Arch Enemy – Bury Me an Angel
Melodic Death Metal Rhythm Precision
Difficulty: Intermediate
Tuning: Standard (B)
Focus: Alternate picking • palm muting • melodic aggression
This lesson breaks down the core rhythm guitar techniques behind ‘Bury Me an Angel’ — focusing on tight alternate picking, controlled palm muting, and melodic phrasing that remains aggressive without becoming sloppy.
WHAT THIS LESSON TEACHES
🎯 Skill Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will:
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Maintain picking clarity at higher tempos
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Control palm muting without choking notes
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Transition cleanly between open and muted phrases
-
Lock melodic riffs tightly to the groove
This is a foundational melodic death metal rhythm skillset — not just one song.
COMMON MISTAKES (THIS IS HUGE)
⚠️ Watch Out For:
- Over-muting (kills the melody)
- Excessive pick depth (slows speed)
- Tension in the forearm
- Rushing transitions between phrases
These mistakes are why this riff sounds messy for many players, even after weeks of practice
TABS & DOWNLOADS (VALUE ANCHOR)
📄 Downloads
Guitar Pro (.gp) file
PDF Tab Sheet
Slow-tempo practice version
👉 Download Tabs & Practice Files
(This is where your existing tab files go — nothing new to create.)
PRACTICE PROTOCOL
🧠 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
⏱️ Daily time: 10–15 minutes overall
🎯 Goal: Clean repetition before speed
Bury Me An Angel – Riff#1
Bury Me An Angel – Riff#2
Bury Me An Angel – Riff#3
Bury Me An Angel – Riff#4
SECTION 6 — TONE QUICK NOTES (OPTIONAL BUT POWERFUL)
🔊 Tone Tips
Bridge pickup for articulation
Moderate gain (less than you think)
Tight noise gate settings
Clear mids for note separation
Tone supports technique — it doesn’t replace it.
SECTION 7 — NEXT STEP CTA (CRITICAL)
➡️ Continue Your Path
You’ve practiced melodic rhythm control. Next:
👉 Riff & Rhythm Mastery – Locking Aggression to Groove
(This links directly into the next lesson or path.)
Arch Enemy – How much influence do I draw from this band, I cannot even begin to say. Michael and Christopher Amott are metal Gods! Their compositions are always loaded with melody but brutal heaviness at the same time.
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 sound 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.
This is the tablature for Bury Me An Angel by Arch Enemy.
Get your free tablature here! ——-> Arch Enemy – Bury Me An Angel Tab
