-3~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|-1~~~~~~~0~~~~~~~|
C|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
   C                 C                 Bb                G#      G
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Chorus - Two Guitars
Distorted Electric - James  (Guitar 1 - Picked)
Distorted Electric - Kirk   (Guitar 2 - Picked)
CD: 1:17

Alright, for this part, the lead over the top (very faint) can also be 
played as 1/8 notes to go along with the rhythm.

D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-|-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-|-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-3-3-3-3-2-2-2-2-|
G|-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|-1-1-1-1-0-0-0-0-|
C|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
/// Guitar 1
 Guitar 2
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-7~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|-5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|-3~~~~~~~2~~~~~~~|
C|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
   C                 C                 Bb                G#      G

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Chorus End - Two Guitars
Distorted Electric - James  (Guitar 1 - Picked)
Distorted Electric - Kirk   (Guitar 2 - Picked)
CD: 1:38

Once again, the lead can also be played as 1/8 notes. After playing 
this section, repeat the chorus again.

D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-----------------|-----------------|-5---------------|-3-------2-------|
C|-7---------------|-----------------|-5---------------|-3-------2-------|
G|-5---------------|-0-0=----0-0=----|-3---------------|-1-------0-------|
C|-0---------------|-0-0=----0-0=----|-----------------|-----------------|
/// Guitar 1         D#                A#                G#      G
 Guitar 2
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-----------------|-----------------|-5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|-----------------|
C|-5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|-[5]~~~~~~~~~~~~~|-----------------|-8~~~~~~~7~~~~~~~|
G|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
D|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-7---------------|-----------------|
G|-5---------------|-0-0=----0-0=----|
C|-0---------------|-0-0=----0-0=----|
/// Guitar 1
 Guitar 2
D|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|-----------------|
G|-----------------|-0-0=----0-0=----|
C|-----------------|-0-0=----0-0=----|
   F                 D#

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Chorus End 2 - Two Guitars
Distorted Electric - James  (Guitar 1 - Picked)
Distorted Electric - Kirk   (Guitar 2 - Picked)
CD: 2:31

After playing all of the above, there will be another part which is played 
and then it goes back to the intro. Both guitars are playing the same riff.

D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-7---------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G|-5---------------|-0-0=----0-0=----|-0-0=----0-0=----|
C|-0---------------|-0-0=----0-0=----|-0-0=----0-0=----|
   F                 G#                G#

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Ending - Two Guitars
Distorted Electric - James  (Guitar 1 - Picked)
Distorted Electric - Kirk   (Guitar 2 - Picked)
CD: 7:20

Both guitars are playing the same part.

D|-----------------|
A|-----------------|
F|-----------------|
C|-7=--------------|
G|-5=--------------|
C|-0=--------------|

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Intro (Kirk Interview version)

Here is an ***Official*** way of playing the intro. “Use only down stroke picking”.
This is the way Kirk explains how to play it in an interview with Guitar World.

Part I
D|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-----------------|-----------------|
G|-----------------|-----------3-3-3-|
C|-0-1-2-2-1-2-1-0-|-2-1-0-1-1-------|

Part II
D|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|
F|-----------------|-----------------|
C|-----------------|---------3-3-3-3-|
G|-0-1-2-1-2-1-0-1-|-2-0-1-2-3-3-3-3-|
C|-0-1-2-1-2-1-0-1-|-2-0-1-2---------|

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Wow that took a while -.- Enjoy!

Send Any *Comments* or *Opinions* to 

Why not visit www.metallicaworldz.cjb.net (my site) for more 
of the latest info and tabs? Feel free to link to me (and let me know).

Email me for the Midi I used when working out the song.

Also by me and coming (at this time):
- Anya (Deep Purple)
- Nothing Else Matters (S&M)
- Fuel
- Enter Sandman (Coming)