Riff Tone

Mr. Brightside

The Killers

Guitarrock2000s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely American Standard, early 2000s, as used by Dave Keuning on the studio recording)

AmpFender Hot Rod DeVille (studio recording, 2003 era; Fender-style amp confirmed by multiple sources)

PickupsFender single-coil bridge pickup

Amp Settings

gain4.5

bass4.5

mid7

treble8

reverb5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

chorusUnknown Chorus pedal (model unknown)

Notes

Studio recording, 2003. Guitar is tuned down a half-step to Eb. Keuning used the Stratocaster bridge pickup for the riff. Amp is a Fender-style combo with clean to edge-of-breakup tone. Effects are minimal, with chorus and reverb providing ambience. No evidence of dual-amp setup or additional gain pedals on the studio recording.

Tone Character(10)

bright and articulateedgy overdriven bitefat, rounded midrangetight and percussive attackclear note separationambient and spaciousslightly compressedchorus shimmercrisp high endmodest sustain

Difficulty

The riff is challenging due to its fast, relentless picking pattern, wide fretboard stretches, and the need for precise articulation to maintain clarity and separation between notes.

Sources

The Killers - Mr. Brightside | Wiki @ Ultimate-Guitar.com Weekend riff: The Killers - Mr Brightside | MusicRadar The Killers guitar lesson: learn Dave Keuning's anthemic style | Guitar World The Killers - Mr. Brightside intro lesson : r/guitarlessons - Reddit

This tone has been researched 23 times by the community

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