"No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age

"No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age is a modern rock anthem packed with unique and driving guitar parts that are both fun to play and filled with essential techniques. This note-for-note guitar lesson at LickLibrary.com will teach you how to master the iconic guitar riffs, leads, and chord progressions that make this song so memorable. Whether you're an intermediate player or looking to expand your guitar technique arsenal, learning the song will greatly benefit your guitar skills. In this article, we'll explore the techniques covered in our lesson and how mastering them will help you become a more versatile guitarist. Michael Casswell breaks down this classic 00's track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

The Song and the Guitar Players

The guitar work in "No One Knows" was primarily laid down by Josh Homme, the lead guitarist and frontman of Queens of the Stone Age. Homme is known for his unconventional style, blending elements of hard rock, desert rock, and even alternative and punk. His riff-driven approach is as rhythmic as it is melodic, making the guitar parts in this song particularly interesting. Josh Homme's influence as a guitarist comes from blending groove and heaviness with a sense of space, which is a signature element in "No One Knows."

This song also includes contributions from Dave Grohl on drums, giving the entire track a driving, syncopated rhythm that complements the guitar work. By studying this lesson, you'll also gain an appreciation for how guitar parts can interact with drums to create a dynamic and powerful rock sound.

Techniques Focused in the Lesson

Power Chords

The foundation of the rhythm guitar in "No One Knows" is built on power chords, which are essential for any rock guitarist. These chords strip down the harmony to the root and fifth, giving you a strong, punchy sound that cuts through the mix. Power chords are versatile and can be used in various genres, from punk to metal.

Benefit: Learning to play power chords helps you develop your rhythm skills and is crucial for playing heavier rock styles. It also gives you a solid foundation for more complex chord progressions.

Palm Muting

Palm muting is used extensively in the song’s main riff, giving it a tight, rhythmic feel. This technique involves resting the side of your picking hand on the strings near the bridge while picking, resulting in a muffled sound.

Benefit: Mastering palm muting enhances your control over dynamics and allows you to create a more percussive sound. It's an essential technique for rock and metal guitarists to give riffs a punchy and staccato quality.

Alternate Picking

The fast-paced nature of some parts in "No One Knows" requires proficient alternate picking. This technique involves alternating between downstrokes and upstrokes when picking, allowing for faster and more efficient playing.

Benefit: Alternate picking helps you build speed and precision, which is essential for executing intricate riffs and solos. It also improves your ability to play complex rhythms cleanly.

String Bending

The solo section of "No One Knows" features expressive string bending, where you bend a note to reach a higher pitch. Bending is used to add a bluesy, vocal-like quality to lead guitar lines.

Benefit: Learning how to execute smooth and accurate bends is key to developing emotional expression in your guitar playing. It also helps with pitch control and finger strength.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

In some of the lead sections and melodic runs, you’ll encounter hammer-ons and pull-offs. These techniques allow for fluid note transitions without picking each note, contributing to a smoother and more legato sound.

Benefit: Mastering hammer-ons and pull-offs will improve your finger strength and dexterity. These techniques are vital for playing fast licks and smooth melodic lines.

Slides

There are several moments in the song where slides are used, especially in transitions between notes or chords. Sliding from one note to another creates a seamless connection and adds a smooth, flowing quality to the guitar part.

Benefit: Slides help develop your sense of phrasing and articulation. They also add variety to your playing and can create a more expressive lead guitar style.

Syncopated Rhythms

The song’s distinctive groove is driven by syncopated rhythms, where the emphasis is placed on the off-beats. This rhythmic technique gives the song its unmistakable groove and makes the riff stand out.

Benefit: Learning syncopation sharpens your timing and rhythmic accuracy. It’s crucial for adding groove and complexity to your guitar parts, especially when playing with a band.

Vibrato

Throughout the solos and melodic sections, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to use vibrato. This technique adds expression by subtly varying the pitch of a note, giving it a more "singing" quality.

Benefit: Vibrato adds emotion and personality to your playing. It’s an essential tool for developing your individual voice as a guitarist and is especially useful in soloing and lead playing.

List of Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• Alternate Picking
• String Bending
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Slides
• Syncopated Rhythms
• Vibrato

By learning "No One Knows" note for note, you’ll not only master a classic rock song, but you’ll also build your guitar technique toolbox. Each of these techniques contributes to making you a more dynamic, expressive, and technically proficient guitarist. Dive into the lesson and rock out with this modern classic!