The 2000s Guitar
2000–2009
The 2000s were a transitional decade for guitar. Indie rock, metalcore, post-grunge and progressive bands kept the instrument alive while pop moved toward electronic production. The guitarists who thrived were the ones who brought something new to the table.
Muse, Green Day, Coldplay, Linkin Park and Iron Maiden (still going strong) define our 2000s collection. From stadium anthems to bedroom recordings, this decade had range.
Essential Songs from The 2000s
Queens of the Stone Age 1
Christina Aguilera 2
Sonata Arctica 1
Audioslave 3
Gnarls Barkley 1
Beyoncé 1
blink-182 1
James Blunt 1
Dimmu Borgir 1
Alter Bridge 1
Pirates of the Caribbean 3
Alice in Chains 1
Coldplay 6
Death Cab for Cutie 1
Green Day 5
Dance Of Death 1
Deftones 4
Dissection 1
System Of A Down 3
3 Doors Down 2
Foo Fighters 4
Crazy Frog 1
Lady Gaga 1
David Gilmour 1
Pearl Jam 1
Bon Jovi 3
Gary Jules 1
The Killers 1
Avril Lavigne 1
Kings of Leon 1
Iron Maiden 11
- 1 Brave New World Janick Gers's TAB 2000
- 2 For the Greater Good of God TAB 2006
- 3 For The Greater Good Of God Dave Murray TAB 2006
- 4 For The Greater Good Of God Janick Gers's TAB 2006
- 5 No More Lies _ International _ TAB 2006
- 6 Paschendale Dave Murray's TAB 2003
- 7 The Longest Day TAB 2004
- 8 The Longest Day Dave Murray TAB 2003
- 9 The Mercenary TAB 2006
- 10 The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg TAB 2006
- 11 The Wicker Man COVER 2000
Eurythmics / Marilyn Manson 1
Thirty Seconds To Mars 1
John Mayer 5
Metallica 4
Modest Mouse 1
Puddle of Mudd 1
Muse 19
- 1 Blackout LESSON 2006
- 2 Defector LESSON 2006
- 3 Hysteria LESSON 2003
- 4 Knights Of Cydonia LESSON 2006
- 5 Plug in Babe TAB 2006
- 6 Plug In Baby LESSON 2001
- 7 Pressure LESSON 2006
- 8 Starlight TAB 2006
- 9 Stockholm Syndrome - Intro LESSON 2006
- 10 Stockholm Syndrome - PreChorus, Chorus & Turnaround LESSON 2006
- 11 Stockholm Syndrome - Solo & Ending LESSON 2006
- 12 Stockholm Syndrome - Verse LESSON 2006
- 13 Stockholm Syndrome Pt.1 - Intro LESSON 2006
- 14 Stockholm Syndrome Pt.2 - Verse LESSON 2006
- 15 Stockholm Syndrome Pt.3 - PreChorus, Chorus & Turnaround LESSON 2006
- 16 Stockholm Syndrome Pt.4 - Solo & Ending LESSON 2006
- 17 Supermassive Black Hole LESSON 2006
- 18 Undisclosed Desires LESSON 2009
- 19 Uprising LESSON 2009
Peste Noire 1
The Offspring 1
Brad Paisley 1
Linkin Park 5
Red Hot Chili Peppers 2
John Petrucci 7
- 1 Glasgow Kiss LESSON 2005
- 2 Glasgow Kiss Pt.1 - Intro Section LESSON 2005
- 3 Glasgow Kiss Pt.2 - First Verse Section LESSON 2005
- 4 Glasgow Kiss Pt.3 - Harmony Section LESSON 2005
- 5 Glasgow Kiss Pt.4 - Acoustic Section LESSON 2005
- 6 Glasgow Kiss Pt.5 - First Solo LESSON 2005
- 7 Glasgow Kiss Pt.6 - Outro Solo LESSON 2005
Drowning Pool 1
Judas Priest 1
The Forgotten Pt2 1
Rammstein 1
Velvet Revolver 3
Papa Roach 1
Guns N' Roses 1
Joe Satriani 2
Schubert, Franz 1
Avenged Sevenfold 1
Shaun the Sheep 1
Slipknot 1
The White Stripes 1
The Strokes 1
Surftones 1
Dream Theater 2
Andy Timmons 1
Traditional 1
Train 1
Bullet For My Valentine 1
Robbie Williams 1
Jimmy Eat World 1
Guitar in the 2000s
Muse emerged as the decade's most inventive guitar band, blending classical influences, electronic elements and heavy riffs into something entirely unique. Hysteria's bass line (often played on guitar) became one of the most-requested tabs of the era.
Linkin Park brought guitar into the hip-hop crossover space. Green Day channeled punk into a full-blown rock opera with American Idiot. Coldplay proved that atmospheric, delay-drenched guitar could sell millions. And metal continued evolving through Tool's progressive approach and Iron Maiden's continued dominance.
Gear That Defined the Decade
Modeling amps (Line 6 Pod) made studio tones accessible to bedroom players. Seven-string guitars gained popularity in metal. Effects like the Boss DD-20 delay and Line 6 DL4 became staples. Home recording via DAWs democratized music production, and guitar-driven YouTube channels began to emerge.
Key Genres of the 2000s
Alternative Rock, Pop Punk, Alternative Metal, Progressive Metal, Heavy Metal. The 2000s kept guitar relevant by diversifying its role.