Call Of Ktulu Tab by Metallica

Call Of Ktulu tab by Metallica

Guitar Tab

Artist: Metallica
Song: The Call of Ktulu - 8:52
Album: Ride the Lightning-1984


This tab does have most of the timings down correctly.

This is the order and times of how the song goes:
0:04 - intro x2
0:33 - riff 1 x4 (I call it the up & down riff)
0:47 - riff 2 x4 (up riff (4th time has a slight variation;
its not that hard to figure out)
1:01 - riff 1 x4 (add bass and drums)
1:15 - riff 2 x4 (add distortion on 4th time)
1:29 - riff 3 x4 (w var. (palm mute for most distorted
parts from now on (wah distortion in the background)
1:43 - riff 4 x4
1:56 - riff 3 x4
2:10 - riff 4 x4
2:24 - riff 5 x4
2:37 - riff 6 x4
2:51 - riff 5 x4
3:05 - riff 6 x4
3:19 - fill 1 x4 (3rd time add solo guitar)
3:46 - fill 2 x2
4:00 - riff 5 x4
4:13 - riff 6 x4
4:27 - riff 5 x4
4:41 - riff 6 x4
4:55 - riff 5 x4
5:09 - riff 6 x4
5:22 - fill 3 x4
5:37 - fill 4 x4
5:50 - fill 5 x3
6:00 - fill 6 x3
6:10 - riff 5 x4 (w/ variation)
6:24 - riff 3 x4
6:38 - riff 4 x4
6:55 - fill 7 x4 (slow feel)
7:22 - fill 7 x4 (add 2nd guitar)
7:48 - drum and guitar interlude
7:55 - intro x2 (ritard at the end of 2nd repeat;
add 2nd guitar 2nd time; end with drum roll)
8:30 - outro x2 (drum out)

🎸

Accuracy Rating: - Votes: -

Intro            x2                x2                x2
---5---------5---|---6---------6---|---8----------8---
-------6-------6-|-------6-------6-|-------8--------8-
-----7-----7-----|-----7-----7-----|-----9------9-----
-0-------7-------|-0-------8-------|-0-------10-------
-----------------|-----------------|------------------
-----------------|-----------------|------------------

                 x2
|---5---------5---
|-------6-------6-
|-----7-----7-----
|-0-------7-------
|-----------------
|-----------------


---5---------5---|---6---------6---|---8----------8---
-------6-------6-|-------6-------6-|-------8--------8-
-----7-----7-----|-----7-----7-----|-----9------9-----
-0-------7-------|-0-------8-------|-0-------10-------
-----------------|-----------------|------------------
-----------------|-----------------|------------------


|---5---------5---|----------------|
|-------6-------6-|----------------|
|-----7-----7-----|-7--------------|
|-0-------7-------|-0--------------|
|-----------------|----------------|
|-----------------|----------------|

Riff 1 (up & down)
---------0------|---------0------- x4
-------0---0----|-------0---0-----
-----5------5---|-----5-------5---
---7------------|---7-----------7-
-0------------7-|-6---------------
----------------|-----------------

Riff 2 (up)
-------1-|-------1-|-------1-|-------5- x4
-----3---|-----3---|-----3---|-----3---
---2-----|---3-----|---4-----|---5-----
-0-------|-0-------|-0-------|-0-------
---------|---------|---------|---------
---------|---------|---------|---------

Riff 3 (up & down w dist. and palm mute)
---------0------|---------0------- x4
-------0---0----|-------0---0-----
-----5------5---|-----5-------5---
---7------------|---7-----------7-
-0------------7-|-6---------------
----------------|-----------------

Riff 4 (up w distortion and palm mute)
-------1-|-------1-|-------1-|-------5- x4
-----3---|-----3---|-----3---|-----3---
---2-----|---3-----|---4-----|---5-----
-0-------|-0-------|-0-------|-0-------
---------|---------|---------|---------
---------|---------|---------|---------

Riff 5 (up & down w dist.)
---------|---------|---------|--------- x4
---------|---------|--------|--/------
--------|-----9-8-|-8-8-8-8-|-9-11-11-
-7-7-7-7-|-7-7-9-8-|-8-8-8-8-|-9-11-11-
-7-7-7-7-|-7-7-7-6-|-6-6-6-6-|-7-9--9--
-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-----|---------|---------
p.m.-->           p.m.----->

Riff 6
-1-1-1-1-|-1-1-1-1-|-1-1-1-1-|-5-5-5-5- x4
-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-
-2-2-2-2-|-3-3-3-3-|-4-4-4-4-|-5-5-5-5-
-0-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-
---------|---------|---------|---------
---------|---------|---------|---------
p.m.---------------------------------->

Note: ALL the fills have the same eighth note and triplet
pattern.  First the chords are in the rhythm of eighth
notes, and then they are in the pattern of triplets.  Also,
a lot of the sliding and hammer on patterns are the same,
so just transfer whatever is written down onto the others.
If you want it perfect, you’ll probably want to listen to
the CD a couple of times and play along with it.  Have fun...

