Utilize a pseudo-drop-tuned sound by inverting power chords
In this series of grunge video guitar lessons, we’ve already examined Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots. Now, if you’re chasing the thick, aggressive tones of Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger era, this new video from the Gibson App delivers just that. Drawing inspiration from the classic track “Outshined,” this riff in D uses a blend of inverted power chords and an unusual 7/4 time signature to replicate that signature sludgy weight while staying in standard tuning.
Kim Thayil’s guitar style is a distinct blend of heavy riffage, dissonance, and unconventional phrasing, and it helped define the dark, muscular sound of Soundgarden and the broader grunge movement. While often associated with heavy rock and metal, Thayil incorporated flavors from punk, psychedelia, and Eastern music, making his playing more exploratory and texture-driven than that of typical 80s or 90s rock guitarists.
One of the clever techniques explored is how to achieve a pseudo-drop-tuned sound by inverting power chords—an approach that Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil often used. Instead of the root note being the lowest, the fifth becomes the bass note, creating a darker, more ominous result. By barring the fifth fret on both the low E and A strings, you instantly thicken the sound—grunge-style—without reaching for a tuning peg.
What time signature are we working with here?
Layered into this riff is a seven-beat rhythmic cycle (7/4 time), which breaks from the standard 4/4 and adds a lurching, off-kilter momentum that defined several of Soundgarden’s heavier grooves. You can mentally break it down into a bar of four followed by a bar of three (1-2-3-4, 1-2-3) to make it easier to internalize.
The riff continues with chromatic movement and a flat-five interval—a nod to blues and early metal influences—and closes with a gritty, blues-based lick climbing up the A string. It demands finger precision, clean string separation, and a steady picking hand—especially when switching between the E/A and A/D string pairs.
Add a bit of palm muting and attack the strings harder with your picking hand to really drive home that grungy, punchy feel. With inverted chords, syncopated time, and a touch of doom blues, this is the heaviest and most technically challenging riff in the grunge series—perfect for players looking to push their rhythm chops into Soundgarden territory.
Explore the world of the Gibson App and start your free trial on iOS and Android devices.
