Take The Power Back – Rage Against The Machine

Take The Power Back by Rage Against The Machine is a defining anthem of the early ‘90s, combining explosive guitar riffs, politically charged lyrics, and groove-heavy rhythms. This track showcases the innovative guitar work of Tom Morello, whose unorthodox approach and creative playing style pushed the boundaries of rock and metal guitar. At Licklibrary.com, our note-for-note guitar lesson gives you the tools to learn this powerful song in full, while also breaking down the key techniques that make it such a landmark track.

Whether you're an intermediate player aiming to refine your skills or an advanced guitarist looking to capture the nuances of Morello's playing, this lesson is your gateway to mastering the raw energy and funk-metal brilliance of Rage Against The Machine. Sam Bell breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Guitarist – Tom Morello

Tom Morello is widely regarded as one of the most inventive guitarists of his generation. Best known for his work with Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave, and his solo project The Nightwatchman, Morello fuses hard rock aggression with turntable-style effects, percussive playing, and cutting-edge use of pedals and hardware. His playing on “Take The Power Back” is a perfect example of his ability to blend groove, attitude, and experimentation in a way that challenges the norms of guitar playing.

Studying Morello's techniques gives guitarists the opportunity to break free from conventional playing habits and explore new creative territory.

What You’ll Learn in This Lesson

Our Take The Power Back guitar lesson at Licklibrary walks you through every riff, lick, and sonic detail, helping you master both the rhythm and lead sections of the track. Each technique is thoroughly explained and demonstrated, ensuring that you not only learn how to play it, but why it’s played that way.

Funk-Based Palm Muting and Percussive Riffing

The track opens with a slap-funk inspired riff that relies on tight palm muting and rhythmic accuracy. This percussive use of the guitar creates an infectious groove, locking tightly with the bass and drums. The technique also includes quick, controlled note bursts and subtle left-hand muting for added staccato effect.

Benefit: This approach builds rhythmic precision, control, and improves your ability to play groove-heavy riffs with authority.

Alternate Picking Precision

To execute the song’s syncopated and fast-moving riffs, alternate picking is essential. The sharp attack and fluid motion needed to play these riffs at tempo make alternate picking one of the cornerstone techniques in this lesson.

Benefit: Practicing alternate picking increases speed, accuracy, and endurance in your picking hand, essential for tight modern riffing.

Legato: Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

Morello's phrasing makes strong use of legato lines, with hammer-ons and pull-offs adding a smooth, flowing character to otherwise aggressive lines. These techniques are crucial for fluidity and expressiveness.

Benefit: Learning legato helps you develop finger strength, timing, and the ability to play more melodically and efficiently.

Harmonics and Creative Sound Effects

Throughout the song, harmonics are used to produce chime-like tones and DJ-inspired effects. These include both natural harmonics and percussive techniques that emulate scratching, adding a unique flair to the guitar tone.

Benefit: Understanding harmonics expands your tonal range and provides new textures for creative expression.

Heavy-Hitting Power Chords

The chorus of "Take The Power Back" punches through with aggressive power chord riffs that shift between syncopated accents and straightforward driving rhythm. These parts demand precision and control, especially when shifting across the fretboard.

Benefit: Power chords form the backbone of rock rhythm guitar and are crucial for building strength, stamina, and chordal control.

Slides for Seamless Transitions

Slides are used throughout the song to transition between riffs and add emphasis to specific phrases. Morello uses them to add a sense of motion and fluidity within even the heaviest parts.

Benefit: Slides help with fretboard navigation and can dramatically enhance the musical phrasing in your lead and rhythm parts.

Expressive String Bending

While not overused in this track, string bending adds character and emphasis, especially in the expressive fills and lead work during the breakdown sections.

Benefit: Practicing string bending strengthens your fingers and sharpens your pitch accuracy, essential for emotive soloing.

Whammy Bar Effects

Morello’s experimental soloing occasionally calls upon the whammy bar to create pitch dives and modulated textures that set his style apart. Even when used sparingly, it adds a layer of intensity and chaos to the sound.

Benefit: Incorporating whammy bar tricks gives you expressive capabilities beyond standard technique and helps you experiment with unconventional sounds.

Why This Lesson Is Essential

Learning Take The Power Back offers more than just the satisfaction of playing an iconic track—it’s a full-body guitar workout. From rhythm precision and funk-inspired grooves to textural soundscapes and tight metal riffs, this song is packed with techniques that will sharpen every aspect of your playing. It’s also a perfect example of how attitude and creativity can turn a relatively simple set of tools into something extraordinary.

With detailed, slow walkthroughs and accurate demonstrations, this Licklibrary lesson ensures you’ll be able to play every riff with the feel and intensity it deserves.

Techniques Featured in "Take The Power Back"

• Palm Muting
• Alternate Picking
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Harmonics
• Power Chords
• Slides
• String Bending
• Whammy Bar Tricks

Explore the Take The Power Back lesson now at Licklibrary.com and unlock the secrets of Tom Morello’s revolutionary guitar style.