Best Of You – Foo Fighters

Mastering the Iconic Foo Fighters Anthem

Foo Fighters' "Best Of You" is one of the band’s most powerful and emotionally charged songs, featuring anthemic melodies, high-energy strumming, and dynamic vocal delivery. Released in 2005 on the album In Your Honor, this song has become one of their biggest hits, thanks to its raw intensity and memorable hooks.

At Licklibrary, our "Best Of You" guitar lesson provides a note-for-note breakdown of the track, helping you master its signature guitar techniques while improving your overall playing ability. Whether you're looking to tighten up your rhythm playing, develop dynamic strumming, or enhance your melodic phrasing, this lesson will give you the skills needed to play the song with accuracy and confidence. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Guitar Techniques Used in "Best Of You"

Power Chords for Strong, Driving Riffs

Power chords are the backbone of "Best Of You", giving the song its punchy and aggressive energy. These simple yet effective shapes allow you to maintain clarity while playing high-energy rock riffs, making them an essential technique for any rock guitarist.

Palm Muting for Rhythmic Control

The verses of "Best Of You" rely on palm muting to create contrast between the song's quieter moments and its explosive choruses. By using this technique, you’ll develop better control over dynamics, making your playing more expressive and polished.

String Bending for Expressive Lead Lines

The lead guitar parts in "Best Of You" incorporate string bending to add emotion and intensity to key melodic phrases. Mastering bends will help you develop better pitch control and expression, allowing your solos to sing with vocal-like phrasing.

Octave Melodies for Full, Expansive Sounds

Octave melodies appear throughout the song, particularly in the lead guitar sections, creating a thicker and more powerful sound. Learning how to incorporate octaves into your playing will help you add depth to your solos and enhance your lead work.

Syncopated Rhythms for a Driving Feel

One of the key features of "Best Of You" is its syncopated rhythm patterns, which add a pulsing, driving energy to the song. By practicing these rhythmic patterns, you’ll develop better timing and groove, essential skills for playing in a band or recording in a studio.

Open-String Riffs for Bright, Resonant Tones

The song makes use of open-string riffs, giving certain sections a bright and resonant quality. These riffs allow for faster transitions between chords and add a ringing sustain to the guitar parts, making them an important tool for any rock player.

Double Stops for Harmonised Melodies

Throughout the track, double stops add a layered, harmonised feel to the lead guitar lines. This technique is a staple in rock and blues playing, and learning it will help expand your soloing vocabulary while making your lead lines sound bigger and fuller.

The Guitarists Behind "Best Of You"

"Best Of You" features the powerful playing of Dave Grohl and Chris Shiflett, both of whom bring their unique style to the Foo Fighters' sound.

• Dave Grohl: Known for his aggressive rhythm playing and dynamic performance energy, Grohl's approach to the guitar is heavily influenced by punk and hard rock. His fast downstrokes and strong strumming technique give Foo Fighters' music its signature drive.
• Chris Shiflett: A master of blending melodic lead lines with rock-solid rhythm, Shiflett’s contributions to the Foo Fighters’ sound add depth and nuance, making his playing both intricate and powerful.

Both guitarists bring an infectious energy and raw intensity to "Best Of You," making it a great track for guitarists who want to improve their stamina, timing, and dynamic control.

Learn These Essential Guitar Techniques

Mastering the "Best Of You" lesson will introduce you to several key guitar techniques used by Dave Grohl and Chris Shiflett. Here’s a list of the techniques covered in this lesson along with helpful links to explore each one further:

• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• String Bending
• Octave Melodies
• Syncopated Rhythms
• Open-String Riffs
• Double Stops

Start your journey to mastering "Best Of You" today with our in-depth guitar lesson at Licklibrary and take your playing to the next level!