White Limo by Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters' "White Limo" is an electrifying, riff-heavy track that showcases the band’s raw energy and Dave Grohl’s masterful songwriting. Our note-for-note guitar lesson on "White Limo" breaks down the song into manageable sections, teaching the techniques used to create its distinctive sound. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, this lesson offers valuable insights into the stylistic elements that make this song a standout in Foo Fighters’ catalog. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Guitar Players

Dave Grohl, the driving force behind Foo Fighters, is renowned for his dynamic rhythm playing and inventive riffs. In "White Limo," Grohl's guitar work emphasises aggression and energy, blending punk-inspired power chords with moments of melodic brilliance. Pat Smear and Chris Shiflett also contribute to the band’s layered sound, adding depth with complementary guitar parts. This lesson provides an opportunity to study the approaches of some of the most influential modern rock guitarists, helping you incorporate their techniques into your own playing.

Guitar Techniques in "White Limo"

Power Chords

The foundation of "White Limo" is its heavy use of power chords. These provide the song’s driving rhythm and aggressive tone. Learning to play power chords cleanly and confidently is essential for rock and punk styles. This lesson focuses on finger placement, muting techniques, and transitions between chords.

Benefit: Mastering power chords boosts your rhythm guitar skills and prepares you for countless other rock tracks.

Palm Muting

Palm muting adds a tight, percussive quality to the rhythm parts of "White Limo." This technique is used throughout the verses to create dynamic contrast with the song’s explosive choruses.

Benefit: Learning palm muting improves control and enables you to add texture and variation to your playing.

Alternate Picking

The rapid, precise picking in "White Limo" relies heavily on alternate picking. This technique ensures efficiency and speed, especially during fast riffs and transitions.

Benefit: Developing alternate picking helps you play faster and more accurately across a range of musical styles.

String Bending

String bending is a highlight in the song’s leads, adding expressive flair to the melody. This lesson covers proper bending technique to achieve accurate pitch and sustain.

Benefit: Practicing string bending improves your ear training and enhances the emotional impact of your solos.

Slides

Slides are used to transition smoothly between notes, adding fluidity to the guitar lines in "White Limo." This technique is demonstrated in both rhythm and lead parts.

Benefit: Incorporating slides into your playing helps create seamless transitions and enhances the overall musicality of your guitar work.

Vibrato

The solos in "White Limo" make tasteful use of vibrato to add richness and character. Our lesson shows you how to apply vibrato effectively without overplaying it.

Benefit: Vibrato adds personality to your solos, making your playing more distinctive and engaging.

Tremolo Picking

The high-energy riffing in parts of "White Limo" incorporates tremolo picking. This technique involves rapid, continuous picking of a single note for a dramatic effect.

Benefit: Mastering tremolo picking enhances your speed and endurance, crucial for high-intensity performances.

Pick Slides

For added aggression and texture, "White Limo" uses pick slides. These contribute to the gritty, punk-rock vibe of the song.

Benefit: Pick slides are a simple yet powerful way to inject attitude and flair into your playing.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• Alternate Picking
• String Bending
• Slides
• Vibrato
• Tremolo Picking
• Pick Slides

Dive into our comprehensive lesson on "White Limo" and harness the techniques that define Foo Fighters’ powerful sound. These skills will not only elevate your guitar playing but also equip you with the tools to tackle other challenging rock tracks.