One Day Remains by Alter Bridge

One Day Remains by Alter Bridge is a powerful song packed with intricate guitar work that showcases both technique and emotion. In this lesson, we break down each section of the song, focusing on the key guitar techniques that make it a standout performance. From dynamic riffing to melodic solos, this lesson helps guitarists at every level master the skills needed to play the song accurately and confidently.

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your rhythmic playing or refine your lead work, this lesson offers an in-depth exploration of the core guitar techniques used throughout One Day Remains. Let's dive into the techniques that will improve your overall guitar proficiency. Andy James breaks down Mark Tremonti's parts to this classic Alter Bridge track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Guitar Techniques in One Day Remains

Palm Muting

Palm muting is one of the key techniques employed throughout One Day Remains, especially during the rhythm sections. Palm muting adds a tight, percussive sound to your playing by partially muting the strings with the palm of your picking hand. This is particularly useful when playing the driving power chords in the song’s verses and choruses.

Benefit: Mastering palm muting improves your control over dynamics and gives you the ability to create contrast between different sections of a song, making your rhythm playing more expressive.

Power Chords

The backbone of Alter Bridge’s rhythm section in this song is built on power chords. Power chords, often used in rock and metal, are two or three-note chords that create a thick, powerful sound. They’re easy to move across the fretboard and provide the harmonic structure behind the song’s aggressive riffs.

Benefit: Learning power chords allows you to quickly navigate chord progressions in high-energy tracks, making them essential for any aspiring rock guitarist.

Alternate Picking

Throughout the faster lead lines, alternate picking comes into play. This technique involves alternating between downstrokes and upstrokes with your pick, allowing for greater speed and precision. In One Day Remains, it’s particularly noticeable in the guitar fills and solos, where rapid note sequences are played.

Benefit: Alternate picking boosts your picking speed, efficiency, and accuracy, which is crucial for playing fast-paced riffs and solos.

String Bending and Vibrato

String bending and vibrato are two lead guitar techniques used extensively in One Day Remains to give the solo sections their expressive feel. String bending involves pushing or pulling the string to raise its pitch, while vibrato adds a slight, controlled variation to a note’s pitch. These techniques bring emotion and intensity to the lead sections of the song.

Benefit: These techniques enhance your ability to add emotion to solos and melodies, giving your playing a more vocal-like quality and allowing you to better express yourself musically.

Pinched Harmonics

Alter Bridge's signature sound often includes pinched harmonics, which create sharp, high-pitched squeals. This technique involves using the edge of your thumb and pick to lightly "pinch" the string while striking it, resulting in a harmonic sound. Pinched harmonics are scattered throughout the song's heavier riff sections, adding an extra layer of aggression to the tone.

Benefit: Mastering pinched harmonics helps you add articulation and flair to your riffs, giving your playing a professional edge.

Double Stop Bends

Another standout technique in One Day Remains is the use of double stop bends. This involves bending two strings simultaneously, which creates a powerful, harmonized sound. It’s used in some of the song's climactic moments to build tension and add harmonic richness.

Benefit: This technique builds finger strength and coordination, while also enhancing your soloing vocabulary, enabling you to play harmonized leads and create fuller sounds.

Slides

Slides are used in both the lead and rhythm sections of One Day Remains to create smooth transitions between notes. This technique is often employed in the lead lines to connect phrases seamlessly, and in the rhythm parts to emphasise movement between chords.

Benefit: Learning slides improves your fluidity when changing between notes, making your playing sound more connected and polished.

Hammer-ons and Pull-offs

Fast, melodic runs in the song make use of hammer-ons and pull-offs. These techniques allow you to play notes smoothly and rapidly by using your fretting hand alone to create sound, minimising the need to pick each note.

Benefit: Mastering hammer-ons and pull-offs increases your playing speed and efficiency, which is essential for executing complex legato phrases.

About the Guitar Players in One Day Remains

Mark Tremonti, the lead guitarist of Alter Bridge, is known for his innovative blend of heavy, rhythmic playing and melodic, technically proficient solos. Tremonti's work in One Day Remains showcases his mastery of dynamic contrasts—moving between chunky, palm-muted riffs and soaring, emotive leads with ease. His unique approach to guitar has had a profound influence on modern rock and metal, inspiring countless guitarists to explore a mix of heavy riffing and melodic solos.

Tremonti’s ability to seamlessly blend technique with emotion is what makes him a highly respected figure in the guitar world. His influence stretches beyond Alter Bridge to his solo career, where he continues to push the boundaries of technical and expressive guitar playing.

Guitar Techniques Used in the Lesson

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• String Bending
• Pinched Harmonics
• Double Stop Bends
• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs
• Slides