Bring Me To Life – Evanescence

"Bring Me To Life" by Evanescence is one of the defining rock anthems of the early 2000s, blending haunting melodies with hard-hitting guitar riffs and powerful dynamics. In our LickLibrary note-for-note guitar lesson, we break down every section of this track in detail, making it easy for guitarists of all levels to master the parts, understand the techniques, and play the song with confidence.

This lesson offers much more than just learning a popular song — it’s a deep dive into essential rock and metal guitar techniques that will build your skills and musical vocabulary. From rhythm to lead playing, this track features a diverse range of approaches that are invaluable to any guitarist looking to level up. Sam Bell breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Song Breakdown: Driving Riffs and Dynamic Arrangements

At its core, "Bring Me To Life" is a riff-driven rock track with melodic overtones and layered textures. The guitar enters with aggressive, chugging rhythms that perfectly complement the orchestral elements and soaring vocals. The main riff relies heavily on tight, muted strumming and strong downstroke energy, setting the tone for the rest of the song.

The verses showcase a blend of clean and distorted tones, often switching between subtle rhythm parts and punchy accent chords. This contrast gives guitarists the opportunity to explore dynamics and tone shaping. The chorus explodes with wide-open chords and melodic accents that create a dramatic and anthemic feel. These sections are excellent for practicing tight rhythmic control and mastering chord transitions.

Bridging these sections are fluid lead guitar lines, using expressive phrasing to add tension and melodic interest. These lines introduce a number of important techniques, offering players a chance to work on articulation and fretboard fluency.

Guitar Techniques in Focus

Palm Muting

Used extensively in the main riff and verses, palm muting provides a tight, percussive attack that locks in with the rhythm section. This technique helps players develop control, timing, and a powerful groove — all essentials in rock and metal guitar.

Power Chords

Power chords are a foundational element of the song’s structure, driving both the verses and choruses. These chords are vital for any rock guitarist, helping to build hand strength and rhythm accuracy while forming the basis for countless other songs.

Alternate Picking

Appearing in both rhythm and lead sections, alternate picking allows for clean, efficient playing across riffs and melodic runs. This technique improves picking hand coordination and is essential for speed and consistency in modern playing styles.

Slides

Used for melodic transitions and expressive movement between notes, slides bring a vocal quality to your playing. Practicing slides helps with finger placement accuracy and develops a more fluid phrasing style.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

These legato techniques are used in lead lines throughout the track, adding smoothness and speed to note transitions. Hammer-ons and pull-offs strengthen fretting-hand fingers and are a great way to introduce fluid lead playing without relying solely on picking.

Barre Chords

Clean and layered guitar parts in the track make use of barre chords, offering a chance to work on fretting technique and hand endurance. Barre chords are crucial for any guitarist aiming to expand their chord vocabulary and play across the neck.

About the Guitarist: Ben Moody

The guitar work on "Bring Me To Life" was crafted by Ben Moody, the founding guitarist of Evanescence. His playing style blends dark, melodic textures with heavy, precise rhythm work — perfectly matching the band’s unique fusion of rock, metal, and symphonic influences.

Moody’s ability to balance aggression with emotion in his guitar parts played a significant role in defining the sound of early 2000s alternative metal. His work continues to influence players across genres, from hard rock to gothic metal, particularly those who aim to create dramatic, cinematic guitar soundscapes.

Why Learn This Song?

Learning "Bring Me To Life" gives guitarists the opportunity to strengthen core techniques while playing a powerful, emotionally driven track. It helps improve:

• Rhythm control through palm-muted and syncopated riffs
• Dynamic sensitivity by alternating between clean and distorted passages
• Lead fluency with legato phrasing, slides, and melodic motifs
• Chord vocabulary with barre and power chord transitions
• Performance confidence by playing a song built on tension and release

Whether you’re a fan of Evanescence or just looking to expand your modern rock guitar chops, this lesson is a perfect blend of technical challenge and musical reward.

Guitar Techniques Covered in This Lesson

• Palm Muting
• Power Chords
• Alternate Picking
• Slides
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Barre Chords
• Legato

Start learning "Bring Me To Life" today with LickLibrary's full guitar lesson — and bring precision, expression, and power to your playing.