This video tutorial offers an in-depth guide on how to play “Over Now” by Alice in Chains as performed in their MTV Unplugged session. The guitar lesson video covers guitar tuning, chord shapes, riffs, rhythm patterns, and the solo section, all adapted for the song’s unique open tuning.
Key Concepts and Techniques
- Tuning Setup:
The guitar is tuned to an open C sharp tuning with strings tuned to C♯, G♯, C♯, F, G♯, and C♯ (low to high). For simplicity, I treat this tuning as if it were an open D tuning to make chord labelling easier. - Chords and Shapes:
- Verse/Intro Chords:
- F♯ chord at fret 4 (barre across all strings)
- Open D chord (in the open tuning context)
- Use of chord embellishments such as finger placements on the 3rd and 5th strings to create dominant seventh-like voicings (e.g., F♯7/B sound).
- Chorus Chords (bar chords):
- A chord shape at fret 7, with a dominant seventh flavor by adding the little finger on fret 10 (2nd string).
- Sliding to G♯7 (fret 6) and B7 (fret 9 with little finger on fret 12).
- Additional Chords in Verse:
- An E7-like chord shape with fingers on fret 1 (3rd string) and fret 2 (5th string), interpreted as G over D.
- Verse/Intro Chords:
- Rhythm and Picking Patterns:
- Chugging and Palm Muting:
Employed on bass strings during riffs to create a percussive feel. - Melodic Riffs:
Incorporate tabbed frets (e.g., 7, 6, 4 on bass strings and chords) combined with strums to enrich the texture. - Arpeggio Pattern (Halftime Interlude):
The second half includes a more complex arpeggiated picking pattern, emphasizing smooth, efficient pick motion—down picks on downward strokes and up picks on upward strokes across strings to maintain fluidity.
- Chugging and Palm Muting:
Guitar Solo Breakdown
- The solo is not based on standard tuning, making note locations less intuitive. Use the tablature rather than relying on fretboard familiarity to play the correct notes.
- Solo characteristics:
- Primarily uses D major scale notes with some jazz-influenced “noodly” phrases.
- Focuses on melodic phrasing rather than technical speed or shredding.
- Utilizes slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, bends (including half-bends and releases), and triplets.
- The solo finishes with repeated hits and bends, emphasizing phrasing and tone over speed.
Technical Terms and Definitions
| Term | Definition/Explanation |
|---|---|
| Open C♯ Tuning | Guitar tuning lowered so strings form a C♯ major chord when open. |
| Barre Chord | Chord formed by pressing multiple strings with one finger across a fret. |
| Palm Muting | Muting strings lightly with the palm to produce a dampened sound. |
| Dominant 7th Chord | Chord with a flattened 7th, adding tension and bluesy sound. |
| Arpeggio | Playing notes of a chord individually in sequence. |
| Hammer-on/Pull-off | Techniques to play notes smoothly by slurring fingers on/off strings. |
| Half Bend | Bending a string to raise pitch by a half-step. |
Key Insights
- Adapting open tuning by conceptualizing it as open D simplifies chord identification and teaching.
- The song relies heavily on rhythmic texture created by palm-muted chugging and melodic embellishments within chords.
- The chorus uses dominant seventh chords with slides to add bluesy, dynamic character.
- The picking technique emphasized (matching pick direction with string movement) improves smoothness and efficiency in playing arpeggios.
- The solo focuses more on expressive phrasing than technical virtuosity, made challenging by the non-standard tuning.
- Understanding the fretboard in open tuning requires reliance on tablature and relative note positions rather than standard tuning muscle memory.
Conclusion
This video provides a comprehensive and methodical approach to learning “Over Now” on guitar, focusing on tuning, chord shapes, rhythmic patterns, and solo phrasing unique to the song’s unplugged rendition. The tutor bridges the complexity of open C♯ tuning by re-labeling chords as open D forms, making it accessible while maintaining fidelity to the original performance. The emphasis on rhythm, picking efficiency, and expressive soloing offers players a rich learning experience grounded in the song’s authentic sound.