Unforgiven Solo Cover

Hi Rohan, 🙂

It’s been awhile since I’ve corresponded with you, so I hope all is well! 😉

I remember you saying a long time ago (perhaps it was in the “Favorite Solo” thread here at IG?!?) that you love The Unforgiven solo, so I’m not surprised that you decided to dig into it and give it a go! I think all in all you did a fine job. There were a few spots that I thought maybe strayed a bit form the exactness of the original, (assuming that exactness to the original was your goal?!?) but even when that occured, it still sounded pretty good! That all being said, below are the spots (and their respective running-times relative to Metallica’s original studio-recording of The Unforgiven from their “Black” album) which I’d encourage you to review/listen-back-to:

(3:27 – 3:48) They recorded with a very clean tone with added reverb. I suspect that you didn’t have the means to “switch” your sound in real-time while you were recording (via a footswitch for example!) I’m sure you’re aware of this point! 😉

(3:31) It looked like you were properly hybrid-picking that lick, but I couldn’t hear the higher-pitched (stationary) note on this “oblique-motion” bluesy-lick.

(3:48) When the heavy sound does come in, that first lick sounds more like a bluesy “quarter-step/half-step bend” on the double-stop, whereas I think you may have bent it a bit sharp (almost a whole-step?) Also, when I listened to the original, I noticed a short “slapback” type echo effect. I didn’t notice if you had dialed that in or not, or whether you had the gear to cop that sound, but I thought I’d mention it anyways, in case you didn’t notice it.

(3:57) After that nicely played ascending one-string sequence, I think your transcription/note-choice was a bit “off” here. I know that they do some pinch-harmonics here, so perhaps you thought those were higher-pitched fundamental-notes…Not sure? Check that part again I guess…

Like I said earlier, I was just nitpicking a few things I heard, but all in all I thought you did very well (I suppose that you could “dig-in” and play it a bit more agressively, but I’m sure your goal was to play it correctly, before giving it the rock-star treatment – LOL!) 😎

Keep up the good work my friend, and let me know if you agree with the spots I outlined for you to check-out, OK? 😀

TTYS!

~Bill Meehan~ 😀

I thought you did a great take on this one Rohan, pretty much nailed it. There are a lot of Metallica solos that I don’t like, but I dig this one. Also really like the Unforgiven song in general.

Keep it up man!