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Riff Tone
We Are the Champions
Queen
Guitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarBrian May Red Special
AmpVox AC30 (Normal channel, cranked, no master volume, 1970s model)
Amp Settings
gain7
bass6
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Notes
Studio recording, 1977. Classic Brian May setup: Red Special into treble booster into Vox AC30. No evidence of additional pedals for the riff section. Settings and effects inferred from era, genre, and multiple sources confirming the classic May signal chain.
Tone Character(10)
harmonically richarticulate attackslightly overdrivenmidrange focuseddynamic and responsivesinging sustaintight and controlledbright but smoothclassic British crunchclear note separation
Difficulty
While the riff is not technically advanced, it requires careful attention to chord changes, dynamic picking, and rhythmic precision to capture the iconic sound.
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarBrian May Red Special
AmpVox AC30 (Normal channel, cranked, no master volume, 1970s model)
Amp Settings
gain7
bass6
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
Notes
Studio recording, 1977. Classic Brian May setup: Red Special into treble booster into Vox AC30. No evidence of additional pedals for the riff section. Settings and effects inferred from era, genre, and multiple sources confirming the classic May signal chain.
Tone Character(10)
harmonically richarticulate attackslightly overdrivenmidrange focuseddynamic and responsivesinging sustaintight and controlledbright but smoothclassic British crunchclear note separation
Difficulty
While the riff is not technically advanced, it requires careful attention to chord changes, dynamic picking, and rhythmic precision to capture the iconic sound.