Feuer Frei! by Rammstein – Guitar Lesson

Experience the full force of German industrial metal with our note-for-note guitar lesson of “Feuer Frei!” by Rammstein. Released in 2002 as part of their album Mutter, “Feuer Frei!” is a high-energy, explosive track that blends punishing guitar tones, military-precision rhythm, and aggressive riffing. Famously featured in the action film xXx, this song is a fan favourite and an essential addition to any guitarist’s Rammstein repertoire.

In this detailed LickLibrary guitar lesson, we break down every part of the track with a focus on the techniques that define Rammstein’s unique sound: power chords, altered tunings, palm muting, and hammer-ons. You’ll learn not just how to play the riffs, but how to perform them with the precision, tone, and intensity that Richard Z. Kruspe is known for. This lesson is taught by Stuart Shields.

Technique Focus

Power Chords

“Feuer Frei!” is built around massive, chugging power chords, which give the song its backbone and intensity. These are delivered with exceptional clarity and force, providing both rhythmic momentum and harmonic drive throughout the song.

Learning benefit: Practicing power chords strengthens your fretting-hand accuracy and stamina. These chords are foundational to heavy music and essential for playing cleanly under high-gain settings.

Altered Tunings

Like many Rammstein tracks, “Feuer Frei!” uses altered tunings, allowing Kruspe to achieve a lower, heavier sound while simplifying his chord voicings. The drop tuning also adds depth and drama to the guitar parts, making the riffs hit with more authority.

Learning benefit: Working with altered tunings helps expand your tonal palette and unlock new creative possibilities. It also teaches you how to adapt familiar shapes and patterns to different tunings, an important skill for any modern guitarist.

Palm Muting

Palm muting is used heavily throughout the track, especially in the verse sections, to create a tight, percussive effect. This technique gives the riffs a sense of urgency and mechanical control, perfectly matching the song’s industrial aesthetic.

Learning benefit: Practicing palm muting develops right-hand precision, dynamic control, and articulation. It’s essential for playing tight, aggressive rhythm parts and adding texture to your riffs.

Hammer-Ons

While often associated with lead guitar, hammer-ons are used subtly in this track to add rhythmic flow and articulation between chord changes and riff fragments. These short bursts of legato help maintain fluid motion without breaking the song’s rhythmic structure.

Learning benefit: Incorporating hammer-ons into rhythm playing adds fluidity and variation to your phrasing. It’s a great way to create contrast between muted chugs and sustained notes without overcomplicating the riff.

Why Learn This Song?

“Feuer Frei!” is a perfect study in how simplicity, when paired with precision and tone, can produce enormous musical impact. With its aggressive attack and tight arrangement, it teaches the fundamentals of modern metal rhythm guitar through the lens of industrial groove and dynamic control.

Whether you're a Rammstein fan or a guitarist looking to build stage-ready rhythm chops, this lesson gives you the tools to play with more clarity, power, and control. It’s an ideal addition to your practice routine if you're aiming to develop the kind of tone and presence that commands attention in any band setting.

About the Guitarist and Their Influence

Rammstein’s guitarist Richard Z. Kruspe is one of the most important figures in modern industrial metal. His guitar style is defined by mechanical precision, tight rhythm work, and a massive tone that cuts through dense arrangements of synths and orchestration. Kruspe’s influence lies in his ability to use simple ideas and turn them into powerful statements—focusing on dynamics, space, and tone rather than speed or complexity.

“Feuer Frei!” is a perfect example of Kruspe’s approach: rhythmically tight, harmonically sparse, and relentlessly heavy. Learning this track provides an excellent opportunity to build your rhythm chops and explore how minimalistic playing can be both commanding and expressive.

What You’ll Learn in This Lesson

This LickLibrary lesson walks you through each section of “Feuer Frei!”, from the relentless intro riff to the machine-like verse chugs and the thunderous chorus. You'll be guided through the nuances of tone, timing, and technique, learning how to combine heaviness with clarity—just like Kruspe does in the studio and on stage.

Perfect for intermediate and advanced guitarists, this lesson helps you hone your rhythm guitar technique and develop a better understanding of playing in drop tunings with tight gain control and dynamic emphasis.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Power Chords
• Altered Tunings
• Palm Muting
• Hammer-Ons

Ignite your rhythm guitar playing with the high-voltage energy of Feuer Frei!—broken down note-for-note in this powerful LickLibrary lesson designed to help you master the modern metal sound.