Under You – Foo Fighters Guitar Lesson Breakdown

"Under You" by Foo Fighters is a dynamic and emotionally charged song from their 2023 album But Here We Are. The song’s energetic riffs and melodic leads offer a great learning experience for guitarists, especially those looking to explore the signature sound of Foo Fighters' music. This lesson focuses on breaking down the techniques used in the song, giving guitarists of various skill levels the tools to recreate the song accurately and enhance their playing abilities. Below, we dive into the techniques found in the lesson, explaining their significance and benefits to the guitarist. Richard Shaw breaks down 'Under You' in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Guitar Techniques in "Under You"

Power Chords

Power chords are fundamental to the song's driving rhythm. In "Under You," the verses and choruses are built upon powerful, punchy chord progressions that capture the song's energy. Power chords are often used in rock and alternative music to create a thick, aggressive sound while remaining easy to execute.

Benefits: Learning power chords is essential for any aspiring rock guitarist. They provide the backbone to many iconic songs and are useful in both rhythm and lead playing. Practicing them improves finger strength, hand coordination, and rhythm consistency.

Palm Muting

Throughout the song, palm muting is employed to control dynamics, adding texture and depth to the guitar parts. By resting the palm of the picking hand lightly on the strings near the bridge, players can create a percussive, muted sound that gives parts of the song a tight, rhythmic feel.

Benefits: Mastering palm muting is crucial for controlling the attack and dynamics of a song. It helps improve picking accuracy and rhythm, especially in faster-paced songs, and can give the guitarist more control over the overall feel of their playing.

Alternate Picking

The driving riffs in "Under You" make heavy use of alternate picking, where downstrokes and upstrokes are alternated to achieve a fluid and fast sound. This technique helps maintain speed and precision, especially during the busier sections of the song.

Benefits: Alternate picking is a fundamental technique for guitarists looking to improve speed and accuracy. Regular practice leads to better efficiency in playing and can make complex riffs and solos feel more manageable.

String Bending and Vibrato

The song’s lead guitar parts feature expressive string bending, especially in the melodic sections of the chorus. The bends are followed by vibrato, adding emotional depth to the notes. String bending allows guitarists to raise the pitch of a note without sliding, while vibrato gives the notes a “singing” quality.

Benefits: These techniques enhance expressiveness in your playing. String bending and vibrato are essential for lead guitarists and help develop a strong feel for pitch control and note dynamics, making solos and melodies sound more emotive.

Barre Chords

In some sections of the song, barre chords are used to create a fuller sound. By pressing down multiple strings with one finger, barre chords allow guitarists to play more complex harmonies while maintaining a strong rhythmic feel.

Benefits: Barre chords build hand strength and stamina. They are vital for expanding a guitarist’s chord vocabulary and allow players to play a variety of chord shapes up and down the fretboard, making it easier to navigate key changes and progressions.

Slides

Guitar slides are heard throughout the track, connecting various chord shapes and melodic lines seamlessly. Sliding between notes adds smoothness to transitions, enhancing the flow of the song.

Benefits: Slides help guitarists improve their fretboard navigation and finger control. This technique gives playing a more polished and professional sound, reducing the sharpness of note changes and adding a sense of fluidity to leads and rhythm parts.

Harmonics

In the intro and bridge sections of "Under You," natural harmonics are subtly used to add ethereal tones and texture. Harmonics produce bell-like tones that can add richness to otherwise straightforward parts of a song.

Benefits: Learning harmonics broadens a guitarist’s tonal palette and helps refine their touch and precision. It is a great way to experiment with different textures and soundscapes in both rhythm and lead playing.

The Guitarist Behind the Song

The guitar work on "Under You" is primarily handled by Dave Grohl, who returned to take on the bulk of the guitar duties following the tragic passing of drummer Taylor Hawkins. Grohl’s guitar style has always been grounded in a blend of alternative rock, punk, and grunge influences. His playing is often characterised by simple but powerful riffs, emotional chord progressions, and high-energy rhythms.

In the Foo Fighters, Grohl’s guitar playing has always leaned heavily into rhythm-focused playing, which allows for a massive, wall-of-sound feel. His influence spans decades, and his work with the Foo Fighters continues to shape modern rock guitar playing. Learning songs like "Under You" provides insight into how Grohl constructs songs that are both hard-hitting and emotionally resonant, making him a key figure for rock guitarists to study.

Guitar Techniques in the Lesson

Here’s a list of guitar techniques you will encounter in the "Under You" lesson:

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• String Bending
• Barre Chords
• Slides
• Harmonics

By mastering these techniques, guitarists can not only recreate the song note-for-note but also expand their skillset for tackling a wide range of rock and alternative music.

Guitar Techniques Used

• String Bending
• Barre Chords
• Pull-offs
• Pick Slides

Licklibrary.com is your go-to resource for comprehensive, engaging guitar lessons that inspire and educate. Whether you're looking to replicate the sound of Foo Fighters or explore new musical territories, our lessons are designed to elevate your guitar playing to the next level.