Song Rig

Thunder March

Marty Friedman · Scenes · 1992

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

Marty's first post-Megadeth album solo track — a full orchestral arrangement with Marty's guitar as the lead voice. The tone is heavy enough for the metal context but controlled enough to blend with the orchestral backing, sitting at the intersection of neoclassical shred and cinematic guitar playing.

Signal Chain

1Jackson Soloist (bridge humbucker)
2Mesa Boogie Mark II or Marshall (moderate-to-high gain)
3Boss DD-3 Delay

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume8

Bass6

Mid7

Treble7

Presence7

High gain but with controlled dynamics to blend with the orchestral arrangement — Marty adjusts his picking attack rather than the amp gain to create dynamic variety within the neoclassical arrangement.

Technique

How to Play It

Pentatonic-plus-exotic scales — Marty builds melodic lines using Western pentatonic as a foundation but inserts notes from Japanese and Middle Eastern scales at specific phrase points, creating the instantly recognisable Friedman melodic fingerprint.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

Superstrat → Mesa Boogie or Marshall at high gain → study the chromatic approach notes Marty inserts between pentatonic positions: he typically adds the flat 2nd and flat 6th for the exotic flavour.

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