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The Strokes - You Only Live Once - Guitar Tab

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

Not in tune?

Select a Loop

Start of your loop
End of your loop

Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key C minor
The Strokes - You Only Live Once guitar tab video
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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.
The Strokes Indie Rock C minor
Capo Advisor 0 C minor · Original key

About You Only Live Once

You Only Live Once is the opening track from The Strokes' third studio album, First Impressions of Earth. Written by Julian Casablancas and produced by David Kahne and Gordon Raphael, this rock song showcases the band's distinctive post-punk revival sound. It's an excellent piece for electric guitarists looking to master angular riffs and energetic rhythmic patterns characteristic of The Strokes' style.

  • The song was released as the third and final single from First Impressions of Earth in 2006.
  • Julian Casablancas wrote the track with production collaboration from David Kahne and Gordon Raphael.
  • The Strokes performed this song on major late-night television programs including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

How to Play You Only Live Once

Tuning: E Standard · Key: C minor · Tempo: 92 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 92 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Albert Hammond Jr.'s primary rhythm guitar, delivering the bright, snappy single-coil tone that perfectly contrasts Nick Valensi's thicker leads. The crisp attack and percussive quality sit cleanly in the mix without muddying The Strokes' minimalist two-guitar sound.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

While not Hammond Jr.'s main choice, a Les Paul Standard could provide the thicker, warmer humbucker tone closer to Valensi's semi-hollow aesthetic. It would sacrifice the rhythmic clarity The Strokes depend on for their tight, articulate interplay.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Similar to the Standard, a Les Paul Custom's thick, dark character moves away from The Strokes' signature bright-and-warm contrast. It lacks the snappy attack needed for Hammond Jr.'s rhythm role or the midrange punch of Valensi's P-94 pickups.

Gibson ES-335
Guitar

Gibson ES-335

Valensi's semi-hollow alternative to his Riviera, the ES-335 delivers that warm, mid-forward lead tone with enough bite to cut through. Its slightly compressed character perfectly complements the band's focus on natural amp breakup and dynamic expression.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

A signature amp for The Strokes' crunchy, slightly overdriven clean tone, the Twin Reverb breaks up naturally at moderate gain without high-gain distortion. Its tube circuitry and built-in reverb capture that lo-fi studio character that defines their early records.

Boss DS-1 Distortion
Pedal

Boss DS-1 Distortion

Used sparingly for subtle solo boosts rather than heavy distortion, the DS-1 fits The Strokes' minimalist pedal philosophy. It pushes their already-breakup amps just enough for lead definition without abandoning their core compressed, clean tone.

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