Welcome to the Black Parade
My Chemical Romance · The Black Parade · 2006
Ray Toro cut the record on a Gibson Les Paul Standard loaded with Seymour Duncan Phat Cat P-90s, through Rob Cavallo's 100-watt Marshall JCM800 - both confirmed in Toro's own interview about the sessions, though he doesn't break the solo out by name. Get most of the dirt from a cranked British-voiced amp rather than a pedal, keep the bass down so the fast runs stay tight, and use a Tube Screamer as a light boost for sustain. The huge size of the solo on the record is doubled tracks and Chris Lord-Alge's mix ambience, so don't chase it with more gain.
Where these numbers come from: worked out from the documented rig and the sound of the record
Tuning
Standard tuning, no capo
The record is in E standard in the key of G; note that the modern-era live version is played a half step down, so tabs labeled "2019 tuning" are in Eb and will not match the album.
Guitar
- Gibson Les Paul Standard (1991-93) · Seymour Duncan Phat Cat SPH90-1 P-90s · bridge pickup
- Gibson Les Paul Standard (Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 bridge) · Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 · bridge pickup
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 100W head
Toro's own DSL100 died in preproduction, so producer Rob Cavallo's JCM800 became the main head for the album; the cab is almost certainly a Marshall 4x12, but that specific detail is not documented for this track.
Pedals
- Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer · overdrive/boost · Drive 2-3, Tone 6, Level 7 - light boost in front of the amp to tighten and sustain the lead
Tone character
forward mids · tight British crunch · singing sustain · bright P-90 bite · layered, wide lead
The lead lines sit in G major pentatonic shapes but move fast, with rapid hammer-on/pull-off sequences, quick position shifts, and bends that need controlled vibrato to land in tune.
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