Fill 1   1/2 & 1/8 notes...........triplets
---------|---------|---------|---------
---------|------/--|---------|---------
---------|-2---4-5-|---------|-2--4--5-
-2-2-2-2-|-2---4-5-|-3-3-3-3-|-2--4--5-
-2-2-2-2-|-0---2-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-0--2--3-
-0-0-0-0-|---------|-1-1-1-1-|---------
   p.m.->              p.m.->
---------|---------|---------|---------
---------|------/--|---------|---------
---------|-2---4-5-|-7-7-7-7-|-5--4----
-4-4-4-4-|-2---4-5-|-7-7-7-7-|-5--4--5-
-4-4-4-4-|-0---2-3-|-5-5-5-5-|-3--2--5-
-2-2-2-2-|---------|---------|-------3-
   p.m.->               p.m.->

Fill 2 (same 1/8 note and triplet rhythm as Fill 1)
---------|---------|---------|---------
---------|------/--|---------|---------
---------|-5---7-8-|---------|-5--7--8-
-5-5-5-5-|-5---7-8-|-6-6-6-6-|-5--7--8-
-5-5-5-5-|-3---5-6-|-6-6-6-6-|-3--5--6-
-3-3-3-3-|---------|-4-4-4-4-|---------
   p.m.->              p.m.->

Fill 2 continued
---------|---------|-------------|---------
---------|------/--|-------------|---------
---------|-5---7-8-|-10-10-10-10-|-8--7----
-7-7-7-7-|-5---7-8-|-10-10-10-10-|-8--7--8-
-7-7-7-7-|-3---5-6-|-8--8--8--8--|-6--5--8-
-5-5-5-5-|---------| ------------|-------6-
   p.m.->               p.m.----->
Solo over Fill 1
---------|---------|---------|---------
---------|---------|---------|---------
------h--|------p--|------h--|------p--
-----7-9-|-10--9-7-|-----7-9-|-10--9-7-
-7-------|---------|-8-------|---------
---------|---------|---------|---------

solo continued
---------|---------|---------|--------- x2
---------|---------|---------|---------
------h--|------p--|------h--|---s--s--
-----7-9-|-10--9-7-|-----7-9-|-10-12-10
-9-------|---------|-10------|---------
---------|---------|---------|---------

Solo over Fill 2
---------|---------|---------|---------
---------|---------|---------|---------
-12-12-14|-15-14-12|----12-14|-15-14-12
---------|---------|-13------|---------
---------|---------|---------|---------
---------|---------|---------|---------

solo over fill 2
---------|---------|---------|--------- x2
---------|---------|---------|---------
----12-14|-15-14-12|----12-14|-15-17-15
-14------|---------|-15------|---------
---------|---------|---------|---------
---------|---------|---------|---------

Fill 3   1/2 & 1/8 notes......triplets
---------|---------|---------|--------- x4
---------|------/--|---------|---------
---------|-2---4-5-|---------|-2--4--5-
-2-2-2-2-|-2---4-5-|-3-3-3-3-|-2--4--5-
-2-2-2-2-|-0---2-3-|-3-3-3-3-|-0--2--3-
-0-0-0-0-|---------|-1-1-1-1-|---------
   p.m.->              p.m.->

---------|---------|---------|--------- x4
---------|------/--|---------|---------
---------|-3---5-6-|---------|-3--5--6-
-3-3-3-3-|-3---5-6-|-4-4-4-4-|-3--5--6-
-3-3-3-3-|-1---3-4-|-4-4-4-4-|-1--3--4-
-1-1-1-1-|---------|-2-2-2-2-|---------
   p.m.->              p.m.->



Fill 4   1/2 & 1/8 notes......triplets
---------|---------|---------|--------- x3
---------|---------|---------|---------
---------|-4---6-7-|---------|-4--6--7-
-4-4-4-4-|-4---6-7-|-5-5-5-5-|-4--6--7-
-4-4-4-4-|-2---4-5-|-5-5-5-5-|-2--4--5-
-2-2-2-2-|---------|-3-3-3-3-|---------
   p.m.->              p.m.->

