Dimebag Darrell

• The Randall solid-state amp is essential — do not substitute with a tube amp and expect the same tone. Solid-state gives the tight, scooped character
• Palm muting is the foundation of his rhythm playing — keep your picking-hand edge on the strings directly behind the saddles for maximum definition
• Pinch harmonics require the pick to barely protrude from the thumb and first finger — touch the string with the thumb flesh immediately after picking to produce the squeal
• Tune to Db standard (half step below Eb) — Pantera played a full step and a half down from standard, giving the massive, heavy feel
• The Boss MT-2 is used at moderate settings — tone scooped (bass and treble up, mid down), not at maximum gain
• DigiTech Whammy set to octave up, heel-down position — kick to toe for the screaming pinch harmonic effect
• Downpicking is preferred for rhythm riffs — Dimebag used a very heavy pick and downpicked most of the rhythmic work
• Keep the bridge pickup — he almost never used the neck pickup for his signature tones
• The "dimebag" squeal requires very heavy strings (. 11s or. 12s) for the tension needed for confident pinch harmonics

Dimebag Darrell's Pantera tone defined 1990s metal — crushing palm-muted riffs, pinch harmonics that could peel paint and an unmistakable Randall solid-state amp sound that every metal player tried to copy.