Down In A Hole Unplugged Guitar Lesson – Alice In Chains


In this lesson we are going to take an in depth look at how to play the unplugged version of "Down In A Hole" by Alice In Chains.

This stripped down version of this great 90's hard rock classic, is simple yet very effective.

In this Down In A Hole unplugged guitar lesson I will show you a nice version to play of this great song that works well on just one acoustic guitar.

On the original live recording, Alice In Chains had a second guitarist helping them fill out the more intimate acoustic setting, but you won't need him here!

The intro is based around 3 simple chords and is the only time in the song that guitarist Jerry Cantrell uses fingerpicking to create the melodic material within those chords.

As the band comes in we continue to play the same three chords in a arpeggiated picking style. The picking here is pretty random so it is more about recreating the sound and the style instead of learning everything note-for-note.

The chorus gets a little bit more adventurous using a melody over drone a note-for-note, arpeggio picking and power chords.

This song doesn't use and barre chords and includes a few different simple techniques. Because of this I think it would be a great study for the beginning guitarist. There is nothing here that will challenge you very much. All around a great song that is very accessible.

Have fun!

Carl...

If these free lessons help you, please donate to keep new ones coming daily. Thanks!! 🙂

Donate to GuitarLessons365
Other Amount:

Down In A Hole Unplugged Guitar Lesson - Alice In Chains

4 Comments

  1. Greg Lowe on March 3, 2015 at 3:10 pm

    Carl, can you go over the AIC nutshell (unplugged) for beginners to learn on Acoustic. I have the cords down but I cant get the strumming pattern and the chord changes within. Thanks.

  2. lisa mcneil on September 24, 2015 at 6:20 pm

    hey carl thank you for the free lessons. keeps me home at night. could you maybe do a couple of songs by staind? I enjoy learning from you. thanks for your time

  3. Kevin Leavitt on April 10, 2019 at 9:58 pm

    Would love for you to teach Curt Vile’s “Pretty Pimpin’. Thanks, KL

  4. Dr. Eli on May 21, 2020 at 7:06 am

    Hey Carl – hope quarantine is treating you well.

    Any way you might be able to put together a lesson for Tonic’s if you could only see. Your lessons are the clearest and best to be found.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.