Cowboys From Hell Guitar Lesson (Full Song) - Pantera

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In this Cowboys from Hell guitar lesson video, I will show you how to play all of this killer power metal classic from Pantera note-for-note.

The opening riff to "Cowboys From Hell" off of Pantera's major label debut is recognized as Dimebag Darrell's signature riff.

It is a perfect example of the "power groove" style that Pantera pretty much invented on it's own.

I will cover ever riff in the song, in the same order that it appears on the original recording.

As with virtually everything played by the great Dimebag Darrell, who I feel is the greatest metal guitarist to ever walk on this planet, these riffs are quite difficult to play for even them most experienced guitarist.

The main riff that the band breaks into at the beginning of the song is probably the hardest riff to play.

Take it slow and get the coordination down between the alternate picking and the fret-hand. If you try to play the riffs too fast too soon, it will feel like your hands are just tied into knots.

Also, the alternate picking can produce some awkward string crossing. The key here is to make sure your picking hand wrist and forearm stays as relaxed as possible. Practicing with a slow to moderate tempo in the beginning will help you develop that relaxed feel.

Towards the end of the lesson I will cover Dimebag's insane guitar solo note-for-note. This solo demonstrates Dimebag's love of symmetrical guitar licks. It is the concept of taking a finger pattern across strings without the worry of staying within an actual scale. The way Dimebag usually used this technique is with monster fret-hand stretches, so play at your own risk! :)

I hope you enjoy this Cowboys From Hell guitar lesson. Love live Dimebag!! #cowboysfromhellguitarlesson #pantera #guitarcovers

Carl..

[jamisonc]

3:03 Intro
5:39 Main riff
8:09 Verse
10:58 Pre-chorus
12:00 Main riff variation
12:26 Solo rhythm
14:46 Solo 😖
26:24 Jam section
31:25 Ending

Atoning for my sin of not stamping this

[CrystalStarr]

Domination next? Nice lesson by the way! I've been getting into Pantera these past few weeks!

[marievalencia]

I can't tell you how thankful I am for your lessons, thank you for all you do for the guitar player community. Sincerely dude, what a great man you are!

[-Spence]

Happy birthday Dime!!! RIP! 🤘🏻🤘🏻 thank you for all the badass riffs

[andresap]

I found out that tapping is the best option when you cannot stretch your fingers as far as Dimebag did. Awesome lesson brother!!

[spugnathecat]

You are the best man. I learned lots of songs with you.. you made this possible and i just can't tell you how much this means to me. Rock on we love you

[stratosaurusrex]

23:25 starting that six note pattern with a downstroke will focus on your inside picking technique more. Upstroke will focus on outside picking.

[Chesticus]

thank so much for these walk throughs. i have returned to playing guitar after a 20 year hiatus. These we not available to me at that time.. So much fun learning these licks....and I agree with you. Probably the greatest heaviest guitar player of all time.

[johnnyflorence]

I love that symmetrical out of key scalish run he does at the beginning of the solo. I feel that shit.

[Deathcorp]

I could just never play that like dime did. Wish I could. Hard to play/fingering someone else’s style. You nailed it man.

[DEADKING]

I think it would be great to show amp settings and pedals and settings used to get the sound also with the lesson...would be a great add that others don’t do too...

[Jose-lfmp]

Dimebag knew how to write riffs. RIP DIMEBAG DARREL ABBOT

[israelhernandez]

You are the best Carl. Merci pour tout

[ryanwilson]

Sorry if this was said already... it’s quarter step down. When you tune that way and drop your Floyd to drop d, it actually hits D. I’m sure Eddie did it too. Verse is also mostly up-picked to add scratchiness. Your tone and playing is awesome though.
Edit: any guitar player that can duplicate an album solo is not having enough fun. The point of doing this is is having fun. Also, thanks for This video. You put a lot of time into it and did a great job

[hiramsposito]

greetings from Venezuela! .. thanks for your guitar lessons are great !! ..

[wesleybrister]

Bought a Razorback maybe a month ago between You and a app I’ve managed to Learn a lot of riffs fast. Got the walk solo down. Just ironing it out a bit more.
Think I’m going to try this solo next. The legato is going to be hard I struggle with it on the walk solo.
That fast run down pattern will be tricky to shred. The bends look fun.

[nolymitful]

I have had to watch several tutorials on this song and also listen to the song itself, pulling different parts from several tutorials and adding what I hear also. In addition I watched The limited live videos of this song to see what dime did live. All in all this song is one of the most amazing pieces of rock music I have ever learned. It's a hell of a work out.... exactly. If you learn this you can learn anything lol.

[bramusation]

I do not have time right now but I'm sure as hell comming back for this one

[antoniobanderas]

that part with the legato makes more sense now i really hate trying to learn that part by tab

[richardanderson]

wow man you did an absolutely amazing job! Thank you so much!