Learn the Interlude to To Live Is To Die by Metallica – Guitar Tutorial

If you're a fan of Metallica’s ...And Justice for All, you know that To Live Is To Die is one of their most hauntingly beautiful instrumentals. The interlude section, with its melancholic arpeggios and smooth transitions, stands out as an emotional centerpiece of the song. In this lesson, I’ll walk you through how to play the interlude using hybrid picking, a technique that blends the use of a guitar pick with fingerpicking for a smooth, articulate sound.

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Chords Used in This Lesson

The interlude revolves around four essential chords:

• A minor (Am)
• G major (G)
• E minor (Em)
• F major (F)

These chords are played in a flowing, fingerpicked style that creates the song’s signature ethereal feel.

Hybrid Picking – The Secret to Smooth Playing

For this tutorial, I’m using hybrid picking, which means I hold the pick between my thumb and index finger while using my middle and ring fingers to pluck the higher strings. This approach helps achieve clarity and control, making it easier to bring out the melody while maintaining a consistent rhythm.

Why Hybrid Picking?

• Allows for more precise note articulation compared to full pick strumming
• Gives the piece a soft, dynamic texture rather than a harsh attack
• Makes transitioning between bass notes and treble strings more fluid

If you’re new to hybrid picking, don’t worry—I break it down step by step in the video!

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How to Play the Interlude

The key to mastering this section is picking accuracy and smooth transitions between the Am, G, Em, and F chords. Here are a few quick tips to keep in mind:

🎸 Focus on the right-hand technique – Make sure your pick and fingers work together smoothly.
🎸 Watch your left-hand positioning – Keep your chord transitions clean to avoid string noise.
🎸 Play at a slow tempo first – Gradually build up speed to match the original recording.

I demonstrate all of this in the tutorial, so be sure to follow along!

Why This Tutorial is Special

I usually teach country guitar songs, but Metallica’s To Live Is To Die has such an iconic interlude that I wanted to break it down for my viewers. Whether you're a country player looking to expand your skills or a Metallica fan wanting to learn this beautiful piece, this lesson is a great way to improve your hybrid picking and fingerpicking control.

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🔗 Watch the full tutorial here

One more Hyrbid Picking Tutorial

If you enjoy hybrid picking and want to learn or practice some more, Here is a country song that uses the same technique. Spin You Around (1/24) - Morgan Wallen

Let me know in the comments if you’d like to see more tutorials like this. And as always, keep pickin’! 🎶