Learn to Play "The Bucket" by Kings of Leon

Get ready to dive into the gritty, indie-rock energy of Kings of Leon with our note-for-note guitar lesson for "The Bucket", available now at LickLibrary.com. This lesson breaks down every riff, chord, and technique used in this iconic track, helping you replicate the driving force behind one of the band’s most recognisable songs. If you’re looking to enhance your rhythm playing, tighten up your picking technique, and expand your indie/garage rock vocabulary, this lesson is for you. Michael Casswell breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Song and Its Guitar Style

"The Bucket," released in 2004 on Kings of Leon’s second album Aha Shake Heartbreak, marked a defining moment for the band. With its urgent tempo, gritty textures, and emotionally charged lyrics, the song showcases the raw and unpolished energy that defined their early sound. At the heart of this track lies a blend of rhythmic drive and melodic simplicity, perfectly captured by the guitar work of Matthew Followill, Kings of Leon’s lead guitarist.

Followill’s playing on this track is a masterclass in tasteful restraint. His style leans heavily on rhythmic precision, creative chord voicings, and catchy hooks. Though often understated, his parts serve the song brilliantly, adding tension and dynamics without overwhelming the vocal melodies. Learning his parts not only strengthens technical ability but also fosters musical maturity—something every guitarist should aim for.

Guitar Techniques Covered in This Lesson

Our in-depth guitar lesson for “The Bucket” takes you through a range of essential techniques, many of which are commonly found in alternative and indie rock genres. Each section of the lesson is broken down slowly, then demonstrated at tempo, ensuring that players of all levels can follow along.

Alternate Picking

The main riff in “The Bucket” is played using alternate picking—a vital technique for improving picking speed, accuracy, and overall efficiency. This technique involves alternating downstrokes and upstrokes in a fluid motion. Mastering this will allow players to tackle fast-paced riffs with more control and endurance.

Benefit: Alternate picking promotes better rhythm consistency and right-hand control, both of which are critical when playing tight, fast riffs like those in this track.

Slides

Throughout the song, slides are used to create a smooth, fluid movement between notes, particularly in the lead guitar licks. The use of slides adds expression and motion to the melody lines, making them sound more dynamic and vocal-like.

Benefit: Practising slides develops fretboard navigation and helps your playing sound more expressive and less mechanical.

Hammer-ons and Pull-offs

This lesson also incorporates hammer-ons and pull-offs—two essential legato techniques used to add speed and fluidity to phrases. These appear in the song’s embellishments and melodic fills, adding a subtle flair to the riffs.

Benefit: These techniques enhance finger strength and independence while allowing you to play faster without excessive picking.

Open String Riffs

A signature aspect of Followill’s tone in "The Bucket" comes from his clever use of open string riffs. By combining fretted notes with ringing open strings, he achieves a jangly, resonant sound that cuts through the mix.

Benefit: Learning to incorporate open strings into riffs expands your tonal palette and encourages more creative phrasing.

Palm Muting

In certain rhythmic passages, especially in the verse sections, palm muting is used to create dynamic contrast and control the percussive attack of the guitar.

Benefit: This technique enhances rhythm guitar skills, offering greater control over tone and articulation.

Chord Progressions

"The Bucket" is built around catchy chord progressions that drive the song’s momentum. These chord shapes, while simple, are used creatively with rhythmic variation and tone shaping to give the song its unique feel.

Benefit: Studying chord progressions in context sharpens songwriting and improvisation abilities while improving fretboard knowledge.

String Bending

Some of the lead licks feature tasteful string bending, giving the melody lines a vocal quality and emotional edge.

Benefit: String bending strengthens your fingers and improves pitch control, allowing for more expressive lead playing.

About Matthew Followill – Guitarist of Kings of Leon

Matthew Followill’s guitar work is a crucial ingredient in the Kings of Leon sound. Known for his gritty tone, minimalist phrasing, and innovative rhythmic sensibility, Followill draws inspiration from classic rock, Southern blues, and post-punk influences. His style doesn’t rely on flashy solos or technical wizardry—instead, he crafts hooks and textures that elevate the band’s songs as a whole.

Learning his parts is an excellent study in playing for the song—a concept often overlooked by guitarists focused solely on soloing or speed. Followill’s work on “The Bucket” demonstrates how restraint, tone, and feel can make a massive impact on a track’s success.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Alternate Picking
• Slides
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs
• Open String Riffs
• Palm Muting
• Chord Progressions
• String Bending

Explore this lesson at LickLibrary.com and sharpen your rock guitar skills by learning every part of “The Bucket” exactly as recorded. Whether you're working on timing, tone, or technique, this lesson will take your rhythm and lead guitar chops to the next level.