Fill 5   1/2 & 1/8 notes...........triplets
---------|---------|---------|--------- x3
---------|---------|---------|---------
---------|-5---7-8-|---------|-5--7--8-
-5-5-5-5-|-5---7-8-|-6-6-6-6-|-5--7--8-
-5-5-5-5-|-3---5-6-|-6-6-6-6-|-3--5--6-
-3-3-3-3-|---------|-4-4-4-4-|---------
   p.m.->              p.m.->
Fill 6   1/2 & 1/8 notes...........triplets
---------|---------|---------|--------- x8 (last 4 with riff 3)
---------|---------|---------|---------
---------|-9-8-----|---------|-9-8-----
-7-------|-9-8-----|-7-------|-9-8-----
-7-------|-7-6-----|-7-------|-7-6-----
-5-------|---------|-5-------|---------

Fill 7
---------|---------|---------|---------
---------|---------|---------|---------
---------|---------|---------|---------
-5-4-4-5-|-5---9---|-5-4-4-5-|-----9---
-5-4-4-5-|-7---9---|-5-4-4-5-|-----9---
-3-2-2-3-|-0-0-7---|-3-2-2-3-|-0---7---


Solo (Bend all 21’s a whole step up)
E------------------------------21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-17--21-17-
B-17-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-17-------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------

E-------------------------------------------------------------------
B-21-17--17-21-17---------------------------------------------------
G------20--------20-17--17-20-17------------------------------------
D---------------------20--------20-17--17-20-17---------------------
A------------------------------------20--------20-17--17-20-17------
E---------------------------------------------------21--------21-17-

E-12-10-9--10-9-----9-----------------------------------------------
B--------12----12-10-12-10-9-12-10-9--------------------------------
G-----------------------------------11-9-13-11-9--11-9-----9--------
D-----------------------------------------------12----12-11-12-11-9-
A-------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------

E-------------------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------------------
D-12-11-9----11-9-------11------------------------------------------
A---------12------12-11----12-11-9-12-11-9----11-9-------9----------
E------------------------------------------12------12-10---12-10-9--

E-------------------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------4h5h7----5-7-14t715t717t7-----------------
A-------------------4h5h7-------5-7---------------------------------
E-12-10-9\4-0h5h7-------------------------------------------------


Then something like this???
E-------10/20-16---
B----10----------17
G-10---------------
D------------------
A------------------
E------------------

E--20-16---20-16---20-16---20-16------21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-20-
B--------17------17------17-----17/19-------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------

E-18-21-20-18-20-19-17-20-19-17-18-17-15-18-17-15-15-13-12-15-13-12-
B-------------------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------

E-13-12-10-13-12-10-10-9-7-10-9-7-8-7-5-8-7-5-8-5-------------------
B-----------------------------------------------8-5-5-8-5----------
G---------------------------------------------------7-----7-5-5-7-5-
D------------------------------------------------------------7------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------

E-------------------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------------------
D-7-5-5-7-5---------------------------------------------------------
A----7-----7-5------------------------------------------------------
E-------------8-5-10-5-8-10-5-8-10-5-8-10-5-8-10-8-5-10-5-8-10-5-8--

E-------------------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------------------
G----------------12-5-7-13-5-7-14-5-7-15-5-7-16-5-7-17-5-7-18-5-7---
D---------5-7-9-----------------------------------------------------
A------5-7----------------------------------------------------------
E-10-8-5------------------------------------------------------------

E-------------------------------------------------------------------
B---------19-5-7-20-5-7-21-5-7-22-5-7-23-5-7-24-5-7-24--------------
G-------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------
I would really appreciate if some one confirmed this solo...


Drum and Guitar Interlude (This is my best guess...
Please feel free to correct this if you know the RIGHT WAY!)
---------|---------|-5---5---|---------
---------|---------|-5---5---|---------
-7---7---|---------|-7---7---|---------
-7---7---|---------|-7---7---|---------
-5---5---|---------|-5---5---|---------
---------|---------|-5---5---|---------

Outro
---------|---------|---------|---------
---------|---------|---------|---------
-7---5---|-7---3---|-7---10--|-7-------
-7---5---|-7---3---|-7---10--|-7-------
-5---3---|-5---1---|-5---8---|-5-------
---------|---------|---------|---------

Last updated: September 10, 2025

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