The Main Riff
For many players, “Kryptonite” is at the top of the list of riffs to learn.
Why? Because it’s fairly easy to learn and everyone will recognize it as soon as you start playing it.
Here’s how to play it!
The main riff to this song is actually rather easy. All you need to do for the first measure is place your 1st finger on the second fret on the “A” string. Place your 3rd and 4th fingers on the “D” string and the “G” string. Last, place your 2nd finger on the third fret on the “B” string. All you need to do is pick it out accordingly. For the next measure, simply lift your 1st and 2nd fingers off the fretboard and play according to the tablature.
In the third measure, you will be placing your 2nd finger on the third fret on the “low E” string. Next, place your 1st finger on the second fret on the “A” string. Play accordingly. You are playing a G based chord. In the fourth measure, you will simply need to place your 2nd and 3rd fingers on the “D” and “G” strings. Pick out the measure and proceed.
For the fifth measure, notice that you are playing what you did in the first measure. In the sixth measure, this time you will need to leave only your 1st and 4th fingers on the fretboard and pick out the open notes according to the tablature. The seventh measure is just like the third measure, but easier. Just use your 2nd finger on the third fret on the “low E” string and pick the open notes out. The last measure is self-explanatory.
Guitar Solo
Guitar 1
In the guitar solo, notice that you will start off with your 4th finger on the seventh fret on the “low E” string. Then, use your 1st finger to play the fourth fret on the “A” string. Next, use your 2nd finger to play the fifth fret on the same string. For the next measure, you will be alternating the last two fingers you used. Next, you will need to immediately use your 2nd finger to slide to the seventh fret on the “A” string. A slide is when you go to the desired point on the tablature, leaving the finger you are using to slide with on the string being played while going to the next note. Then you just move the 2nd finger back to the fifth fret on the same string. There you will need to perform a vibrato. That is when you shake the string that you are playing rapidly to produce a vibrating effect, hence the name “vibrato.” (vibrate ) You will then play accordingly and use your 2nd finger to play the fifth fret on the “low E” string to end that measure.
For the next two measures, your best bet is to play this one by ear. You will need to use your 4th finger to play the seventh frets on the “low E” string in between the fifth frets, which you would use your 2nd finger to also play. The same goes with the last two measures, as you will notice that you are playing the same notes with the same fingers that you have already played. The only difference here is timing.
Guitar 2
This guitar part is the rhythm part of the song. The first, second, fifth, and sixth measures are identical here. All you do for the first measure is barre your 1st finger on the second fret on the “low E” string and the “A” string. Then, just use your 3rd and 4th fingers to play the fourth frets on the “D” string and the “G” string. Remember the mutes at the end of the measures.
In the third measure, use your 1st and 3rd fingers to play the third frets on the “low E” string and the “B” string. Remember the open notes and the mutes. Next, use your 2nd and 3rd fingers on the “D” string and the “G” string on the second fret. Play the open note as well. This measure is also identical to the seventh measure. For the last measure of this guitar part, place your 1st finger on the “low E” string on the second fret, your 3rd and 4th fingers on the fourth frets on the “A” string and the “D” string, and your 2nd finger on the third fret on the “G” string.