Practice Studio

Pearl Jam - Black - Guitar Tab

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

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Select a Loop

Start of your loop
End of your loop

Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key E major
PLAY WITH BACKING TRACK
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
AI tone preset

AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.

Capo Advisor 0 E major · Original key

About Black


Black is a defining track from Pearl Jam's 1991 debut album Ten, featuring Eddie Vedder's emotive vocals paired with Stone Gossard's memorable guitar work. This alternative rock staple showcases dynamic song structure and expressive lead playing that makes it rewarding for electric guitarists learning both rhythm and melodic elements.

  • Fifth track on Pearl Jam's debut album Ten, a cornerstone of 1990s grunge.
  • Stone Gossard wrote the music while Eddie Vedder composed the lyrics for this emotional composition.
  • Features dynamic shifts between quiet verses and powerful choruses, excellent for studying contrast.

How to Play Black

Tuning: E Standard · Key: E major · Tempo: 76 BPM

Loop each section and focus on clean, even timing rather than speed, with the metronome at 76 BPM.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Mike McCready's signature instrument, with glassy single-coil pickups that deliver his iconic vocal-like leads and dynamic wah tones on classics like 'Alive' and 'Yellow Ledbetter.' The Strat's clarity cuts through Pearl Jam's heavy rhythm section.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Stone Gossard occasionally deploys the Telecaster for its bright, cutting midrange to complement his primary Gibson arsenal, adding tonal variety to Pearl Jam's layered rhythm approach without sacrificing sustain.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Stone Gossard's main rhythm weapon, the '53 Goldtop Les Paul delivers the warm, thick humbucker tones that anchor Pearl Jam's foundation with sustain and midrange presence perfect for the band's sludgy grunge aesthetic.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Gossard's alternate heavy hitter providing deeper, thicker tones than the Standard for songs demanding extra weight and sustain, crucial to Pearl Jam's ability to shift between raw and refined sonic textures.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

McCready and Gossard's tone weapon of choice, the JCM800 produces the warm, mid-heavy natural tube overdrive that defines Pearl Jam's 'Ten' era sound with enough grit for leads and clarity for chord definition.

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Amp

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

Gossard's heavy-duty amplifier option delivering aggressive, saturated tones with tight low-end for Pearl Jam's heavier material, offering more modern crunch than vintage Marshalls when maximum sustain is required.

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)