Learn to play In Due Time - Guitar Lesson
Guitar lesson for this song by Killswitch Engage
In Due Time by Killswitch Engage
Learn how to play “In Due Time” by Killswitch Engage with this detailed note-for-note guitar lesson by Richard Shaw, breaking down the powerful riffs, tight rhythm playing, melodic guitar lines and technically demanding lead work that make the track a modern metal classic. Released on the 2013 album Disarm the Descent, “In Due Time” showcases Killswitch Engage’s trademark combination of crushing metal rhythms, melodic harmonies and precise lead guitar playing.
This lesson gives guitarists the opportunity to develop many of the techniques that define modern metal and metalcore guitar. From aggressive palm-muted riffs and rapid alternate picking to harmonised guitar parts, slides and expressive lead techniques, learning “In Due Time” is an excellent workout for both picking-hand accuracy and fretting-hand control.
Tight Palm-Muted Rhythm Guitar
One of the most important elements of “In Due Time” is its incredibly tight rhythm guitar sound. Palm muting is used extensively to create the controlled, percussive attack that gives the heavier riffs their impact. The picking hand needs to mute the strings consistently while maintaining enough definition for every note to remain clear.
Learning these sections will help you develop greater control over palm muting, particularly when switching between muted notes and more open, ringing accents. This is an essential skill for metal guitarists, as effective palm muting allows riffs to sound heavier without becoming muddy or undefined.
Alternate Picking and Picking Accuracy
The faster passages in “In Due Time” demand accurate and efficient picking. Alternate picking allows the guitarist to move rapidly through single-note riffs while minimising unnecessary movement in the picking hand.
Practising these sections slowly before gradually increasing the tempo is a great way to improve synchronisation between both hands. Developing strong alternate picking will benefit virtually every area of lead and rhythm guitar playing, particularly when tackling the fast, articulate riffing associated with modern metal.
Syncopated Metal Rhythms
Killswitch Engage frequently use rhythmic displacement and syncopation to give their riffs additional momentum, and “In Due Time” provides several excellent examples. Accents often interact with the drums rather than simply falling on predictable beats, creating a powerful rhythmic push and pull.
Learning these syncopated rhythms will improve your internal timing and ability to lock into a rhythm section. It also teaches you how comparatively simple note choices can become much more interesting when combined with carefully placed rhythmic accents.
Power Chords and Heavy Rhythm Playing
Power chords remain an essential part of the Killswitch Engage sound, providing weight and harmonic movement between the tighter single-note riffs. The challenge is not simply forming the shapes but moving between them cleanly while controlling unwanted string noise.
Working through the power chord passages in “In Due Time” will improve your fretting-hand accuracy, muting and chord changes. These skills are fundamental for rock and metal rhythm guitar and will help you achieve a cleaner, more professional sound when playing with high-gain tones.
Open-String Riffing
Open strings are an important ingredient in modern metal riff writing, allowing guitarists to combine a strong pedal tone with moving fretted notes. “In Due Time” makes effective use of this approach to create riffs that feel both melodic and aggressive.
Learning open-string riffs helps develop coordination between repeated pedal notes and changing fretted notes. It also provides valuable insight into constructing your own metal riffs, demonstrating how a recurring low note can provide a foundation for more complex melodic and rhythmic ideas.
Dual-Guitar Harmonies
One of the defining characteristics of Killswitch Engage is the relationship between the two guitars. Rather than simply doubling every riff, the guitars can separate into complementary melodic parts and harmonised lines, bringing a strong melodic metal influence into the band’s heavier sound.
Studying the dual-guitar harmonies in “In Due Time” will help you understand how melodic lines can be harmonised to create a broader and more dramatic sound. This is particularly useful for players interested in metalcore, melodic death metal and traditional heavy metal, where harmonised guitar melodies are a major stylistic feature.
Slides and Position Shifts
Slides provide a smooth way of connecting notes and moving between different areas of the fretboard. Within fast metal guitar parts, they can also become part of the rhythmic character of a riff rather than simply being an ornamental technique.
Practising the slides found throughout the song will improve your fretting-hand accuracy when shifting positions. Being able to move confidently around the neck is particularly valuable when performing fast riffs where even a small hesitation can disrupt the groove.
Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs
Legato techniques such as hammer-ons and pull-offs allow notes to flow together without every note requiring a separate pick attack. Used within melodic and lead passages, they provide a contrast to the sharper articulation of alternate-picked phrases.
Learning these techniques in the context of “In Due Time” will help improve fretting-hand strength, coordination and note consistency. The goal is to make hammered and pulled-off notes sound as confident as picked notes, creating smooth phrases without losing rhythmic precision.
Vibrato and Expressive Lead Playing
Although precision is crucial to the Killswitch Engage guitar style, expression is equally important when melodic lead lines appear. Vibrato gives sustained notes movement and personality, helping them stand out against the dense rhythm guitars.
Working on the vibrato in this lesson will improve pitch control and help you develop a more expressive lead guitar sound. Controlled vibrato is one of the most transferable lead guitar techniques and can make even a relatively simple melodic phrase sound considerably more confident.
Harmonics and Metal Guitar Texture
Harmonics can add additional colour and aggression to a high-gain guitar sound. Within modern metal, they are often used as accents that jump out of otherwise tightly controlled rhythm passages.
Learning to produce harmonics consistently will improve your picking-hand control and understanding of how different areas of the string respond. It also gives you another powerful tool for adding excitement and variation to your own metal riffs.
Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel
The guitar partnership of Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel is central to the Killswitch Engage sound. Their playing combines the precision and aggression of modern metal with the melodic sensibilities of classic heavy metal and melodic death metal. Tight rhythm guitars, harmonised melodies and carefully arranged complementary parts have helped make their approach highly influential within metalcore.
“In Due Time” is a particularly strong example of this style, balancing technical riffing with memorable melodic ideas. Studying the guitar parts offers valuable insight into how heavy rhythm playing and melodic guitar work can coexist without either element sacrificing clarity or impact.
Why Learn In Due Time?
Learning “In Due Time” is an excellent challenge for intermediate and advanced metal guitarists who want to improve their rhythm accuracy, picking technique and overall fretboard control. The song demands consistency: fast passages need to remain articulate, palm-muted sections must stay tight, and melodic sections require both precision and expression.
By learning the track note for note, you will also gain a deeper understanding of modern metal arrangement. The contrast between heavy riffs, harmonised guitar lines and melodic lead passages demonstrates how Killswitch Engage create music that can sound aggressive and highly melodic at the same time.
For guitarists interested in metalcore guitar lessons, modern metal riffing, alternate picking, palm muting and dual-guitar harmonies, “In Due Time” provides a rewarding study that develops practical techniques you can take directly into your own playing and songwriting.
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