Learn to Play “Set Me Free” by Velvet Revolver

Unleash your inner rock god with LickLibrary’s exclusive note-for-note guitar lesson for “Set Me Free” by Velvet Revolver. This high-octane track, known for its raw energy and explosive riffs, provides the perfect opportunity to sharpen your rock and metal guitar chops. Whether you're looking to level up your lead guitar skills, master aggressive rhythm techniques, or expand your sonic vocabulary, this lesson delivers a detailed breakdown of the song’s parts, as played by legendary guitarist Slash. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Guitarist – Slash

Saul Hudson, better known as Slash, rose to fame as the lead guitarist of Guns N’ Roses before forming Velvet Revolver with members of Stone Temple Pilots and his GNR bandmate Duff McKagan. Known for his blues-infused phrasing, melodic sensibility, and iconic tone, Slash’s playing style bridges hard rock, classic rock, and metal with fluidity and passion. His work on “Set Me Free” showcases his gritty tone, soaring lead lines, and classic rock 'n' roll swagger. Learning this song gives players unique insight into Slash’s expressive, powerful approach to guitar.

Lesson Overview

This LickLibrary guitar lesson walks you through every riff, chord, and solo from “Set Me Free”, making sure you can play each part exactly as it was recorded. You’ll also dive deep into essential rock guitar techniques, with step-by-step explanations and practical advice from our expert tutors. Here’s what you’ll learn:

Aggressive Rhythm Guitar

The song kicks off with powerful open-string riffs and palm-muting that give the rhythm section its punchy, driving feel. These techniques create dynamic contrast and are essential for any rhythm guitarist looking to bring intensity and attitude to their playing.

Benefit: Developing tight, aggressive rhythm chops boosts timing and control, especially in rock and metal contexts. It also improves muting accuracy and left-hand coordination.

Slash’s Signature Lead Techniques

Throughout the solo sections, Slash employs a wide variety of expressive lead techniques. Players will get to grips with string bending, including bluesy bends and unison bends, giving notes a vocal-like quality and enhancing melodic phrasing.

Benefit: Mastering expressive bends adds emotional depth to your solos and helps you craft a more unique and soulful sound.

Hammer-Ons, Pull-Offs, and Legato Runs

Slash’s legato technique shines through with flowing hammer-ons, pull-offs, and legato passages. These lines bring smoothness and speed to the solo, with a fluid, connected feel.

Benefit: Practicing legato improves finger independence and economy of motion, allowing faster, cleaner execution of complex licks.

Pinched Harmonics and Vibrato

You’ll also work on pinched harmonics to add squealing accents and vibrato for rich sustain and character. Slash uses these to emphasise certain notes and elevate the energy of the performance.

Benefit: These techniques bring nuance and personality to your leads, helping you stand out as a player with feel and flair.

Slides and Double-Stop Bends

Another key element is Slash’s clever use of slides to connect notes with elegance, and double-stop bends to create harmonically rich lead lines.

Benefit: These techniques add dimension and vintage flavour to solos, while improving control over intonation and finger positioning.

Rock Solid Chord Work

While primarily riff-driven, “Set Me Free” also incorporates clever use of power chords and dynamic chord progressions. These are perfect for strengthening your chord voicing vocabulary and right-hand strumming discipline.

Benefit: Solidifying your rhythm and chord work is essential for any band or jam situation and supports songwriting abilities.

Techniques Used in the “Set Me Free” Guitar Lesson

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Double-Stop Bends
• Unison Bends
• Pinched Harmonics
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Slides
• Power Chords
• Palm-Muting
• Chord Progressions
• String Bending
• Bluesy Bends
• Open-String Riffs

With its powerful riffs, explosive lead sections, and iconic tone, “Set Me Free” is a must-learn for any rock guitarist. This LickLibrary lesson breaks it all down with clarity, ensuring you not only learn the song but develop a toolbox of techniques that you can use in your own playing. Whether you're gigging, recording, or just jamming at home, the skills you gain from this track will elevate your playing to the next level.