Arch Enemy โ Bury Me an Angel
Melodic Death Metal Rhythm Precision
Difficulty: Intermediate
Tuning: Standard (B)
Focus: Alternate picking โข palm muting โข melodic aggression
This lesson breaks down the core rhythm guitar techniques behind ‘Bury Me an Angel’ โ focusing on tight alternate picking, controlled palm muting, and melodic phrasing that remains aggressive without becoming sloppy.
WHAT THIS LESSON TEACHES
๐ฏ Skill Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will:
-
Maintain picking clarity at higher tempos
-
Control palm muting without choking notes
-
Transition cleanly between open and muted phrases
-
Lock melodic riffs tightly to the groove
This is a foundational melodic death metal rhythm skillset โ not just one song.
COMMON MISTAKES (THIS IS HUGE)
โ ๏ธ Watch Out For:
- Over-muting (kills the melody)
- Excessive pick depth (slows speed)
- Tension in the forearm stresses the arm, so it can’t hold the position for very long.
- Rushing transitions between phrases
These mistakes are why this riff sounds messy for many players, even after weeks of practice
TABS & DOWNLOADS
๐ Downloads
Guitar Pro (.gp) file
Arch Enemy-Bury Me An Angel Free Tab
Slow-tempo practice version
๐ Download Tabs & Practice Files
PRACTICE PROTOCOL
๐ง How to Practice This Riff
Step 1: Start at 70% tempo
Step 2: Loop 4 bars at a time
Step 3: Focus on right-hand consistency
Step 4: Increase tempo in 5 BPM steps
โฑ๏ธ Daily time: 10โ15 minutes overall
๐ฏ Goal: Clean repetition before speed
Bury Me An Angel – Riff#1ย
Bury Me An Angel – Riff#2
Bury Me An Angel – Riff#3
Bury Me An Angel – Riff#4ย
SECTION 6 โ TONE QUICK NOTES (OPTIONAL BUT POWERFUL)
๐ Tone Tips
Bridge pickup for articulation
Moderate gain, keep at 4 or 5. Having a tube screamer going in before the amp is a good recommendation. I’ve learned this from all the greats. It’s been a well-tested, tried, and true format for the sound. This holds from thrash metal all the way down to melodic and old-school death metal.
Tight noise gate settings
Clear mids for note separation
Tone supports technique โ it doesnโt replace it.
SECTION 7 โ NEXT STEP CTA (CRITICAL)
โก๏ธ Continue Your Path
Youโve practiced melodic rhythm control. Next:
๐ Riff & Rhythm Mastery โ Locking Aggression to Groove
(This links directly into the next lesson or path.)
Arch Enemy – How much influence do I draw from this band?ย I cannot even begin to express.ย Michael and Christopher Amott are metal Gods, in my eyes!ย Their compositions are always loaded with melody, but given brutal heaviness at all times.
The sixteenth note picking is key in this song to keep everything tight. If you lose the palm mutes, the essence of the song gets lost in translation. In short, it comes to sounds like one big noisy track.
Palm mutes at 180 bpm for longer periods of time is no laughing matter. It’s definitely a skill that needs to be worked on. My suggestion is to have a metronome close by. This will act as your guide to make sure you’re keeping the time properly; not to mention keeping your mind focused on the task at hand.
Whether you’re either analyzing or leaning how to play this metal masterpiece! Here’s how is how you go about it:
- Melody and Heaviness Balance: The duality of melody and heaviness is central to the song’s identity, making it dynamic yet punishingly heavy. This contrast is crucial to its appeal.
- Sixteenth Note Picking: Precision with sixteenth-note picking ensures the track’s tightness and clarity. Losing the palm mutes results in a lack of definition, turning intricate rhythms into a wash of noise.
- Technique and Endurance: Sustained palm muting at 180 bpm is a challenging feat. It demands both technical skill and physical endurance, emphasizing the need for consistent practice.
- Practice Tip: Using a metronome not only helps maintain tempo but also fosters mental focus during practice sessions. It’s an essential tool for mastering this technique.
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