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Staind - Outside - Guitar Lesson

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Key E minor
Staind - Outside guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Staind Alternative Rock E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Outside

Few songs in Alternative Rock ask a guitarist to do more with less than "Outside" by Staind. The song sits in E minor at a relaxed 80 BPM, and that slow tempo is actually part of the challenge: every note you play has room to breathe, so any hesitation or muted string is immediately exposed. The core guitar work revolves around clean, fingerstyle-influenced picking patterns that need a light, consistent touch rather than any aggressive strumming. Getting the dynamics right, knowing when to stay soft and when to let the tone swell slightly, is where most players need the most work. Because the picking pattern repeats through long sections, it is easy to assume it will feel comfortable quickly, but small inconsistencies in timing add up. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the main picking figure slowed down until your right hand is completely relaxed and even before bringing it back up to tempo.

  • The song is played in E Standard tuning, so no retuning is needed, but the E minor key rewards keeping your fretting hand relaxed to sustain the gentle, melodic feel.
  • The main guitar part relies on a clean fingerpicked or hybrid-picked arpeggio pattern, making right-hand consistency and even note separation the primary technical focus.
  • At 80 BPM the slow pace leaves little to hide behind, so practicing the picking pattern in short looped sections at reduced speed is the most effective way to build accuracy.

How to Play Outside

Tuning: E Standard · Key: E minor · Tempo: 80 BPM

Loop each section and focus on clean, even timing rather than speed, with the metronome at 80 BPM.

PRS Custom 24
Guitar

PRS Custom 24

Mike Mushok's signature PRS Custom 24 provides the warm, dense mahogany resonance that defines Staind's heavy yet articulate tone across drop tunings. The 25-inch scale length and moderate-to-hot humbuckers deliver clarity and definition even at Drop B, essential for keeping his riffs tight and defined.

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Amp

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

Mushok's Dual Rectifier head generates the saturated, scooped-mid distortion heard throughout 'Dysfunction' and 'Break the Cycle,' while its clean channel delivers the glassy tones for verse sections. Running gain at 6-7 on high-gain channels provides thick saturation without losing control in lower tunings.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

The Cry Baby wah allows Mushok to add expressive, emotional accents to his lead lines and solos while maintaining his minimalist pedalboard philosophy. Every wah sweep serves the song's dynamics rather than becoming a flashy distraction from Staind's melodic songwriting.

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Pedal

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

Mushok uses the Boss DD-3 to craft ambient, shimmering textures on clean arpeggiated passages that contrast with the band's heavy riffing sections. The delay adds spacious depth to quieter verses without cluttering the mix in Staind's dynamic song arrangements.

ISP Decimator Noise Gate
Pedal

ISP Decimator Noise Gate

The ISP Decimator noise gate is critical for keeping Mushok's high-gain Mesa tone tight and controlled when playing heavily detuned guitars at lower frequencies. It eliminates feedback and hum while maintaining sustain, allowing him to nail clean riff articulation in Drop B tuning.

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