Aerials Solo Guitar Tone Settings — System Of A Down
System Of A Down · 2000s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Studio recording, 2001 (Toxicity album). Daron Malakian used a Gibson Les Paul Standard for clean parts on 'Aerials' and ran it into a Friedman BE-100 (clean channel) for studio tones. No evidence of pedal use for clean section; all drive comes from amp. Settings estimated based on typical Friedman clean channel use for modern rock/metal clean tones.
Amp Settings
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Tone Character
- warm and smooth
- bell-like clarity
- full-bodied lows
- clear, present highs
- articulate single-note lines
- slightly compressed
- studio-polished
- dynamic response
- no audible breakup
- rounded, not glassy
Playing Technique
- Pick near the neck for roundness · difficulty 2/5Move the picking hand slightly away from the bridge and use a moderate stroke. The warmer attack complements the Les Paul-style humbucker without losing note definition.
- Let each note finish its sentence · difficulty 3/5Hold sustained notes until the next phrase needs space, then release them cleanly. The line depends on patient timing more than a large amount of reverb.
- Use slow, controlled vibrato · difficulty 3/5Start the note straight, then add a narrow wrist vibrato after it settles. Wide, early vibrato can make the clean solo sound nervous and less vocal.
- Keep the low strings quiet · difficulty 2/5Mute unused bass strings with the fretting hand and picking-hand contact. A clean humbucker tone exposes sympathetic noise, especially when sustained notes are overlapping.
Sources
Tone Story / Why This Tone Works
- Toxicity eraAerials is a 2001 Toxicity-era track, combining System Of A Down's heavy-metal vocabulary with an unusually spacious melodic release.
- Daron Malakian’s colorMalakian’s guitar identity can be angular and aggressive, but this section shows the value of his warmer, vocal-like single-note phrasing.
- Warm clean evidenceThe page's Les Paul and Friedman BE-100 clean-channel evidence favors rounded lows, clear highs, and a full center rather than a thin Fender sparkle.
- Why the solo landsThe clean solo feels memorable because it opens emotional space after the heavier sections, letting sustain and timing carry the drama.
What Fans Are Saying About This Tone?
Here after watching machine gun kelly's cover. Needed to rinse my ears out. Feel much better now
Vote your takeY'all be like "2017 anyone?" bitch I'm here everyday
Vote your takegrew up in a really religious home where everything was censored and music was only instrumental. 27 years old and i'm just now discovering system of a down. this is just magic. Edit: Thanks for the amazing comments and suggestions :)
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