Benzin by Rammstein – Guitar Lesson

Get ready to ignite your guitar playing with our note-for-note guitar lesson of “Benzin” by Rammstein. Taken from the band’s 2005 album Rosenrot, “Benzin” is a driving, high-octane industrial metal anthem packed with raw riff energy, militaristic groove, and crushing heaviness. Its straightforward yet effective guitar parts make it a perfect track for players looking to sharpen their tight rhythm playing and tone control in a drop-tuned setting.

This detailed LickLibrary lesson walks you through every riff, transition, and performance nuance, focusing on four key techniques: power chords, altered tunings, palm muting, and slides. It’s a fantastic opportunity to dive into the world of Rammstein’s signature sound—tight, massive, and unforgiving. This lesson is taught by Stuart Shields.

Technique Focus

Power Chords

Power chords are the core of “Benzin,” forming the rhythmic bedrock of nearly every section. Kruspe plays them with precise attack and sustain, allowing the chords to breathe and punch with authority, particularly in the intro and chorus.

Learning benefit: Practicing power chords develops your left-hand accuracy and right-hand timing. These chords are essential in all styles of rock and metal and allow players to maintain clarity even under heavy distortion.

Altered Tunings

The song is played in a drop tuning (typically Drop C or Drop D depending on the performance), which allows for lower-end power and heavier tone while simplifying chord shapes and slides. This tuning also enables the percussive chugging that Rammstein is known for.

Learning benefit: Working with altered tunings enhances your musical versatility and gives you access to darker, heavier riffing possibilities. It’s crucial for developing your tone in modern metal and adapting your playing to suit different sonic environments.

Palm Muting

Precision palm muting is one of the key stylistic techniques that gives “Benzin” its mechanical feel. Kruspe uses tight palm-muted rhythms to build tension, then opens up to wide, ringing chords for dramatic release.

Learning benefit: Mastering palm muting sharpens your control and dynamic range, allowing you to articulate riffs cleanly and add percussive energy to your playing.

Slides

Slides are used both rhythmically and expressively throughout the track, often to build tension and emphasize transitions. Whether it's sliding into a chord or out of a section, the technique adds movement and energy.

Learning benefit: Practicing slides improves coordination and phrasing. Slides are a subtle but powerful way to add aggression, drama, and character to your rhythm and lead work.

Why Learn This Song?

“Benzin” is the perfect study in restraint and power. It’s not about speed or complexity—it’s about control, groove, tone, and knowing when to hit hard and when to leave space. By mastering this track, you’ll strengthen your rhythm playing, develop your feel for industrial metal tone, and gain confidence playing in drop tunings.

Whether you’re aiming to expand your Rammstein repertoire, improve your stage-ready performance, or lock in with a rhythm section more tightly, this lesson will sharpen your skills and energize your playing.

About the Song and Rammstein’s Guitarist

“Benzin” features the unmistakable guitar work of Richard Z. Kruspe, Rammstein’s principal guitarist and a defining figure in industrial metal. Kruspe is known for his precise, minimalistic approach, using tone, space, and rhythm to drive songs with machine-like power rather than complexity. His playing blends perfectly with the band’s disciplined, orchestral arrangements and heavy electronic layering.

Kruspe’s impact on modern guitar tone and technique is significant. He’s helped pioneer the use of drop tunings, aggressive gating, and stripped-down riffing that prioritizes groove and sonic impact over flashy soloing. Learning a song like “Benzin” gives guitarists practical insight into controlling tone and mastering the core of rhythm-based metal guitar playing.

What You’ll Learn in This Lesson

This guitar lesson takes a deep dive into every aspect of Benzin—from its crushing intro riff and chugging verses to its melodic breakdown and chorus drive. You’ll explore how to lock into Rammstein’s tight timing, apply palm muting dynamically, and use slides for dramatic transitions. This is an ideal study for intermediate players wanting to develop a tighter rhythm hand, get comfortable with drop tuning, and explore a more industrial approach to metal guitar.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Power Chords
• Altered Tunings
• Palm Muting
• Slides

Unleash your industrial groove and sharpen your rhythm guitar arsenal with our complete Benzin lesson—Rammstein’s explosive anthem, broken down with precision and taught the LickLibrary way.